1. I enabled Developer Options (curiously it does not show up on the settings menu,I have to search settings each time to access this menu)
  2. I enabled OEM unlocking after it was initially greyed out, plugging into pc seemed to fix this and the button became available.
  3. I am running Zorin OS (Ubuntu fork) I checked the fwupd version, it was earlier than 1.9.10 so I ran the stop fwupd command
    4.At the unlock bootloader stage I sometimes get Pixel 8a show up sometimes not and here is where I am stuck
  4. On the pixel 8a I push power button and volume down and it boots into "fast boot mode" and looking at "Device state" it says in "green locked" and right next to it in red it says "Unlockable"
  5. With this menu there is NO option to "Do not unlock bootloader" or "unlock bootloader" the only options are a. Start b.restart bootloader c.Recovery mode d. Rescue mode e. Barcode f. power off
  6. I am using Brave and I turned off all shields
  7. The pixel can reboot into normal user mode and seems to function perfectly though not set up.
  8. I updated the security on the phone however a system update seems to require a logged in google account which I do not have
  9. HELP ... I am clueless as to how to proceed. I went to Officeworks and spoke with the most tech savvy guy working there, he was aware of degoogling but knew little about it and assured me the pixel 8a I purchased is 100% unlocked ... I showed him the fastboot menu where it says "Device state" "Locked" in green and Unlockable" in red however he really knew nothing about this.

Simple fix, the commands to unlock/relock the bootloader are issued by the web installer. Scroll further down, the first button does just that.

    Yes, on the device running the web installer. The pixel meanwhile remains in fastboot mode.

      spring-onion
      first i re-ran the command to stop fwupd as I had shut down the pc, then tried the unlock bootloader button and i get this "Error: Failed to execute 'open' on 'USBDevice': Access denied."?
      Pixel is in fastboot mode

        Did you install the android-sdk-platform-tools-common package? Make sure Brave isn't installed as a snap or flatpak.

          spring-onion Well I think there is a problem as Zorin only has Brave as a snap or flat, I think I installed the flatpak. I just search the app store I don't get anything for "android-sdk-platform-tools-common package" is this the exact name?

            spring-onion I just tried to install "android-sdk-platform-tools-common" and I got "command not found"

              It's not an app so it won't show up there, you should be able to install it manually in the command prompt with:

              sudo apt install android-sdk-platform-tools-common package

              But that's unlikely to let you proceed with the installation without hiccups since your browser is still a flatpak. Do you have another Android phone in reach by any chance? If it's relatively modern it's likely you can use that as the host device. Simply open the web installer there and connect that phone with your pixel.

                spring-onion I have installed this package now, I must of missed a bit of the command. I'm thinking I will uninstall Brave and re-install as a .deb?

                    Rand-Uzer I do have a perfectly functioning Samsung A04, these are getting a bit old now.
                    I will try a .deb terminal install of Brave as I've not used it for anything so no big deal to uninstall

                      Sounds good. If it doesn't go anywhere I would definitely try with the Samsung, from my brief research it might fulfill the requirements. If you go down that route, the only difference regarding the install process will be that you will have to keep tapping reconnect on the Samsung during various steps of the installation.

                        spring-onion I just installed Brave via terminal so I will try again and keep you posted. If no joy I will try the Samsung
                        Thanks a lot for the assistance so far, I do feel I'm getting closer (famous last words lol)

                          Rand-Uzer using Android device and Chrome for web install should be way more straightforward

                            spring-onion One question, do I need to change usb settings for this to work, eg transfer files or in developer menu verify apps over usb? With the Samsung

                              spring-onion Well I have got further, I'm at download release and I got this ..."Error undefined"