Error on step: device-detection Cannot execute command connect adb

Redhill54 · November 7, 2025, 12:06pm

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Hello

I am trying to install /e/ Os on a CMF phone 1. I have done this twice before, but as on the other times I had to try many times, maybe twenty for each phone, and never really understood what I was doing incorrectly, or how to get things to work.
I use a Lenovo T440s with Ubuntu 24.04.
When I use the /e/ OS installer, I can carry out the early steps to open the developer options, including the File transfer options. But when I click on “Connect” in the device detection step, and Pair the phone, I get the following error message.

“Error on step: device-detection

Cannot execute command connect adb

The device is not connected Failed to connect: Cannot connect ADB Cannot read properties of undefined (reading ‘deserial’)

Proposal: Check connection and that no other program is using the phone and retry. “

I have tried to check, using a terminal, what the “adb devices” command shows, which is
List of devices attached
001003469010550 device

Can anyone tell me what I should do?

The things I have looked at include:-

1 pressing the Volume Up and Start buttons simultaneously and choosing the different options,

2 using commands in Terminal for adb and fastboot,

3 recovering the phone software settings

Hoping that people who have set up /e/ OS on the cmf phone 1 from Nothing can help me,

aibd · November 7, 2025, 12:59pm

OK, good … but that device detection error is likely generated by a fastboot command (fastboot commands do get reported as ADB errors).

What is the terminal response to

fastboot devices

while the phone is booted to Fastboot mode?

eosinstaller installer does not work for all as seen from threads with that hashtag. Changing to the manual Install method (it uses a script, so not too hard) may be easier than debugging the installer.

Redhill54 · November 9, 2025, 5:51pm

I did manage to get the phone unlocked, having tried various Recovery options. But the /e/ OS installer still did not finish.
Then I took the hints above and used the method at the Command line option shown on the page from the link Install /e/OS on a Nothing Nothing CMF Phone 1 - “tetris” .

This method was really easy and quick to follow. I really do not think that I am an advanced user at all, but I can follow the steps as shown, and /e/ OS was installed in 10 minutes.

With thanks for the support and hints. That is what community is for.