How to Install LineageOS 21 on Pixel Fold [Android 14]

Sadique Hassan•Updated Apr 16, 2024

In this guide, we will show you the steps to install the latest LineageOS 21 based on Android 14 onto your Pixel Fold. For tech enthusiasts, there’s always an element of uncertainty as to how a foldable device would pan out in custom development. While this offering was from the Silicon Valley giant which is among the most active players, but developing mods, tweaks, and most importantly ROMs for this form factor is an altogether different task.

Fortunately, the gamble seems to have played out quite nicely as the device is performing quite decently in this domain. And the biggest feather in its cap is the fact that the device has just been blessed with undoubtedly the most trusted and efficient custom ROMs.

Yes, as you might have guessed, we are talking about the LineageOS, which offers a clean, stock, fast, and snappy usage experience without any bloatware whatsoever. So on that note, let’s get started with the steps to install the latest LineageOS 21 based on Android 14 onto your Pixel Fold.

Table of Contents

What is LineageOS

One of the oldest players in this domain, you could trace back the lineage of this ROM back to the days of CyanogenMod. Right from its inception to this date, it has stuck with its USP of providing just the required bit of crucial apps and services, without incorporating any additional bloatware apps. So while you wouldn’t get a plethora of features baked into the ROM, you are guaranteed a fluid and smooth usage experience.

To further cement this statement, the ROM doesn’t even come with any preinstalled Google Apps, Services, and Framework [although you could easily install them later on using the GApps package]. With this, you would have got a decent idea regarding this ROM, let’s now get started with the instructions to install the LineageOS 21 ROM based on Android 14 onto your Pixel Fold.

How to Install LineageOS 21 on Pixel Fold [Android 14]

The below instructions are applicable across Pixel Fold. Droidwin and its members wouldn’t be held responsible in case of a thermonuclear war, your alarm doesn’t wake you up, or if anything happens to your device and data by performing the below steps. NOTE: Make sure that your device is on the latest Android 14 firmware before installing the ROM.

STEP 1: Install Android SDK

First and foremost, you will have to install the Android SDK Platform Tools on your PC. This is the official ADB and Fastboot binary provided by Google and is the only recommended one. So download it and then extract it to any convenient location on your PC. Doing so will give you the platform tools folder, which will be used throughout this guide.

STEP 2: Enable USB Debugging and OEM Unlocking

Next up, you will also have to enable USB Debugging and OEM Unlocking on your device. The former will make your device recognizable by the PC in ADB mode. This will then allow you to boot your device to Fastboot Mode. On the other hand, OEM Unlocking is required to carry out the bootloader unlocking process.

So head over to Settings > About Phone > Tap on Build Number 7 times > Go back to Settings > System > Advanced > Developer Options > Enable USB Debugging and OEM Unlocking.

STEP 3: Unlock Bootloader on Pixel Fold

Next up, you will also have to unlock the device’s bootloader. Do keep in mind that doing so will wipe off all the data from your device and could nullify its warranty as well. So if that’s all well and good, then please refer to our detailed guide on How to Unlock Bootloader on Google Fold. Once done, don’t restore the backup now as we will have to again format the device in the subsequent steps.

STEP 4: Download LineageOS 21 ROM for Pixel Fold

You may now grab hold of the LineageOS ROM and Recovery for your Pixel Fold from below.
The LineageOS Recovery file is vendor_boot.img, make sure to download the latest one.
```
LineageOS 21: DOWNLOAD LINK
GApps Android 14: DOWNLOAD LINK
```
Moreover, once you have downloaded all the files, transfer them to the platform-tools folder.
Also, rename the LineageOS ROM to rom.zip and Google Apps to gapps.zip.

STEP 5: Boot Pixel Fold to Fastboot Mode

Now connect your device to the PC via a USB cable. Make sure USB Debugging is enabled.
Then head over to the platform-tools folder, type in CMD in the address bar, and hit Enter. This will launch the Command Prompt.
Type in the following command in the CMD window to boot your device to Fastboot Mode
```
adb reboot bootloader
```
To verify the Fastboot connection, type in the below command and you should get back the device ID.
```
fastboot devices
```

STEP 6: Install LineageOS 21 Recovery on Pixel Fold

First off, flash the boot.img
```
fastboot flash boot boot.img
```
Next up, flash the dtbo.img
```
fastboot flash dtbo dtbo.img
```

Then flash the vendor_kernel_boot:

fastboot flash vendor_kernel_boot vendor_kernel_boot.img

Now, flash the vendor_boot
```
fastboot flash vendor_boot vendor_boot.img
```
Finally, type in the below command to boot to the LineageOS Recovery.
```
fastboot reboot recovery
```

STEP 7: Factory Reset

From the Custom Recovery, go to Factory Reset.
Then select Format Data/Factory Reset > Format Data.
Your device will now undergo a reset.
Once done, you shall get the “Data wipe complete” message.

STEP 8: Install LineageOS 21 Android 14 on Pixel Fold

From the LineageOS Recovery, go to Apply Update > Apply from ADB.
Then head over to the platform-tools folder, type in CMD in the address bar, and hit Enter.
This will launch the Command Prompt. So type in the below command to flash the ROM file via Sideload:
```
adb sideload rom.zip
```
The process will now begin and once done, you shall get the Total xfer: 1.00x message [Got an error? See FAQ below].
If you want to install GApps, then tap on YES in the prompt that appears. It will reboot your device to LineageOS Recovery.
On the other hand, if you don’t want to flash GApps, then select No > Reboot System Now. Your device will boot to LineageOS.

STEP 9: Install GApps [Optional]

Go to Advanced > Reboot to Recovery. Your device will reboot to LineageOS Recovery.
Once done, go to Apply Update > Apply from ADB.
Now type in the below command to flash the GApps file via Sideload:
```
adb sideload gapps.zip
```
You will get a Signature Verification failed message because the GApps package isn’t signed by LineageOS. That’s not an issue, just hit YES to proceed ahead.
Once done, you may now finally reboot your device to the OS via “Reboot system now”.

That’s it. These were the steps to install the LineageOS 21 based on Android 14 on Pixel Fold. If you have any queries concerning the aforementioned steps, do let us know your doubts and the device that you are using in the comments. We will get back to you with a solution at the earliest.