Stuck at first installation steps...

rhimbo

Pixel 7a, connected via USB-C cable to my laptop...
Kubuntu 23.10 system, kernel version 6.5.0-26 generic (64-bit)

I'm following the instructions on this web page for the web install:
https://grapheneos.org/install/web

The phone is OEM unlocked (see attached photo)
The phone is in developer mode (see attached photo).
I ran the sudo systemctl stop fwupd.service command in the terminal; there is no fwupd.service running on my Kubuntu laptop.

I am at the step where I'm trying to boot the phone into the boot loader interface. I get the screen shown in the third photo attached; the red text says "Fastboot Mode." When I select the "Restart boot loader" boot option, nothing happens; the phone remains on the screen shown with the "Fastboot Mode" text.

Note the green text that says that the "Device state" is "locked." Does this mean that my phone really is not OEM unlocked?

![graphene-OEM-unlocking-mode-enabled.jpeg](https://)

![graphene-developer-mode.jpeg](https://)

![graphene-restart-bootloader-mode.jpeg](https://)

other8026

rhimbo It sounds like you can progress to the next step, unlocking the bootloader.

rhimbo

Sorry, I'm having trouble posting the photos....

deofol

You installed android-sdk-platform-tools-common?

rhimbo

Yes, I have android-sdk-platform-tools-common version 28.0.2+9

rhimbo

Also... and embarrassing question...

How can I upload photos (.jpg images) to a post ore reply? When I click the "Add an image" icon at the bottom of the text pane, I get this text inserted: " ![](https://) "

Must I first upload the images to a photo sharing site? I recall some forum sites do it this way.

ErnestThornhill

rhimbo Must I first upload the images to a photo sharing site? I recall some forum sites do it this way

Yes. That's how users do it on here.

rhimbo

OK, here are the photos...

OEM unlocking mode
https://www.imgbly.com/ib/gJ4ZaxwS2n

Developer mode enabled
https://www.imgbly.com/ib/zriXK054q3

Attempt to restart phone in boot loader mode
https://www.imgbly.com/ib/7GCq55vGCu

deofol

That's correct, now on the web install page, click the button which says "Unlock bootloader"

rhimbo

Sigh...

Well, I have my Pixel 7a connected via USB-C cable to my Kubuntu laptop. I again ran the
sudo systemctl stop fwupd.service

command as I booted up my laptop.

From the "https://grapheneos.org/install/web" web page, I clicked the "Unlock bootloader" button. I get the error shown in the attached photo (taken with my working mobile).

![https://www.imgbly.com/ib/unjfnjYk7O](https://)

The error message says "No compatible devices found."

Does this mean that I have a bad or non-compliant USB-C data cable? Or, does my Linux system not see the Pixel 7a?

Not sure how to debug this error...

deofol

Are you trying to install directly from the phone? no idea if that's a supported option.
You should have your phone in the bootloader menu then connect to your laptop, I had issues once when not using the official cable provided with the phone.

Then open the web install page from the browser on your laptop and click unlock bootloader there.

rhimbo

deofol

Ah, ok, thanks. Yes, I was trying to do it from the phone.

I have to get an adapter to use the cable that came with the phone then. The phone came with a USB-C male on both ends. I need a USB-A male on one end and a USB-C male on the other end.

deofol

Maybe this helps.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAZlmYKrwfk

rhimbo

Also of note, I'm now on the aforementioned web install page using Firefox on my laptop. All the buttons such as "Unlock bootloader" are grayed-out.

deofol

On the install page.

Officially supported browsers for the web install method:

Chromium (outside Ubuntu, since they ship a broken Snap package without working WebUSB)
Vanadium (GrapheneOS)
Google Chrome
Microsoft Edge
Brave (with Brave Shields disabled, since it caps storage usage at a low value to avoid fingerprinting available storage)

rhimbo

deofol
Embarrassing.... I do recall reading that...!
Sorry...!

rhimbo

I'm following the instructions in the video here:
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAZlmYKrwfk](https://)

Here is the screen on my Pixel 7a.
![https://www.imgbly.com/ib/dLQJqsSht7](https://)

The state indicated appears to be exactly as in the video at the stage where I should be ready to proceed to "Flash release."

However, I'm getting an error "Error: You need to download a release first!"
Here is the screen grab of my Brave browser:
![https://www.imgbly.com/ib/9jIe6qtVId](https://)

Clearly Brave (the web install web page) indicated that I had successfully downloaded the release.

I'll try to clear all cookies and start again. But if I'm missing something, feel free to let me know.

rhimbo

I'm following this instructional video:
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAZlmYKrwfk](https://)

I'm following the instructions for the web install. I'm using the Brave browser on macOS just like the guy who made the video.

I can't seem to get past the step "Flash release" (see screen grab). I get the indication that the "Download release" was successful. But, upon clicking the "Flash release" button I always get the error message:

Error: You need to download a release first!

![https://www.imgbly.com/ib/dNy3w3BkgW](https://)

spring-onion

Hi there. Use the usb-c to usb-c cable that came packaged with your device if possible, 3rd party ones may work but there's plenty out there that don't meet the specifications so it becomes a guessing game. Also the port you are connecting to may cause issues.

Keep in mind, the interactive buttons should be pressed on the device you are installing from, so in your instance that's the mac.

rhimbo Error: You need to download a release first!

Confirm you've got at least 32 GB of space on your primary drive and don't use incognito mode on your browser.

If you continue having issues it's best if you joined us in one of our real-time chats, it's easier to troubleshoot installation problems there.

deofol

Did you turn off brave shields?

Brave (with Brave Shields disabled, since it caps storage usage at a low value to avoid fingerprinting available storage)

rhimbo

Yes, shields are down (see screen grab).

Also notice that I'm now in some strange state. My bootloader is unlocked, but I cannot proceed past the "Download release" step (as previously mentioned). So I cannot "Flash release" and I thought I would start over.

But Brave cannot 'see' my Pixel 7a. So I thought I would re-lock the bootloader and start all over from the very beginning. But if I click the "Lock bootloader" button on the web installer page, I get this error:

Error: Failed to execute 'requestDevice' on 'USB': No device selected.

How do I re-lock the bootloader without using adb? Is there a way to do it on the phone? I can't find anything that works upon booting into the now unlocked bootloader.

![https://www.imgbly.com/ib/8LP0YEVcaL](https://)