<![CDATA[Installing Ubuntu Touch to a Xiaomi Mi A2 with Android 10]]>Hi everyone,

I bought a second hand Xiaomi Mi A2 with Android 10 installed on it. I need to install Android 9 : jasmine_sprout_stock_android9.zip I found a tool that's only available on Windows, but this last is having driver problems (in hardware manager it is not recognized) so I found Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot tools that can be run on Ubuntu 20 : https://github.com/Szaki/XiaomiADBFastbootTools/releases/tag/7.0.3

UBports is telling me to have a specific Android installed on the phone and gave me this link to download it : https://github.com/ubports-xiaomi-sdm660/artifacts/releases/download/v0.1/jasmine_sprout_stock_android9.zip

After unzipping this last, Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot tools can't recognize its content and outputs this error : Fastboot ROM not found.

I can continue the installation process but I'm afraid that will make the installation fails if I don't have the specific android version.

Thanks.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/topic/7189/installing-ubuntu-touch-to-a-xiaomi-mi-a2-with-android-10RSS for NodeWed, 22 Apr 2026 17:11:28 GMTThu, 30 Dec 2021 15:02:47 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Installing Ubuntu Touch to a Xiaomi Mi A2 with Android 10 on Sun, 09 Jan 2022 00:48:56 GMT]]>@mkarpicki After installing a fresh Android 10 image, now I can boot TWRP.

I finally succeeded in installing Ubuntu Touch thanks to the link you have posted. Thank you

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/59825https://forums.ubports.com/post/59825Sun, 09 Jan 2022 00:48:56 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Installing Ubuntu Touch to a Xiaomi Mi A2 with Android 10 on Fri, 07 Jan 2022 10:29:04 GMT]]>@embeddedmz , not sure if root cause is same but I had same problem. On other chat I found some people saying issue could be in USB 3 port. I switched from my Ubuntu laptop (which I experience problem at same stage) to Mac from 2015 and ubports installer managed did the job there 😕
not sure if that helps..

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/59697https://forums.ubports.com/post/59697Fri, 07 Jan 2022 10:29:04 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Installing Ubuntu Touch to a Xiaomi Mi A2 with Android 10 on Thu, 06 Jan 2022 18:37:14 GMT]]>@mrt10001 said in Installing Ubuntu Touch to a Xiaomi Mi A2 with Android 10:

@embeddedmz here is the link to all Mi A2 firmware. use a global image and a fastboot image (not recovery). Persevere, the firmware flash may take longer than expected.

Even better : Use the Stock MIUI Android ROM that your phone was sold with!

  • EEA model = Use EEA Stock MIUI Android ROM
  • Global model = Use Global Stock MIUI Android ROM
  • India model = Use India Stock MIUI Android ROM
  • China model = Use China Stock MIUI Android ROM

Good luck! 🙂

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/59682https://forums.ubports.com/post/59682Thu, 06 Jan 2022 18:37:14 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Installing Ubuntu Touch to a Xiaomi Mi A2 with Android 10 on Thu, 06 Jan 2022 15:56:59 GMT]]>@embeddedmz here is the link to all Mi A2 firmware. use a global image and a fastboot image (not recovery). Persevere, the firmware flash may take longer than expected.

Here is a link to my experience. The ADB issue appears to be caused by the ADB version. Other factors could be the version of the installer (recommended is 0.8.9-beta), the USB port you are using and the USB cable.

Unfortunately, it is not always so straightforward, but keep asking if you get stuck 😳

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/59679https://forums.ubports.com/post/59679Thu, 06 Jan 2022 15:56:59 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Installing Ubuntu Touch to a Xiaomi Mi A2 with Android 10 on Thu, 06 Jan 2022 13:20:43 GMT]]>@mrt10001 Under fastboot it is recognized by MiFlash, so I can use an official image to restore the system !

Update : I reinstalled Android 10 with an image downloaded here : https://c.mi.com/in/miuidownload/detail?guide=2

So, it is confirmed : we do need to install that particular UBPorts Android 9 version but it can't be done with XiaomiFlash 😞

I will try with Ubuntu when I get back home, maybe things will be different (curse you gooooogle) !

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/59678https://forums.ubports.com/post/59678Thu, 06 Jan 2022 13:20:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Installing Ubuntu Touch to a Xiaomi Mi A2 with Android 10 on Thu, 06 Jan 2022 11:39:45 GMT]]>@mrt10001 What can I do now ? The MiFlash can't recognize my phone anymore 😞

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/59673https://forums.ubports.com/post/59673Thu, 06 Jan 2022 11:39:45 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Installing Ubuntu Touch to a Xiaomi Mi A2 with Android 10 on Thu, 06 Jan 2022 11:35:23 GMT]]>@mrt10001
Now, I'm stuck here (In Windows 10 the name of the device is "Failed to boot") The Xiaomi Mi A2 is showing android one and unlocked.

That's why they say it requires a specific Adnroid version from UBPorts 😢

1bc2b4ee-013d-440a-9e40-38d648b18b35-image.png

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/59672https://forums.ubports.com/post/59672Thu, 06 Jan 2022 11:35:23 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Installing Ubuntu Touch to a Xiaomi Mi A2 with Android 10 on Thu, 06 Jan 2022 11:30:48 GMT]]>@mrt10001 is it normal that this step takes forever ?

997d7bbe-8bba-4936-ae5f-b500eab9c48b-image.png

Update : OKAY I reached reboot screen

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/59671https://forums.ubports.com/post/59671Thu, 06 Jan 2022 11:30:48 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Installing Ubuntu Touch to a Xiaomi Mi A2 with Android 10 on Thu, 06 Jan 2022 10:31:33 GMT]]>@embeddedmz If you don't want to take the risk, don't flash Ubuntu Touch, there is a risk in flashing a phone or tablet with any ROM, it is just having the wherewithal step back and work through any issues. I have had Ubuntu Touch fail to install many times and worked through, I have not bricked any phone or tablet installing it (I am currently trying with the Mi Note 3 which I failed miserably with, but will have another go). Persistence is key to doing this (I first flashed my BQ Aquaris e4.5 first, then did Nexus 4 and 5 to really get the hang of it and iron out my own self perceived issues) and thinking it is always recoverable - the vast majority of time it is.

Some of the links may be outdated, but here is the link i have used.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/59670https://forums.ubports.com/post/59670Thu, 06 Jan 2022 10:31:33 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Installing Ubuntu Touch to a Xiaomi Mi A2 with Android 10 on Thu, 06 Jan 2022 07:39:21 GMT]]>@mrt10001 @nero355 This archive https://github.com/ubports-xiaomi-sdm660/artifacts/releases/download/v0.1/jasmine_sprout_stock_android9.zip (after extraction) cannot be flashed with MiFlash. it says "can't find flash_all.bat"

What I can do to install Android 9 (provided by ubports) on my device ?

@mrt10001 said in Installing Ubuntu Touch to a Xiaomi Mi A2 with Android 10:

try installing UT with Android 10 first, it may just work. As I said, I download and use Android Studio as it installs the correct and latest Fastboot and ADB drivers and has always worked for me.

In the ubports web site they say that a particular Android version must be installed first. I can't take the risks !

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/59669https://forums.ubports.com/post/59669Thu, 06 Jan 2022 07:39:21 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Installing Ubuntu Touch to a Xiaomi Mi A2 with Android 10 on Sat, 01 Jan 2022 16:50:34 GMT]]>@embeddedmz said in Installing Ubuntu Touch to a Xiaomi Mi A2 with Android 10:

I downloaded TWRP from the play store and I didn't checked "run as root" as it crashes the app. This software used the browser to download a file named "twrp-installer-3.6.0_9-0-jasmine_sprout.zip" what I do with this file ?

Ignore the Play Store and get TWRP from their website for your phone when you need it!

https://twrp.me/xiaomi/xiaomimia2.html

And then install it with Fastboot commands while your phone is in Fastboot Mode :

fastboot flash recovery twrp-<version>.img
fastboot oem reboot-recovery

REMEMBER: It's important that you boot directly into TWRP Mode from the Fastboot Mode because otherwise the TWRP installation will be overwritten with the Stock Recovery! 😉

And in case you need it for your phone :
Flash the VBMETA.IMG for your phone and reboot to make sure the installation has succeeded!
(You might have to check XDA Forums for the right one...)

No, the program is a joke and it doesn't install the drivers (I got a message in chinese)

Weird... it should install them!

You can try this in case it doesn't work as expected : https://github.com/fawazahmed0/Latest-adb-fastboot-installer-for-windows

In Windows 8.1, this is what it looks in the hardware manager + windows is not happy with the driver I found here : https://developer.android.com/studio/run/oem-usb for Xiaomi (it told me that it has a bad hash).

alt text

For what it's worth : I always use Windows 7 and USB 2.0 Ports for this kind of stuff! 🙂

One more TIP :
Try to keep your path to all the ROM's and Images and stuff as short as possible and without any spaces in the name!

  • C:\Xiaomi\ <All your files and Tools here> = GOOD!
  • C:\Users\YourName\Xiaomi\All my ROMs\ = BAD!
  • C:\Users\YourName\Xiaomi\All my Tools\ = BAD!

I'm doing all this because I want to ungoogle my life. Google is an evil company playing a key role in the new world order (and above all I'm fed up with Android spying on me through the microphone)

I totally agree with you! 🙂 :thumbs_up_medium-light_skin_tone: :thumbs_up_medium-light_skin_tone:

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/59509https://forums.ubports.com/post/59509Sat, 01 Jan 2022 16:50:34 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Installing Ubuntu Touch to a Xiaomi Mi A2 with Android 10 on Fri, 31 Dec 2021 22:27:30 GMT]]>@mrt10001 OK Thank you, I will use my office computer (Windows 10) wednesday and let you know if that worked 🙂

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/59486https://forums.ubports.com/post/59486Fri, 31 Dec 2021 22:27:30 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Installing Ubuntu Touch to a Xiaomi Mi A2 with Android 10 on Fri, 31 Dec 2021 09:05:59 GMT]]>@embeddedmz - I thought you didn't have access to a windows machine. This makes life easier, however upgrade to window 10 at least, windows 8.1 will have woefully inadequate support for drivers and items such as fastboot and ADB (USB device drivers). As the phone is unlocked, use the Mi Flash tool to downgrade the ROM to Android 9, it is by far the easiest method. There is an US English version, ignore the pop up box in Chinese, it is pretty much no use. However try installing UT with Android 10 first, it may just work. As I said, I download and use Android Studio as it installs the correct and latest Fastboot and ADB drivers and has always worked for me.
This is my MiFlash tool in windows:
miflashtool21.jpg - note the phone ROM is for kenzo - Redmi Note 3(not a Mi A2) as I was downgrading a different phone, use the select to browse to your ROM and DO NOT relock the bootloader.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/59447https://forums.ubports.com/post/59447Fri, 31 Dec 2021 09:05:59 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Installing Ubuntu Touch to a Xiaomi Mi A2 with Android 10 on Thu, 30 Dec 2021 23:40:31 GMT]]>@messayisto , If I would know that week+ ago - it would also save me some stress and Saturday night 🙂 (still was a pleasure but nice it worked with 10 for you!)

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/59434https://forums.ubports.com/post/59434Thu, 30 Dec 2021 23:40:31 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Installing Ubuntu Touch to a Xiaomi Mi A2 with Android 10 on Thu, 30 Dec 2021 23:38:22 GMT]]>@embeddedmz , hmm. No idea to be honest, you are on Ubuntu (host machine) or Windows?
I was on Ubuntu for whole process of reinstalling android , at some point I used Mac as ubports installer could not find device (I assume usb issue described somewhere). Do you have a chance try other host machine (or if on Win, check if you have some Google USB drivers - but no idea why would that help?)

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/59433https://forums.ubports.com/post/59433Thu, 30 Dec 2021 23:38:22 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Installing Ubuntu Touch to a Xiaomi Mi A2 with Android 10 on Thu, 30 Dec 2021 23:13:25 GMT]]>@embeddedmz You could take the risk and complete the installation process with Android 10 on your phone. I did that and - amazingly - it worked.
Look here:
https://forums.ubports.com/topic/6349/installation-succes-at-the-first-try

As the thread says, the installation was much easier than I thought, but I probably just got lucky.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/59431https://forums.ubports.com/post/59431Thu, 30 Dec 2021 23:13:25 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Installing Ubuntu Touch to a Xiaomi Mi A2 with Android 10 on Thu, 30 Dec 2021 22:14:08 GMT]]>@mkarpicki Yes I have already followed those steps. On YouTube I found how to launch the FastBoot by pressing the volume down button then plugging the smartphone into the computer.

I tried 10 different images for TWRP and I still have black screens 😢 😢 😢

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/59429https://forums.ubports.com/post/59429Thu, 30 Dec 2021 22:14:08 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Installing Ubuntu Touch to a Xiaomi Mi A2 with Android 10 on Thu, 30 Dec 2021 21:52:07 GMT]]>@embeddedmz you are fast.. before I noticed you replied, you already had 2 updates on progress..

(one more tutorial basically similar: https://forums.ubports.com/topic/7101/install-ubports-on-xiaomi-mi-a2 )

I did not have that black screen to be honest, I assume you did:

  • activate the developer mode,
  • list itemUSB debugging and
  • list item bootloader unlock)

and then did

./fastboot flashing unlock
./fastboot flashing unlock_critical

?

let me think a bit but I really think I did not do anything more than described - only thing which comes to my mind (but I did not assume it makes any difference) , I had Android Studio installed in past already with adb and whatever tools included from times I did try doing some Android development in free time.

ps... please be aware I am also rookie here, I tried that week+ ago so I am not much more experienced in this area..

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/59428https://forums.ubports.com/post/59428Thu, 30 Dec 2021 21:52:07 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Installing Ubuntu Touch to a Xiaomi Mi A2 with Android 10 on Thu, 30 Dec 2021 21:23:51 GMT]]>@mkarpicki in the tutorial he doesn't explain where he got the fastboot program. Can you give me a link ? I work under Ubuntu as my Win8.1 doesn't have the proper drivers for Xiaomi.

I tried to use another tool (https://github.com/Szaki/XiaomiADBFastbootTools/releases/tag/7.0.3) to boot the TWRP image but I got a black screen.

UPDATE : okay, I started the smartphone by pressing volume down and plugging it into the computer.

fastboot package is already installed in ubuntu.

UPDATE 2: I got a black screen after this :
./fastboot boot ~/Downloads/twrp-3.5.2_9-0-jasmine_sprout.img

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/59423https://forums.ubports.com/post/59423Thu, 30 Dec 2021 21:23:51 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Installing Ubuntu Touch to a Xiaomi Mi A2 with Android 10 on Thu, 30 Dec 2021 20:53:11 GMT]]>@mkarpicki No, I will follow it. Thanks !

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/59419https://forums.ubports.com/post/59419Thu, 30 Dec 2021 20:53:11 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Installing Ubuntu Touch to a Xiaomi Mi A2 with Android 10 on Thu, 30 Dec 2021 20:52:50 GMT]]>@embeddedmz , did you try to follow this instructions?
https://forums.ubports.com/topic/6951/ubports-quick-and-simple-install-on-xiaomi-mi-a2

I was in same sittuation, phone I bought had Android 10 but I downgraded it following tutorial I linked above.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/59418https://forums.ubports.com/post/59418Thu, 30 Dec 2021 20:52:50 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Installing Ubuntu Touch to a Xiaomi Mi A2 with Android 10 on Thu, 30 Dec 2021 20:51:38 GMT]]>@mrt10001 said in Installing Ubuntu Touch to a Xiaomi Mi A2 with Android 10:

As I said make sure the bootloader is unlocked. Check this by enabling developer options (tapping the build version repeatedly to enable it). Once developer options are enabled go in and make sure USB debugging is enabled and OEM unlock is enabled. Reboot the phone and go back into developer options and there should be another option under OEM unlock to check the bootloader unlock status.

This is already done ! and with the tool I got from github the phone is unlocked all the time (I used volume keys and unlock screen button to do it, the smartphone was is "fastboot" with a bunny working on an android logo).

I downloaded TWRP from the play store and I didn't checked "run as root" as it crashes the app. This software used the browser to download a file named "twrp-installer-3.6.0_9-0-jasmine_sprout.zip" what I do with this file ?

Otherwise, the 1 GB Android 9 zip file I downloaded from github contains the following items :
alt text

@mrt10001 said in Installing Ubuntu Touch to a Xiaomi Mi A2 with Android 10:

Once that is done, connect the phone up to a PC and copy the Android 9 ROM for the phone to the root of the directory, i.e. not in a folder. Then reboot into fastboot mode and flash TWRP to the phone:
fastboot flash recovery /path/to/twrp-3.6.0_9-0-jasmine_sprout.img

These instructions are not clear for me 😞

@nero355 said in Installing Ubuntu Touch to a Xiaomi Mi A2 with Android 10:

Xiaomi Flash Tool :
https://c.mi.com/in/miuidownload/detail?guide=2
It also installs the right drivers for you!

No, the program is a joke and it doesn't install the drivers (I got a message in chinese)

In Windows 8.1, this is what it looks in the hardware manager + windows is not happy with the driver I found here : https://developer.android.com/studio/run/oem-usb for Xiaomi (it told me that it has a bad hash).

alt text

I'm doing all this because I want to ungoogle my life. Google is an evil company playing a key role in the new world order (and above all I'm fed up with Android spying on me through the microphone)

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/59417https://forums.ubports.com/post/59417Thu, 30 Dec 2021 20:51:38 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Installing Ubuntu Touch to a Xiaomi Mi A2 with Android 10 on Thu, 30 Dec 2021 18:02:20 GMT]]>@nero355 said in Installing Ubuntu Touch to a Xiaomi Mi A2 with Android 10:

@mrt10001
Boot a small VM under Linux with Windows inside and Passthrough the USB Hub and it's ports and GO GO GO 🙂

Yes, thats one thing I would do, but a VM with windows is a PIA for the time taken to get it going. I know there is enthusiasm for UT, but I don't know how far people would go to install it, let alone their expertise in working through an issue to resolve it.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/59411https://forums.ubports.com/post/59411Thu, 30 Dec 2021 18:02:20 GMT