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Install LineageOS on
Google Pixel

sailfish

Basic requirements

  1. Read through the instructions at least once before actually following them, so as to avoid any problems due to any missed steps!
  2. Make sure your computer has adb and fastboot. Setup instructions can be found here.
  3. Enable USB debugging on your device.
  4. Boot your device with the stock OS at least once and check every functionality.
  5. LineageOS is provided as-is with no warranty. While we attempt to verify everything works you are installing this at your own risk!

Unlocking the bootloader

  1. Enable OEM unlock in the Developer options under device Settings, if present.
  2. Connect the device to your PC via USB.
  3. On the computer, open a command prompt (on Windows) or terminal (on Linux or macOS) window, and type:
    adb -d reboot bootloader
    

    You can also boot into fastboot mode via a key combination:

    • With the device powered off, hold Volume Down + Power.
  4. Once the device is in fastboot mode, verify your PC finds it by typing:
    fastboot devices
    

    If you don’t get any output or an error:

    • on Windows: make sure the device appears in the device manager without a triangle. Try other drivers until the command above works!
    • on Linux or macOS: If you see no permissions fastboot try running fastboot as root. When the output is empty, check your USB cable and port!
  5. Now type the following command to unlock the bootloader:
    fastboot flashing unlock
    
  6. If the device doesn’t automatically reboot, reboot it. It should now be unlocked.
  7. Since the device resets completely, you will need to re-enable USB debugging to continue.

Installing Lineage Recovery using fastboot

  1. Download Lineage Recovery. Simply download the latest recovery file, named boot.img.
  2. Connect your device to your PC via USB if it isn’t already.
  3. If your device isn’t already in fastboot mode, on the computer, open a command prompt (on Windows) or terminal (on Linux or macOS) window, and type:
    adb -d reboot bootloader
    

    You can also boot into fastboot mode via a key combination:

    • With the device powered off, hold Volume Down + Power.
  4. Once the device is in fastboot mode, verify your PC finds it by typing:
    fastboot devices
    

    If you don’t get any output or an error:

    • on Windows: make sure the device appears in the device manager without a triangle. Try other drivers until the command above works!
    • on Linux or macOS: If you see no permissions fastboot try running fastboot as root. When the output is empty, check your USB cable (preferably use a USB Type-A 2.0 one or a USB hub) and port!
  5. Flash recovery onto your device:
    fastboot flash boot boot.img
    
  6. Now reboot into recovery to verify the installation.
    • Use the menu to navigate to and to select the Recovery option.

EFS/Persist Backup

  1. If you are not in recovery, reboot into recovery:
    • With the device powered off, hold Volume Down + Power. Then use the menu to select Recovery Mode.
  2. Now, use the volume buttons to select “Advanced”, and then “Enable ADB”.
  3. Now open Terminal (Linux/macOS), or PowerShell (Windows), run adb -d shell, and then run the following commands within it:
    • dd if=/dev/block/sdd9 of=/tmp/modemst1.img
    • dd if=/dev/block/sdd10 of=/tmp/modemst2.img
    • dd if=/dev/block/sdd3 of=/tmp/persist.img
    • exit
  4. Now from that same Terminal/PowerShell, run:
    • adb -d pull /tmp/modemst1.img
    • adb -d pull /tmp/modemst2.img
    • adb -d pull /tmp/persist.img

Repartition

  1. Download the flashable repartition script from here for 32 GB models, and here for 128 GB models.
  2. Rename the downloaded zip file to repartition.zip.
  3. On your device’s screen, choose “Apply Update”, then “From ADB”.
  4. From your Terminal/PowerShell, run adb -d sideload /path/to/repartition.zip, filling /path/to/ in with the path you downloaded the repartition zip to.
  5. The device will complete the repartition process, and will display Done! on-screen, at this point please select “Advanced” then “Reboot to Recovery”, then proceed with the installation process.

Installing LineageOS from recovery

  1. Download the LineageOS zip file that you would like to install or build the package yourself.
  2. If you are not in recovery, reboot into recovery:
    • With the device powered off, hold Volume Down + Power. Then use the menu to select Recovery Mode.
  3. Now tap Factory Reset, then Format data / factory reset and continue with the formatting process. This will remove encryption and delete all files stored in the internal storage, as well as format your cache partition (if you have one).
  4. Return to the main menu.
  5. Sideload the LineageOS .zip package but do not reboot before you read/followed the rest of the instructions!
    • On the device, select “Apply Update”, then “Apply from ADB” to begin sideload.
    • On the host machine, sideload the package using: adb -d sideload filename.zip.

Installing Add-Ons

  1. Click Apply Update, then Apply from ADB, then adb -d sideload filename.zip for all desired packages in sequence.
    When presented with a screen that says Signature verification failed, click Yes. It is expected as add-ons aren’t signed with LineageOS’s official key!

All set!

Once you have installed everything successfully, you can now reboot your device into the OS for the first time!

  • Click the back arrow in the top left of the screen, then “Reboot system now”.