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Is it safe to install an older version of Android? (leminal.space)
submitted 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) by FreddiesLantern@leminal.space to c/android@lemdro.id
18 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Scenario in short:

I’m trying to install LineageOS onto a spare phone that I have (redmi note 8T) Hoping to get a daily driver out of it. The installation process requires me to install Android11 to install lineage on top of /over that. Which afaik isn’t directly available outside of some websites that I’ve never heard of.

For safety’s sake: would the install of lineage wipe the install of Android11? Or could there still remain backdoors?

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[-] SpikesOtherDog@ani.social 17 points 2 months ago

The bigger issues may be blobs used for radio firmware, but LineageOS should replace your OS. Assuming you can get regular updates and you aren't the target of the state, you are probably fine.

[-] CameronDev@programming.dev 11 points 2 months ago

Should mostly wipe the OS, so realistically safe. I think some firmware may remain, but overall should be clean.

[-] Dekkia@this.doesnotcut.it 9 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Normally LineageOS replaces the version of Android previously installed on the phone.

I don't know why the process asks for Android 11 as a starting point. There are a couple of valid reasons why you might need this, depending on the device.

Can you share a link to the process description?

[-] Yaky@slrpnk.net 7 points 2 months ago

AFAIK, custom ROMs ask for specific OS to get specific firmware for some peripherals (modem, WiFi, BT, etc).

E.g. installing Ubuntu Touch on Nord N10 5G requires a downgrade to OxygenOS 10 using the official tool, which (i believe) installs original firmwares.

[-] RacerX@lemmy.zip 3 points 2 months ago

At least in the case of my phone I had to put 11 back on to unlock the bootloader because OnePlus removed the ability to do it in their version of 12. Screw those guys.

[-] FreddiesLantern@leminal.space 2 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)
[-] Dekkia@this.doesnotcut.it 3 points 2 months ago

Thanks.

As other people people already guessed this is needed because more recent versions of the Stock OS won't let you install a Custom rom.

After you're done the old stock OS will be replaced fully by lineageOS.

[-] fuckwit_mcbumcrumble@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 2 months ago

Using an older OS is only a security issue if you actually do stuff with it. If you’re downgrading just to reinstall a newer OS then what malware is going to exploit your phone in that short period of time?

As others have said the real issue will probably be running old firmware for other things like your modem. But even then someone still has to be looking to explicitly exploit that.

[-] gravitywell@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 months ago

Safe is relative but most liiely its wanting 11 because thats the version lineage you are using is based on.

As for these "some websites ive never heard of"... They might just be ai generated pages that hit on keywords common to android such as "root" and "custom rom". Often they are scams that present instructions looking like they will work on phone models that dont have support for custom roms at all.

So be careful, make sure what you get comes from a decent source like android file host or xda, dont just go with random search results.

[-] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 2 points 2 months ago

I personally wouldn't recommend that

...although if you are flashing it to a device with a locked bootloader it does need to be signed by the vendor (thus making tampering unlikely)

[-] lka1988@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Lineage OS devs require it to be on the final official release of Android 11 prior to flashing LOS in order to ensure it has the latest drivers it shipped with. This is pretty normal for custom ROMs. Plus, Android 11 was the last official release for OP's device, anyway.

[-] lka1988@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 months ago

What device, specifically?

[-] FreddiesLantern@leminal.space 1 points 2 months ago

Redmi note 8T

[-] ikidd@lemmy.world 4 points 2 months ago

Anything has to be better than the stock Redmi bloatware.

[-] FreddiesLantern@leminal.space 1 points 2 months ago

Truestatement _1

[-] lka1988@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Good to know. I also see you already found the official Lineage OS installation guide. Whatever upgrade/downgrade the LOS devs say needs to be done should be safe as long as you don't deviate from the instructions.

[-] lka1988@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 2 months ago

So after poking around a bit, the latest official Android version that was offered for your device is Android 11. If it's updated to the latest official release, then you should be good to go.

[-] FreddiesLantern@leminal.space 1 points 2 months ago

I don’t have the device with me currently but if I recall correctly I think it’s at a lower version and it wants to update to 15. (Or it already is at 15…) I don’t know how I got there, haven’t looked at the thing in a year or two.

I don’t suppose there’s a way to downgrade to 11 from the OS itself?

this post was submitted on 19 Nov 2025
61 points (95.5% liked)

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