every months comes a new /e/OS version update, it is automaticaly applied “OTA” (Over The Air), but every years AOSP publish a new major android version, generaly /e/ toke a year to integrate it (they fisrt wait for LineageOS developpement and then apply their changes and make tests).
If you are using a build from the “official” branch, AND if you are patient, you will receive the new android major version also OTA.
BUT if you are not patient, or use a build from the “community” branch or from the “unofficial” branch, it won’t be applied automaticaly OTA, you will need to apply the upgrade manualy !
to upgrade your /e/OS, without loosing /data you have several options :
download the file on the phone, go to “→ settings → system updater” and use the feature called “locale update” (if you have it in the “3 dot menu” at top right of the screen).
or
download the file on the phone, reboot it into the recovery mode and use “apply update” then “from internal storage” (if your “recovery mode” have the feature).
or
download the file on a SDcard, reboot the phone into the recovery mode and use “apply update” then “from External SDcard” (if your “recovery mode” have the feature).
or
Universal Method, download the file on a computer, reboot the phone into the recovery mode and use “apply update” then “from ADB” :
download the latest /e/OS build for your device
it must be named like e-3.2-a15-20251022539003-official-FP6.zip
But visible on their website, you will only find something named like IMG-e-3.2-a15-20251022539003-official-FP6.zip
use the right clic to copy the link, and, paste it into the adress bar of your browser,
remove the 4 IMG- carracters and press enter to download the right file
On the computer the sideloading shows progress as a percentage figure that will stop at 47%.
For a long time…
The phone will still be installing though it might feel like nothing is happening
and you can expect to see the following screen
Tap Reboot system now to boot into your newly upgraded /e/OS.
Tip :
if not properly "installed in your path” as explained in Installing adb and fastboot on Windows PC, or in Installing adb and fastboot on macOS or 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use the version included into the relative folder (the latest) instead of the one installed on your system (that can be outdated)
