How to manually install Android on your Fairphone

  • Updated 

If you are unable to update your Fairphone using standard software updates or want to revert to stock Android from an alternative operating system, you can install the software manually.

Manual software installation is an advanced process. If you prefer a standard update, find out how to check and update your software version.

What you need before you begin

  1. Charge your phone to at least 80%.
  2. Create a backup before making any changes. This process permanently erases all data stored on your phone.
  3. Turn on Developer options:
    1. Go to Settings > About phone.
    2. Scroll to the bottom and tap Build number seven times.
    3. Enter your PIN or password if prompted.
  4. Turn on USB debugging:
    1. Go to Settings > System > Developer options.
    2. Under Debugging, tap USB debugging to turn it on.
  5. Make sure you have access to a computer and a USB-C certified data cable.
  6. Remove any SIM cards or microSD cards.

How to choose your installation method

Almost all Fairphone owners need to use Flashing with fastboot. This is the standard manual installation method for all Fairphone models. However, if you are a Fairphone 3 or Fairphone 3+ owner, you have the option of choosing OTA Sideload instead. 

Flashing with fastboot (Standard method for all Fairphone models)

  • Compatibility: Works on all Fairphone models.
  • Data: Always erases all personal data from your phone.
  • Flexibility: Works on any software version. Use this method to downgrade software versions or return to official Fairphone OS from a custom operating system.

If you install an operating system with an older security patch level than your previous software, locking the bootloader might brick your phone (more information).

OTA Sideload (Fairphone 3 and Fairphone 3+ only)

  • Compatibility: Exclusively available for the Fairphone 3 and Fairphone 3+.
  • Data: Does not erase your personal data.
  • Limitations: Only works when updating from older to newer software versions. You cannot use this method to downgrade or return to Fairphone OS from a custom operating system.

How to find and download your software package

Select your phone model and installation method below to find the correct software package. We keep the two most recent factory packages for current Android versions, and the final factory package released for older Android versions.

If a download link is not immediately available after a software update release, please check back later while the package finishes processing.

Fairphone (Gen. 6) and Fairphone (Gen. 6+)

Android 16

[Current - EU] FP6.QREL.16.100.0.20260727183253_WS1M-factory.zip

  • Version: FP6.QREL.16.100.0
  • Release date: August 24, 2026
  • Security patch: August 5, 2026
  • SHA256 checksum: 5e30e5a642f609cd6937825b86e71e416032e17936f0622c27d648aa40b4506d

[Current - US] FP6.QREL.16.104.0.20260806185558_WS1N-factory.zip

  • Version: FP6.QREL.16.104.0
  • Release date: August 24, 2026
  • Security patch: August 5, 2026
  • SHA256 checksum: dcd4c01d7c2cad564969f63c861a363f53601a2296066d569f5e6812b5408f12

FP6.QREL.16.95.0.20260708185435_WS1J_MR5-factory.zip

  • Version: FP6.QREL.16.82.0
  • Release date: July 27, 2026
  • Security patch: July 5, 2026
  • SHA256 checksum: d27289da00f596632d2e56bc9af31758a7b752f4f9046e44ffa1e0c4c4ec058a

Android 15

FP6.QREL.15.178.0.20260204144956_VS22-factory.zip

  • Version: FP6.QREL.15.178.0
  • Release date: March 5, 2026
  • Security patch: February 5, 2026
  • SHA256 checksum: 85ea44178af4cd0385cce45a8204000665436a70207a9261465ef43846206692
Fairphone 5

Android 15

[Current] FP5-VT31-factory.zip

  • Version: FP5.VT31.C.114
  • Release date: August 24, 2026
  • Security patch: August 5, 2026
  • SHA256 checksum: 478bf3f246ef0a9d6a8fab279cf8dd712cb6f353e520f1977c6edbaede3880f8

FP5-VT2Y-factory.zip

  • Version: FP5.VT2Y.C.108
  • Release date: July 20, 2026
  • Security patch: July 5, 2026
  • SHA256 checksum: 0b320561c77e7d63cf7cd09bab635c8ef1979e7a5d847f38c0021d91f3cec05e

Android 14

FP5-UT2Q-factory.zip

  • Version: FP5.UT2Q.B.125
  • Release date: June 23, 2025
  • Security patch: June 5, 2025
  • SHA256 checksum: ccef09f6ffd48f0d14bf87297af5756d51fe68ec1a5b710af8f7052a3dde6564

Android 13

FP5-TT4H-factory.zip

  • Version: FP5.TT4H.A.162
  • Release date: June 26, 2024
  • Security patch: June 5, 2024
  • SHA256 checksum: 38f5cded3cceca25cbf7c9d42ad664ec232a9b1446f3ae17053fe97d7110da01
Fairphone 4

Android 15

[Current] FP4.SREL.15.19.2.20260706144009.user-factory.zip

  • Version: FP4.QREL.15.19.2
  • Release date: August 3, 2026
  • Security patch: August 5, 2026
  • SHA256 checksum: 5d2add1a165e650e48628f9cd0ad898428893add57afe1442e3b67238372a230

FP4.QREL.15.19.1.20260604163820.user-factory.zip

  • Version: FP4.QREL.15.19.1
  • Release date: July 6, 2026
  • Security patch: June 5, 2026
  • SHA256 checksum: bf09120713930f03311e65acdf4f75c2e873abeebbc65836fe3a0e67eff12f2e

Android 13

FP4-TP31-factory.zip

  • Version: FP4.TP31.C.0143
  • Release date: October 3, 2025
  • Security patch: September 5, 2025
  • SHA256 checksum: 7404233c93f281948134d114247a7dc4cd31466a64ea91f71c76df0f1aad6535

Android 12

FP4-SP2K-factory.zip

  • Version: FP4.SP2K.B.089
  • Release date: October 3, 2023
  • Security patch: August 5, 2023
  • SHA256 checksum: 485df357646fe96561bc6d1e7c2f7db8f9f4760ef1a7336ab4581968a79939a3

Android 11

FP4-FP4K-factory.zip

  • Version: FP4.FP4K.A.179
  • Release date: February 3, 2023
  • Security patch: January 5, 2023
  • SHA256 checksum: 1f019c4fdd27b6e57086cea11acf4f81f19888efb47869200cb332812b09e510
Fairphone 3 and Fairphone 3+

Flashing with fastboot

Android 13

FP3-6.A.040.4-gms-c8a26ca8-user-fastbootimage.zip

  • Version: 6.A.040.2
  • Release date: June 22, 2026
  • MD5: 9598247a7afc9d363e40a27cf86e54b7
  • SHA256: 6ccd63f6dce87283357656c38fb69a0f53116f2174cd31569eeb896799047680

Android 11

FP3-8901.4.A.0028.1-gms-6fba2dc6-user-fastbootimage.zip

  • Version: 4.A.0028.1
  • Release date: February 29, 2024
  • MD5: 8ae52d36a3082e692fa45ecc4fcbf4af
  • SHA256: acf4a5faaa04d5bd812691450eea9a6cfa04deae44b71824bf59b9d3744de452

Android 10

FP3_legacy_FP3-REL-Q-3.A.0136-.gms-7c69ec7e-user-fastboot-factory.7z

  • Version: 8901.3.A.0136
  • Release date: March 22, 2022
  • MD5: 38fc990f243fcd9406d97cdb4564ef85
  • SHA256: 8de015d33e66b29c39fb9f4d4f50baa1a4b0146ccab2f61b196f135c40f96d39

Android 9

Android 9: FP3_legacy_FP3-REL-2.A.0134-20200703.120010-user-fastbootimage-v2.zip

  • Version: 8901.2.A.0134
  • Release date: July 30, 2020
  • MD5: b078dadf03d336bf087a49b6e0b96e0c
  • SHA256: 82fd71a60465e4534c1f535056283785aafd7117ed6a0c2c36987a64e6b6492b

OTA Sideload releases

Android 13

Software release Build 040.3 → 040.4 (A13)
File name: FP3-6.A.040.4-gms-c8a26ca8-user-ota-from-6.A.040.3-manual-sideload.zip
MD5: 4e9c4c0542fa21cd3d93d7b27d494679 | SHA256: 94bf8c131b19b45902350f75e2da8210498d1f32ccb7a2d05b72bea8d027e7f8

Software release Build 040.2 → 040.3 (A13)
File name: FP3-6.A.040.3-gms-dfbdce16-user-ota-from-6.A.040.2-manual-sideload.zip
MD5: 3c99314aeb1c9c0bfa394c16e14d658b | SHA256: 5019edd772992c31ad111aedcc56c289b8c84898bb0eac5f25b733630cab6f6c

Software release Build 039.7 → 040.2 (A13)
File name: FP3-6.A.040.2-gms-d33dc62f-user-ota-from-6.A.039.7-manual-sideload.zip
MD5: 31e2c8fdcec5043ee2286d56e093605e | SHA256: 872c2f3600e6f73e538a1f878b2ff54a8d447f17e23f76e89e64a3b4b90e1af7

Software release Build 039.4 → 039.7 (A13)
File name: FP3-6.A.039.7-gms-44ba459b-user-ota-from-6.A.039.4-manual-sideload.zip
MD5: 58e9194256a45e45a49459c377ac288a | SHA256: d42e92ae211d3e4d28f147e82307c2a4a83c99acb78393803289eec5d5d395fb

Software release Build 035.5 → 039.4 (A13)
File name: FP3-6.A.039.4-gms-2f612659-user-ota-from-6.A.035.5-manual-sideload.zip
MD5: 049b46297975106bc5cc9290f7ae07fc | SHA256: 5f9b0c8dc55317bcf72e727428ce78037f8b8c30539fb53481f790467c25cc1d

Software release Build 035.2 → 035.5 (A13)
File name: FP3-6.A.035.5-gms-921df471-user-ota-from-6.A.035.2-manual-sideload.zip
MD5: d2186b50bd9d9ceeeaf85a3c03d624c8 | SHA256: d1e3bc2e0097c44485ea96b1df74a263101aa97c27008e4e2da72177ca3e4e3a

Software release Build 031.8 → 035.2 (A13)
File name: FP3-6.A.035.2-gms-691ff58c-user-ota-from-6.A.031.8-manual-sideload.zip
MD5: d4921eb5d4cba55288c7988af434e9e5 | SHA256: 73d46166700875172bd18024c3f99afecf748ef36445733994bd9efe9c71a64b

Software release Build 031.7 → 031.8 (A13)
File name: FP3-6.A.031.8-gms-b70b9be7-user-ota-from-6.A.031.7-manual-sideload.zip
MD5: f569d86ce711af7fb5051ce62a7403d8 | SHA256: 2105f19d587c9113d0d99a7442f3f1d47b284f1a88ee741e32653f4e2bf45602

Software release Build 031.5 → 031.7 (A13)
File name: FP3-6.A.031.7-gms-f31c7748-user-ota-from-6.A.031.5-manual-sideload.zip
MD5: 2b65c80a55e9e0aeca32a87d77ab204d | SHA256: f9176004a04cbb282b9601de7331e9d7532677950673ea42dc7222e001bfa2aa

Software release Build 031.2 → 031.5 (A13)
File name: FP3-6.A.031.5-gms-fa7632b5-user-ota-from-6.A.031.2-manual-sideload.zip
MD5: 089d79dbc64194c7eb90f1cb995f32df | SHA256: da01722cb6be28333545e76a7a216c2767d3df48523455e61c74f0a47be7ca09

Software release Build 030 → 031.2 (A13)
File name: FP3-6.A.031.2-gms-880ae2f6-user-ota-from-6.A.030.0-manual-sideload.zip
MD5: 9304b973efa67428691d935a373695ee | SHA256: d36e411cf7563d2a39d90db5a475095a6fed5a0360faede2613c5424a4e2adb1

Software release Build 029 → 030 (A13)
File name: FP3-6.A.030.0-gms-d57debf7-user-ota-from-6.A.029.0-manual-sideload.zip
MD5: c79862b17541660cbaa78b184beaefb6 | SHA256: bfd8ec4dedc8e6ea565ca029054095b59a20899c428bf903cc9b4e150738bc62

Software release Build 028 → 029 (A13)
File name: FP3-6.A.029.0-gms-d294663c-user-ota-from-6.A.028.1-manual-sideload.zip
MD5: ef03ca8c94fdb0511dcb6e3cdd37e257 | SHA256: 0467a4ed38b8c7da99454836c3b7f93777817875d62ae8f0658ce896b538fe9f

Android 11

Software release any A11 version → 027 (A11)
File name: FP3-8901.4.A.0027.1-gms-ba81c0e7-user-ota-manual-sideload.zip
MD5: eb030b0b7d71ab835ed3d20f9e8ac706 | SHA256: 8f224d13ef866326df6b742d4900389dacff1a652b31d49928297a9b4580326f

Software release Build 027 → 028 (A11)
File name: FP3-8901.4.A.0028.1-gms-6fba2dc6-user-ota-from-8901.4.A.0027.1-manual-sideload.zip
MD5: aad8b235aac8470b791f20f45502d708 | SHA256: 2a206990c9caa4801809d9a3ca565f9f4b5f1b0d638ecec124dc3fcd1eaf7a46

Software release Build 026 → 027 (A11)
File name: FP3-8901.4.A.0027.1-gms-ba81c0e7-user-ota-from-8901.4.A.0026.1-manual-sideload.zip
MD5: dddf2bbcad615309536b2faae6a0d068 | SHA256: bac88cfebbeaef13dd68c4d43cf17aad30edcfcdb5d073c8380ad1d6b8ec1e71

Software release Build 025 → 026 (A11)
File name: FP3-8901.4.A.0026.1-gms-94cd6c9f-user-ota-from-8901.4.A.0025.0-manual-sideload.zip
MD5: 988958a5f3df7ae5a8dc4fb3d047c4bf | SHA256: a5ddd266ff173425c4002703aa79cdf70f32d7cefe5496a88f347da5be6a212e

How to install the software on your phone

Choose your installation method below for step-by-step instructions.

Option 1: Flashing with fastboot (for all Fairphone models)

  1. Unlock your Fairphone's bootloader
  2. Make sure your Fairphone:
    • Is in fastboot mode
    • Has an unlocked bootloader
    • Is connected to your computer with a USB data cable
  3. On your computer, extract the downloaded software file.
  4. Open the extracted folder and locate the correct installation file for your operating system:
    • File names start with flash_fp3, flash_fp4, or similar.
    • For Windows, use the .bat file.
    • For macOS, use the .command file.
    • For Linux, use the .sh file.
  5. Double-click the file to open it and start the installation.

  6. If a permission error message appears on your Mac:

    1. Click OK.
    2. Go to Apple menu > System Settings.
    3. Click Privacy & Security.
    4. Scroll down to the Security section.
    5. Click Open Anyway.

    Resume the installation script.

Option 2: OTA Sideload for Fairphone 3(+)

These steps apply exclusively to the Fairphone 3(+). Do not attempt this process on other models.

  1. Connect your Fairphone to your computer using a USB data cable.
  2. Extract the downloaded Fairphone OS archive file and move the uncompressed folder to your desktop.
  3. Open a Command Prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS / Linux):
    • On Linux, enter the command cd ~\Desktop\platform-tools_r34.0.4-windows\platform-tools and press Enter ↩.
    • Note: The exact name of the platform tools folder may vary depending on the release version.
  4. Put your Fairphone in Recovery mode:
    1. Power off your Fairphone.
    2. Press and hold the Power and Volume up buttons at the same time.
    3. When the phone vibrates, release the Power button while continuing to hold Volume up.
    4. After a few seconds, the Android Recovery screen appears:
  5. Use the Volume buttons to highlight Apply update from ADB, then press the Power button to select it.
  6. In the Command Prompt or terminal window, run ./sideload_update.command.

Still need help?

First try our self-service portal and then reach out to our customer support team. You can also open a support request directly through the My Fairphone app pre-installed on your device.