To overclock an Android phone, you'll need to install a custom firmware (sometimes referred to as a custom ROM). The chief thing this usually provides is to the phone, allowing hardware tweaks, although sometimes getting root access needs to be done manually. Search via Google using your phone model for more information.

The custom firmware files are usually based on the latest Android system files, but with modifications to also allow overclocking. Which firmware you need depends on your phone; generally speaking, looking through the for your phone model should provide answers. Additionally, could provide clues. Lots of people use the (to find out more info, visit ).

However, while overclocking presents risks, they're nothing compared to installing a custom firmware. If anything goes wrong there's a real chance your phone will become little more than an expensive paperweight. For obvious reasons this is known as "bricking" a phone. You upgrade at your own risk, and should only do so with the power lead attached to the phone. Double and triple-check to make sure you have the correct files for your make, model, and perhaps even hardware revision of phone, if applicable.

You might lose any data stored in the phone, such as text messages and contacts, so perform a backup beforehand.

Once the firmware has been updated, use the Android Marketplace to search for and . It costs just $2 and is designed to make overclocking extremely easy. The Max and Min sliders set the maximum and minimum clock speeds, and the changes take effect straight away. The Scaling dropdown refers to the power profile and it's probably best to leave it at "Ondemand," which will ramp up the processor speed when needed.