How to Install GNU/Linux UBPorts Ubuntu Touch on Oneplus One (and Nexus 5)

Here's a guide to installing Ubuntu Touch from UBports, a GNU/Linux mobile platform forked from the original Ubuntu Touch from Canonical. This installation is on a Oneplus One phone (see Nexus 5 comments below). I will also compare this installation process to a Nexus 5 and note any differences here.

The two download links referred to in the video:

(1) UBPorts Installer 0.3.2-beta (as of 10/23/2019)

(2) Missing ADB dll's (Windows Only)
or if you want to have a trusted source,

Copying the Missing DLL's (Windows ONLY)
Copy the dll files from the directory containing the ADB platform tools dll's as follows:
copy *.dll /users/your-user-id/appdata/roaming/ubports/platform-tools

(3) Cable Type Warning - do not use USB cables that have a white USB-A at the end. That signals that it is USB 1.x which is not compatible for this. Use USB-A black (for USB 2.0) or blue (for USB 3.0). Otherwise you will waste time trying to figure out why nothing is running.

***** UPDATE **** Nexus 5 *****
Many differences with procedures on a Nexus 5...

1. Enable Developer mode on Android by (a) clicking 7 times on Build Number in About Phone, (b) Then in developer options will become visible. Enable ADB Debugging.

2. On the first boot of the Nexus to the Recovery menu, you have first do an oem unlock.
So when I got the error 'Failed Locked Device', I did the following command:
cd/users/Your-User-Id/appdata/roaming/ubports/platform-tools
fastboot oem unlock
fastboot erase cache

This will bring an interface on the Nexus 5 Phone recovery to manually select to unlock. Choose yes to unlock.

3. Then unlike the Oneplus One, you can't just leave it on the menu when you go to the Recovery menu. You have to manually select Boot Loader for step1 and then Recovery Mode for Step 2.

This difference may be because the Nexus 5 was running Android originally while the Oneplus One was running Cyanogen Mod. So the boot loader behaved differently.

First impressions: the Nexus 5 is very smooth. I would actually say the browser is a bit faster. Just slightly slower than my Google Pixel when running Android.

This is definitely an option compared to a Oneplus One.

The Oneplus One has a better camera. The CPU specs are very close. The Oneplusone is at 2.5GHZ, the Nexus 5 is at 2.3GHZ with the same Snapdragon CPU and GPU.

CAUTION: Some Nexus 5 models will not have band support with US Carriers. I have one of those. So I can use it only for testing and not as a phone.

**********************************
PREINSTALLED NEXUS 5 WITH UT
**********************************
I have a stock of Nexus 5 with Ubuntu Touch preinstalled.
Usually I buy some Nexus 5's each week.

**********************************

I'm the Internet Privacy Guy from Los Angeles. I'm here to educate. You are losing your Internet privacy and Internet security every day if you don't fight for it. Your data is collected with endless permanent data mining. Learn about a TOR router, a VPN , antivirus, spyware, firewalls, IP address, wifi triangulation, data privacy regulation, backups and tech tools, and evading mass surveillance from NSA, CIA, FBI. Learn how to be anonymous on the Internet so you are not profiled. Learn to speak freely with pseudo anonymity. Learn more about the dangers of the inernet and the dangers of social media, dangers of email.

I like alternative communication technology like Amateur Radio and data communications using Analog. I'm a licensed HAM operator with a General license.

[jackoneil]

Thanks Rob, good effort. However following it with the newer 0.7.4 beta of the UBports installer, experienced over 8 hours of frustration trying to install Ubuntu touch on a New Nexus 5 using Windows 10 (following your instructions) Linux Mint and Gallium OS, I fired-up an old Mac Pro, installed Android Studio, and the Installation completed in a matter of mins. without an issue.

[chuckm]

Great video - thank you! I'm looking forward to seeing your results with the Nexus 5. Mine will be here in a few days.

[TheVcasf]

Hi Rob. I couldn't find a Nexus 5, instead I just found a Nexus 5x. The 5x doesn't seem to be supported. Have there been any developments that you know of? Can't thank you enough for what you're doing.

[izzytango]

Hey, great tutorial on how to get these up and running Ubuntu Touch! This runs flawlessly on my Nexus 5 with absolutely no issues; However, with the oneplus one, upon flashing it and everything working successfully, it fails to recognize my simcard, as well as in the Wifi settings, it only allows me to select "previous wifi connections", which there are none. Would you happened to know a fix to this? I have searched around for the solution, and am unable to find any. Any advice would be great, and i'm sure would be beneficial to many others in the same predicament! Thanks again for all of your help with these videos.

[iflnr]

Thanks for the video! I am very excited and cannot wait to do this. I am very happy that the process is this easy, thanks again!

[makaridreamsbellydancefash]

Hi Rob, thank you for this great video, but I have a question. How do I unlock the bootloader of the Oneplus 1? I don't have windows PC, only Linux.

[bradmoran]

Ive wondered if the post will work with the Oppo Find 7 and 7a, same factory as the OnePlus One. Great info!

[sashas]

You can install custom rom images without a PC by loading both a recovery tool app and the OS images onto an SD card and then entering the device recovery mode and then loading the recovery tool app and then flashing the OS image using the recovery tool app. Can't you install the ubuntu touch OS image without a PC the same way?

[rmjormjo]

Always high quality reviews from you, Rob. I miss a review from you about Ubuntu Toch on Xiaomi Phones like the Xiaomi Redmi (note) 7 or the Xiaomi Pocophone F1. Ebay is flooded with these devices, and they can be found at the good price, and there are several Ubuntu Touch installation instruction available for these devices. But which device to choose? The Pocophone F1 with 6 GB RAM and octacore processor which can be found on ebay starting from 100 USD is certainly a deal-breaker. But is the installation mature? For people who are interested in phone security, Veracrypt is an interesting topic. Veracript is a mature desktop encryption software, which is available for Windows 10 and Ubuntu. But can it be used on Ubuntu Toch, for instance with a keyboard? After installation, it requires only entry of a password during booting. Does this work with Ubuntu Touch without a keyboard?

[tahirahmed]

I had many problems trying on windows 10 x64 v1909 Jan 2020 surface pro , even i followed your advice tips to get the dll files, still dont work..
It will work with windows 7!!!! Saves me trying to download linux mint and installing on a pc, as you say its very easy with linux. Im using a oneplus one 64gb.

Good luck folks...

[MegaDodgie]

I used an active SIM from republic wireless on my ubports OnePlus one. It made a WiFi call!! Did not know I could get away with that. Of course ubtouch and Droid apps aren't friendly so checking data wasn't quick. Sim was from motog4. Any thoughts Braxman?

[ngel]

Thank you for this. There's such a lack of trustworthy youtubers talking about stuff like this.

[VeryUsMumblings]

I installed Ubports on a LG Nexus 5, but I installed from Linux Mint using ubports installer to the phone. The install went smoothly, So far, the only problem with the phone is that the media player won't play mp4 video, even though the browser seems to have no problem with Youtube and streaming video.

[DaniloFernandezRios]

This is probably obvious to the linux user (but anyway...):

In any linux distro you should open the ubport with superuser:

sudo ubports-installer

This step (in addition to testing several usb cables) is critical for it to work.

[emanuelegargiulo]

Hi I tried to install Ubuntu touch from Linux mint to my old Samsung galaxy note 4.
I installed it but it has 3 bugs
1 it does not see the simcard
2 it does not store the wifi password.
3 the front camera bugs when I shoot a picture and the telephone switches off.

What do you think I can do to solve these problems please?
Thank you

[vdochev]

Do I need to unlock any bootloaders and such on Nexus 5?
Great video! I'll try that someday when I buy a new phone :)

[oxmaanqureshee]

I have infinix hot 8...do I can install Ubuntu touch in it??

[iflnr]

I just ordered an unlocked OnePlus One 64GB World phone. I hope this will accept Ubuntu Touch. I wonder if there’s a way to have someone replace the CPU and chip set to super charge it. I have little knowledge of the hardware beyond the ARM processor. I’d think a slow (to keep the heat down) AMD64 would be 10 times better! Lol! Maybe from a Latte Panda or some other AMD64 SBA

[JuanPabloFuentealba]

Can you please help with info to install it in a xiaomi redmi note 4, thank you great channel

[danielbrown]

I am following the video with a brand new Nexus 5 and using my win 10 desktop. Everything went as shown until I got to the screen that identifies the phone. even manual has no listings. I guess maybe I missed something. I copied the DLL's to the directory on the video except I used my user name instead of demo as instructed. Can someone help me get thru this road block?