How To Guide Flash GSI rom (arm64 AB)

[walter79]

This steps will delete all data on your mobile phone.
Maybe you can brick your phone.

NFC, VoLTE, VoWIFI not working out of the box.
VoLTE and VoWIFI can enabled in Phh Treble Settings. (LOS and phh roms)

1. unlock bootloader
2. flash latest stock rom via fastboot (How to Guide)
3. reboot recovery
4. press volup+power shortly
5. Enter fastboot
6. Fastbootd should run now
7. flash custom GSI ROM (ARM64-AB rom)
   • fastboot flash system GSI-ROM.img
   • optional fastboot flash vbmeta vbmeta.img
   • fastboot -w (wipes all data)

Maybe you need this to fix resize system partition error.

fastboot delete-logical-partition product


You can enter fastbootd via stock recovery.

What is fastbootd? How to Enable and Boot?

Google introduced the Android 10 operating system back in September 2019. Android 10 brought in new support for resizable partition which relocates the

www.getdroidtips.com

Andy Yan's personal builds // GSI Lineage 20 (lineage-20.0-20221111-UNOFFICIAL-arm64_bgN-secure.img)

[GSI][12] LineageOS 19.x GSI (A64B/64B)

Background: This is a natural continuation/extension of the LineageOS 18.x GSIs I've been making since 2020. LineageOS is a free, community built, aftermarket firmware distribution of Android, which is designed to increase performance and...

forum.xda-developers.com

Android 13 AOSP GSI.

Generic System Image releases | Platform | Android Developers

developer.android.com

ARM64+GMS gsi_gms_arm64-exp-T1B3.221003.003-9173718-1aa73579.zip


phhusson Android 12.1 (system-squeak-arm64-ab-vndklite-gapps)

Releases · phhusson/treble_experimentations

Notes about tinkering with Android Project Treble. Contribute to phhusson/treble_experimentations development by creating an account on GitHub.

github.com

 

[Kelexine]

nice tutorial

 

[HUN_Gyuszi]

I am very thankful for your post. I own a Defy 2021 and I am not 100% satisfied with stock EU rom. It contains too much google stuff, I prefer LoS + minimal gapps.
Do you guys think I have any chance for safetynet pass with a GSI ROM? I need my banking apps to work sadly.
Thank you again!

 

[HUN_Gyuszi]

I am very thankful for your post. I own a Defy 2021 and I am not 100% satisfied with stock EU rom. It contains too much google stuff, I prefer LoS + minimal gapps.
Do you guys think I have any chance for safetynet pass with a GSI ROM? I need my banking apps to work sadly.
Thank you again!

Let me answer myself and give some detailed info for anyone with the Defy 2021 willing to try GSI.

First of all, yes, safetynet can be totally passed with Magisk + Magisk Hide + Deny List + Universal Safetynet Fix. Works like usual.

Second, I recommend using the LoS 20 "Light" builds from here: https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/gsi-13-lineageos-20-light.4509315/
Specifically I used: lineage-20.0-20221212-UNOFFICIAL-gsi_arm64_gN-secure.img which is actually here: https://sourceforge.net/projects/andyyan-gsi/files/lineage-20-light/

Reason: it has a minimal gapps included (gms + play store only, no chrome/youtube/keep/etc crap) that is mostly needed for bank apps etc, but kept minimum. Also does not have root - you can do it with Magisk. Also safetynet works. And also because if you delete the product partition, the defy's system partition will be just enough to handle this one. Many others just dont fit in because our defy's system partition is smaller that many GSI builds need.

And lastly, I had trouble with normal fastboot mode (which is the black screen + white text after boot up). I installed @walter79 twrp build (thanks for that too). If you do "fastboot reboot fastboot", it will bring you to another fastboot which is provided by twrp and not the device software itself - I managed to install from there.

What works? Everything! Except for NFC, but that is a known issue with GSI ROMs. I checked a lof of stuff, like speaker, usb, mic, wifi, bt (with music in car, jbl and sony headphones..), LTE data, vowifi, volte, touchscreen, screen sizing, etc etc. Literally everything works like a charm. Super speed, super battery life.

 

[walter79]

Resize system to 4.2Gb



fastboot set_active a
reboot to recovery
enter fastbootd via enter fastboot
fastboot delete-logical-partition product_a
fastboot resize-logical-partition system_a 4200000000
fastboot create-logical-partition product_a 1

 

[HUN_Gyuszi]

Resize system to 4.2Gb



fastboot set_active a
reboot to recovery
enter fastbootd via enter fastboot
fastboot delete-logical-partition product_a
fastboot resize-logical-partition system_a 4200000000
fastboot create-logical-partition product_a 1

Cool I might need this in the future. Thanks!

 

[Rainer S]

Hallo, leider kann ich kein English daher in D

nachdem ich 10 Tage mit lesen verbracht habe gelang es mir dann ohne Probleme diese Version ohne TRWP auf das defy zu flashen.:

https://sourceforge.net/projects/andyyan-gsi/files/lineage-20-light/lineage-20.0-20230109-UNOFFICIAL-gsi_arm64_vN.img.xz/download

War dann ganz einfach - und funktioniert mit dem was ich brauch ohne Playdienste und ohne MicroG.

Installiert sind....

Corona-App (CovPass)
DB Navigater
DM Scan (Post-Porto-Scan)
GPS Test
diverse Navi - Apps (Fahrrad, Motorroller, Sportboot)
Open Camera
Magigs

scheint alles zu laufen, beim Laden wird der Akku nicht heiß. Lediglich mit WhatsApp hab ich Probleme. Bis die gelöst sind nutze ich WhatsAppWeb und WA auf einem alten Smartphone.

AOSP GSI hab ich auch probiert, leider konnte ich dort das Defy nicht herunterfahren.

Danke für Eure Arbeit und die guten Anleitungen,

Gruß, Rainer

 

[HUN_Gyuszi]

Resize system to 4.2Gb



fastboot set_active a
reboot to recovery
enter fastbootd via enter fastboot
fastboot delete-logical-partition product_a
fastboot resize-logical-partition system_a 4200000000
fastboot create-logical-partition product_a 1

Can I do it with LoS 20 GSI already installed? Will I lose any data? Thanks!

 

[HUN_Gyuszi]

Let me sum up my experiences for the past ~50 days of daily usage of GSI LinageOS 20.
Pros: great battery life, great responsiveness, cool functions in Android 13. Nearly all functions and hardware works.
Cons: automatic backlight is too dark when you drive at night or if you want to read at night, its annoying to always adjust. NFC does not work. Bluetooth is a bit of buggy, sometimes connects, sometimes not. There are random reboots of the entire OS each 2..5 days. Could not find the root cause.

Because of this, I reverted to the stock rom and relocked the bootloader to regain stability and NFC, but I will keep an eye of this forum for new builds and updates.

 

[Kelexine]

Nice

 

[HUN_Gyuszi]

I made another try with custom ROM this phone. My next choice was LOS 20 GSI but not the "Light" version. I used TD (TrebleDroid) one instead. My test period is about 10 days but I think I will keep using it on the long run.


Download location: https://sourceforge.net/projects/andyyan-gsi/files/lineage-20-td/
lineage-20.0-20230218-UNOFFICIAL-arm64_bgN.img.xz
This build is not rooted and has minimal gapps stuff.
I only unlocked the bootloader, installed TWRP and booted it to 'fastbootd' mode. I did not modify vbmeta.
It seems much more usable:
- the image is smaller, no partitioning is needed
- there are no random reboots
- bluetooth works reliably, but its true that device connect / discovery is a bit slow. It works correctly after it connects.
- the lowest setting of blacklight is too dark again, but not that bad with the previous Light version. I can see the navigation in my car at night, that is enough. I can pull more brighness if I need manually.

I also managed to make it safetynet proof and use Bank apps, Teams/Intune, etc.
Advantages over stock rom is the superior speed, responsiveness and extended battery life.

 

[Kelexine]

I made another try with custom ROM this phone. My next choice was LOS 20 GSI but not the "Light" version. I used TD (TrebleDroid) one instead. My test period is about 10 days but I think I will keep using it on the long run.


Download location: https://sourceforge.net/projects/andyyan-gsi/files/lineage-20-td/
lineage-20.0-20230218-UNOFFICIAL-arm64_bgN.img.xz
This build is not rooted and has minimal gapps stuff.
I only unlocked the bootloader, installed TWRP and booted it to 'fastbootd' mode. I did not modify vbmeta.
It seems much more usable:
- the image is smaller, no partitioning is needed
- there are no random reboots
- bluetooth works reliably, but its true that device connect / discovery is a bit slow. It works correctly after it connects.
- the lowest setting of blacklight is too dark again, but not that bad with the previous Light version. I can see the navigation in my car at night, that is enough. I can pull more brighness if I need manually.

I also managed to make it safetynet proof and use Bank apps, Teams/Intune, etc.
Advantages over stock rom is the superior speed, responsiveness and extended battery life.

The GSI just feels like a supperio stock ROM to my on my device, have been using it for about 2 months now.
I had wanted to try PE based GSI but I think I will forget that.
All thanks to @AndyYan and all associated developers.
But my question is how you made it safetynet proof, Binance and Trust Wallet keeps telling me sh*t about been rooted.

 

[HUN_Gyuszi]

The GSI just feels like a supperio stock ROM to my on my device, have been using it for about 2 months now.
I had wanted to try PE based GSI but I think I will forget that.
All thanks to @AndyYan and all associated developers.
But my question is how you made it safetynet proof, Binance and Trust Wallet keeps telling me sh*t about been rooted.

To pass safetynet:
- install magisk
- enable magisk hide
- enable zygisk
- install magisk module 'universal safetynet fix' (my version is v2.4.0-MOD1.2 by displax)
- install magisk module 'Safetynet Sensitive props' (v3 by HuskyDG)
- install magisk module 'MagiskHide props config'
- install a terminal like termux, do 'su', allow root. do 'props'. Then search for override device fingerprint. Look for an option that is for GSI devices, because currently your fingerprint is not the original (bathena). I cant tell the exact menu and option but you will find it.
- enable force deny list, deny app your bank apps + google play services framework
- force stop and clear data + cache for bank apps, google play store, google services framework

Start them and see the result.

Good luck! Tell me if you succeed!

 

[Kelexine]

To pass safetynet:
- install magisk
- enable magisk hide
- enable zygisk
- install magisk module 'universal safetynet fix' (my version is v2.4.0-MOD1.2 by displax)
- install magisk module 'Safetynet Sensitive props' (v3 by HuskyDG)
- install magisk module 'MagiskHide props config'
- install a terminal like termux, do 'su', allow root. do 'props'. Then search for override device fingerprint. Look for an option that is for GSI devices, because currently your fingerprint is not the original (bathena). I cant tell the exact menu and option but you will find it.
- enable force deny list, deny app your bank apps + google play services framework
- force stop and clear data + cache for bank apps, google play store, google services framework

Start them and see the result.

Good luck! Tell me if you succeed!

Yes, thanks for the guide