Install Fairphone OS manually
Important
These steps require a significant level of technical understanding, and may be challenging for beginners. Always start with our regular steps: Check and update your software version.
If you are not able to update your Fairphone using our regular steps, or want to revert to Fairphone OS from an alternative operating system, you can install Fairphone OS manually.
- Before you start
- Choose your preferred method of installation
- Download the relevant package
- Install the software
Before you start
- Charge your Fairphone to at least 80%.
- Create a backup before making any changes. The following steps may permanently delete any data stored on your device.
- Turn on Developer options:
- Go to Settings → About phone.
- Scroll to the bottom, and tap the Build number at least seven times.
- If you have a PIN or password, enter it to turn on developer options.
- Turn on USB debugging:
- Go to Settings → System → Developer options.
- Under Debugging, tap USB debugging to turn on USB debugging.
- Make sure you have access to a computer and a USB-C certified data cable.
- Remove any SIM or microSD cards.
Choose your preferred method of installation
There are two ways to install Fairphone OS manually:
Flashing with fastboot
- Your data is always wiped.
- More steps, may be challenging for beginners.
- Works regardless of what version you are on. Can be used to downgrade to an older version (for example: Android 13 → Android 11).
- Can be used to return to Fairphone OS from a custom ROM.
OTA Sideload
Important: OTA sideload is currently only possible for Fairphone 3(+).
- Does not wipe your data.
- Fewer steps, easier for beginners.
- Does not work for downgrading. Can only be used to go from older to newer software versions.
- Can not be used to return to Fairphone OS from a custom ROM.
Download the relevant package
Each package is different depending on your device and preferred method of installation. It's important to choose the right one.
Fairphone 5
Android 14
File name: FP5-UT27-factory.zip
Version: FP5.UT27.B.059
md5sum: dd6dee047807a8ba657ddaaa5bd85974
sha256sum: 3c3bc5a00998e859a8f4dace3e457982c2389a8a249d4c3e4083c34ef83ed225
Not sure what these are for? Click here to learn more.
[Previous] Fairphone OS (Android 14)
File name: FP5-UT20-factory.zipVersion: FP5.UT20.B.041
md5sum: 121046590abd60610e16d8bbbe981394
sha256sum: 67d2f8efb92afb7aa8afdb1a5d63044c7679bace67ee9d273013121331bdee74
Not sure what these are for? Click here to learn more.
Android 13
Version: FP5.TT4H.A.162
md5sum: 57c756ef65f87ba02db0e5e10a89e5d4
sha256sum: 38f5cded3cceca25cbf7c9d42ad664ec232a9b1446f3ae17053fe97d7110da01
Not sure what these are for? Click here to learn more.
Fairphone 4
Android 13
Version: FP4.TP2L.C.0126
md5sum: 2c3cac5146f2d39818a42dea4e89e836
sha256sum: fb93b5fe6557dcc209c80921ac04717b91ffa895c8b8dc3a0a47ef8617805c74
Not sure what these are for? Click here to learn more.
[Previous] Fairphone OS (Android 13)
File name: FP4-TP2I-factory.zipVersion: FP4.TP2I.C.0121
md5sum: 1a9dbf8cb515e7a8aaec42efe2b49dc8
sha256sum: e22149407afbf1f0c8e531de020aa182ac621487829574116bb1ac91fe71649d
Not sure what these are for? Click here to learn more.
Android 12
Version: FP4.SP2K.B.089
md5sum: cb297190b096c7a9e0338832e883edfa
sha256sum: 485df357646fe96561bc6d1e7c2f7db8f9f4760ef1a7336ab4581968a79939a3
Not sure what these are for? Click here to learn more.
Android 11
Version: FP4.FP4K.A.179.20230116
md5sum: 3aa48a46443f538e176a60526d27b53b
sha256sum: 1f019c4fdd27b6e57086cea11acf4f81f19888efb47869200cb332812b09e510
Not sure what these are for? Click here to learn more.
Fairphone 3(+)
Flashing with fastboot
Android 13
md5sum: f926dd0e8b7368a7481146657c27c06b
sha256sum: 73f8b39bcdde22acf437c92aa8d7fefb04676b61642f19f3edae8cec53131fda
Not sure what these are for? Click here to learn more.
[Previous] Fairphone OS (Android 13)
File name: FP3-6.A.029.0-gms-d294663c-user-fastbootimage.zipmd5sum: 4f4b323a0f1a3793f1a98e645644f8ae
sha256sum: ce4ad31dd433dd4904511109ae92c976eaabff297a989a06d937fd4fd29303f8
Not sure what these are for? Click here to learn more.
Android 11
md5sum: 8ae52d36a3082e692fa45ecc4fcbf4af
sha256sum: acf4a5faaa04d5bd812691450eea9a6cfa04deae44b71824bf59b9d3744de452
Not sure what these are for? Click here to learn more.
Android 10
md5sum: 38fc990f243fcd9406d97cdb4564ef85
sha256sum: 8de015d33e66b29c39fb9f4d4f50baa1a4b0146ccab2f61b196f135c40f96d39
Not sure what these are for? Click here to learn more.
Android 9
md5sum: b078dadf03d336bf087a49b6e0b96e0c
sha256sum: 82fd71a60465e4534c1f535056283785aafd7117ed6a0c2c36987a64e6b6492b
Not sure what these are for? Click here to learn more.
OTA Sideload
Android 13
Build 0029 → 0030 (A13)
File name: FP3-6.A.030.0-gms-d57debf7-user-ota-from-6.A.029.0-manual-sideload.zip
md5sum: c79862b17541660cbaa78b184beaefb6
sha256sum: bfd8ec4dedc8e6ea565ca029054095b59a20899c428bf903cc9b4e150738bc62
Not sure what these are for? Click here to learn more.
Build 0028 → 0029 (A13)
File name: FP3-6.A.029.0-gms-d294663c-user-ota-from-6.A.028.1-manual-sideload.zip
md5sum: ef03ca8c94fdb0511dcb6e3cdd37e257
sha256sum: 0467a4ed38b8c7da99454836c3b7f93777817875d62ae8f0658ce896b538fe9f
Not sure what these are for? Click here to learn more.
Android 11
Any A11 version → 0027 (A11)
File name: FP3-8901.4.A.0027.1-gms-ba81c0e7-user-ota-manual-sideload.zip
md5sum: eb030b0b7d71ab835ed3d20f9e8ac706
sha256sum: 8f224d13ef866326df6b742d4900389dacff1a652b31d49928297a9b4580326f
Not sure what these are for? Click here to learn more.
Build 0026 → 0027 (A11)
File name: FP3-8901.4.A.0027.1-gms-ba81c0e7-user-ota-from-8901.4.A.0026.1-manual-sideload.zip
md5sum: dddf2bbcad615309536b2faae6a0d068
sha256sum: bac88cfebbeaef13dd68c4d43cf17aad30edcfcdb5d073c8380ad1d6b8ec1e71
Not sure what these are for? Click here to learn more.
Build 0025 → 0026 (A11)
File name: FP3-8901.4.A.0026.1-gms-94cd6c9f-user-ota-from-8901.4.A.0025.0-manual-sideload.zip
md5sum: 988958a5f3df7ae5a8dc4fb3d047c4bf
sha256sum: a5ddd266ff173425c4002703aa79cdf70f32d7cefe5496a88f347da5be6a212e
Not sure what these are for? Click here to learn more.
Build 0026 → 0028 (A11)
File name: FP3-8901.4.A.0028.1-gms-6fba2dc6-user-ota-from-8901.4.A.0027.1.zip
md5sum: fddcabb8ff3053e74482a10b481dd4fe
sha256sum: 673ea2e8212babbddf5c7442ee31202d58ffc0e1f532d252ff8061eeaf12be54
Not sure what these are for? Click here to learn more.
Install the software
Select your preferred method of installation below to see the corresponding steps.
Flashing with fastboot
- Follow all the steps in the article Manage the Bootloader to unlock your bootloader.
- Make sure your Fairphone:
- Is in fastboot mode;
- Has an unlocked bootloader;
- Is connected to the computer;
- On your computer, extract the archive file you downloaded before.
- Open the extracted folder and locate the right installation file.
- The name of the file will start with something like "flash_fp3" or "flash_fp4".
- For Windows, use the .bat file.
- For macOS, use the .command file.
- For Linux, use the .sh file.
- Now that you've found the correct file, double-click to open it and begin the installation.
Note about macOS permissions
If a similar error message appears:
- Click on OK.
- Go to the Apple menu (top left corner of the screen) → System Settings.
- Click on the icon Privacy & Security.
- Scroll until you reach the Security tab.
- Click on Open Anyway.
- Continue from where you left off.
OTA Sideload
- Connect your Fairphone to your computer using a USB data cable.
- Extract the Fairphone OS .zip you downloaded above and move the unarchived folder to your desktop.
- Open a Command Prompt (Windows) or a terminal (macOS/Linux).
- On Linux, type the command
cd ~\Desktop\platform-tools_r34.0.4-windows\platform-tools
and press Enter ↩. - Important: The exact name of the platform tools folder may be different from the example above.
- On Linux, type the command
- Put your Fairphone in Recovery mode:
- Power off your Fairphone.
- Press and hold the Power and Volume up buttons at the same time.
- When the phone vibrates, release the Power button. Keep holding Volume up.
- After a few seconds, you should see the main Recovery mode screen.
- Use the Volume buttons to navigate to the option Apply update from ADB. Press the Power button to select the option.
- On the Command Prompt or terminal window, run
./sideload_update.command