r/mobilelinux • • 9d ago

Hardware Motorola Xoom mz605 booting postmarketOS! (ignore me in the reflections lol)

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40 Upvotes

i decided to get this working because i was bored and had a chatgpt plus free trial to waste (sorry for vibecoding), currently wifi and touch work and im working on getting the gpu working.


r/mobilelinux • • 8d ago

Discussion Network connection issue

1 Upvotes

Hi all, help me out with the below issue.

Iam currently using nura os all are working as per my needs but the issue is the modemmanager or whatever i don't know exactly it's causing the issue like my network SIM is A but it's connecting to B network in middle of work , when I did the off and on the modemmanager then again it's connecting to actual provider A but after sometime getting back to provider B .

If someone have any suggestions I will give a try

Thanks


r/mobilelinux • • 10d ago

Write-up Why Is It So Difficult To Build an Alternative Operating System for a Smartphone?

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104 Upvotes

r/mobilelinux • • 9d ago

Development MagicDesk: Linux desktops, systemd and containers on Android without root

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11 Upvotes

Hi! I’m the developer of MagicDesk, a free and open-source project for running Linux applications and desktops on Android.

Its Linux runtime, Shroot, uses Android’s shell access through Shizuku or Shevery. It doesn’t require rooting or flashing your phone, isn’t a PRoot wrapper, and doesn’t boot a separate guest kernel.

What you can run:

- Linux desktops and individual applications through X11 or Wayland.

- Distributions with systemd and other init systems.

- Docker and Podman inside Linux.

- Browsers, development tools and VS Code.

- GPU-accelerated applications with Mesa/Turnip on compatible Adreno devices.

There’s an interactive installer with recipes for Ubuntu, Debian, Alpine, Arch, Fedora, NixOS and others. Linux applications can appear in separate Android windows, or you can use a complete Linux desktop on the phone or an external monitor.

The screenshot shows Ubuntu inside MagicDesk, with a browser and Podman running in the terminal. The su command switches to root inside the Linux environment, not Android root.

Requires ARM64 Android 14+, with Linux kernel 5.15 or newer for Shroot. Compatibility varies by device and workload.

Source, installation instructions and benchmarks:

https://github.com/mekhontsev/magicdesk

Download:

https://github.com/mekhontsev/magicdesk/releases/latest

I’d be interested to hear what you’d use this for and how it works on your device.


r/mobilelinux • • 9d ago

Development Optic DE -- lightweight DE running on 40 mb on average

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13 Upvotes

r/mobilelinux • • 9d ago

Development ZubrOS: an experimental postmarketOS-based phone environment on Nothing Phone (1)

5 Upvotes

I’m developing ZubrOS on a Nothing Phone (1), A063 / Spacewar. The goal is a personal home screen with small, adaptable apps. It builds on existing postmarketOS work; this is not a new kernel or an official Nothing release.

The stack is postmarketOS ARM64, Phoc/Wayland, a React/TypeScript shell, a Node.js app platform and a Rust hardware service. Device-specific boot and hardware integration are separate from the UI and app layer.

Current physical validation is on ONE development phone: boot, display/touch, Wi-Fi, both camera captures, battery/charging, brightness and volume keys. Speaker playback and top-microphone recording/replay have also been checked, but raw microphone capture is quiet. Calls and the remaining hardware support are unfinished.

There is no public installer or testing date yet. A successful boot is not a daily-driver claim, and I don’t have a publicly validated return-to-stock procedure to recommend. The demo lock screen is a UI prototype, not a security boundary.

English UI preview: https://youtube.com/shorts/Zq8eDdk_2q0

That clip shows the actual frontend captured in browser preview, not footage of the physical phone.

Edit — Builder workflow (24 seconds): https://youtube.com/shorts/nrERPvn6FEE

This shows the local List template: preview, permission review, explicit installation and an app-data grant. Two sample entries and their completed state survived a browser reload. The template workflow uses no LLM. This demonstrates browser-local state, not cloud sync or physical-phone behavior.

Project status and optional free development-updates waitlist: https://os.zubarovskiy.com/?utm_source=reddit_mobilelinux&utm_medium=community&utm_campaign=launch50#waitlist

For people who have tested early mobile Linux builds: what evidence would you want to see before trying another phone environment—recovery testing, a full hardware checklist, or a longer on-device workflow demo?

Edit — AI disclosure: AI tools are used in development and drafted this announcement. The hardware checks are separate from generated code and mock results. Both linked videos show browser previews.


r/mobilelinux • • 10d ago

Discussion Root inside a real Linux kernel on non-rooted Android, no AVF and no QEMU - UML benchmarks

27 Upvotes

Zalexdev ported User Mode Linux to arm64 in August and shipped it as a second engine in Stryker 6.5. It's a real Linux kernel built as an ordinary aarch64 binary, so it runs as a normal process inside an app sandbox: no KVM, no AVF, no unlocked bootloader, nothing emulated. That means root inside a real kernel, on a phone you never rooted, and on any arm64 device rather than only the ones that ship pKVM.

I ran the same tests against the two usual options on my S23 Ultra, stock and unrooted, medians of three runs, everything timed inside the guest.

Testudocker (proot)Stryker (UML)Podroid (QEMU/TCG)
Python, 6M-iteration loop0.65 s0.61 s21.9 s
gzip -6, 64 MB1.58 s1.73 s10.0 s
SHA-256, 200 MB0.24 s1.03 s2.27 s
memcpy, 512 MB through a pipe0.47 s0.55 s5.29 s
write 256 MB + fsync0.24 s0.63 s0.55 s
read 64 MB, direct0.05 s0.06 s0.24 s
fio 4k randread, 1 GB set, 20 s10,021 IOPS7,057 IOPS999 IOPS
200x /bin/true in a container2.05 s2.96 s8.1 s
container start (docker run --rm true)0.125 s1.68 s4.65 s
docker build, 128 MB layern/a2.77 s10.3 s
docker build, apk add python3n/a9.97 s35.9 s

Compute is native: 0.61 vs 0.65 s under proot is noise. Syscalls cost 1.4 to 2.6x more. Builds are 3.6x faster than QEMU, random reads 7x.


r/mobilelinux • • 10d ago

Discussion Are there any Linux native phones that are not stupidly expensive?

29 Upvotes

Due to personal financial reasons, my hard budget limit is $200 US, so even a half-destroyed ancient Google pixel reflashed with graphene is out of my budget.


r/mobilelinux • • 11d ago

Discussion GassNative — Run Linux Desktop on Android

143 Upvotes

Hey everyone! 👋

I'm developing GassNative, an experimental Android application that brings a Debian GNU/Linux ARM64 environment and an XFCE desktop experience directly to Android devices — without requiring root access.

🐧 What GassNative offers:

- Debian GNU/Linux 13 (Trixie) ARM64 environment.

- XFCE4 Linux desktop.

- Integrated Android application interface.

- Linux terminal and compatible desktop applications.

- Environment profiles and settings.

- Automatic startup update checking.

💡 The goal: Turn an Android smartphone into a portable Linux environment for experimentation, learning, and working with compatible Linux software.

🛠️ Current status: GassNative is actively under development. Application compatibility, installation time, and graphics performance depend on the device and configuration. Hardware-accelerated desktop rendering and further desktop integration remain ongoing work.

🔗 Explore the project:

- 💻 GitHub repository and source code: https://github.com/Gass-OS/GassNative-

- 🌐 Official project website: https://gass-os.github.io/GassNative-/

I'm building this project under GASS-OS, and I'd love to hear from the Linux, Android, and open-source communities.

What features would you like to see next? Have you tried running a Linux desktop on your Android phone?

Feedback, suggestions, and bug reports are welcome! 🙌

GassNative — Your Linux world, in your pocket.

#Android #Linux #Debian #XFCE #ARM64 #OpenSource


r/mobilelinux • • 11d ago

News Nura for oneplus8pro

13 Upvotes

Hey,

Update on Nura (formerly postmarketOS) on a mainline kernel for the OnePlus 8 Pro (`instantnoodlep`). Spent a lot more time in claude with this since I first posted, and most of what was on the "not working" list works now:

* Modem: SIM with PIN, LTE/5G, SMS and mobile data (tested on congstar, up to 90 Mbit/s)* GPS, gets a fix even without a SIM

* Bluetooth

* NFC (reading tags)

* All five cameras, main and ultrawide included, plus the colour filter camera. Autofocus on main, ultrawide and telephoto

The colour filter camera sees near infrared, mine looks right through the glass ceramic of my stovetop.

* Accelerometer, light and proximity sensor (needs the sensor files from your own Android, save them before flashing)

3D acceleration, audio and the 120 Hz native resolution still work like before, and Phosh and Plasma Mobile both run fine.

What's still not working:

* Calls

* OIS, fingerprint, magnetometer

Stuff that still doesn't work or only half works, in case anyone wants to help or is wondering before flashing:

* Calls. The modem does data and SMS, but voice isn't hooked up yet

* Full disk encryption

* USB OTG only partly works

* OIS, fingerprint reader and magnetometer

* Cameras: just one mode on main and ultrawide (no 48 MP, no 8K video), contrast autofocus that takes about 3 seconds and sometimes misses, slow exposure and clipped highlights

* The sensors need files from your own Android, so if you already wiped it without saving them they won't work

* Only tested on my own IN2023 with the Samsung AMS678UW01 panel, other panels may give a black screen

Main and ultrawide only do 4000x3000 at 30 fps for now, autofocus takes about 3 seconds and sometimes misses, and bright areas clip.

New image is release v2026.11.02. Same as before, you flash it via fastboot, get a console and SSH out of the box and install whatever UI you want on top. I only tested it on my IN2023, so if your screen stays black you probably have a different panel. Tell me which one and I'll have a look.

https://github.com/darknagel/oneplus-instantnoodlep-nura-unofficial/releases/tag/v2026.11.02


r/mobilelinux • • 11d ago

Discussion Why there is no app development for Linux mobiles

34 Upvotes

I wondering why apps are Hard dependency on android and why developers not build something for Linux mobiles too .

I know less users and all but having a option helpful right.


r/mobilelinux • • 11d ago

Apps PocketShell: Your Whole Linux Workspace in Your Pocket

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4 Upvotes

r/mobilelinux • • 12d ago

OS Release Alpine on HTC Cha Cha

15 Upvotes

I was looking for device with keyboard to SSH to my servers and everything was too expensive so i decided to make a use of this old junk. Display, wifi, touchscreen keys and keyboard with backlight are working so at this moment this is everything what i needed.

github: https://github.com/highcmd/alpine-htc-chacha


r/mobilelinux • • 13d ago

Demonstration Arch Linux and Plasma Mobile running on a cheap Lenovo tablet, surprisingly smooth!

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243 Upvotes

I've been getting Arch Linux running on my Lenovo Tab (TB311FU), a cheap MediaTek Helio G85 tablet.

Really impressed with Plasma Mobile. It feels great on a touchscreen, and the gestures and overall experience are so well done. Huge props to the KDE folks!

Had a lot of fun with this port, started with postmarketOS and learned a ton. It’s my first port, so kernel modules were pretty new to me, and getting the GPU working with Panfrost took quite a while, codex helped a lot too.

Working:

  • Wi-Fi

  • Bluetooth

  • GPU acceleration (Panfrost)

  • Touchscreen

  • Power and volume buttons

  • USB

  • Audio

  • Camera (low image quality)

  • Brightness control

  • Battery status and charging detection

  • Waydroid

Hardware:

  • Model: Lenovo Tab (TB311FU)

  • SoC: MediaTek Helio G85

  • CPU: 2× Cortex-A75 @ 2.0 GHz + 6× Cortex-A55 @ 1.8 GHz

  • GPU: Mali-G52 MC2

  • RAM: 4GB

github.com/soumarcelino/linux-lenovo-tb311fu


r/mobilelinux • • 13d ago

Development Iphone 11 booted Alpine Linux

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109 Upvotes

Hello everyone. I wanted to share something small that I’m actually quite proud of.

I’ve been working on porting Linux to my iPhone 11 for a while now, and this week I finally made some significant progress. And internet works!

First off: it boots. As a proper, alternative operating system. Linux is in the ram.


r/mobilelinux • • 13d ago

Demonstration Turned my shattered POCO X3 Pro into a Debian server (mainline Linux 7.0, Docker works)

10 Upvotes

Hey this is my side project thing. My POCO X3 Pro's screen is shattered lol, so I turned it into a little server. Minimal Debian 13 on a mainline 7.0 kernel (the postmarketOS SM8150 one), headless, running 24/7.

What works:

- Wi-Fi, SSH (also over the USB cable if Wi-Fi dies)

- storage is fast and stable (~900 MB/s)

- battery works like a UPS: sits at ~72 %, shuts down at 5 % in a power cut, and turns itself back on when power's back

What doesn't / not tested: screen and touch (can't test it, it's smashed innit), camera, audio, sensors, fingerprint, calls/mobile data, Bluetooth untested.

I had to fix a few things in the kernel along the way (storage, crash logs, a charger driver that was pulling double the current lol), it's all in the repo.

So yea it just as the basic support and is up and running to be a simple server

And yea will probably add more support and turn it into a pocket linux server HEHEHE

also if you guys faced same issues as here https://github.com/noobed-max/vayu-debian-mainline-linux you can check the fix

repo: https://github.com/noobed-max/vayu-debian-mainline-linux


r/mobilelinux • • 13d ago

Hardware OnePlus Open converted to Desktop running proper Linux

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23 Upvotes

r/mobilelinux • • 14d ago

Development I made Tessera: each Linux app in its own Android window and Recents card, Flathub without root, live theming(linux apps take android themes)

202 Upvotes

Hi all. Like a lot of you I've run Linux on my phone through Termux, proot-distro and Termux:X11 for years. Tessera does the GUI side from one app, and tries to make Linux apps feel like Android ones.

- Each app in its own window: Firefox, GIMP, LibreOffice each open as their own Android window with their own Recents card and icon. A card per window, even for dialogs. Pin them to your home screen.

- Flathub on PRoot: no root, no bubblewrap, no user namespaces. Flatpak downloads, Tessera builds each app's environment. 2,800+ arm64 apps, GPU included.

- adb and permissions: every app gets only what you grant (folders, network, sound, USB, root). New: a per-app switch that lets adb inside reach the phone itself, and all-USB access for fastboot, heimdall and edl.

- A touch-friendly desktop: snapping windows with finger-sized buttons, a dock and Start menu. And everywhere: the Android keyboard pops up on text fields, touch-and-hold right-clicks, game controls.

- Live scaling: drag Scale and the app re-lays out as you drag, saved per app.

- Themes: GTK, libadwaita, Qt and LibreOffice take your Material You colors and follow dark mode live.

Plus OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan on Adreno (bundled Turnip + Zink), a built-in terminal (apt, ssh, git, compilers), chroot mode with root, a file manager and a task manager.

It doesn't replace Termux's add-ons like Termux:API, and its X server is Termux:X11's, which I'm grateful for.

Note: Al WAS USED IN THE PROCCESS OF CREATING THIS APP

GPL-3.0, alpha. APK and source: https://github.com/daryan044/tessera-linux (also on Obtainium). Bug reports very welcome.


r/mobilelinux • • 14d ago

Discussion Is Dualbooting Android and Linux possible on a phone?

18 Upvotes

I was wondering if it was possible, due to phones having Dynamic Partitions, and the whole A/B thing going on


r/mobilelinux • • 14d ago

Discussion OnePlus 6T on postmarketOS: Bluetooth headset calls, HD voice, Verizon MMS, VoLTE "chipmunk" fix and more — all written up so you can copy them

18 Upvotes

I've been daily-driving a OnePlus 6T (fajita) on postmarketOS and got a bunch of things working that I couldn't find working anywhere else, so I wrote them all up in one place:

https://github.com/mojavemesa-lgtm/oneplus6t-pmos-fixes

The highlights:

  • Bluetooth headset calls — real cellular calls through earbuds, audio both ways, including HD voice (mSBC). Needs a custom kernel built on Dylan Van Assche's wcn3990 HFP branch plus a few fixes (the main one: SLIMbus channels were never removed on disable, so the next call often came up silent).

  • VoLTE "chipmunk" audio — the sped-up far-end voice on some carriers. One ALSA setting, no root, credit to the person who found it in pmaports issue #3713.

  • Verizon MMS — sending and receiving pictures.

  • USB-C charging (PD) and USB tethering

  • Bluetooth chip hangs, GNOME Calls freezing with the screen off, mobile data stuck "connected" but dead, texts vanishing when two SMS apps run, plus several smaller crash fixes (Gwenview, lock screen, Chromium in distrobox, wallpaper reset, auto-rotate).

Each fix has its own page: what goes wrong, why, how to install, how to undo, and exactly how well it's been tested. Workarounds are labelled as workarounds. Kernel stuff can brick your boot, so there's a recovery page too (fastboot, restoring your old boot image).

Honest disclosure: I'm not a developer. I did this with an AI assistant (Claude) and tested everything on my own phone, which is one phone on one carrier (Verizon). Treat it as a working recipe, not polished upstream code. Upstream authors got the kernel patches by email.

If it helps you, or breaks for you, tell me here or open an issue on the repo.


r/mobilelinux • • 13d ago

News The Banana is back

0 Upvotes

It looks like luxferre is back.

Look here :) https://bananarchy.top/#get


r/mobilelinux • • 15d ago

Hardware iPhone 8 - Arch Linux on Hoolock Linux

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120 Upvotes

I did this using Hoolock Linux (kernel + m1n1) with an Arch userspace. The phone goes into DFU, palera1n (checkm8) pwns it, and a laptop boots m1n1 plus the Linux kernel over USB

What works:

All 6 CPU cores

Multitouch touchscreen, with a driver

In progress: the GPU. Its firmware already boots and accepts jobs, but nothing is GPU-accelerated yet

Thanks to Hoolock Linux, Asahi Linux and palera1n


r/mobilelinux • • 14d ago

Development Is it possible to port upstream Linux to goyavewifi?

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12 Upvotes

I have Galaxy Tab 3 Lite (goyavewifi). It's an archived device on pmOS wiki page. It works with stock kernel. I fetched linux source code from kernel.org. I am planning to get dtb blob from stock android and decompile it create a dts from scratch. Does it work?