Install LineageOS on the Pixel 8 Pro

LineageOS is the world's most widely used custom ROM — a clean, close-to-stock build of Android with a huge community. The Pixel 8 Pro (codename husky) is officially supported, with current builds of LineageOS 23.2 (Android 16) maintained by mikeioannina. To install it you need:

• The phone — ideally carrier-agnostic. Carrier variants can have bootloader unlocking disabled by a carrier ID.
• A computer with working adb and fastboot (from Android platform-tools).
• A good USB-C cable, plugged directly into a rear or laptop port — no hubs. Bad cables are the most common cause of failed flashes.
• Patience. LineageOS has no web installer; this is a command-line and recovery process.

1. Update to stock Android 16 first. LineageOS 23.2 for the Pixel 8 Pro requires the Android 16 stock firmware installed beforehand. Check the Android version, not the vendor OS version.
2. Boot stock at least once and verify the basics — calls, SMS, and mobile data (including over Wi-Fi/LTE if you use it). If something's broken on stock, it will be broken on LineageOS too.
3. Remove all Google accounts from the device to avoid Factory Reset Protection locking you out.
4. Back up everything. Unlocking wipes the phone, and so does formatting data. Assume nothing survives.
5. Enable USB debugging under Settings → Developer options.

1. Enable OEM unlocking in Developer options, if present.
2. Connect the device to your PC over USB.
3. Boot into the bootloader. On the computer, run:

adb -d reboot bootloader

Or with the device powered off, hold Volume Down + Power.

4. Verify your PC finds the device:

fastboot devices

On Linux, no permissions fastboot means run as root. Empty output means check your cable and port.

5. Unlock the bootloader:

fastboot flashing unlock

Confirm any on-screen prompt on the phone. This wipes all data and the secure element.

6. Let the device reboot. Since it reset completely, re-enable USB debugging to continue.

Download the following from the official build page:

• boot.img
• dtbo.img
• vendor_kernel_boot.img

1. Power off the device and boot into bootloader mode (Volume Down + Power).
2. Flash the images:

fastboot flash boot boot.img
fastboot flash dtbo dtbo.img
fastboot flash vendor_kernel_boot vendor_kernel_boot.img

3. Reboot back into the bootloader:

fastboot reboot bootloader

1. Download Lineage Recovery — the file named vendor_boot.img. Use this one specifically; other recoveries may not work for installation or updates.
2. Flash it onto the device:

fastboot flash vendor_boot vendor_boot.img

3. Reboot into recovery to verify — use the menu to select Recovery. If you don't see the LineageOS logo, you booted into the wrong recovery; start this section over.

1. Download the LineageOS zip for husky.
2. Boot into recovery if you're not already there.
3. Select Factory Reset → Format data / factory reset and confirm. This removes encryption and deletes all files in internal storage.
4. Return to the main menu.
5. Sideload the OS — on the device choose Apply update → Apply from ADB, then on the computer:

adb -d sideload /path/to/lineage.zip

Do not reboot to system yet — finish the rest of the guide first.

LineageOS ships without Google. If you want the Play Store and Google services, install a Google Apps (GApps) package before first boot.

1. Download the arm64 GApps package from the official page.
2. Choose Apply update → Apply from ADB, then sideload each add-on in sequence:

adb -d sideload /path/to/gapps.zip

When asked about signature verification, choose Yes — add-ons aren't signed with LineageOS's key, and that's expected.

1. Click the back arrow, then Reboot system now.
2. Wait. The first boot usually takes no longer than 15 minutes. If it drags on longer, you may have missed a step.
3. Expect a warning on boot. LineageOS shows a warning every time — there's nothing you can do about it but ignore it. That's normal for a non-stock OS.
4. Don't root it via the system partition. LineageOS ships a minimal app set; don't use methods that uninstall system apps, as it can break the system.