If you are having a Nexus 4 Android smartphone, then you can now install the latest version of Ubuntu OS. While this is the first time Ubuntu has made this official to the Nexus 4 and Galaxy Nexus smartphones. The best part of this update is that it comes with a whole new user interface which was earlier showcased in MWC 2013, Barcelona. You can also check out the screen capture mentioned below to get an idea on how this Ubuntu OS looks like. So, after following the list of quick pre requisites, you can then head over to the detailed guide which will help you update the device. Compared the Jellybean Release, Ubuntu OS comes with a totally different interface all together.
Quick Pre Requisites:
- Since this is not the original factory firmware released by LGE / Google Inc., you may lose the data. So, create the backup of all your data with the help of below mentioned steps.
SMS – Use “SMS Backup & Restore app”,
Contacts – Sync with the Gmail application,
Call Log – Call Log and Restore
Images, Songs, Videos, Files – Copy to internal / External SD Card,
APN and MMS Settings – Note down from the path “Applications > Settings > Wireless and Network > Mobile Networks > Access Point Names”
- From the path “Settings > Applications > Development > USB debugging”, enable the USB Debugging, ensure that the USB debugging option is ticked. Also, minimum charge left in your device should be more than 40% or else there is a risk of device getting turned off in the middle of firmware update.
Disclaimer: Follow all the instructions carefully mentioned in this article, we should not be held responsible in any manner if your LG Nexus 4 doesn’t boot up or gets bricked due to not following the instructions.
Let’s proceed to the next step where we have mentioned the detailed steps which will help you update the device.
Procedure to Update Nexus 4 with Ubuntu OS:
- First up make sure that you have installed the ADB in your computer from android.com website. Once you have configured the ADB, you now will have to enter the below mentioned commands in the command prompt after connecting your device with original USB cable;
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:phablet-team/tools
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install phablet-tools android-tools-adb android-tools-fastboot
- Download the Ubuntu OS for Nexus 4 from here and place the file in the ADB folder in your computer that is either in adb-tools or in adb-platforms folder.
- Disconnect the device from computer to turn off the device and power on the device by holding the power button + volume up + volume down. This will put your device in the Bootloader mode.
- Open command prompt in your computer and run sudo fastboot oem unlock, on the device screen, accept the terms of unlocking. After this, press the Power button to turn ON the device.
- Now, all you need to do is to just enter the below mentioned command for starting the installation process,
phablet-flash ubuntu-system –no-backup
- Once the above command is processed, it will take around 4 – 5 minutes for applying this update. Once done, all you need to do is to just follow the on screen instructions.
Note: Just in a rare case if the device doesn’t boot up or show the home screen then long press on the Power button to turn Off the device and boot the device again in the normal mode.
So there you go, your LG Nexus 4 device is updated with the latest version of Ubuntu OS. Do let us know if you need any help as we will try our level best to sort out the same.
