Well, I’ve just installed the November security patch and I’m still on Android 13 so no, it doesn’t seem like it’s necessarily bundled with the Android 15 update.
Edit by yvmuell:
Other improvements
Security patch level: 5th of November, 2025
This is (according to the current knowledge) a last Security Patch release for Orange, as they didn’t (or shouldn’t have got) the A15 update due to the Quickstep issue.
At the moment it seems, also those who already upgraded to Android 15 receive this update, which will most likely cause the issues described below, so dont install it.
If you encounter the issue try at least 7 reboots, the phone sholuld fall back to the other slot and previous OS
What Meaghan said: The only >FP4< “November update” is the A15 update, which includes the November Security patch (- for A15).
There is no independent (or otherwise) A13 “November Security patch” offered for the FP4. If there was one I would be highly interested (since I will refrain from upgrading till Fairphone gets this mess fixed)…
Either you have a different phone, or you have upgraded to A15 without noticing.
There actually is a final FP4.TP32.C.0144 update with patch level November 5th for A13 in beta since one week meant for Orange users for whom the A15 rollout was stopped. I have it on my beta FP4. Might as well got released publicly yesterday without announcement.
I can confirm. I received the FP4.TP32.C.0144 update this morning. I’m on the Orange network in Belgium (and in the past I also used the Orange network in France with my FP4)
Today my Fairphone 4 started an update, can’t remember exactly which one. I had already upgraded to Android 15 which gave some issues with launcher (which I solved by installing another one). This time it got more serious: after this latest upgrade, I rebooted my phone and now a get a blackscreen:
Android Recovery
Cannot load Android system. Your data may be corrupt. If you continue to get this message, you may need to perform a factory data reset and erase all user data stored on this device.
Then I get only 2 options: Try again or Factory Data Reset.
Does anyone knows how to bypass this screen and just get to my normal account? And why is it that each upgrade now with Fairphone seems to mess things up?
The Try Again option should be safe to use … does it help, perhaps even used several times?
It’s the only “bypass” in that sense.
And if this now is the updated OS slot, there’s a chance several reboots without resulting in booting the OS could trigger the bootloader to revert back to the other slot with the old OS version.
Else there would be fastboot mode (aka bootloader) and changing the OS slot to the other one via command line, if the bootloader allows this at this point (which I don’t know) …
(Just to mention the solution of this “Solved” topic before anybody finding this get their hopes up … it got somehow solved by charging the phone and leaving it unattended for a while.)
Software is too complicated. There’s always a chance for things going wrong. Be prepared with a backup (regularly).
For the less technically minded: Android phones keep two operating systems (OS) installed, the current and the previous, which allows to fall back in case a new OS is unable to start (somewhat like Windows’ “System Restore”). What AnotherElk is suggesting is to trigger specifically that fallback mechanism.
That’s a standard: Every big feature/OS upgrade I can remember in the last 3 years had always its load of bugs and regressions, many of which have never been fixed (for instance my phone still decides to go pitch black dark now in the dark season so I need to carry a pocket lamp to see if I have new messages… )
My point is, you should always be wary of big updates. The almost-bi-monthly Security Updates are safe, they are mostly made by Google, but Fairphone’s feature and OS updates are dangerous (Well, this would be the last OS update for the FP4, so it had to go with a bang I guess).
I do not know what are “Quickstep issues”. But I remember that I was wondering why old Orange apps were coming back whereas I thought I had uninstalled them.
And yes, I have seen the previous mark “Fairphone” on reboot, and I knew that something went wrong.
Well, all I can say is that my SIM is from the Orange FR network (currently roaming), and I still am only offered the “QREL.15.14.3” A15 upgrade, the one which appeared in October.
Given the update screen can only show one update at a time, I don’t really see how it could show me a second, newer A13 Security patch: My “Security Update” screen is monopolized by the A15 upgrade.
2.15 GB, isn’t that a little big for just Security patches? (Genuine question)
Besides, you (SdH) said your phone was already updated to A15. So why would your phone (now on A15) try to install the A13 Security patches? No wonder it doesn’t work.
Well how big an update is, always depends on the device and the current installation. For someone with A15 already installed, its a complete new system as based on A13.
Except that it doesn’t. I even disabled my German Vodaphone SIM, rebooted and checked with only the Orange FR SIM enabled. Yet other people got it, or do only people who have already upgraded to A15 get it?
Note, there has been a change since I did this: Now, with both SIMs enabled, I don’t see any update anymore, it tells me “Your phone is up to date, Android 13, Security update: September 5th 2025”. Jeez, nothing is simple with this phone.
General question: Has anybody who is still on A13 and/or Orange FR seen this TP32.C.0144 update?
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