in 3 copy / paste actions !
because even well illustrated, the “web-installer” often don’t work,
and because the official documentation is imbuvable for some new users.
here we take the Fairphone 6 as example,
but it is the same process for all Fairphone devices.
Windows Guide :
Expand
according to Install /e/OS on a Fairphone The Fairphone (Gen. 6) - “FP6” from Smartphone Selector
If you plan to relock the bootloader after the installlation
this is not mandatoty, and only available with Official version, why relocking ?
Most important thing to take care about is the “android Security Update" aka "Security Patch Level” date (SPL) included in the already installed Operating System on your device at time of the unlock.
It must be OLDER than the “android Security Update" aka "Security Patch Level” date (SPL) included in the /e/OS build you want to install, otherwise you risk to change your device into Brick.
- You will find this information about FairphoneOS on the device :
settings --> about phone --> android version 15 --> android security update
- you will find this information about /e/OS build on the release article about the /e/OS version you want to install
the title of the article need to match both “/e/OS version” and “android level”,
currently"e-3.2-a15"
Releases · e / os / 
Releases · GitLab
more detailed explications here : (answered) Install /e/ on FP5 with newer Security Patches - Fairphone - /e/OS community
other things you must take care about
Your Stock OS Android version, must be the latest available relative to the /e/OS build you want to install → not higher !
Remove all Google accounts, screen lock or SIM lock from the device.
Use a USB-A to USB-C cable on a rear USB port (no hub even internal if possible)
Unlocking the bootloader
get the Unlock code from Fairphone before proceeding with the next steps
on your device, enable USB debugging and allow OEM unlocking .
- Reboot the device to bootloader mode with the command
adb reboot bootloader,
or with the device powered off - hold Volume Down + Power
On your PC, install Git-bash, and confirm all preselected options.
download the “platform-tools for windows”, and just extract the .ZIP, not more.
open the newly created “platform-tools” folder in your file manager, then
- use the right click of your mouse, and choose
open Git Bash here.you will get something like :
- Ask for unlock by copy this command and paste it in the terminal :
.\fastboot flashing unlock
- Approve with volume + then power
- The device proceed with a factory reset, and automatically reboots
Reboot again into bootloader
- Unlock critical by copy this command and paste it in the terminal :
.\fastboot flashing unlock_critical
- Approve with volume + then powe r
- The device proceeds with a factory reset, and automatically reboots
the Bootloader is now unlocked
Installing /e/OS
Again reboot the device into bootloader modeon your PC,
- take the latest /e/OS build for your device (Different Build Types)
- and just extract it, not more.
FP2 : community (e-2.2-a11-20240719) - UNOFFICIAL (e-2.3-a11-20250113)
From the newly created folder
/IMG-e-3.2-a15-20251022539003-official-FP6,
right clic with your mouse, and choose
open Git Bash here.copy this command and paste it in the git-bash terminal :
chmod +x flash_FP6_factory.sh && ./flash_FP6_factory.sh
you will get something like :
you are done with installing /e/OS
now, if you don’t want to relock the bootloader, just run :
./fastboot reboot
if you want to relock the bootloader, continue with next step.
.
Finaly,
only if the android security update in the previously installed Stock OS was older
than the android security update included in the /e/ build you want to install
you will be able to relock the bootloader according to instructions at the bottom of the device install page (only possible with Official version)
Don’t boot /e/OS after installing and before relocking the bootloader !
with the device in bootloader mode, Open a terminal from the “/platform-tools” location
and check bootloader status by running :
./fastboot oem device-info
./fastboot flashing get_unlock_ability
if the return is 1
→ you can relock now, and you will be able to unlock again in the future
if the return is 0
→ you can relock now, but you may not be able to unlock again in the future
IT IS ADVISED to not relock now, but to reinstall FairphoneOS boot on it (to get =1), and then reinstall /e/OS.
to relock the bootloader, copy / paste this command :
./fastboot flashing lock_critical
- Approve with volume + then power
- but then if the device try to reboot, press and hold down the volume down button and the power button for the phone comes to fastboot mode without starting the operating system !
- and copy / paste this command :
./fastboot flashing lock
- Approve with volume + then power
- the device must reboot, if not, copy / paste this command
./fastboot reboot
What could go wrong
[Solved] Windows does not see my phone in Fastboot mode - Setup - /e/OS community because needed drivers are not correctly installed
Tip :
if not properly "installed in your path” as explained in Installing adb and fastboot on Windows PC,
simply add ./ at the beginning of all your adb or fastboot commands,
it will use the version included into the relative folder (the latest) instead of the one installed on your system (that can be outdated)
Linux Guide :
Expand
according to Install /e/OS on a Fairphone The Fairphone (Gen. 6) - “FP6” from Smartphone Selector
If you plan to relock the bootloader after the installlation
this is not mandatoty, and only available with Official version, why relocking ?
Most important thing to take care about is the “android Security Update" aka "Security Patch Level” date (SPL) included in the already installed Operating System on your device at time of the unlock.
It must be OLDER than the “android Security Update" aka "Security Patch Level” date (SPL) included in the /e/OS build you want to install, otherwise you risk to change your device into Brick.
- You will find this information about FairphoneOS on the device :
settings --> about phone --> android version 15 --> android security update
- you will find this information about /e/OS build on the release article about the /e/OS version you want to install,
the title of the article need to match both “/e/OS version” and “android level”,
currently"e-3.2-a15"
Releases · e / os / Releases · GitLab
more detailled explications here : (answered) Install /e/ on FP5 with newer Security Patches - Fairphone - /e/OS community
other things you must take care about
Your FairphoneOS Android version, must be the latest available relative to the /e/OS build you want to install → not higher !
Remove all Gogol accounts, screen lock or SIM lock from the device.
Use a USB-A to USB-C cable on a rear USB port (no hub even internal if possible)
Unlocking the bootloader
get the Unlock code from Fairphone before proceeding with the next steps
on your device, enable USB debugging and allow OEM unlocking .
- Reboot the device to bootloader mode with the command
adb reboot bootloader,
or with the device powered off - hold Volume Down + Power
download the “platform-tools for Linux”, and just extract the .ZIP, not more.
open the newly created “platform-tools” folder in your file manager,
- use the right click of your mouse, and choose
open in a terminal.you will get something like :
- Ask for unlock by copy this command and paste it in the terminal :
./fastboot flashing unlock
- Approve with volume + then pow er
- The device proceed with a factory reset, and automatically reboots
Reboot again into bootloader
- Unlock critical by copy this command and paste it in the terminal :
./fastboot flashing unlock_critical
- Approve with volume + then po we r
- The device proceeds with a factory reset, and automatically reboots
the Bootloader is now unlocked
Installing /e/OS
Again reboot the device into bootloader mode
on your PC,
- take the latest /e/OS build for your device (Different Build Types)
- and just extract it, not more.
FP2 : community (e-2.2-a11-20240719) - UNOFFICIAL (e-2.3-a11-20250113)
From the newly created folder
/IMG-e-3.2-a15-20251022539003-official-FP6,
- right clic with your mouse, and choose
open in a terminal.- copy this command and paste it in the terminal :
chmod +x flash_FP6_factory.sh && ./flash_FP6_factory.sh
you will get something like :
you are done with installing /e/OS
now, if you don’t want to relock the bootloader, just run :
./fastboot reboot
if you want to relock the bootloader, continue with next step.
.
Finaly,
only if the android security update in the previously installed Stock OS was older
than the android security update included in the /e/ build you want to install
you will be able to relock the bootloader according to instructions at the bottom of the device install page (only possible with Official version)
Don’t boot /e/OS after installing and before relocking the bootloader !
with the device in bootloader mode, Open a terminal from the “/platform-tools” location
and check bootloader status by running :
./fastboot oem device-info
./fastboot flashing get_unlock_ability
if the return is 1
→ you can relock now, and you will be able to unlock again in the future
if the return is 0
→ you can relock now, but you may not be able to unlock again in the future
IT IS ADVISED to not relock now, but to reinstall FairphoneOS boot on it (to get =1), and then reinstall /e/OS.
to relock the bootloader, copy / paste this command :
./fastboot flashing lock_critical
- Approve with volume + then power
- but then if the device try to reboot, press and hold down the volume down button and the power button for the phone comes to fastboot mode without starting the operating system !
- and copy / paste this command :
./fastboot flashing lock
- Approve with volume + then power
- the device must reboot, if not, copy / paste this command
./fastboot reboot
Tip :
if not properly "installed in your path” as explained in Installing adb and fastboot on Linux PC,
simply add ./ at the beginning of all your adb or fastboot commands,
it will use the version included into the relative folder (the latest) instead of the one installed on your system (that can be outdated)
macOS Guide :
Expand
according to Install /e/OS on a Fairphone The Fairphone (Gen. 6) - “FP6”
If you plan to relock the bootloader after the installlation
this is not mandatoty, and only available with Official version, why relocking ?
Most important thing to take care about is the “android Security Update" aka "Security Patch Level” date (SPL) included in the already installed Operating System on your device at time of the unlock.
It must be OLDER than the “android Security Update" aka "Security Patch Level” date (SPL) included in the /e/OS build you want to install, otherwise you risk to change your device into Brick.
- You will find this information about stock OS on the device :
settings --> about phone --> android version 15 --> android security update
- you will find this information about /e/OS build on the release article about the /e/OS version you want to install even if you device have no instructions page :
the title of the article need to match both “/e/OS version” and “android level”,
currently"e-3.2-a15"
Releases · e / os / Releases · GitLab
more detailled explications here : (answered) Install /e/ on FP5 with newer Security Patches - Fairphone - /e/OS community
other things you must take care about
Your Stock OS Android version, must be the latest available relative to the /e/OS build you want to install → not higher !
Remove all Gogol accounts, screen lock or SIM lock from the device.
Use a USB-A to USB-C cable on a rear USB port (no hub even internal if possible)
Unlocking the bootloader
get the Unlock code from Fairphone before proceeding with the next steps
on your device, enable USB debugging and allow OEM unlocking .
- Reboot the device to bootloader mode with the command
adb reboot bootloader,
or with the device powered off - hold Volume Down + Power
on your macOS, download the latest /e/OS build from Smartphone Selector,
then extract the.ZIP, and rename the newly created folder
“IMG-e-3.2-a15-2025xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxx-xxxxxx-FP6” into "IMG-e".
- open the macos terminal from “Applications” → utilities → terminal.
you will see something like :
- Ask for unlock the bootloader by copy this command and paste it in the terminal :
~/Downloads/IMG-e/bin-darwin/./fastboot flashing unlock
- Approve with volume + then power
The device proceed with a factory reset, and automatically reboots
Reboot again into bootloader
- Unlock critical partitions by copy this command and paste it in the terminal :
~/Downloads/IMG-e/bin-darwin/./fastboot flashing unlock_critical
- Approve with volume + then power
The device proceeds with a factory reset, and automatically reboots
the Bootloader is now unlocked
Installing /e/OS
Again reboot the device into bootloader mode.
On your computer,
- copy this command and paste it in the terminal to go into the folder that contain the files :
cd ~/Downloads/IMG-e/
- copy this command and paste it in the terminal to make the script executable :
(replace “FP6” by your device codename)
chmod +x flash_FP6_factory.sh
- copy this command and paste it in the terminal to execute the script :
(replace “FP6” by your device codename)
./flash_FP6_factory.sh
you will get something like :
you are done with installing /e/OS
now, if you don’t want to relock the bootloader, just run :
~/Downloads/IMG-e/bin-darwin/./fastboot reboot
if you want to relock the bootloader, continue with next step.
Finaly,
only if the android security update in the previously installed Stock OS was older
than the android security update included in the /e/ build you want to install
you will be able to relock the bootloader according to instructions at the bottom of the device install page (only possible with Official version)
Don’t boot /e/OS after installing and before relocking the bootloader !
with the device in bootloader mode,
check bootloader status by running :
~/Downloads/IMG-e/bin-darwin/./fastboot oem device-info
~/Downloads/IMG-e/bin-darwin/./fastboot flashing get_unlock_ability
if the return is 1
→ you can relock now, and you will be able to unlock again in the future
if the return is 0
→ you can relock now, but you may not be able to unlock again in the future
IT IS ADVISED to not relock now, but to reinstall FairphoneOS boot on it (to get =1), and then reinstall /e/OS.
to relock the bootloader, copy / paste this command :
~/Downloads/IMG-e/bin-darwin/./fastboot flashing lock_critical
- Approve with volume + then power
- but then if the device try to reboot, press and hold down the volume down button and the power button for the phone comes to fastboot mode without starting the operating system !
- and copy / paste this command :
~/Downloads/IMG-e/bin-darwin/./fastboot flashing lock
- Approve with volume + then power
- the device must reboot, if not, copy / paste this command
~/Downloads/IMG-e/bin-darwin/./fastboot reboot
Tip :
if not properly "installed in your path” as explained in Installing adb and fastboot on Linux PC ,
simply add ./ at the beginning of all your adb or fastboot commands,
it will use the version included into the relative folder (the latest) instead of the one installed on your system (that can be outdated)
Feel free to ask if you still encountred issue.
see also : A clear guide to Upgrade your /e/OS to a new Android major version without loosing /data
