Installing LineageOS on Lenovo Tab P11 (TB-J606F)

This guide walks through installing LineageOS 20.0 (Android 13) GSI on the Lenovo Tab P11 using Andy Yan's builds. This gives you a clean, bloat-free Android experience without Lenovo's customizations.

Requirements

  • Lenovo Tab P11 (TB-J606F) with unlocked bootloader
  • Linux PC (this guide uses Ubuntu/Debian)
  • USB cable
  • LineageOS GSI image (arm64_bvN variant)
  • vbmeta.img to disable verified boot
  • 30+ minutes of time

Warning: This will wipe all data on your tablet. Back up important files first.

Preparation

Install Required Tools:

sudo apt install android-tools-adb android-tools-fastboot

Download Required Files:

  1. LineageOS GSI - Download from Andy Yan's SourceForge: 
    cd ~/Downloads
wget https://deac-fra.dl.sourceforge.net/project/andyyan-gsi/lineage-20-td/lineage-20.0-20251021-UNOFFICIAL-arm64_bvN.img.gz
gunzip lineage-20.0-20251021-UNOFFICIAL-arm64_bvN.img.gz

Note: The file is gzipped (.gz), so you need to extract it first.

arm64_bvN means: A/B partitions, Vanilla (no Google Apps), No root

Browse all versions at: Andy Yan's SourceForge

  1. vbmeta.img - Download Google's official empty vbmeta image: 
    wget https://dl.google.com/developers/android/qt/images/gsi/vbmeta.img

This is an official empty vbmeta.img from Google's GSI images, specifically designed to disable verified boot.

Installation Steps

1. Boot into Fastboot Mode

Power off the tablet, then:

  • Hold Power + Volume Down together
  • Release when you see "FASTBOOT MODE"

Connect the USB cable and verify detection:

sudo fastboot devices

You should see your device serial number.

2. Disable Verified Boot

Flash the vbmeta image to both slots to disable Android's verified boot:

sudo fastboot --disable-verity --disable-verification flash vbmeta vbmeta.img
sudo fastboot --disable-verity --disable-verification flash vbmeta_system vbmeta.img

3. Wipe Data

Factory reset the device:

sudo fastboot -w

This formats userdata and erases metadata partitions.

4. Enter Fastbootd Mode

Modern Android devices with dynamic partitions require fastbootd (userspace fastboot):

sudo fastboot reboot fastboot

Wait 20-30 seconds for the tablet to reboot into fastbootd mode. The screen may show "Fastboot" text.

Verify connection:

sudo fastboot devices

5. Flash LineageOS System Image

Flash the LineageOS GSI to the system partition:

sudo fastboot flash system lineage-20.0-20251021-UNOFFICIAL-arm64_bvN.img

This takes 1-2 minutes. You'll see multiple sparse image chunks being flashed.

6. First Boot

Reboot the tablet:

sudo fastboot reboot

First boot takes 2-5 minutes. The tablet will:

  1. Show Lenovo logo briefly
  2. Display LineageOS boot animation
  3. Eventually reach the LineageOS setup wizard

If the tablet boots to Android Recovery with an error about corrupt system: - Select "Factory data reset" - Then select "Reboot system now"

This clears incompatible cached data and LineageOS will boot properly.

Post-Installation

What Works:

  • All hardware functions (WiFi, Bluetooth, cameras, sensors)
  • Audio and video playback
  • Battery life
  • Display and touchscreen

Optional: Install Google Apps

LineageOS doesn't include Google services by default. To add them:

  1. Download MindTheGapps for Android 13 arm64
  2. Boot to fastboot mode
  3. Flash: sudo fastboot flash system system.img (where system.img is MindTheGapps)

Alternatively, use microG for a privacy-focused open-source alternative.

Troubleshooting

Boot Loop After Flashing:

If tablet continuously reboots to recovery: - Boot to Android Recovery - Select "Factory data reset" - Reboot system

Stuck at Lenovo Logo:

If stuck at Lenovo logo for more than 10 minutes: - Hold power button to force restart - Boot to fastboot (Power + Volume Down) - Repeat installation from step 5

WiFi or Bluetooth Not Working:

  • Ensure you flashed the correct arm64_bvN variant (not arm64_bgN)
  • Stock boot.img must remain from original firmware
  • Don't mix firmware versions

Need to Revert to Stock:

See the Stock Recovery Guide to restore factory firmware.

Why GSI Instead of Device-Specific ROM?

GSI (Generic System Image) builds work across many devices without device-specific builds. Benefits:

  • Regular updates from Andy Yan's builds
  • Clean Android experience
  • Works with stock kernel/drivers
  • No need for device-specific development

References