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Install LineageOS on
Google Nexus 4

mako

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. Connect the device to your PC via USB.
  2. 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 until the bootloader appears, then release the buttons.
  3. 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!
  4. Now type the following command to unlock the bootloader:
    fastboot oem unlock
    
  5. If the device doesn’t automatically reboot, reboot it. It should now be unlocked.
  6. Since the device resets completely, you will need to re-enable USB debugging to continue.

Installing a custom recovery using fastboot

  1. Download a custom recovery - you can download TWRP. Simply download the latest recovery file, named something like twrp-x.x.x-x-mako.img and rename it to recovery.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 until the bootloader appears, then release the buttons.
  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 recovery recovery.img
    
  6. Now reboot into recovery to verify the installation.
    • Use the menu to navigate to and to select the Recovery option.

Installing LineageOS from recovery

  1. Build a LineageOS installation package.
  2. If you are not in recovery, reboot into recovery:
    • With the device powered off, hold Volume Down + Power until the bootloader appears, then release the buttons. Use the volume buttons to scroll to “RECOVERY” and press Power to select.
  3. Now tap Wipe.
  4. Now tap Format Data and continue with the formatting process. This will remove encryption and delete all files stored in the internal storage.
  5. Return to the previous menu and tap Advanced Wipe, then select the Cache and System partitions and then Swipe to Wipe.
  6. Sideload the LineageOS .zip package:
    • On the device, select “Advanced”, “ADB Sideload”, then swipe to begin sideload.
    • On the host machine, sideload the package using: adb -d sideload filename.zip.

Installing Add-Ons

  1. Repeat the sideload steps above for all desired packages in sequence.

All set!

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

  • Run adb -d reboot.

Get assistance

After you’ve double checked that you followed the steps precisely, didn’t skip any and still have questions or got stuck, feel free to ask on our subreddit or in #LineageOS on Libera.Chat.