Complaints by the Web Installer

alienheartbeat

config:
Xubuntu 24.04
G Chrome Version 141.0.7390.76 (Official Build) (64-bit)

Have attempted to use the web installer twice, once on a Pixel 9, once on a 9a, failed both times
with the same error:
Warning: browser is reporting a low storage quota, there might not be enough space for the image.

First time this was correct, I don't normally use Chrome and hadn't changed the default download folder which was in a partition with only 1.7Gb of free space. However changing the partition location didn't help when I tried again to download. So used the CLI which worked fine.

A few days later I tried the web installed on a 2nd phone, this time the download folder was in a partition with 167gb of free space. But same error again. Tried on a different laptop with 174Gb in the download partition, same error. Once again used the CLI.

I know others who use the web install without problem. Wondering if anyone else has seen this and possible causes? No doubt my fault somewhere.

Foggy

alienheartbeat I'm no expert but I'm not sure Chrome is using the downloads folder for the web installer - it's not actually downloading a file to your computer. The OS image is more like part of the web page and so may be in the browser cache instead. I would try moving your Chrome profile to a partition with free space as well as the downloads folder.

abednego

alienheartbeat GrapheneOS recommends (see the Web Installer documentation) avoiding Chromium on Ubuntu, as this operating system ships a broken Snap package. They mention a non-working WebUSB support, so it may not be related with your problem, but it is another problem that you should avoid. I would suggest installing Brave and disabling Brave Shields for https://grapheneos.org/ instead.

alienheartbeat

Foggy
Ah, exellent insight, I hadn't thought of that.

Rather than move my chrome profile, I'll just continue using the CLI installer: I like the insights it gives me on what is actually happening.

GrapheneOS

alienheartbeat The web installer has more detailed information printed to the console than the CLI install.

Skorp

Also, be sure you weren't using an incognito window in the browser. It limits the amount of storage that the browser process has access to. But this isn't an issue of the web installer, more an issue of how WebUSB works in Chromium browsers, afaik.

As a side note, if you have multiple Android devices, especially recent Pixels, you can use them to install GrapheneOS to each other via the Web Installer.

alienheartbeat

Skorp

As a side note, if you have multiple Android devices, especially recent Pixels, you can use them to install GrapheneOS to each other via the Web Installer.

How does this work? Does it enable you to tranfer apps and settings, as G setup is supposed to do?
Can't see any documentation for it.

fwiw, the G new device setup always works so badly I end up resetting my phone and re-installing from scratch.

alienheartbeat

Skorp
No, no incognito (I'm too tall and badly dressed to be incognito), and no snap (I detest snaps and uninstalled it).
I think Foggy's insight is the correct one.

userofgos

alienheartbeat How does this work?

Same way it does on Desktop/PC. You use the web-installer via Vanadium/Chrome on the spare Android device, connect both phones via USB-C to USB-C cable, and follow the same steps.

Does it enable you to tranfer apps and settings, as G setup is supposed to do?

No, it's not like Google's Android transfer. You can however use a Seedvault to backup your base setup and then restore it on any other GrapheneOS device, though there are limitations/drawbacks and it's not always a 1-1 solution. Check out this thread: https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/6025-megathread-first-hand-experiences-with-seedvault

alienheartbeat

userofgos

Same way it does on Desktop/PC. You use the web-installer via Vanadium/Chrome on the spare Android device,

Ah, understand.

You can however use a Seedvault...though there are limitations/drawbacks

Yes, I had read that, but it seemed safer just to do it manually.