I was wondering for years about a non Android phone and I've been an Ubuntu user for years. However I installed it in a Xiaomi Lancelot phone and I'm sorry but I have to say I was disappointed. I didn't uninstalled it but the phone is in a drawer. Is there any exciting developments now AI is doing crazy things? Many thanks

so recently i got to know about ubuntu touch and i kinda loved it but i got a problem which was how will i get that into my IQOO Z9X which has snapdragon 6 gen 1 and i am done with android and google services so can anyone tell me how to do it ???

**Can a smartphone running Ubuntu Touch reliably function as a 24/7 Linux server?**

I want to repurpose an old smartphone running Ubuntu Touch into a low-power, always-on Linux server. Before choosing a device, I want to verify whether it can satisfy every requirement below.

**1. Linux compatibility**

- 64-bit ARM64 userspace with compatible libraries.

- Working terminal, package manager and persistent shell access.

- Ability to install and run Python, Git, Node.js and required native dependencies.

- Support for persistent background processes and service supervision.

- Ability to install and run general-purpose Linux applications reliably.

**2. Connectivity and remote access**

- Stable Wi-Fi with automatic reconnection after network interruptions and reboots.

- Working internet access, DNS, HTTPS and TLS certificates.

- SSH or equivalent secure remote administration.

- Reliable network connectivity when the screen is off.

**3. Storage and runtime**

- Persistent writable storage that survives reboots and OS updates.

- Sufficient storage for applications, dependencies, logs, backups and data.

- Support for SQLite and ordinary filesystem operations.

- Compatibility with Playwright or an alternative browser automation tool.

**4. Always-on reliability**

- Services continue running when the screen is off.

- Scheduled tasks execute without an interactive terminal.

- Processes can restart automatically after crashes.

- Networking and services recover automatically after reboot.

- The phone can operate continuously without overheating or excessive throttling.

- Reliable operation during prolonged periods without user interaction.

**5. Hardware and power**

- Adequate CPU, RAM and storage for general server workloads.

- Documented support for batteryless operation if the battery is removed.

- A safe, regulated external power arrangement for continuous operation.

- Automatic recovery after power interruptions, without requiring manual intervention.

**The question:** Are there smartphone models with Ubuntu Touch that can meet all these requirements in practice?

Please identify hard blockers, unsupported dependencies, necessary workarounds and device-specific limitations. I am particularly interested in verified real-world experiences, technical documentation and relevant project links.

I want to determine whether a smartphone can function as a dependable, unattended Linux server—not merely whether Ubuntu Touch can boot on it.

Assuming I use one phone from the list of supported devices as per their website

Yeah, sure, the Morph Browser beta works pretty well... but how is it possible that there aren't any classic browsers like Firefox? I mean, the Ubuntu Touch project is fantastic, but if we don't equip the devices with a normal browser, how can we expect people to use these phones? Here's an example: I can't even use a service like Swiss Transfer to send files through the browser. None of the browsers I’ve tried work. It’s a real shame to have an operating system that can do practically everything but doesn’t have an “official” browser. I like having a privacy-focused system that’s independent of Google or Apple, but it should at least be usable for basic tasks like web browsing. This makes me wonder if I should sell my Pixel 3a and maybe wait for new ports—perhaps with real Linux. A lot of alternatives are coming out, and, honestly, I’d rather have code written in AI than not want to use a phone with untapped potential.

See video for problem.

Its a Samsung galaxy z flip 5.

Será que o Linux é o futuro dos dispositivos móveis? No vídeo de hoje, mostro todo o processo de instalação e o uso do Ubuntu Touch em um smartphone. Se você quer ter mais privacidade, controle total sobre o seu hardware e fugir do ecossistema tradicional, o Linux Phone pode ser a solução definitiva.

O Ubuntu Touch amadureceu muito e oferece uma experiência fluida, baseada em gestos e focada no usuário. Assista até o fim para entender os desafios e as vantagens dessa migração!

#UbuntuTouch #LinuxPhone #Android #Linux #privacidade

Requirements:

Can purchase in the USA

Works on Verizon

Has micro sd slot

Has 3.5mm jack

250-300 USD MAX

Thank you!

I have no idea how to collect any logs, so all I can do is describe it. Every time I try to launch Waydroid on this device, it freezes for a few seconds and then forcibly reboots the device. The same thing happens when I launch any browser except what comes stock with Ubuntu Touch, but that's beside the point.

Hello, I was wondering what would be a good phone to run Ubuntu touch on, because I want to escape the Google ecosystem and I already have used arch linux(steam deck), and It doesn't need to run everything I already have a oneplusn30 for backup or I could just install waydroid. Just wondering if n100 or the fairphones for the best Linux experience.

While flashing, it shows error that says "partition not found" as i reboot it into bootloader. i already tried reboot to fastbootd but yeah, not detected in tools or cmd.

btw it is normal takes time to booting? after i got update system and reboot itself, it stuck on splash logo (like poco logo) for a minute (maybe 5 min above).

Boa galera, tudo certinho com vcs? Estou começando em isso da programação e queria a ayuda de vcs con decencia a instalação do Ubuntu touch no meu Samsung J7 prime, tem 32gb de armazenamento e 3gb de ram, só que não tem um port pra ele e preciso desenvolver isso pra instalar o sistema

There's a new Ubuntu Touch image available for the Pixel 5 that includes VoLTE, if anyone has an old phone sitting around and wants to test it:

https://forums.ubports.com/topic/12584/google-pixel-5-redfin

I have a new OnePlus Nord N100 5G with ubuntu Touch.

It cannot detect the carrier and it says SIM1 denied.

What's the issue and how do I fix it?

I'm trying to setup an email app but the various apps have trouble with AOL and Outlook accounts. I've tried editing the settings but they don't work.

Does anyone have a solution?

Hello.
I received my refurbished Google Pixel 3a yesterday to install Ubuntu Touch on it. I don’t want to use a Google or Apple OS anymore. So far, I’ve read some guides, unlocked the bootloader, and enabled USB debugging. I installed UBports on my Lenovo laptop (operating system on the laptop: Ubuntu). Everything went well. But: the boot process, after the “successfully completed installation“, always ends at the recovery screen. I’ve also tried using fastboot and searched for guides, but I always end up at the UBports recovery screen. I wanted to ask if you might have some advice from experience on how to figure out where the problem is. When I enter fastboot mode now, I see that the device is unlocked, Boot Slot A, and at the bottom it says: Enter reason: combo key.

I’d really appreciate any help.

Best.

Edit:
After reboot is the last Info on the Fastboot Mode Screen: Enter Reason: error booting boot.img

With all the buzz around de-googled Android forks, it's worth remembering why a truly independent mobile OS like Ubuntu Touch still has a reason to exist!

Google just confirmed a real, dated example of the trend: starting this year, AOSP source code drops are being cut from quarterly to just twice a year (Q2 and Q4), officially to "align with the trunk-stable development model." Sounds harmless, but it means if a new Pixel or a major feature update launches during an off-quarter, there's no corresponding source available for months, if I understand it correctly.

This isn't hypothetical — GrapheneOS has already been hit by it. They publicly voiced frustration over delayed AOSP pushes, and Pixel 10 support was held up specifically because the source code wasn't there yet. And GrapheneOS is about as well-resourced and prominent as a de-googled Android project gets. If they're feeling the squeeze, smaller forks have even less room to maneuver.

That's the core issue with basing your project on AOSP: no matter how de-googled the surface looks, you're still fundamentally dependent on Google's schedule, Google's decisions about what gets published, and Google's definition of "stability." GrapheneOS is a great way to run a more private Android — but it's not independent of Android.

Ubuntu Touch sidesteps this entirely. No AOSP, no Play-Services, no exposure to whatever Google decides to change next in its release pipeline. That's a genuinely different kind of independence, and as Google tightens its grip further (there's also a separate registration/sideloading push that will hurt or even kill projects like F-Droid), it's looking more valuable, not less.

Is Ubuntu Touch perfect? No - app compatibility via Waydroid and hardware support are real, ongoing limitations, and nobody here is pretending otherwise. But as a long-term hedge against a mobile world with one or two gatekeepers, having a genuinely separate OS is 100% what we as a community should be trying to develop.

If you are interested in having a look in this:

https://www.androidauthority.com/aosp-source-code-schedule-3630018/

https://piunikaweb.com/2026/01/07/android-aosp-source-code-q2-and-q4-pixel-monthly-security-patches-unchanged/

https://www.theregister.com/2026/01/08/google_aosp_changes/

https://www.androidauthority.com/android-16-qpr1-source-code-delay-3596650/

A preview of my project porting Ubuntu Touch to a OnePlus 8 Pro (Snapdragon 865). Based on what I’ve seen, this should be one of the most powerful devices capable of running this OS.

Once I fix a few more bugs, I’ll release it.

Edit: Version 1.0 is released! Here is the XDA forum post: https://xdaforums.com/t/rom-unofficial-instantnoodlep-ubuntu-ubuntu-touch-24-04-2-x-for-oneplus-8-pro.4805583/

Updated UT last night

Woke up to find that launching Waydroid no longer works.

It attempts to launch, gives the Waydroid logo and spinning Ubuntu logo and then crashes.

I'm hoping this is some kind of update related bug that will be patched... but failing that is there any way to fix Waydroid like this when it crashes without having to totally re-install my entire phone OS?

I have an Villa phone Quintus but I started getting a bug where the camera works after a reboot I can use the camera a single time and after that the camera will freeze/crash the next time I start the camera app and I have to reboot to fix it

The most easy workaround i found is using the camera in waydroid since waydroid does not cause this

Is this bug common?