Install /e/OS on a Fairphone The Fairphone (Gen. 6) - “FP6”

The instructions in this guide will assist you to install /e/OS on your FP6. Please read through the instructions at least once before actually following them, so as to avoid any problems later.

It is important that you know that downgrading Smartphones on OS versions greater than the /e/OS OS version you plan to install, can cause instability or at worst brick some devices. We recommend that you check your current OS version, before attempting the installation.

It is advisable to flash your device only if you know what you are doing and are ok taking the associated risk. All /e/OS builds are provided as best effort, without any guarantee. The /e/OS project and its project members deny any and all responsibility about the consequences of using /e/OS software and or /e/OS services.

Requirements

  • If required take a backup of all important data from your phone on an external storage device before proceeding.
  • Do not take a backup on the same device as some of these actions will format the device and delete the backup.
  • Ensure your phone is charged more than 50%
  • Check that adb and fastboot are enabled on your PC. If not you can find the setup instructions here
  • Download all the files and images mentioned in the download section below before starting the installation

  • Make sure you have a working data cable to connect your device to the PC. There are cables which are only for charging and do not transfer data.

  • Your device requires a code to unlock the bootloader. Get the code here before proceeding with the next steps

  • Enable USB debugging on your device. You can find the instructions here
  • Make sure that your model is listed in the Smartphone Selector. Check the model supported. Where available, information on the model supported should show as a pop-up when you hover the cursor on the Device name. The model number supported should be the exact same.
  • Boot your device with the stock OS at least once and check every functionality.
Warning: Make sure that you can send and receive SMS and place and receive calls (also via WiFi and LTE, if available), otherwise it will not work on /e/OS as well. Additionally, some devices require that VoLTE/VoWiFi be utilized once on stock to provision IMS.

Please share your experience , suggest tips or changes to this install guide documentation by visiting the The Fairphone (Gen. 6) specific topic on our community forum.

If you are facing issues with the installation, check out this guide

To report issues in /e/OS please refer this guide

Caution: Your phone has a security feature called anti-rollback protection. This prevents installing older software versions once a newer one is installed. If you try to install an older software version while your bootloader is locked, you may trigger an anti-rollback error and brick your device.
Tips on how to avoid bricking your device

1. Find your device’s current rollback date (Security Patch Level)

  • Go to Settings > About Phone > Android Version > Android Security Patch Level.
  • Note the full date (e.g., 2025-06-05). This is your current rollback date.

2. Understand how /e/OS sets its rollback date

  • On most operating systems, the rollback date matches the Security Patch Level (SPL) exactly. On /e/OS, the rollback date is always set to the 5th day of the SPL’s month, regardless of the specific day in the SPL.

Examples:

  • An /e/OS build with SPL 2025-06-05 has a rollback date of 2025-06-05.
  • An /e/OS build with SPL 2025-07-01 has a rollback date of 2025-07-05.

3. Select a compatible /e/OS build

  • You must choose an /e/OS build where its rollback date (the 5th of the SPL month) is equal to or newer than your device’s current SPL date from Step 1.
  • You can find the SPL for each /e/OS build in the Downloads section.

Key points about anti-rollback behavior:

  • The anti-rollback index increases whenever you install a newer build with a newer rollback date and a locked bootloader. It cannot be decreased.
  • Protection depends only on the rollback date, not the Android version (e.g., Android 14 vs. 15).
  • This restriction only applies when the bootloader is locked. It is ignored if the bootloader is unlocked.

Examples:

  • Device SPL: 2025-06-05 | /e/OS SPL: 2025-05-01 (Rollback: 2025-05-05) → Will brick the device
  • Device SPL: 2025-06-05 | /e/OS SPL: 2025-06-01 (Rollback: 2025-06-05) → Installation will succeed
  • Device SPL: 2025-06-05 | /e/OS SPL: 2025-07-01 (Rollback: 2025-07-05) → Installation will succeed

Before installing, always verify that the /e/OS rollback date (the 5th of its SPL month) is greater than or equal to your device’s current Security Patch Level.

Downloads for FP6

To understand the difference between /e/OS builds check this guide

Warning: Please note some of the above links can lead to external sites

Unlocking the bootloader

Tip: The steps given below only need to be run once per device.
Warning: Unlocking the bootloader will erase all data on your device! Before proceeding, ensure the data you would like to retain is backed up to your PC and/or an online drive
Warning: Some vendors/manufacturers prevent the bootloader from being unlocked. Depending on where your device was acquired you may or may not be able to unlock the bootloader. To verify if your device is compatible please check the devices list.
  1. Boot the device
  2. Enable and connect Wifi
  3. Enable Developer options
  4. From developer options, enable OEM unlock
    • Get the unlock code from this site and enter it

  5. Reboot on fastboot by running the command in the PC console adb reboot bootloader

    Tip: All the console commands are run on an adb enabled PC and in the adb console.
  6. Ask for unlock with fastboot flashing unlock
  7. Approve with volume + then power
    • The device proceed with a factory reset, and automatically reboots
  8. Reboot again into bootloader
  9. Unlock critical with fastboot flashing unlock_critical
  10. Approve with volume + then power
    • The device proceeds with a factory reset, and automatically reboots

Installing /e/OS

Tip: For Windows users, we advise to use Git Bash. For more info about Downloads and Installation see Official Documentation

  • The FP6 comes with an anti-rollback feature.

  • Please read the paragraph marked 'Caution' in the Requirements section of this guide before proceeding to install /e/OS on your FP6 .

Let’s proceed with the installation:

  1. Unzip the file you downloaded from the link in the Downloads for FP6 section above.

     unzip <fileyoudownloaded>

    In the command given above, replace <fileyoudownloaded> with the name of the file you downloaded. You can unzip the file using a File Manager/File Explorer.

  2. Confirm that the folder where you unzipped the files contains the following :

    • bin-linux-x86 directory - which contains linux tools including fastboot and adb
    • bin-msys directory - which contains Windows tools including fastboot and adb
    • .img files - The .img files that are to be flashed onto the device.
    • flash_FP6_factory.sh - The installer script.

  3. Next boot your FP6 into bootloader/fastboot mode using this key combination

    • With the device powered off
    • hold Volume Down + Power

  4. Now we will run the installer script in a terminal on a Linux PC or in Git Bash UI if the desktop OS is Windows.

    • Make sure you are in the current directory which contains the flash_FP6_factory.sh file.

    • To execute the chmod command as suggested in the next step you may require root or sudo privileges.

    • Linux
      • In the folder right click -> open terminal here
      • Execute the following command which makes the file executable and starts the installation process

      chmod +x flash_FP6_factory.sh && ./flash_FP6_factory.sh

    • Windows
      • In the folder right click -> open Git Bash here
      • Execute the following command which makes the file executable and starts the installation process

      chmod +x flash_FP6_factory.sh && ./flash_FP6_factory.sh

  • After installing all the required files the device will reboot.

Locking the Bootloader

After you have completed the installation and verified it starts up successfully, you can lock the bootloader on your FP6.

Warning: Running the below commands will factory reset your device and wipe all data.
Warning: The bootloader is lockable in official builds only. The procedure to lock the bootloader will not work on community builds.
  • The FP6 comes with an anti-rollback feature.
  • Please read the paragraph marked 'Caution' in the Requirements section of this guide before proceeding to install /e/OS on your FP6 .
  1. Reboot your device into bootloader, via a key combination:
    • With the device powered off
    • hold Volume Down + Power
  2. In the command prompt, lock critical partition with the following command
    • fastboot flashing lock_critical
    • Approve with Volume + then power
  3. In the command prompt lock the device with the following command
    • fastboot flashing lock
    • Approve with Volume + then power
Success: Congratulations !! Your phone should now be booting into /e/OS !!

Please share your experience , suggest tips or changes to this install guide documentation by visiting the The Fairphone (Gen. 6) specific topic on our community forum.

If you are facing issues with the installation, check out this guide

To report issues in /e/OS please refer this guide