Manually install Android OS on your Fairphone
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's stock OS (Android) from an alternative operating system, you can install Android 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 manually install Android OS on your Fairphone:
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
Latest Android 14 software release
File name: FP5-UT2M-factory.zip
Version: FP5.UT2M.B.113
md5sum: 19caee221ca2efe237609e5ecf99a393
sha256sum: de8479e17311ace558556a84c6422b9e069dc34ef2d830276b4a53db1c9e4e6c
Not sure what these are for? Click here to learn more.
[Previous] Android 14 software release
File name: FP5-UT2L-factory.zipVersion: FP5.UT2L.B.107
md5sum: 47c0d9dae50bf76bf4eb943b172de368
sha256sum: 3cca24a6791ca439b232a5dff12b75882b30614296c01115aabf0f72e9924ecf
Not sure what these are for? Click here to learn more.
Android 13
Latest Android 13 software release
File name: FP5-TT4H-factory.zipVersion: FP5.TT4H.A.162
md5sum: 57c756ef65f87ba02db0e5e10a89e5d4
sha256sum: 38f5cded3cceca25cbf7c9d42ad664ec232a9b1446f3ae17053fe97d7110da01
Not sure what these are for? Click here to learn more.
Fairphone 4
Android 13
Latest Android 13 software release
File name: FP4-TP2R-factory.zipVersion: FP4.TP2R.C.0132
md5sum: a81df904c3b4307a50c9112b1dd85df6
sha256sum: 0413b835083b893e44020f66337a59f9ba50f25ae07587199896ff12fa6abeca
Not sure what these are for? Click here to learn more.
[Previous] Android 13 software release
File name: FP4-TP2P-factory.zipVersion: FP4.TP2P.C.0130
md5sum: c272a2324f6b90d9483907e5cd20acb1
sha256sum: a7dee94f3e3e2e42f3f41b12c682837dafe1ee34fc1aef08aa2b0a7753d985e2
Not sure what these are for? Click here to learn more.
Android 12
Latest Android 12 software release
File name: FP4-SP2K-factory.zipVersion: FP4.SP2K.B.089
md5sum: cb297190b096c7a9e0338832e883edfa
sha256sum: 485df357646fe96561bc6d1e7c2f7db8f9f4760ef1a7336ab4581968a79939a3
Not sure what these are for? Click here to learn more.
Android 11
Latest Android 11 software release
File name: FP4-FP4K-factory.zipVersion: 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
Latest Android 13 software release
File name: FP3-6.A.031.7-gms-f31c7748-user-fastbootimage.zipmd5sum: 4c166585089035d3e007311aa2197592
sha256sum: 0c0ddb3ac2241399b4f6bb48bc56857646db7cced62c669f1fb9096f2a63f843
Not sure what these are for? Click here to learn more.
[Previous] Android 13 software release
File name: FP3-6.A.031.5-gms-fa7632b5-user-fastbootimage.zipmd5sum: a82c2797c3d72782cecf9466dcac3bcc
sha256sum: f26f33c295aa5823bc16cc9b8b5b1ed038ef931024eefa67427b5bf50fc4b123
Not sure what these are for? Click here to learn more.
Android 11
Latest Android 11 software release
File name: FP3-8901.4.A.0028.1-gms-6fba2dc6-user-fastbootimage.zipmd5sum: 8ae52d36a3082e692fa45ecc4fcbf4af
sha256sum: acf4a5faaa04d5bd812691450eea9a6cfa04deae44b71824bf59b9d3744de452
Not sure what these are for? Click here to learn more.
Android 10
Latest Android 10 software release
File name: FP3_legacy_FP3-REL-Q-3.A.0136-.gms-7c69ec7e-user-fastboot-factory.7zmd5sum: 38fc990f243fcd9406d97cdb4564ef85
sha256sum: 8de015d33e66b29c39fb9f4d4f50baa1a4b0146ccab2f61b196f135c40f96d39
Not sure what these are for? Click here to learn more.
Android 9
Latest Android 9 software release
File name: FP3_legacy_FP3-REL-2.A.0134-20200703.120010-user-fastbootimage-v2.zipmd5sum: b078dadf03d336bf087a49b6e0b96e0c
sha256sum: 82fd71a60465e4534c1f535056283785aafd7117ed6a0c2c36987a64e6b6492b
Not sure what these are for? Click here to learn more.
OTA Sideload
Android 13
Build 0031.5 → 0031.7 (A13)
Software release Build 0031.5 → 0031.7 (A13)
File name: FP3-6.A.031.7-gms-f31c7748-user-ota-from-6.A.031.5-manual-sideload.zip
md5sum: 2b65c80a55e9e0aeca32a87d77ab204d
sha256sum: f9176004a04cbb282b9601de7331e9d7532677950673ea42dc7222e001bfa2aa
Not sure what these are for? Click here to learn more.
Build 0031.2 → 0031.5 (A13)
Software release Build 0031.2 → 0031.5 (A13)
File name: FP3-6.A.031.5-gms-fa7632b5-user-ota-from-6.A.031.2-manual-sideload.zip
md5sum: 089d79dbc64194c7eb90f1cb995f32df
sha256sum: da01722cb6be28333545e76a7a216c2767d3df48523455e61c74f0a47be7ca09
Not sure what these are for? Click here to learn more.
Build 0030 → 0031.2 (A13)
Software release Build 0030 → 0031.2 (A13)
File name: FP3-6.A.031.2-gms-880ae2f6-user-ota-from-6.A.030.0-manual-sideload.zip
md5sum: 9304b973efa67428691d935a373695ee
sha256sum: d36e411cf7563d2a39d90db5a475095a6fed5a0360faede2613c5424a4e2adb1
Not sure what these are for? Click here to learn more.
Build 0029 → 0030 (A13)
Software release 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)
Software release 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)
Software release 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 0027 → 0028 (A11)
Software release Build 0027 → 0028 (A11)
File name: FP3-8901.4.A.0028.1-gms-6fba2dc6-user-ota-from-8901.4.A.0027.1-manual-sideload
md5sum: aad8b235aac8470b791f20f45502d708
sha256sum: 2a206990c9caa4801809d9a3ca565f9f4b5f1b0d638ecec124dc3fcd1eaf7a46
Not sure what these are for? Click here to learn more.
Build 0026 → 0027 (A11)
Software release 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)
Software release 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.
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