The safest general method is the official GrapheneOS WebUSB installer. Verify that your exact Pixel can be bootloader-unlocked, use a supported computer and browser with a reliable data cable, back up everything, then follow the installer to unlock, flash, and relock the phone. Bootloader unlocking, the initial operating-system flash, and relocking each erase user data, so complete and test your backup before you begin. Use the live GrapheneOS WebUSB installation guide for the device, browser, and operating-system versions accepted on the day you install.
Check that your Pixel is eligible before touching the bootloader
GrapheneOS installation is limited to devices on the project’s current supported-device list. Support changes over time, so do not rely on a remembered list of Pixel generations or on a seller’s description. Open the live GrapheneOS FAQ and the WebUSB guide, identify the exact model and regional variant, and confirm that it is still supported and unlockable.
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Carrier-specific variants deserve particular caution. A carrier can disable bootloader unlocking in its configuration. The official guidance recommends avoiding carrier variants to reduce the chance of buying a phone that cannot complete this process. If the OEM-unlocking switch is unavailable later, the variant’s carrier lock is one of the first things to investigate.
The WebUSB guide currently lists a minimum of 2 GB of free computer memory and 32 GB of free storage. These are installation requirements from the current guide, not performance measurements or guarantees for every future release. Keep the computer’s operating system and browser updated, and check the guide’s live browser and operating-system compatibility lists immediately before starting.
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Install from a normal, bare-metal operating-system installation whenever possible. A virtual machine may not pass the USB device through reliably, which can leave the browser unable to see the Pixel or interrupt communication during flashing. If a virtual machine is your only option, recognize that USB passthrough adds a failure point not present in the recommended setup.
Data-loss warning and backup plan
Make a complete backup before enabling the bootloader controls. The unlock operation erases existing user data, flashing replaces the installed operating system and erases data, and locking the bootloader erases data again. Copy photos, videos, documents, authenticator recovery codes, password-manager exports, contacts, and any application data that is not already synchronized. Confirm that you can restore the backup on another device; a backup that exists only on the Pixel will be lost.
Hardware and connection checklist
- A supported Pixel with enough battery to remain connected throughout the download and flash.
- A high-quality, standards-compliant USB-C data cable. The cable supplied with the device is the preferred choice when available; a charging-only cable cannot carry the installation data.
- A high-quality USB-C-to-USB-A data cable only when the computer has no USB-C port.
- A direct computer USB port. Do not put a hub, dock, monitor, or other intermediary between the computer and Pixel during installation.
- Updated browser and operating system that appear on the current WebUSB compatibility list.
GrapheneOS identifies faulty cables and hubs as common causes of installation trouble. Swapping to a known-good cable and a direct port is usually a more useful first test than changing unrelated settings.
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Both routes install the same project, but they suit different users. The project describes WebUSB as the easiest supported path for most people. The command-line route is useful when you need a scripted or terminal-based workflow and are comfortable validating downloaded files yourself.
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| Route | What you need | Best fit | Important trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| WebUSB installer | Supported browser with WebUSB, supported computer, direct USB connection and a data cable | Most installations; the browser presents the unlock, download, flash and relock controls | Depends on browser USB support, permissions, drivers and a stable cable connection |
| Command line | Current fastboot tools, OpenSSH setup and factory-image signature verification, in addition to the supported Pixel and cable | Experienced users who want terminal control and an independently verifiable download workflow | More setup and more opportunities to use an incorrect command or image; follow the official sequence exactly |
The official GrapheneOS installation overview explains the two methods and advises using the project’s own instructions rather than third-party guides, which can be outdated or inaccurate. Do not combine commands from an older tutorial with screens from the current WebUSB installer.
Prepare stock Android and enable OEM unlocking
Update the phone and secure the backup
Start in the factory Android installation that came on the Pixel. Install any pending stock-system update, connect to the internet, and finish the backup described above. Some variants need internet access while stock Android checks whether the device is carrier-locked, so leave connectivity enabled while you change the developer setting.
Reveal Developer options
- Open Settings.
- Tap About phone (or About tablet on a Pixel Tablet).
- Tap Build number repeatedly until Android confirms that Developer options are enabled.
- Return to Settings and open System, then Developer options.
- Turn on OEM unlocking and accept the confirmation prompt.
If the switch is disabled, first verify that the phone is connected to the internet and that it is not a carrier variant with unlocking disabled. Do not proceed on the assumption that a later command will bypass a hardware or carrier restriction.
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Pixel 6a stock-system exception
The official guide documents a specific historical issue with the Pixel 6a: the factory stock-system version did not permit OEM unlocking. Its remedy is to update over the air to the June 2022 release or a later release and then perform a factory reset so the setting becomes available. This is a model-specific exception, not a general instruction to reset every Pixel. Check the current guide for any newer model-specific caveats before applying it.
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Install with the official WebUSB installer
The following sequence reflects the project’s supported browser workflow. Keep the Pixel connected directly and do not use it for other work while the installer is operating.
1. Open the current installer and select the device
- On the prepared computer, open the official WebUSB installer in a supported, updated browser.
- Read the device and browser requirements shown there and select the exact Pixel model when prompted. If your model is not listed, stop; do not substitute an image for a similar-looking Pixel.
2. Enter Fastboot Mode
- Power the Pixel off or choose a reboot.
- Hold Volume Down while it reboots until the bootloader screen displays Fastboot Mode.
- For a Pixel Tablet, disconnect it from its stand before continuing.
Leave the phone paused on the Fastboot screen. The browser cannot perform the bootloader operations while Android is running normally.
3. Connect directly by USB
- Plug the data cable directly into a computer port and the Pixel. Avoid hubs, docks and extension chains.
- Use the browser’s device-selection dialog to choose the Pixel and grant the requested USB permission.
- If the browser does not list the device, stop and resolve the connection, driver or Linux-permission issue before attempting to flash.
4. Unlock the bootloader
- Choose the installer’s Unlock control.
- Read the warning on the Pixel’s screen and confirm with the hardware keys.
- Wait for the device to return to the bootloader state and for the installer to report completion.
Unlocking is the authorization that allows new firmware and operating-system partitions to be written. It is not a temporary preview mode; continue through the complete installation and relock the bootloader before using the phone as your everyday device.
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5. Download and flash GrapheneOS
- Start the installer’s download-and-flash operation.
- Allow it to obtain the appropriate factory images, firmware and operating-system components for the selected Pixel.
- Keep the cable connected, do not close the browser, and do not allow the computer to sleep while the operation is running.
- Wait for the installer to report that flashing has finished before touching the phone.
The initial flash replaces the existing stock operating system. A blank or rebooting screen during a normal transition is not a reason to unplug the cable; use the installer’s status messages and the live guide as the authority for what is complete.
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6. Relock the bootloader
- After flashing completes, use the installer’s Lock control.
- Confirm the relock on the Pixel with the hardware keys.
- Wait for the installer to finish and for the device to reboot or return to the expected bootloader state.
Do not skip relocking. A locked bootloader enables full verified boot, which lets the device check that the operating-system partitions match the trusted state instead of allowing an untrusted modified image to boot.
7. Complete first-boot setup
- Allow the Pixel to boot into GrapheneOS and complete the initial setup screens.
- On the final setup screen, turn off OEM unlocking unless you deliberately need it enabled for another installation or development task.
- Restore your data only after confirming that the phone reaches the normal lock screen and that the cellular, Wi-Fi and USB functions you need are working.
What the command-line method changes
The command-line procedure is not a shortcut around the safeguards above. It still requires an officially supported, unlockable Pixel, a backup, a direct data connection, a bootloader unlock, a complete flash and a final relock. The extra work is on the computer: install current fastboot tooling, set up the required OpenSSH components, download the correct factory image, and verify its signatures before flashing.
Use the command-line instructions from the official GrapheneOS installation page as one coherent sequence. Verify that the image corresponds to the exact device codename, keep the terminal output, and do not paste commands from an unrelated guide into the middle of the process. If signature verification, fastboot devices, or bootloader-state commands are unfamiliar, WebUSB is the lower-risk choice.
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The browser cannot find the Pixel
- Confirm that the phone is still in Fastboot Mode rather than Android.
- Disconnect and reconnect the cable directly to another computer port, avoiding every hub or dock.
- Try the high-quality cable supplied with the device or another known-good data cable; a cable that charges can still lack reliable data lines.
- Update the browser and computer operating system, then compare their versions with the current WebUSB requirements.
- On Linux, install the distribution-specific udev rules described by the official guide so your user account can access USB devices without running the browser as root.
Linux reports that the device is in use
The WebUSB documentation notes that fwupd can claim the USB device on Linux. Follow the guide’s current troubleshooting directions to stop fwupd temporarily, retry the connection, and restore the service afterward. Do not solve a permissions problem by running an untrusted installer as root.
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OEM unlocking is missing or unavailable
- Check that stock Android has internet access so it can query carrier-lock status.
- Recheck the exact model and carrier variant against the supported-device information. Carrier configurations can permanently disable bootloader unlocking.
- If the phone is a Pixel 6a running its factory stock release, update to the June 2022 release or later and factory-reset it as described in the official guidance.
The computer sleeps, the cable is bumped, or flashing is interrupted
Flashing is a continuous operation. Keep the computer on external power, prevent automatic sleep for the duration, and leave the phone and cable untouched. If an interruption occurs, do not guess at a recovery command or install an image for another model. Return to the live GrapheneOS installation instructions and use their current recovery or troubleshooting path for the bootloader state shown on the Pixel.
The installer shows a model or version you do not recognize
Stop and verify the device identity. Supported-device and browser lists are live documents; a name that looks similar is not evidence that the image is interchangeable. Select only the exact model identified by the installer and the official compatibility page.
Verify the security state after installation
Confirm that the bootloader is locked
On the next boot, check the bootloader state rather than assuming the relock succeeded. The locked state is the foundation for full verified boot and helps prevent unauthorized flashing or modification of protected operating-system partitions.
Compare the verified-boot key identifier when available
Newer supported Pixel generations can display the complete verified-boot key hash. Compare that identifier with the official value for the model using the current GrapheneOS instructions. Some older generations display only a shortened identifier, so the amount of text available for comparison depends on the hardware generation.
Use Auditor with a second Android device
GrapheneOS Auditor provides a hardware-backed attestation workflow that uses another Android device to inspect the installed system. It is an optional, additional check; it supplements rather than replaces the protection provided by a correctly locked bootloader and verified boot. Follow the current Auditor directions in the official documentation for pairing and interpreting the result.
When the installation is complete
A successful installation ends with the exact Pixel model supported, GrapheneOS booting normally, OEM unlocking disabled unless intentionally needed, and the bootloader locked. Keep the cable and computer setup available until you have reached that state and completed your initial checks. For future updates or a later reinstall, start again from the current official WebUSB or command-line instructions instead of assuming that today’s browser labels, device list or model exceptions will remain unchanged.
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