Install PixelExperience on PL2

keyboard_arrow_left Back to the overview

Basic requirements

  1. Read through the instructions at least once before actually following them, so as to avoid any problems due to any missed steps!
  2. Make sure your computer has adb and fastboot. Setup instructions can be found here.
  3. Enable USB debugging on your device.
  4. Boot your device with the stock OS at least once and check every functionality. Make sure that you can send and receive SMS and place and receive calls (also via WiFi and LTE, if available), otherwise it won’t work on PixelExperience either! Additionally, some devices require that VoLTE/VoWiFi be utilized once on stock to provision IMS.
  5. PixelExperience is provided as-is with no warranty. While we attempt to verify everything works you are installing this at your own risk!

Unlocking the Bootloader [1/4] :

  1. Install Nokia USB Drivers (required): To ensure that your device is properly detected during the bootloader unlock process, make sure to install the required. If you already have the required drivers installed you can skip this step. To install the drivers, download this installer package from GitHub and install it to your computer.

  2. Download and extract the Nokia Bootloader Unlock tool from here. Using this tool you can easily unlock the bootloader of your device without touching the command line. Use a zip management tool of your choice to extract the tool to a folder on your computer.

  1. Reboot the phone into download mode: Now you need to boot your device to download mode. Follow these steps for bootloader mode:

    1. Turn off your phone.
    2. Connect the USB cable to the device only and not the computer.
    3. Press and hold Volume Down + Power key together till you reach the screen reads that reads “Download mode”. Alternatively, you can also use the command adb reboot bootloader from the stock ROM to bring the phone to download mode.
  2. Generate OTP for the Unlock Tool: To avoid misuse and limit usage, the tool uses OTP (One-time password). Before you unlock you need to get an OTP. You can generate one from here

  1. Run the Unlock Tool and unlock your phone Now you can use the previously generated OTP to unlock the bootloader of your device.

    1. Run the “Bootloader Unlock by tm.exe” file in the folder where you extracted the tool
    2. Paste the OTP (from step 3) into the Enter OTP box in the Unlock Tool.
    3. Connect your smartphone in download mode.
    4. Click on the “BEGIN UNLOCK” button.
    5. Wait for the process to complete and follow the instructions shown in the output window.
    6. Your device should prompt you for unlock. Use the volume keys to accept the unlock
  2. Once the device bootloader unlocked follow up with the next steps.

Ensuring all firmware partitions are consistent [2/4 - Optional] :

  1. Download the latest firmware from Here
  2. Download the HCTSW Care OSTRemote Client tool & follow the usage/flashing guide from Here.
  3. Once the firmware installation is done, now power off the device & follow up the below steps.

Retrofit Dynamic Partititions instruction [3/4] :

  1. Reboot your device into Download mode/fastboot mode
  2. Install the Nokia Driver from Here
  3. Download PLatform tool by Google from Here
  4. Download the super_empty.img from Here
  5. Now flash super_empty.img file with the given command
    fastboot wipe-super <PATH TO Super-empty.img>
    
  6. Now follow up with the below steps.

ROM installation [4/4] :

  1. Reboot your device into fastboot mode/Download mode
  2. Type fastboot device, if the device S/N detected then everything is all good. [If not detected install the Nokia Driver & Platform tool]
  3. Now flash the boot.img (PixelExperice recovery) in both the slots by the following commands:
    fastboot flash boot_a <PATH_TO_boot.img>
    fastboot flash boot_b <PATH_TO_boot.img>
    
  4. Now reboot into recovery mode by holding the Volume Up & Power button.
  5. Apply Update » adb sideload method & sideload the PixelExperience .zip file by
    adb sideload <PATH_TO_PixelExperience-*.zip>
    
  6. Once the installation done, perform the Factory reset then » Reboot to system

Installing PixelExperience from recovery

  1. Download the PixelExperience installation package that you would like to install or build the package yourself.
  2. If you are not in recovery, reboot into recovery:
    • With the device powered off, hold Volume Up and connect to a computer.
  3. Now tap Wipe.
  4. Now tap Format Data and continue with the formatting process. This will remove encryption and delete all files stored in the internal storage.
  5. Sideload the PixelExperience .zip package:
    • On the device, select “Advanced”, “ADB Sideload”, then swipe to begin sideload.
    • On the host machine, sideload the package using: adb sideload filename.zip.
  6. Once you have installed everything successfully, run ‘adb reboot’.

Get assistance

After you’ve double checked that you followed the steps precisely, didn’t skip any and still have questions or got stuck, feel free to ask on our Telegram group.