Install ubuntu touch on oneplus 6

Goal & issues:

Install ubuntu touch & Android on oneplus6. Mainly targeting ubuntu touch for daily use(not really dual-boot)

Issues: fix for dead boot/reboot from ubuntu touch (see bottom).

• simple install of silo-boot (see bottom) with android 9.
• Ubports_installer check 2 'wipes' and connect phone later.
• Oneplus 6T from T-mobile (!risk: system update → update local → to android 9) Date: 10/27/2021

Reference: Outdated documentation & ubports-installer video tutorial & Unlock bootloader & fix ref.

Fresh install?

Prerequisites:

All you data could be wiped!! Backup your data!!

In Android of Oneplus 6: Unlock bootloader

• Settings->About phone --> Build number to Enable Developer Options --> Enable OEM unlocking --> Enable Advanced Reboot (optional) , so you can boot into Fastboot Model (i.e. bootloader)

Laptop: install ubports_installer and adb tools.

Ex: Ubuntu laptop with Snap

• sudo apt install android-tools-adb android-tools-fastboot
• sudo adb start-server
• adb devices # list devices adb shell # open a shell on android device
• sudo snap install ubports-installer # may install lastest versions
• snap info ubports-installer # show channels
• sudo snap refresh ubports-installer --channel=0.8.9/stable # check info.

1. Flash Android 9 os with potential dualboot (Ubuntu + Android), based on Outdated documentation

• Laptop: download files based on step 1 in Outdated documentation

• Download 2 versions of twrp in your laptop (ubuntu) :twrp-3.4.0-3-enchilada.img and twrp-3.3.1-2-enchilada.img[optional]
• Download Android OS 9: OnePlus6Oxygen_22_OTA_034_all_1909112343_dd26.zip

• Phone: If not on 'fastboot', power off and press power button + volume up → fastboot
• if fastboot shows it is unlocked, then unlock by fastboot oem unlock. Select unlock.
• Now boot into TWRP recovery with the command fastboot boot twrp-3.4.0-3-enchilada.img, once on on the main screen, you should see your phone in adb devices on your PC.
• Move OxygenOS 9 zip file to your device with adb push OnePlus6Oxygen_22_OTA_034_all_1909112343_dd26.zip /sdcard
• In TWRP go to install and choose OnePlus6Oxygen_22_OTA_034_all_1909112343_dd26.zip. Swipe to confirm flash and wait, it will take a few minutes. Note that this will install it to your other slot, it won't affect whatever Android system you're currently running.
• Choose system from TWRP reboot menu, don't install the TWRP app!
• Once it's done, go to the reboot menu and pick bootloader, then hit reboot. You should be in the bootloader - on a black screen with START in green letters like before, however you're now on the other slot (the one you just installed Android 9 to).

2. Install ubuntu by using official installer: ubports-installer video tutorial

Phone: Make sure it is in bootloader screen

Laptop: open software: Ubports_installer (current 0.8.9 stable).

• 1. When installer starts, do not connect the phone to pc. Instead, manually select the device (oneplus 6). (if you connect the phone, installer may complain the phone is not supported)
• 2. Connect the Oneplus 6 when installer shows 'install' (see ubports-installer video tutorial). Notice, when the prompts asks whether to wipe personal data and others. Do Check all of the 2 options Otherwise, you will get error on permission (if get error, click error page link and search to find solutions)>
• 3. If good: you should get no error; Otherwise, search error message or refer to below trouble fix.

3. Fix for dead-loop of boot after power off/on

Cause: possible issue is related to race condition. Fix: (acknowledge from the forum) one-time installation of a file;

• laptop: download file: lxc-android-config.override

• Phone: boot to fastboot (i.e. by pressing power button +volume up) and then connect to laptop, then select to recovery mode (i.e. by pushing volume down key), wait until ubuntu recovery screen appearss

• Laptop: make sure you can do adb devices to see the phone, then run adb push lxc-android-config.override /system_root/etc/init and make sure no error comes out.

• Phone: from the screen, select reboot. Phone should then reboot to Ubuntu touch. If phone is powered off but not on later, just manually power it on and wait < 20 seconds to see ubuntu welcome screen.

Questions/issues?

Switch back to Android? this may or may not break some ubuntu touch setup

• Power off the device, hold volume up and power to enter bootloader mode.
• Run fastboot getvar current-slot, this will tell you which slot ubuntu touch is installed to.
• Switch slots, if your current slot is a then run fastboot --set-active=b, if it's b use --set-active=a.
• fastboot reboot

Reboot does not reboot?

• This is normal even after you finish step 3. When phone is off, just manually power it on.
• Still dead in boot?

• Try above step: switch back to Android, then select wipe/erase all the data,
• Then reboot to fastboot, and follow steps 1&2 to re-flash android 9 & install ubuntu touch

New simple installation? no dual boot (ref.)

• For op 6 of global version (not from T-mobile), just copy android 9 rom to op6 and then do 'system update' using local update
• Then reboot into android 9, enable developer option, enable usb debugging, enable oem unlocking, enable advanced reboot option (to boot into bootloader)

Appendix: what about==oneplus 6T==

• follow the same tutorial but with different version in overall with modification:

1. Notice, if it is by T-mobile, one needs first to get unlock code. See here
2. Then, after you can do fastboot oem unlock, you follow similar steps like oneplus 6
3. If get error from the ubports installer, make sure you check the 2 wipes (i.e. wipe personal data and the below one).
4. T mobile version, do NOT directly downgrade to andorid 9 using rom. You may get incompatible error (phone is bricked).