Fairphone 6 FP6 stuck in bootloader Win10

[Wol]

Hi,

after my FP3 died yetserday and I tried to order a FP6 with /e/, but there were none available, so I decided to buy a normal one und use the einstaller.

The phone is new and I updated it before, like it’s recommended.

It worked everything until the last step, reboot - stuck in the bootloader.

everything was reade. The device is still unlocked- I read the theme: [Fairphone 6] Stuck in bootloader after install - #13 by EdwardNB

Propably I have to try it manually I think. I already installed adb, but I did it to my FP3+ 5 years ago, but don’t remember anything. I started to install adb, but not the driver stead until now and tried to follow the instructions from e-foundation.

and found this, but barely read it: Guide to bootloader and bricking [2025] - Guides - Fairphone Community Forum

I don’t know a lot about this and have to follow instructions like a noob. Maybe you have tips. I don’t have a lot time, so I’m here tomorrow evening again, thanks.

For now I have to go to bed. Good night!

PS: my PC is Win10.

[piero]

@Wol

I already installed adb

adb is only needed here to reboot to bootloader (you also can use the buttons)
but fastboot is needed for unlock or relock the bootloader

@Wol

I updated it before, like it’s recommended

i think because of this you are now stuck
as the android security update in the stock FairphoneOS is probably more recent than the one in /e/OS and that is a major problem…

try to unlock the bootloader again should solve your problem.

reboot to bootloader mode by running the command in the PC console adb reboot bootloader
Or with the device powered off - hold Volume Down + Power

• Ask for unlock with fastboot flashing unlock
• Approve with volume + then power
• The device proceed with a factory reset, and automatically reboots

Reboot again into bootloader

• Unlock critical with fastboot flashing unlock_critical
• Approve with volume + then power
• The device proceeds with a factory reset, and automatically reboots

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

you will have to wait for next /e/ update to relock the bootloader, (that will erase your data again)

[Wol]

Only short:

device is still unlocked. With holding + or - it doesn’t change anything.

What do I need to download? I checked the how to, and downloaded the adb. Ah, I see - there is also a fastboot.exe.

I put it in f:\fp6 but at morning I coldn’t reach it, in consoole I’m in c:\

I can put it in c:\ no problem → will test it later, thanks.

which specific commands do I have to use in the console then? thanks.

probably cd fp6?

[piero]

@Wol

cd fp6

Sorry, i don’t know Windows since 25 years,
I would say “yes” it should be possible this way,
BUT i think easier is to open the prompt from the folder itself,
let me take a coffee and try to see how it behave in installing the platform-tools on a windows machine…

Edit 1 : did you read the related page ?
Installing adb and fastboot on Windows PC

open the “platform-tools” folder in your file manager, then copy / paste the following command in the adress bar :

C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe

[Bidikay]

Hi,

Joining the thread as I have the same issue. I followed the steps on the web installer and now I am stuck as well with my new FP6. I used a Linux mint PC to do the install but I doubt this is relevant.

The current Android update is for FP6.QREL.15.151.0 and security patch level 05 Oct 2025, the /e/OS update is for FP6.QREL.15.138.0 and security patch level 01 Oct 2025.

My bootloader is still unlocked, and trying fastboot flashing unlock or fastboot flashing unlock_criticalcause an error as the device is already unlocked.

What are your suggestion, should we try to do the manual installation of the last /e/OS build or send the phone back to my vendor for a factory reset?

[mihi]

@Bidikay

What are your suggestion, should we try to do the manual installation of the last /e/OS build or send the phone back to my vendor for a factory reset?

Whats your goal?

Unlocked is the bootloader already. Then use the manual installation which is almost 3 lines of code to be pasted in a command line. Open the command line in the folder you extracted the zip you downloaded and your fine. If you security patch was newer then the one from /e/OS, then you will be in a bootloop after you try to lock it again. By unlocking again you will be out of the bootloop. That is what I have read from others in that situation.

[piero]

.

Windows Guide :

.

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

If you plan to relock the bootloader after the installlation

(only available with Official version)
Most important thing to take care about is the Stock OS “android Security Patch Level” already installed on your device before you start the process.

• You will find this information in :

settings --> about phone --> android version 15 --> android security update

It must be OLDER than the “android Security Patch Level” included in the /e/ build you want to install, otherwise you risk to change your device into Brick.

• you will find this information on the install instructions page for you device if your device is supported by /e/

• or on the release article about the version you want to install 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

.

---

---

---

.

Get the Unlock code from Fairphone before proceeding with the next steps

on your device, enable USB debugging and allow OEM unlocking .

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 clic of your mouse, and choose open Git Bash here.

you will get something like :

.

---

---

---

.

Reboot the device to bootloader mode with the command adb reboot bootloader ,
or with the device powered off - hold Volume Down + Power

• 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
.

---

---

---

.

Again reboot the device into bootloader mode.

on your PC, take latest /e/OS official FP6 download and just extract it, not more.

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

.

---

---

---

.

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 abble to relock the bootloader according to instructions at the bottom of the device install page (only available with Official version)

.

.

[Solved] Windows does not see my phone in Fastboot mode because needed drivers are not correctly installed

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

.

[Bidikay]

Indeed the manual installation of the community version of the build works, with the bootloader kept unlocked for now. Thank you for your reply, and Wol you should be able to follow the detailled post from piero to make it work for you as well.

[mihi]

If you don’t rely on any app with strong checks like locked bootloader, you can keep staying on community. I am lucky (or choose wisely) tha no app of mine needs ‘official’ and locked.

[piero]

@Bidikay

Indeed the manual installation of the community version of the build works

.

the manual installation also works for Official version of the build,

• with the bootloader kept unlocked for now until next release,

or

• with the bootloader locked if SPL dates match the requirements.

[Bidikay]

Good to know, thanks

[Wol]

@piero Thanks!

I don’t know what I’ve done here, but it worked!

My bootloader was still unlocked, but to make it sure I put the critical unlock command in the commandline as you showed before. I don’t think it was necessary, but I did it before. put the command line in the adress bar is a very easy way to be in the right folder. Great.

Also I needed the .\ before. All the other things I did with the einstaller yesterday, it was nearly ready, however.

Then I installed the Git-bash and /e/OS (thanks for the links - it was so much easier than the normal tutorial!), started it and installed it. I had a few problems bei pasting the command, I don’t know why, there was a few signs beforre the command line, I erased it a few times until there was the command line you gave me and then it started and after a few minutes, I had my telephone back. I was really frustrated after having a destroyed FP3+ and a brandnew FP6 that doesn’t work anymore. So I can’t thank you enough!

What I’m curious, is that the einstaller doesn’t work. FP does make it easy and they cooperate with /e/ and something like this shouldn’t happen. Than it would be better the installer says it’s not possible, wait for the update or something like that. I choosed the installer (like I’ve done by my second time FP3 to /e/) because it’s an easy and secure way to do such tricky stuff! If it wouldn’t work, ok. Bur when I destroy my phone (in a sense for “normal “people), than it’s realy unpleasant.

A an interesting hint: I’ve done this now with a few PCs and always needed a few trys - but one thing nobody had on the radar is, that it was important which USB I used - it doesn’t worked on different PCs with the front USB, I alwas had to use the usbs that are placed directly on the motherboard (at the rear side). Maybe someone will help this.

great thanks to the community and especially to @piero !

Beside my unpleasant experience, I will donate a little bit to /e/ now. The last time I was more gracious. But I owe a lot of respect to this project.

All the best!

Wol

[Wol]

Another question, different topic, but maybe somebody can say a bit. The new /e/ has two camera apps. The normal Open camera and another one, which one is better? The open camera seems to use only 2 of the 3 cameras, strange…^^ Thanks

[piero]

the other one is the Stock Fairphone Camera, recognized as better…

[Wol]

Thanks!

Again.

And again:

[Wol]

reset. doesn’t matter, sorry.

[Wol]

I have problems with signal, it works so far, I get messages, but when I answer, it’s displayed as sended, but never reach the recipent. It get’s in on my PC (desktop app) and there I can redirect it, but from the phone it doesn’t work. This makes no sense to me.

Bootloader is still unlocked, don’t know, but I don’t think that this is the problem!?