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Install

Installing Zaviya on a handheld takes three stages: flash the image to a microSD card, flash the OpenABL boot menu once, then boot the card and choose the device. Android stays on the device throughout.

Warning

OpenABL replaces the device's bootloader. A mistake can leave the device unable to boot or cause data loss. Back up data and the stock ABL, and follow the guides in order.

Handhelds only

OpenABL is for handhelds. Tablets don't use it, see the Lenovo page.

Requirements

Item Requirement
Device A handheld on the supported devices list
microSD card 32 GB or larger, A2 speed is best
Computer Runs a flashing tool such as balenaEtcher or Rufus, and 7-Zip, WinRAR, Keka or The Unarchiver for .7z images
Image The image for the device's chip, from Downloads

Installation path

  1. Flash to a microSD card. Write the image for the device's chip and boot it from the OpenABL menu.
  2. Flash OpenABL. Back up the stock ABL, then install the boot menu. This is needed once per device.
  3. Install to internal storage. Optional, and available on handhelds with 8 Elite, 8 Gen 3 and 8 Gen 2 chips. It boots without the card and erases Android's user data.

What OpenABL does

OpenABL is a boot menu. At power-on the device shows a menu where the boot mode is set to Linux or Android, and Linux can start from the microSD card or from internal storage. Android remains installed and starts from the same menu. It is made by the Open Handheld Collective and is GPL-3.0.

Holding Volume Down at power-on opens the menu. Without a held key the device starts the selected boot mode.

After installing