Installation and Updates

Installation and Updates

Fresh installation

1. Download the latest APK from GitHub Releases.
2. Open the APK from the Android browser or file manager.
3. Allow installation from that source when Android asks.
4. Install and open NoBrain Linux.
5. Grant All files access when Android opens the app-specific settings page. This permission enables the visible Download/NoBrain-SSH exchange folder.
6. Return to NoBrain and keep it open during first-run preparation.
7. Wait for Desktop ready before opening menus or applications.

The first startup extracts and prepares a complete Linux root filesystem. It can take significantly longer than later startups. Animated dots mean the startup worker is still active; use the troubleshooting steps if the same message remains for an unusually long time.

Android child process restrictions

NoBrain runs Linux applications as child processes of its Android application. Android 12 and newer can monitor these as phantom processes and may terminate them when the system process-count or CPU rules are reached. A basic NoBrain desktop does not require this setting, but disabling the restriction is recommended for heavier Chromium, WPS, development, and multiple-session workloads.

When the option is exposed by the device vendor:

1. Open Settings -> System -> Developer options.
2. Find the Apps section.
3. Enable Disable child process restrictions.
4. Restart NoBrain or reboot Android.

The switch is intentionally worded as a disable action, so ON means the phantom-process monitor is disabled. Keep the main Developer options switch enabled; turning Developer options off can restore Android's default monitoring behavior.

Some vendor ROMs hide this entry. In that case, the equivalent optional ADB command is:

adb shell settings put global settings_enable_monitor_phantom_procs false

Verify it with:

adb shell settings get global settings_enable_monitor_phantom_procs

The result should be false. Restore the Android default with:

adb shell settings delete global settings_enable_monitor_phantom_procs

This setting does not disable Android's low-memory/OOM killer. Processes can still be terminated when the device genuinely runs out of memory. Allowing more child processes can also increase RAM use, CPU use, heat, and battery drain. Android's implementation and the Developer options switch are visible in the official AOSP Settings controller.

Updating without deleting data

Open a newer official APK and continue the installation directly over the installed version. Depending on the Android version and device vendor, the installer button may still say Install instead of Update. That wording alone does not mean a fresh installation. The important points are that the existing NoBrain application is not uninstalled or cleared first, and that the new APK uses the same package ID and official release certificate.

An official in-place update preserves:

• the extracted Linux rootfs;
• /home/nobrain and Linux documents;
• installed XBPS packages;
• WPS Office and its configuration;
• the Chromium profile;
• SSH configuration and per-install keys;
• Android application data.

Do not uninstall the old application and do not select Clear data if you want to preserve this state. An APK signed with a different certificate cannot update the official installation.

Verify the 0.1.5 download

SHA-256: b1f022a7c6a68822be85a42dd14693e774e67d218399679476351746bd8ce395

On Linux, verify it with:

sha256sum nobrain-linux-0.1.5.apk

Backups

NoBrain does not currently include a complete one-click backup system. Copy important Linux documents to Android shared storage or another trusted device before destructive testing, uninstalling, clearing app data, or installing an unofficial build.

Removing NoBrain

Android uninstall removes private application data, including the extracted Linux filesystem and Linux home directory. Copy anything important out first.

---

Previous: Home · Next: First Run and Desktop