New Fairphone 5: Issues installing CalyxOS

Help Fairphone 5
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Installing CalyxOS on a brand new Fairphone 5: Can’t get into unlocked bootloader.

Steps taken:

  1. Prepared the phone and PC:
  • Got a new Fairphone 5. Never unpacked, seems brand new with stickers and all. I started it to log into google and Wi-Fi, to check everything is working at the base setup. No issues found at all. All settings set to default except for enable localization.
  • Powered down phone. Removed SIM card.
  • Updated Windows to the latest version.
  • Restarted PC and disabled antivirus.
  • Restarted and updated Fairphone to the latest version. Restarted it again, made sure there are no new updates.
  • Disabled VPN on Fairphone and uninstalled my VPN. Made sure Wi-Fi works.
  • Enabled developer mode. In system settings I managed to enable OEM unlocking and then USB debugging. To enable OEM unlocking I had to type a code acquired from Fairphone website (after giving my device’s serial number and another information). I was asked if I want to enable OEN unlocking as protection would be lessened and I confirmed.
  1. Downloading files and installing:
  • Entered CalyxOS website > Get CalyxOS > Install on your phone > picked Fairphone 5.
  • Install from Windows.
  • As per their directions: Putting device in the Fastboot mode (holding volume down button then connecting an USB cable capable of moving data). Extracting the downloaded Google USB Driver ZIP. Right clicking Android_winsub.inf and picking install. It asks if I confirm twice and then gives a message on computer’s screen “installed successfully” (or something similar).
  • Downloaded device flasher and CalyxOS image from CalyxOS Fairphone 5 page I was on. Putting both on the same folder (in C drive I just made a new folder directly).
  • Starting Fairphone normally. Connecting USB cable to computer. Being asked if I want to debug through this device and clicking allow.
  • Starting device-flasher.exe
  • Clicking enter. Phone asks if I want to debug using this PC again, picking allow. Flasher says detected FP5 (plus a short number) then devices to be flashed FP5 (with the same number). Clicking enter on flasher window to continue (as it asks for it after confirming).
  • Then phone automatically powers down and enters fastboot mode again, flasher asks me to unlock bootloader using volume keys. There is no bootloader option, just default fastboot mode and it says “device state - locked” at the bottom.

Can’t do anything more. I just have option to restart bootloader, start phone, power down phone or factory reset. So I stop this process. Phone works normally after starting.

I also tried using web installer version. I enter fastboot as requested by on screen directions. I click to connect device. Web installer cannot find my device and I can’t move ahead. Of course I disabled all Brave shields to be sure. Antivirus disabled, VPN disabled.

USB-C cable used - Good capable coming from my Wacom drawing talet. Capable of sending data, power, video, touch etc. It is almost brand new as well. I also tried using an older and slower capable capable of sending data (used it before for this purpose) and got the same result.

No idea what I can do next. I believe that I downloaded everything correctly. I tried using another Windows laptop and got the same result.

I wanted to use this method to install without typing some commands manually on Windows. I hope this can be avoided.

----- Issues I suspect myself

My suspicion is that the Fastboot state itself has an issue for me and in this state my PC doesn’t see or doesn’t connect to the device correctly. Because web installer couldn’t connect to my device I suspect this is the issue. My phone could be connected while in a normal mode, so most of the beginning stage on flasher exe works. Yet after it tries to force my phone into a fastboot mode to unlock bootkoader - my phone is not recognized or connection is off. Not causing the necessary signal to be given to my phone, to open that unlock bootloader menu.

Another issue I see is that upon connecting my Fairohone to Windows normally and clicking “allow debugging” I don’t see my phone either in device manager or in normal “computer” section under storages and devices. I can connect my old Samsung phone to PC and view its storage from the same PC, yet Fairphone 5 is not even showing. In device manager I seem to just see “Android Device” and under it there is “Android Composite ABD interface”. No warning symbol or anything.

After all of this I also started getting a window appearing in Windows randomly asking me " MFResident.exe wants to access location " or something similar. Is this connected to Calyx OS and should this be allowed? I saw no mention of it through any guide. AI says “MFResident.exe is a process associated with software developed by Shenzhen iMyFone Technology Co. This executable often appears after installing iMyFone applications, such as those designed to unlock iPhone or recover data”.

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So was the FP in normal or bootloader mode in that moment?

It sounds as if the PC does not detect the FP in fastboot/bootloader mode.

Have a look here and try differen cable and maybe check under Windows updates if there are further bootloader driver for installation

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At this stage my phone was in its normal state - just showing my screen/wallpaper. Asking if I want it to be USB debugged. Then I clicked allow on my phone and pressed enter in the flasher window on my PC. Then I get this information about my phone being detected in flasher and it asks me to click enter to continue.

After this my phone is restarted on its own and it enters fastboot state, where nothing more is happening. It should show
a little different content with a new option allowing me to unlock bootloader.

Towards your theory there are some hints for sure:

  • Web installer can’t connect to my phone in its Fastboot state. Says no device found.
  • Flasher OS image installation goes well up until entering this Fastboot mode.
  • Also in its normal state my phone isn’t showing with its storage when plugged to the PC via USB-C. It just asks if I want to USB debug it with this PC after I connect them, but afterwards my PC doesn’t show this phone’s storage under devices and storages. Not sure if this behavior is normal when having USB debugging enabled.

In the official guide it is also noted to install Google USB driver in the Fastboot state as well. If there is an issue with phone-comouter connection during Fastboot then maybe my Google USB driver wasn’t installed well either (although it said installation successful on Windows).

My questions for you:

Can you tell me more specifically where to look for updates for a bootloader driver for installation?

Also. I have less than two weeks to eventually return this phone to its seller (maybe, if they accept after I reset everything to factory settings). Can you confirm that it’s not the case of my phone being faulty and having issues with unlocking bootloader? This device was bought from a secondhand seller (some small private business selling phones). They had good ratings and everything appeared to be completely new when I got the device. No signs of usage, everything packaged and with undamaged stickers. If this issue is related more so to Windows and there is no risk that it’s caused by my phone then I can take it more slowly.

From my understanding - all Fairphone 5 phones can have its bootloader unlocked? There is no risk that something is wrong with my phone on this area and that I may need to return it/ buy it somewhere else?

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Thats not related to USB Debugging in my eyes but you would have to select data transfer to see igßt and you confirmed phone is detected by flasher in normal mode.

I dont know what driver are in the Calyx package.

You could check as said different cable, else see here

2 Likes
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Thank you all. :slight_smile:

This topic is solved and can be deleted - It seems I can’t delete it on my own. Can someone do this for me?

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It’s always a good idea to leave a topic on the forum if somebody runs into the same problem.

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I would be interested in the solution?

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Hi,

would you please share the solution with me? I am having the exact same issue and don’t know how to continue.

Thanks in advance & have a great day

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  • Optional Windows updates for bootloader and “Android Device”. My current laptop had them available, my other laptop had nothing similar available to install. So they may not appear in all cases. They are under settings > windows updates > advanced options > optional updates.
  • Web installer recognizes android device, but there is a notification that Fairphone 5 is not supported. Redirecting to manual installation.
  • Phone gets stuck a few times after unlocking bootloader and it has to be disconnected from the cable & volume button needs to be held and the phone has to be connected to the cable again (resuming Fastboot mode). I had to do this 3 or more times (when everything was 100% stuck).

Others may have a similar issue. Windows is the cause here. Or how Windows recognizes Fairphone models normally.

2 Likes
10

I did above just now. I responded to someone else. So I’m letting you know directly in case you haven’t followed this topic.

Be sure to not unplug your cable during installation. I only had to do this a few times right after unlocking bootloader and before the proper installation process has started. Everything was stuck and it was Flasher’s request, doing what I specified (unplugging and plugging into Fastboot again.

Please be careful and if in doubt seek help here or elsewhere. I don’t know much on this area, this is my first experience, so in similar cases it is important to ask. Better to annoy some strangers than to have something ruined and get your phone broken.

Please be careful and if in doubt seek help here or elsewhere. I don’t know much on this area, this is my first experience, so in similar cases it is important to ask. Better to annoy some strangers than to have something ruined and get your phone broken.

Have a good day as well.

1 Like
11

Thanks a lot for your help. I have managed to unlock the bootloader and startet the installation. It all went well until the device rebooted in to fastboot mode on calyxOS.

Now I’m somehow in a loop of fastbootloader and the installation didn’t continue. Can I save the phone, or did I brick it?

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Update: I didn’t brick it, but windows somehow deleted the driver for the FP5. It runs now. Thanks again for your help :slight_smile:

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No problem. I had this part too (stuck in a loop). For me this happened right after unlocking bootloader - Being asked to stop cable connection, hold volume button down and connect the cable again. It entered Fastboot mode and Flasher asked for it again. I did it like 4 or more times. Then it went okay after this.

So your CalyxOS is running all fine now?

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Yes, it’s running smooth now :slight_smile:

For me the solution was to reinstall the android usb drivers, the fp5 wasn’t recognized as adb device after each reboot.

Finally less data from my side sent to Google :partying_face:

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15

This part is cool, but phone itself seems even cooler. System just completes the package. Feels like owning something beyond a simple toy at least - with its long warranty, being able to open it at any time and fix anything. Big upgrade from my Samsung, which got “broken” (screen working, but not noticing input most of the time) 2 months after its 2 year warranty has ended. Never had issues with it before of course.

Being eco is good too. I like supporting this kind of company - with a clear goal in mind.