Install /e/OS on a Google Pixel 4a - “sunfish”

The instructions in this guide will assist you to install /e/OS on your sunfish. Please read through the instructions at least once before actually following them, so as to avoid any problems later.

It is important that you know that downgrading Smartphones on OS versions greater than the /e/OS OS version you plan to install, can cause instability or at worst brick some devices. We recommend that you check your current OS version, before attempting the installation.

It is advisable to flash your device only if you know what you are doing and are ok taking the associated risk. All /e/OS builds are provided as best effort, without any guarantee. The /e/OS project and its project members deny any and all responsibility about the consequences of using /e/OS software and or /e/OS services.

Requirements

If required take a backup of all important data from your phone on an external storage device before proceeding.
Do not take a backup on the same device as some of these actions will format the device and delete the backup.
Ensure your phone is charged more than 50%
Check that adb and fastboot are enabled on your PC. If not you can find the setup instructions here
Download all the files and images mentioned in the download section below before starting the installation
Make sure you have a working data cable to connect your device to the PC. There are cables which are only for charging and do not transfer data.
Enable USB debugging on your device. You can find the instructions here
Make sure that your model is listed in the Smartphone Selector. Check the model supported. Where available, information on the model supported should show as a pop-up when you hover the cursor on the Device name. The model number supported should be the exact same.
Boot your device with the stock OS at least once and check every functionality.

Warning: Make sure that you can send and receive SMS and place and receive calls (also via WiFi and LTE, if available), otherwise it will not work on /e/OS as well. Additionally, some devices require that VoLTE/VoWiFi be utilized once on stock to provision IMS.

Please share your experience , suggest tips or changes to this install guide documentation by visiting the Pixel 4a specific topic on our community forum.

To report issues in /e/OS please refer this guide

Downloads for sunfish

Tip: Before installing /e/OS on the Google Pixel 4a sunfish for the first time, install the latest stock OS version 13 build on the device

Try the /e/OS Recovery (limited functionality)

/e/OS Recovery for community build

/e/OS build : U community

To understand the difference between /e/OS builds check this guide

Warning: Please note some of the above links can lead to external sites

Before following these instructions please ensure that the device is on the latest Android 13 firmware.

Unlocking the bootloader

Tip: The steps given below only need to be run once per device.

Warning: Unlocking the bootloader will erase all data on your device! Before proceeding, ensure the data you would like to retain is backed up to your PC and/or an online drive

Warning: Some vendors/manufacturers prevent the bootloader from being unlocked. Depending on where your device was acquired you may or may not be able to unlock the bootloader. To verify if your device is compatible please check the devices list.

Enable OEM unlock in the Developer options under device Settings, if present.
Connect your device to your PC via USB.
On the computer, open a command prompt (on Windows) or terminal (on Linux or macOS) window, and type:
```
 adb reboot bootloader
```
You can also boot into fastboot mode via a key combination:
- With the device powered off
- hold Volume Down + Power
Once the device is in fastboot mode, verify your PC finds it by typing:
```
 fastboot devices
```
Tip: If you see no permissions fastboot while on Linux or macOS, try running fastboot as root.
Now type the following command to unlock the bootloader:
```
 fastboot flashing unlock
```
If the device doesn’t automatically reboot, reboot it. It should now be unlocked.
Since the device resets completely, you will need to re-enable USB debugging to continue.

Flashing additional partitions

Warning: This platform requires additional partitions to be flashed for recovery to work properly.The steps to flash the partitions are given below

Tip: In case the partition files are not available in the /e/OS recovery zip, users can try and download them from the LineageOS wiki install page specific to this device and OS build.

First unzip the /e/OS Recovery file linked in the section marked Downloads for sunfish . The following files would show up in the location where you unzipped the contents of the eRecovery zip file
- dtbo.img
Next we manually reboot into bootloader or download mode
- With the device powered off
- hold Volume Down + Power
Flash the downloaded image files to your device by typing (replace <...> with the actual filenames):
```
fastboot flash dtbo <dtbo>.img
```

Temporarily Booting a custom recovery using `fastboot`

Before proceeding ensure you have downloaded the custom recovery from the link given in the Download section above
Connect your device to your PC via USB.
On the computer, open a command prompt (on Windows) or terminal (on Linux or macOS) window, and type:
```
 adb reboot bootloader
```
You can also boot into fastboot mode via a key combination:
- With the device powered off
- hold Volume Down + Power
Once the device is in fastboot mode, verify your PC finds it by typing:
```
fastboot devices
```
- If you see no permissions fastboot while on Linux or macOS, try running fastboot as root
- Some devices have buggy USB support while in bootloader mode. If fastboot hangs with no output when using commands such as fastboot getvar .. , fastboot boot …, fastboot flash … try a different USB port (preferably a USB Type-A 2.0 one) or a USB hub
Flash a recovery image onto your device by typing
```
fastboot flash boot recoveryfilename.img
```
Replace the recoveryfilename with the name of the recovery image you downloaded in the previous section
Now reboot into recovery to verify the installation:
- With the device powered off
- hold Volume Down + Power, then select “Recovery mode” using Volume keys.

Steps to install /e/OS using /e/OS recovery

Tip: Use the volume keys to navigate and power key to select

Tip: If your PC is unable to detect your device in adb ..in the /e/OS recovery main screen tap Advanced » Enable adb

On /e/OS Recovery Main Screen:

Select Factory reset
Select Format data / Factory reset option
Next screen will display a warning that this action cannot be undone
Select Format data to proceed or Cancel if you want to go back
If you selected Format data ..the format process will complete

Tip: You will see text in small font on the lower left side of the screen mentioning format progress

The small font text would be similar to this
```
 Wiping data
 Formatting/data
 Formatting/cache
 Data wipe complete
```
Display will now return to the Factory Reset screen

Tip: Use the volume up key to choose the arrow at the top to go back to main screen

In /e/OS Recovery main screen:
Select Apply Update and in next screen Apply update from adb
In the next screen, the device is now in sideload mode

Note at this point the Cancel option is highlighted that does not mean you have canceled the action. The device is in adb sideload mode.
On your PC type begin adb sideload. Type the below command in a console

adb sideload downloaded_file_name.zip

Replace downloaded_file_name.zip with the name of the /e/OS file you downloaded in the previous section
Press enter key on the keyboard to start the sideloading The screen will show the progress percentage…This might pause at 47%
Give it some time
The PC console will now display Total xfer: 1.00x
The phone screen will now display some text with a message similar to

Script succeeded result was [1.000000]

This means that the install was successful
Use the volume key to select the back arrow on the top left of the phone screen
Go back to the main screen and select Reboot system now

The reboot process may take 5 - 10 minutes

Success: Congratulations !! Your phone should now be booting into /e/OS !!

To find some troubleshooting tips… click here

adb

Getting a Total xFer ':' 0.01x message - Try to upload the /e/OS to internal storage and retry to install
adb ':' sideload connection failed ':' insufficient permissions for device error - Try to execute the commands adb kill-server and adb start-server and retry
Running adb shell twrp install /sdcard/</e/OS zip package> raise non-existent directory error - Try to check solution here
Getting an insufficient permissions error - Try the solution given here
When running "adb devices" in bash a device is shown as "unauthorized" - Try the solution given here

TWRP

Errors while running TWRP version 3.4.x.x or above - Try downloading and using a previous TWRP version.. below 3.4.x.x
In TWRP if this error shows up failed to mount /preload - Try in TWRP wipe screen in advanced menu select preload and swipe to wipe
/cache/recovery/xxx -> no such file or directory error while flashing a ROM - On PC run adb shell in the console now create a folder called recovery for e.g. here the devicecode name is violet "violet :/cache# mkdir recovery"

Connectivity

Trying to troubleshoot mobile connectivity issues - Read this guide