Table of Contents
OpenABL is a modified bootloader that replaces the stock Android launcher on Qualcomm-based devices.
It adds a visual boot menu right when you turn on your device.
This allows you to easily choose whether to boot into a standard Linux system or Android.
It is required to install it to boot batocera.linux on some devices.
The installation of OpenABL doesn't remove Android. You can install batocera.linux on a sdcard and keep both, Android and batocera.linux on the device.
Project page : https://github.com/OpenHandheldCollective/OpenABL
Install OpenABL
Devices
The following devices requires you install OpenABL to boot batocera.linux.
- Mangmi Air Y
- Mangmi Air Y Pro
Steps
- Flash batocera.linux on a sdcard
- Start Android
- Download and extract openabl zip
- Find the menu to execute the backup_and_flash.sh script as root
- Reboot the device and go in the OpenABL menu
- Configure the device model
- Configure to boot on linux
- Insert the sdcard
- Play batocera.linux
Detailed steps
Flash batocera.linux on a sdcard
This step is the standard way to flash a batocera.linux sdcard, nothing else special to do.
Start Android
Press the power button to start Android.
Download and extract openabl zip
From Android, go on https://batocera.org/openabl and download the zip file according to your board.
| Device | Android menu |
|---|---|
| Mangmi Air Y | sm6115.zip |
| Mangmi Air Y Pro | xxx |
From Android, extract the zip at the top of the disk
- Download file in the download directory
- Open the zip file to see its content
- Select the directory inside and press extract to…
- Extrat the directory
- Choose the top of the disk as target (Air Y disk on Air Y for example)
- As result, you've the folder extracted at the top of the disk
- And inside the folder, you should see 3 files
Find the menu to execute the backup_and_flash.sh script as root
This part is specific to each device.
| Device | Android menu |
|---|---|
| Mangmi Air Y | Settings → Handheld Settings → Advanced → Run Script as Root |
| Mangmi Air Y Pro | Settings → Handheld Settings → Advanced → Run Script as Root |
- Go in the Execute script as root menu.
- Choose the script backup_and_flash.sh that is in the folder that you just extracted at the top of the disk
- Validate the execution
Reboot the device and go in the OpenABL menu
From Android, shutdown the device. Then, keep the volume down button pressed and press power.
Note: on the Mangmi Air Y and Air Y Pro, the volume down button is the button under the volume wheel.
Configure the device model
The following message can appear.
You have to tell to openabl which device you are running. You can use only volume up/down button to navigate and power button to validate.
Go on the line “Device model” and select yours. Mangmi Air Y in the example.
Configure to boot on linux
In the OpenAbl menu, select linux on Boot mode. Then go on start linux.
Insert the sdcard
Insert the batocera.linux sdcard into the device.
Play batocera.linux
As usual.
Boot Android
In the OpenAbl menu, select Android on Boot mode. Then go on start Android.