Newly purchased Pixel 3a won't let me downgrade Andoid to 9.

globetrotterdk

The title basically tells it all. I purchased a refurbed phone to use with Ubuntu Touch. I followed the instructions related to the phone model and installers, but the system won't let me downgrade to sargo-ota-pq3b.190801.002-b79bd724.zip

I am using a computer running the Fedora39 KDE spin.

Moem

@globetrotterdk said in Newly purchased Pixel 3a won't let me downgrade Andoid to 9.:

the system won't let me downgrade

What does that look like? What exactly happens, or doesn't happen?

globetrotterdk

@Moem Thanks for the quick reply. My terminal (computer) reads as follows:

$ adb devices
List of devices attached
9CGAY1PHJG      sideload

$ adb sideload sargo-ota-pq3b.190801.002-b79bd724.zip
Total xfer: 1.00x

The phone says:
"E: Update package is older than the current build, expected a build newer than timestamp 1656526244 but package has timestamp 1560995145 and downgrade not allowed.

Install from ADB completed with status 1.
Installation aborted."

lduboeuf

@globetrotterdk said in Newly purchased Pixel 3a won't let me downgrade Andoid to 9.:

@Moem Thanks for the quick reply. My terminal (computer) reads as follows:
$ adb devices
List of devices attached
9CGAY1PHJG      sideload

$ adb sideload sargo-ota-pq3b.190801.002-b79bd724.zip
Total xfer: 1.00x
The phone says:
"E: Update package is older than the current build, expected a build newer than timestamp 1656526244 but package has timestamp 1560995145 and downgrade not allowed.

Install from ADB completed with status 1.
Installation aborted."

I don't know that way of flashing, my zip download have that name: sargo-pq3b.190801.002-factory-56817dc2.zip took from https://developers.google.com/android/images?hl=fr#sargo as written in the devices page.

And just unziped the file and ran ./flash-all

globetrotterdk

@lduboeuf Wow. Cool. That worked. Thanks. Perhaps that should be used as part of the instructions on the device install section. Probably should also mention that Google Chrome is needed to do that. The important thing is that I now have Ubuntu Touch on the phone. Thanks again.

Moem

Congratulations and welcome to the community! :party_popper:

kandjou

@Moem

Hi, I bought a new phone (google pixel) especially to install UT.

But I... forgot to downgrad the android.
The phone was blocked in the google logo.

I could put the android 12 but now I don't know how to
put the V9 android version.

Would you help me please ?

MrT10001

@kandjou @kandjou Put the version of Android the device was originally shipped with, set it all up. Then downgrade to version 9. Use the Chrome based Android flash tool, it is the easiest way. Once you have that installed set it up again,when install UT.

kandjou

@MrT10001 Thank you, it works!!
Then I instal UT but...

My screen does not work

I can't select the language (UT).
Only possibility is to press the buttons.
So I reboot.

Then the first thing I see is the google logo (again_ _')
Then Ubuntu charging
Then the Language setting...

I'm afraid : I bought this device new especially to install UT..
What can I do now please ?

kandjou

@MrT10001 Sorry , there is another thing : before the google logo and just after to reboot (keeping pressing the power button)
I see the bootloader screen with the careful logo and "Press power button to pause" then this text :

The bootloader is unlocked and software intregrity, etc.

MrT10001

@kandjou That is correct, that just means the bootloader is unlocked. UT won't install or run without it!

I think it is all correct what you have done, but it looks like the touchscreen issue has raised its head again... here, which you have posted in.

Try the install again with the latest developer option!

Moem

@kandjou Sorry, I don't have the knowledge. But MrT10001 is helping you, so you'll be fine.

kandjou

@MrT10001 Thank you MrT, you are helping a lot.
With the latest developer option ? Sorry, what do you mean ?

MrT10001

@kandjou on the UT installer once you have selected your device, there will be a drop down box to select which version of UT you want to install, choose 20.04 Developer.

kandjou

@MrT10001 I am there , I can see 20.04 dev

kandjou

@kandjou I did it with the option you said but the screen is not working again ..

kandjou

@MrT10001

UB Ports Installer says :

Error : unhandled rejection at [object Promise] :
Error : Failed to create run: FetchError: request to https://ubports.open-cuts.org/graphql failed reason: ECONNRESET

I don't think my screen is dead but it does'nt works for now...

Why the 20.04 devl option , you have an idea ?
Thank you

kandjou

@MrT10001 do you think we can do something with halium9 ?? (I have no idea of what it is but the ground of UT I suppose)

kandjou

@kandjou It seems many users have this screen problem

Is it possible to set the smartphone like Nothing happened.
A new one (in my case it is so because I've just bought it)
How to do that (locking the phone ? Good idea ?)

THEN, installing UT like for the first time ?

Why nobody has found the solution of this commun problem ?

arubislander

@kandjou said in Newly purchased Pixel 3a won't let me downgrade Andoid to 9.:

Why nobody has found the solution of this commun problem ?

Because no one with the skills to debug and solve it, is actually experiencing the problem. It seems to be something 'new' with recent installs of Pixel 3a(XL)'s, since about November 2023.

One thing that has seemed to work for at least one user is to disable Double Tap To Wake (DTTW) in the Settings app under Getstures -> Tap to wake.
Since your screen is unresponsive to taps, you might need to find a way to connect a wired mouse to your device and then use it to navigate to the above setting.
If you should find that it is already disabled, you might want to enable it, reboot, see if it improves anything, and if not disable it again and then reboot again. Maybe that resets some configuration that might be causing the issue.