Installing WraithLink

There are two ways to install: the web installer, which flashes from a Chromium browser over WebUSB, and the fastboot command line, which works everywhere and is the fallback if the browser path misbehaves. Both do the same three things: unlock the bootloader, write the WraithLink factory image, and relock the bootloader against WraithLink's own verified-boot key.

This erases everything. Flashing wipes the device. Back up first. Only install on a supported Pixel - other hardware cannot provide the guarantees WraithLink depends on.

1. Prepare the phone

  1. Open Settings → About phone and tap Build number seven times to reveal Developer options.
  2. In Settings → System → Developer options, enable OEM unlocking and USB debugging. If OEM unlocking is greyed out, connect to the internet and wait a few minutes, or remove any carrier lock.
  3. Power the phone off, then hold Volume Down while powering on to enter the bootloader.

2A. Flash with the web installer

  1. Open the installer in Chrome, Edge, or Brave on a computer. It must be served over HTTPS.
  2. Click Connect device and choose your Pixel from the browser prompt.
  3. Click Flash WraithLink. The image is downloaded, its SHA-256 is verified in the browser, the bootloader is unlocked (confirm on the phone), and the image is written. The phone reboots a few times - leave the cable connected.
  4. When flashing finishes, click Relock bootloader and confirm on the phone. Relocking restores verified boot; skipping it leaves the device less secure.

2B. Flash with fastboot

Install the platform-tools fastboot from Google, download the factory image and its checksum from the release, then:

# verify the download before trusting it
sha256sum -c wraithlink-<device>-factory.zip.sha256

# unzip, then from inside the extracted folder:
fastboot flashing unlock         # confirm on the phone (this wipes it)
./flash-all.sh                   # writes bootloader, radio, and system images
fastboot flashing lock           # confirm on the phone to restore verified boot

Do not interrupt the relock step. Once the phone boots, you will be greeted by the WraithLink Setup wizard.

3. First boot

WraithLink applies its safe defaults automatically and then offers the setup wizard. It is guided but every step is skippable. At minimum, set a strong screen lock and read the duress section before arming anything destructive.

Updates

WraithLink checks its own update server and installs signed over-the-air updates in the background, seamlessly, using the same A/B mechanism as the base system. You never sideload an update by hand.