VoLTE Implementation For Google Pixel 3a/3a XL

Eric H

@mr_growl said in VoLTE Implementation For Google Pixel 3a/3a XL:

The recovery doesn't work after flashing.

To make sure to understand

is there a recovery partition on the android 12 pixel 3a ?
or can't you boot in recovery mode with something like that : fastboot boot recovery.img

(building ubports recovery.img has to be enabled in device info)

Eric H

If there is no recovery partition on your phone, you probably need a recovery ramdisk.
See ramdisk-overlay directory on Volla X23 for example:
https://gitlab.com/ubports/porting/reference-device-ports/halium12/volla-x23/volla-vidofnir/-/tree/main

mr_growl

@Eric-H Thanks! I'll check that tomorrow. It seems to me with stock android I can't boot into a build in recovery but that fastbootd does most of what's needed. So I have been using "fastboot boot twrp.img" if I need features that twrp offers.

Flashing twrp.img directly on to the pixel 3a doesn't work. To get it to install I usually do "fastboot boot twrp.img" and then go to "Advanced" and then "flash currently twrp".

Eric H

@mr_growl
Iirc, an android 12 phone must have a recovery partition unless it is a slot A/B device.

for example on my device

to check recovery partition

$ fastboot getvar all |& grep -i recovery
(bootloader) partition-type:recovery:raw
(bootloader) partition-size:recovery: 0x8000000

to flash recovery partition
```
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
```

to check slots, in fastbootD mode

$ fastboot getvar slot-count
slot-count: 0

atarilinux

@mr_growl

I'll see what I can find out!

atarilinux

@Eric-H

Thanks! I will check this out too!

mr_growl

@Eric-H the pixel 3a is a slot a/b device. Just at work but will investigate the things you mentioned this evening. Thanks!

mr_growl

@atarilinux much appreciated. Thanks!

atarilinux

@mr_growl

I've been searching, but finding a successful port is bit hard to find. I did come across these things if they may be helpful! If I find anything else, I will let you know.

Same Issue (But Unresolved):
https://xdaforums.com/t/halium-12-build-for-sm-t290-need-help.4605123/

Old Porting Method (Unfortunately):
https://forums.ubports.com/topic/11131/halium-12.0-lineageos-19.1-ubuntu-touch-focal-20.04-for-samsung-galaxy-s10-beyond1lte-build-rootfs-from-scratch

Another Halium Build with some Troubleshooting:
https://dev.to/ar2rworld/how-i-installed-ubuntu-touch-halium-on-the-xiaomi-redmi-4a-rolex-full-step-by-step-ubuntu-3l4m

Halium 12 Upgrades and Ubuntu Touch on Q&A
https://ubports.com/blog/ubports-news-1/ubuntu-touch-q-a-161-3956

atarilinux

@mr_growl

I also found this and thought it was interesting. It is regarding Mobian, but does mention the Google Pixel 3a working and receiving calls.

https://blog.mobian.org/posts/2025/02/early-2025-news/

Also, Droidian has a Halium 12 port for Volla Phone.

https://github.com/droidian-images/droidian/releases/tag/droidian%2F101.20250906

rocket2nfinity

@atarilinux That (VoLTE on P3a w/ Mobian) is with q6voiced and 81Voltd. Last I read it is broken again. Although, P3a is almost complete with mainline linux (especially with PostmarketOS - has patches not yet upstreamed). Might want to talk to Oren (maintainer of the Pinephone) if you want to try making a mainline port of UT for the P3a. OP6 is functional with VoLTE with mainline (with occasional hiccups) and OP6T can also call, but still has audio issues w/VoLTE last I read. Considering the OP6/6T is unmaintained with UT, it could benefit from a new maintainer - halium or mainline.