Rooted my Pixel 3a, now I want to install android again - is that possible?

[monkeyman15]

Hi all, new to the forum! I picked up a Google Pixel 3a and rooted it to install linux.... long story now I want to go back to android and I can't figure out how. I can get to the bootloader is unlocked screen but the android flash tool won't recognize the device. Any ideas?

 

[Dannydet]

Did you make a recovery?

 

[monkeyman15]

Did you make a recovery?

I did not, I was not intending to go back to android on this phone as I was going to run Linux on it - however my phone carrier can't activate a phone with Linux on it.

 

[ocnbrze]

you need to flash a firmware update for your phone.
https://developers.google.com/android/images

 

[monkeyman15]

you need to flash a firmware update for your phone.
https://developers.google.com/android/images

I tried to flash the image back onto the phone but the android flash tool will not recognize the phone... I assume this is because it doesn't have android on it currently?

 

[ocnbrze]

I tried to flash the image back onto the phone but the android flash tool will not recognize the phone... I assume this is because it doesn't have android on it currently?

possibly. make sure your drivers are current on your pc, try different cables, and maybe a different computer.

 

[monkeyman15]

possibly. make sure your drivers are current on your pc, try different cables, and maybe a different computer.

Well I just installed the drivers and I am using the same cable and computer that I used when I successfully flashed this same phone to a different version of android before I installed the linux earlier this month. So I assume it must be not recognizing the phone because android is not on it anymore. It does not seem there is any easy way to get it back on the phone once it is off.

 

[ocnbrze]

Well I just installed the drivers and I am using the same cable and computer that I used when I successfully flashed this same phone to a different version of android before I installed the linux earlier this month. So I assume it must be not recognizing the phone because android is not on it anymore. It does not seem there is any easy way to get it back on the phone once it is off.

this is very much a possibility
curious....how did you get linux running on the phone? do you have a link?

 

[monkeyman15]

this is very much a possibility
curious....how did you get linux running on the phone? do you have a link?

I used this https://ubuntu-touch.io/get-ubuntu-touch

So do you think there is any hope for my phone? I did something to it tonight (not sure what) so now it won't even boot up Linux. I can still get it to the bootloader screen and then it will go to the google screen... But then it won't boot from there.

 

[Brian706]

Factory images should work. Perhaps it might be easier to just flash an android custom rom first. If you can fastboot boot twrp recovery you should be able to flash a rom. Then if desired, maybe try and go back to the stock image from there.

 

[monkeyman15]

Factory images should work. Perhaps it might be easier to just flash an android custom rom first. If you can fastboot boot twrp recovery you should be able to flash a rom. Then if desired, maybe try and go back to the stock image from there.

I'm not sure if I can fastboot on it. I will have to try it later and report back... Here is to hoping it works!