@Moem thanks for letting me know

@Keneda Looks like you don’t need to update fairphone 4 to unlock bootloader. If you update fairphone 4 it will upgrade to Android 12 which isn’t officially supported by Ubuntu Touch.

@Keneda I decided to get a second Fairphone 4 to run both Ubuntu Touch and FairphoneOS. I want to clarify the core issue. If I follow the instructions of Ubuntu Touch, I will not be following Fairphone instructions for unlocking the boatloader.

bootloader

fairphone community post

ubuntu touch instructions

That means they're is technically no absolutely safe way to install Ubuntu Touch on the Fairphone 4 at the present day. If something goes wrong unlocking the bootloader on Android 11, Fairphone has no reason to provide support because you wouldn't be following they're instructions. If you unlock the bootloader on Android 12 and install Ubuntu Touch you wouldn't be following Ubuntu Touch instructions.

Seems to be a disconnect between the two communities.

@Moem thanks for letting me know

@Keneda I'm already upgraded to Android 12. This was basically an automatic update when turning the phone on. I haven't unlocked the bootloader because it shouldn't really be unlocked unless I'm installing an OS. If Fairphone won't allow me to unlock bootloader on Android 12 so be it.

Is it true the you can't lock bootloader with Ubuntu Touch? I don't fully understand bootloaders in the smartphone world, but from what I do understand it's less secure to have bootloader unlocked and might cause certain banking apps to not work which I don't use anyway.

If Ubuntu Touch will be a long running project, I'll assume will likely see Android 12 replace 11 in the coming years.

@Keneda

According to somebody else's testing installing Ubuntu Touch on Fairphone 4 with Android 12 should work.

Fairphone

I'm certain Ubuntu Touch will update installer for Android 12 officially in the long term as well.

I just want to test out the android experience on the Fairphone 4 before making the plunge to ubuntu touch. Ideally I want to use Ubuntu Touch, but just like to experience options. Just like you would with desktop linux and distro hoping.

@Keneda So if Fairphone 4 requires Android 12 to unlock bootloader does that mean I'm screwed for now? Fairphone website say's to fully update Fairphone 4 before unlocking bootloader.

fairphone bootloader

Fairphone 4 requires update to unlock bootloader, but ubuntu touch instructions say to use android 11. Can I update to android 12 and then install Ubuntu Touch? Or do I need to avoid updates on Fairphone 4?