# Issues and hurdles when performing the initial upgrade

DevFeed: [Issues and hurdles when performing the initial upgrade](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/issues-and-hurdles-when-performing-the-initial-upgrade-34215.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://blog.mobian.org/posts/2021/02/09/pam_issue/>)

Author: Mobian team

Published: 2021-02-09T12:53:19Z

Content type: tutorial

Language: en

Sources: [Mobian's Blog](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/mobian-s-blog.md>)

Topics: [upgrade](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/upgrade.md>), [apt](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/apt.md>), [Authentication](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/authentication.md>), [Package manager](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/package-manager.md>), [Mobile](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/mobile.md>), [Terminal](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/terminal.md>), [Debian](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/debian.md>), [screen](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/screen.md>)

Tags: [apt](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/apt.md>), [authentication](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/authentication.md>), [changes](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/changes.md>), [debian](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/debian.md>), [dependencies](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/dependencies.md>), [error](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/error.md>), [installation](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/installation.md>), [pitfalls](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/pitfalls.md>), [terminal](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/terminal.md>), [upgrade](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/upgrade.md>)

## AI overview

This Mobian post explains pitfalls during the initial upgrade of a PinePhone. It describes a PAM issue that can temporarily prevent PIN unlocking before rebooting and recommends rebooting after the upgrade. It also recommends using a manual terminal update with Debian's apt package manager because the graphical Software application may fail with unmet-dependency errors during the initial update.

## Source excerpt

Dear Mobian CE owners, congratulations on receiving your mobile phone. We hope you will like Mobian and we hope that you will be helping us to make it even better. We are writing this post as the initial upgrade is rather tricky and there are a few pitfalls when performing it. We do know that real men and women don't read manuals, but please read this post carefully in order to not lock yourself permanently out of your phone (just an example of what can happen if you don't read this...). Most importantly, we want to inform you, that there is a minor issue with PAM (pluggable authentication module) when upgrading the preflashed image. It was upgraded in an incompatible manner, and when the lockscreen of your phone is invoked after upgrading but before rebooting, it will not accept your PIN anymore (fortunately in most cases, a simple reboot makes it work again). So do not worry, your installation is not broken! Therefore: After upgrading your pinephone for the first time it is highly recommended to reboot the device after the upgrade has finished. And keeping the screen unlocked during the initial upgrade by: touching the screen frequently (get used to the feeling :-)) or temporarily disabling the automatic lockscreen in the settings. Otherwise you run the risk of not being able to unlock your device once the screen has been locked. The second major issue during the initial upgrade is related to the graphical software updater, called "Software". The Software application can usually keep the software on your pinephone up-to-date and will prompt you to reboot after an update. On the initial update with currently more than 600 package changes compared to the factory image, it chokes and struggles, though. You will get some mysterious "Cannot update due to unmet dependencies" error in the software app if you try. So for the initial update, we recommend performing a manual update in the terminal (a great way to familiarize yourself with the terminal and Debian's package man