Can’t manage the bootloader to unlock
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Hi,
I try to install Ubuntu Touch on my new FairPhone.
On this page https://devices.ubuntu-touch.io/device/fp4/ it says “Your device must be running the Fairphone OS version of Android 11”. My version of Android is 13 since today’s first power on and update.
So I tried to follow https://support.fairphone.com/hc/en-us/articles/18896094650513-Install-Fairphone-OS-manually to install Android 11.
Followed " Flashing with fastboot" because it “Can be used to downgrade to an older version (for example: Android 13 → Android 11).”
Following this steps, when I type adb devices, nothing appears on the phone but it’s listed in listed devices attached on command prompt.
When I type adb reboot bootloader, the phone restarts on a screen FastBoot mode with “device state - locked” with 4 choices above : START/Restart bootloader/Recovery mode/Power off.
If I type fastboot flashing unlock : waiting for any device.
I don’t understand if I am on the expected boot screen and need some help.
Fairphone 4.
Thanks ! -
@kevin-lhotellier
You need a code to unlock Fairphone bootloader that only Fairphone can give you.
https://www.fairphone.com/en/bootloader-unlocking-code-for-fairphone/And follow their process to unlock its bootloader (from step 2).
https://support.fairphone.com/hc/en-us/articles/10492476238865-Manage-the-BootloaderAlso be care that Fairphone 4 don't have the anti rollback protection like the FP5 has before downgrading it, or you could brick.
And if you succeed installing UT on it DON'T RELOCK THE BOOTLOADER, or it's a brick.
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@kevin-lhotellier I'm in the same situation (or similar).
With respect to the command "fastboot flashing unlock" and its response "waiting for any device", and then waiting indefinitely...: what worked for me is to run this command as root in Ubuntu. I tried this after reading a suggestion to run the command 'as Administrator' in Windows, on the Fairphone forum.
With repect to the instruction in UT for FP4: "Your device must be running the Fairphone OS version of Android 11 before installing another operating system. With a previously installed custom ROM, it won't work!", I wonder if a downgrade from Android 13 to 11 is at all necessary. Android 13 is hardly a custom ROM, isn't it?
Any help or experiences regarding this last question?
Thanks!
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@janmv said in Can’t manage the bootloader to unlock:
Android 13 is hardly a custom ROM, isn't it?
It's not, but it's not Android 11 either. I would recommend taking these instructions seriously, and following them to the letter; people don't write them for fun. We don't want to see you brick your device.
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@Moem Thanks. I downgraded to Android 11 before running the UBports installer, and that was successful. It wasn't all first-time-right (see above, had to run fastboot as root), but it was easy enough to find and overcome the obstacles using this forum.
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@janmv I'm glad to hear your good news! Well done, and I hope you'll enjoy Ubuntu Touch.
