Install /e/OS/ on Google Pixel 6a with Android 16

/e/OS Devices Google
1

Hi everyone,
I have a Pixel 6a for testing and wanted to install /E/OS.
The guide states that I need Android 15 to do this, but unfortunately, I have Android 16 installed.
Searching online on Google, it seems there’s no way to rollback to Android 15 after May 2025, when they released a patch to prevent the rollback. In fact, with Google’s web-based Android installation tool, the only system it offers is 16.

So, can I still try installing EOS despite having Android 16, or should I wait for further developments that allow for a safe installation?

Thanks

Regain your privacy! Adopt /e/OS the deGoogled mobile OS and online servicesphone

2

No don’t try to install won’t work. I don’t think Google is letting you roll back the OS once at android 16.

If you can take the phone back and buy on the used market.

3

what?! so you mean i cannot try anymore other OS on 6a because of android 16? And i should find a phone with android 15?

4

You can try to install but chances of success aren’t great. There is the fact that you had Android 16. There was also a bootloader change from Google for which I still don’t know if it is a problem for community build.

I would say official with locking bootloader is for sure a no go.

5

I’m not sure if it will brick the phone but I would do an internet search. I would hope you can still bring it back with the Google tool.

Short answer (mine anyway) is if you can return it and find on at A15 or bellow I would.

Here is a good link from trusted site: https://xdaforums.com/tags/anti-rollback/

1 Like
6

Oh, what a shame! It had to happen right now…
So, from now on, I have to assume this problem will gradually affect everyone? Or am I wrong?

That is, all phones will be updated as they come out.

7

You will have to ask google about that. But yeah a higher Android version is a problem.

2 Likes
8
9

@piero I wasn’t understanding, but in the end the mystery was solved. Your link to the documentation for the 6a doesn’t provide images or OTAs lower than 16. For the 6a there’s only Android 16.

10

I suggest that you need to read Factory Images for Nexus and Pixel Devices  |  Google Play services  |  Google for Developers carefully to see why bluejay and other Pixel 6 are a special case.

Warning: The May 2025 update for Pixel 6 (6, 6 Pro, 6a) and Pixel 8 (8, 8 Pro, 8a) devices contains a bootloader update that increments the anti-roll back version for the bootloader. This prevents the device from rolling back to previous vulnerable versions of the bootloader. After flashing the May 2025 update on these devices you won’t be able to flash and boot older Android 15 builds.

The wording of this warning has changed more than twice in the recent past.

1 Like
11

Hi, new here, also looking to install on my 6a, but it looks like I’ll have to wait for a newer version of e/os.

Reading between the lines, though, I don’t think the unavailability of anything older than Android 16 is to do with bootloader anti-rollback, as older versions are still listed for the Pixel 8 line, but is instead to ensure that users can’t rollback to a version older than the July 2025 update that introduced a patch to stop some dodgy batteries from potentially overheating.

Bit of a shame as I’ve had my battery replaced and was keen to give e/os a go!

12

Hi folks,
Owner of a Pixel 6 (not 6a, but read further) that came preinstalled with Android 16, I was able to install /e/OS 3.x on it by using the new A15 community images.

1 month ago, I am pretty sure only A14 /eOS 2.x images were available… but now there are A15 too! (who is building these by the way? He is a hero!)

Basically the process involved:

  • rollbacking from Android 16 to 15 of may 2025: BP1A.250505.005 (the 1st will the evil bootloader, and the only one it will let you rollback to). Google doesn’t advertise these anymore, but I found factory images for 6a there ;
  • installing e/OS 3.x normally :slight_smile:

The only thing for 6a I guess: for my 6 I was able to rollback using Google’s online flash site just by specifiying “BP1A.250505.005”. For 6a you may have to use the integrated “flash-all” script from the ZIP image I linked above.