How to Install GrapheneOS on Your Pixel Phone

A complete beginner-friendly walkthrough — from unboxing your Pixel to running GrapheneOS. No command line needed.

March 2026 · 15 min read

GrapheneOS is a privacy and security-focused mobile operating system built on Android. It runs on Google Pixel phones and removes all Google tracking while keeping full app compatibility. This guide walks you through the entire installation using the official web installer — no terminal or coding experience required.

The whole process takes about 15-20 minutes. You will need your Pixel phone, a USB-C cable, and a computer with a compatible browser.

What You Will Need

• A Google Pixel phone (Pixel 6 or newer, unlocked)
• A USB-C cable — use the one that came with your Pixel for best results
• A computer with at least 2 GB of free memory and 32 GB of free storage
• A supported browser: Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Chromium, or Brave (with Shields disabled)
• A stable internet connection for downloading the OS image (~2 GB)

Step 1: Initial Pixel Setup & Update

If your Pixel is brand new, power it on and go through the minimal stock Android setup. You can skip signing into a Google account — just connect to Wi-Fi and complete the basics.

1. Power on your Pixel and select your language and region
2. Connect to a Wi-Fi network (required for updates and OEM unlock verification)
3. Skip signing into a Google account — tap Skip or Set up offline
4. Complete the remaining prompts (PIN/fingerprint can be skipped for now)
5. Once on the home screen, go to Settings > System > System update
6. Download and install any available updates, then restart your device
7. Repeat until it says your system is up to date

Step 2: Enable OEM Unlocking

OEM unlocking allows you to replace the operating system on your device. This setting must be enabled from within stock Android before you can proceed.

1. Open Settings > About phone
2. Scroll down and tap Build number seven times rapidly — you will see a message saying "You are now a developer!"
3. Go back to Settings > System > Developer options
4. Find and toggle on OEM unlocking
5. If prompted, confirm with your PIN or pattern

Step 3: Boot into Fastboot Mode

Fastboot mode is a special boot state that allows your computer to communicate with the phone for flashing a new operating system.

1. Power off your Pixel completely
2. Press and hold the Volume Down button, then press and hold the Power button at the same time
3. Keep holding both buttons until you see the Fastboot Mode screen — it shows a red warning triangle and the word "Fastboot Mode"
4. Do not press the power button or select "Start" — leave the phone paused on this screen

Step 4: Connect Your Phone & Open the Web Installer

1. With your Pixel in Fastboot Mode, connect it to your computer using the USB-C cable
2. On your computer, open Google Chrome (or another supported browser)
3. Navigate to the official GrapheneOS web installer: grapheneos.org/install/web
4. Scroll down to the "Unlocking the bootloader" section

Step 5: Unlock the Bootloader

The web installer will guide you through unlocking the bootloader. This step wipes all data on your phone (which is fine for a new device).

1. On the web installer page, click the "Unlock bootloader" button
2. A browser popup will ask you to select your device — choose your Pixel and click Connect
3. On your phone, use the Volume buttons to highlight "Unlock the bootloader" and press the Power button to confirm
4. Your phone will reboot and wipe all data — this is expected
5. The phone will boot back into Fastboot Mode automatically

Step 6: Download & Flash GrapheneOS

Now the web installer will download the GrapheneOS image for your specific Pixel model and flash it onto the device. This is the main installation step.

1. On the web installer, click "Download release" — this will download the correct GrapheneOS image for your device (~2 GB)
2. Wait for the download to complete — the progress bar will show the status
3. Once downloaded, click "Flash release"
4. If prompted, select your device in the browser popup again and click Connect
5. The installer will automatically flash the firmware, reboot into the bootloader, and flash the OS
6. Do not touch your phone or disconnect the cable during this process — it takes several minutes
7. You may need to click "Reconnect device" if the installer prompts you — this is normal as the phone reboots during flashing

Step 7: Lock the Bootloader

This is a critical security step. Locking the bootloader enables verified boot, which ensures that only the genuine GrapheneOS software can run on your device. Do not skip this.

1. After flashing completes, your phone should be back in Fastboot Mode
2. On the web installer, click "Lock bootloader"
3. On your phone, use the Volume buttons to highlight "Lock the bootloader" and press the Power button to confirm
4. The device will wipe data again and reboot — this is expected

Step 8: Complete the GrapheneOS Setup

Your Pixel will now boot into GrapheneOS for the first time. You will see a clean setup wizard — similar to stock Android but without any Google services.

1. Your phone will boot up with the GrapheneOS logo — the first boot may take a minute or two
2. Select your language and region
3. Connect to Wi-Fi
4. Set up a PIN, password, or fingerprint for your lock screen (highly recommended)
5. On the final setup screen, you will see a toggle to disable OEM unlocking — leave this checked (it is enabled by default) for maximum security
6. Complete the remaining setup prompts

What to Do Next

Now that GrapheneOS is installed, here are the recommended next steps to get the most out of your private phone:

• Install apps: GrapheneOS includes the Apps app for installing open-source apps. For Play Store apps, you can optionally install sandboxed Google Play from the Apps app — this gives you full app compatibility without Google having system-level access
• Set up a VPN: Pair your device with a privacy-focused VPN like Proton VPN for encrypted internet traffic
• Install a password manager: Use Proton Pass or Bitwarden to generate and store strong, unique passwords
• Switch to private email: Consider Proton Mail for end-to-end encrypted email
• Enable automatic updates: Go to Settings > System > System update and ensure automatic updates are enabled — GrapheneOS pushes security updates promptly
• Explore privacy settings: Check out Settings > Security and Settings > Privacy for fine-grained control over permissions, sensors, and network access