FP5 not booting after update to Android 15

[Giorgio_Croci]

Is this covered by warranty? Never mind I returned it to the reseller to get this checked. I guess it has less problem with linux

[anon76468197]

Hi everyone,

Thank you for your patience and for sharing your experiences regarding the FP5 boot issue following the Android 15 update.

What we’ve discovered

From our diagnostics, it seems that:

• In some cases, the fingerprint sensor was working intermittently, which allowed the update to Android 15 to complete and the phone to boot at least once.

• If the fingerprint sensor then stopped working afterward, the device is recognized as having successfully installed and started Android 15.

• This means a rollback to Android 14 is no longer possible once Android 15 has been initialized.

What this means for affected devices

For devices in this situation:

• Repair is the only option if the phone can no longer boot.

• Even if we release a future fix, users whose phones are already stuck on A15 without booting will not be able to simply install it as a normal update.

• The only ways to apply the fix will be either:

  1. Sending the device for repair.

  2. Manually installing the update.

Both options require a factory reset and will result in data loss.

Next steps

• Our teams are actively working on a long-term solution so this issue won’t recur in future updates.

• We’re monitoring this thread closely and forwarding all details you share to our internal teams.

We know this is not the experience you expect or that we want to deliver, and we’re truly sorry for the frustration it has caused. Your reports here are vital to helping us resolve the issue and prevent similar cases in the future.

Thank you again for your support and for being part of the Fairphone community.

[loseyourself]

@anon76468197

Even if we release a future fix, users whose phones are already stuck on A15 without booting will not be able to simply install it as a normal update.

Any reason why you haven’t stopped the update entirely until this has been fixed?

[Martin_Anderseck]

@anon76468197

• If the fingerprint sensor then stopped working afterward, the device is recognized as having successfully installed and started Android 15.

Wait a second, does that mean that while with Android <=14 we would have lost the ability to unlock the phone or apps with our fingerprint, a breaking fingerprint sensor would make our phones completely unbootable from Android 15 on? Or will a FP5 continue to boot up if during its Android 15 life the sensor breaks?

[loseyourself]

My understanding is that if your fingerprint sensor breaks TODAY and you’re on Android 15, you will have to send your phone in to repair. Which is why it’s insane that they don’t just… stop the update for 2-3 weeks until this is fixed.

[yvmuell]

The rest of the story is hidden inbetween as someone constantly removes the solution tag
@all could we kindly stop this? People should be able to find the important info easily!

FP5 not booting after update to Android 15

Hi everyone, Thanks for reporting this and for your patience as we looked into it. We’ve now identified the root cause of the issue: it only affects Fairphone 5 devices with broken fingerprint sensors. Android 15 introduces stricter hardware checks during boot, and if the fingerprint sensor is faulty, the phone is unable to start. The good news is that the issue is reversible: You can safely downgrade back to Android 14 without losing data by following a specific set of steps. If your devic…

[adrium]

@yvmuell

The rest of the story is hidden inbetween as someone constantly removes the solution tagI

Let’s highlight some facts:

1. As stated by some users, sending the phone for repairs may not be an option for them. Cost is unclear, warranty question has not been answered.
2. The issue is primarily due to software. The phone is fully functional without the fingerprint sensor.
3. Software fix has still not been released and faulty software is still being deployed to all users despite known issues affecting a wider user base.
4. Customer support is totally unresponsive, even with dedicated ‘Fairphone 5 only: my device is stuck after Android 15 update’ issue type.

I am not the one removing the solution tag, but with all due respect: There is NO acceptable solution at this point.

[adrium]

@anon76468197

Both options require a factory reset and will result in data loss

I am affected by the issue and changed desperately between A14 and A15 without factory reset (fastboot only flashing the partitions having an unlocked bootloader) as follows:

1. Download the zip and extract
2. Edit flash_fp5_factory.command and change the following lines:
   1. DATA_WIPE=“true” to false
   2. FRP_WIPE=“true” to false
3. Edit SHA256SUMSand remove flash_fp5_factory.command line from

I managed to boot once and keep it running since. All data was preserved. Because hot swapping is not possible (which is really bad for a recent phone), I just keep it running ever since and use another phone as hotspot.

[yvmuell]

People affected need find the current available “solution” easily, thats it. No one ever stated that by this statement from FP anything is solved for everyone.

[yvmuell]

Just to add: this only works when your bootloader was already unlocked, else each locking and unlocking will cause a data wipe.

[tretdis]

Hi everyone,

I think my Fairphone 5 was already updated to Android 15 a few weeks ago. On August 16th, after the phone accidentally fell on the ground, it stopped working with exactly the same symptoms described here: it freezes at the boot animation and I can only access the recovery menu.

At the very moment of the fall, I noticed that the power button (and fingerprint sensor) got stuck. After a while it became responsive again — now it does perform the on/off action — but apparently the fall must have damaged it, and since then I haven’t been able to boot into Android.

So far, I’m just waiting for an official solution from Fairphone, because in my situation a factory reset would mean losing the photos stored in the internal memory.

Thanks to everyone sharing experiences here.

[loseyourself]

@tretdis

So far, I’m just waiting for an official solution from Fairphone, because in my situation a factory reset would mean losing the photos stored in the internal memory.

Based on the post above by @anon76468197 it seems that you’ll lose your pictures regardless:

For devices in this situation:

• Repair is the only option if the phone can no longer boot.

• Even if we release a future fix, users whose phones are already stuck on A15 without booting will not be able to simply install it as a normal update.

• The only ways to apply the fix will be either:

  1. Sending the device for repair.

  2. Manually installing the update.

Both options require a factory reset and will result in data loss.

[yvmuell]

@loseyourself

you’ll lose your pictures regardless:

Correct, so this is still true

@yvmuell

only professional recovery would be possible when you cant boot into system.

Because of the fall it still can have others reasons than a broken fingerprint sensor

[janweiss]

There’s a notice on the Release Notes page now, warning about updating if you have a broken finger print sensor:

-IMPORTANT: Fairphone 5 Fingerprint Sensor Issue-

---

If your Fairphone 5 is currently experiencing issues with its fingerprint sensor, please contact us before updating to Android 15. Updating with an existing sensor problem may cause issues and inability to launch the device with Android 15 software.

Screenshot of it, in case it will disappear again

Not really specific and pointing out that the device will be lost (requiring send-in and reset) afterwards…
Also, no details on how to contact. And not about waiting times to get a response.

I don’t think many people would have a look there before doing the update. I wonder if it shows on the phone as well?

[loseyourself]

@janweiss

Not really specific and pointing out that the device will be lost (requiring send-in and reset) afterwards…

Pretty impressive that they didn’t learn from the Fingerprint issues with the FP3 that they have to be clear about stuff like this. Or, I dunno, cancel the update entirely until this has been patched. Until that happens people are going to keep coming in here with broken devices.

[doq]

That’s no even near enough. Almost no one checks their site before update. As another user suggested, they should have stopped the update imemdiately or advise all the fairphone 5 owner of the issue (that could present even after updating if you break the sensor). of course, they are worried about bad publicity, but this means we as users have to pay for that. I updated on 4 august, phone bricked, 12 days waiting, replies arrived yesterday. “With this message we want to assure you that your request has been received, and we are doing our best to get back to you as soon as possible.” Very disappointing. I used to sponsor fairphone, i’m not doing it again until they solve this issue and start to pay attention to their customers.

[yvmuell]

So just to be clear: you opened a ticket using this

@SarahFP

trouble shooting tool > Fairphone 5 > Fairphone 5 only: my device is stuck after Android 15 update

And now 12 days later the only you received was: sorry you have to wait longer?

@SarahFP this issue really need to get highest (aka FP6) priority at support level.

[doq]

yes, that’s correct. by reading posts here i’m expecting to wait even more, just to know if and when they are going to repair my phone which is the only option i have at the moment

[doq]

if you manage to reach the Safe mode you can still upload them through google i think, all the app you downloaded will be inactive but these are still working. i managed to get there but i absolutely don’t know how, at least call and sms are working for now.