Installing E/OS on FP6 with Web Installer Fails “Error on step: connect-bootloader 22/24

[Andigreen]

Hi there,

I just got my FP6 and followed the steps on eos installer. I am sort of new to this.

I came to step 22/24, so almost done with error: Error on step: connect-bootloader.

my phone is now stuck on bootloder, with the Options Start, restart bootloader oder power off.

any idea how I can get to the end? havent found that error on that step yet.

is there a possibiblity to launch the eos installer at that step, or do i have to go through all previus steps…

any advice is very appreciated

[piero]

Hello @Andigreen, Welcome to the /e/ users forum.

forget about this web installer that often / almost don’t works…
you have done the most difficult part, you will now be abble to finish applying 1 or 3 copy / paste from the easy-success official instructions

• please look at the phone screen and confirm you have already unlocked bootloader.
• also what are the OS your computer can run ?

[Andigreen]

thx piero,

bootloader is unlocked

i have Windows 11.

i am not familiar with linux and such, unfortunatelly

So: meanwhile I repeadet the step, ther was no error, but still, I am stuck at the bootloader, picture attached. the phon restartet few times, also with murena showing shortly

cheers

Andi

[piero]

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Windows Guide :

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@piero

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

If you plan to relock the bootloader after the installlation

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

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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 :

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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
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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

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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)

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[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

[Andigreen]

thank you so much, you are a star!

this was too easy and straight forward, I am very happy.

now I have a running phone. here is my screenshot from about:

is that the required information and can I hence go forward with locking bootloader?

[piero]

@Andigreen

is that the required information

yes, BUT on the newly intalled /e/OS,
you need to compare it with the previous OS “android security date”
why i said :

@piero

only important thing to take care about is the already installed “android Security Patch Level”

you will find this information in
--> settings --> about phone --> android version 15 --> android security update -->
note this date on a paper

did you noted it ?

@Andigreen

can I hence go forward with locking bootloader?

Blindly i would say NO,
but if we look at the bottom of your photo, the dates included in the names of kernel version and build number let us think that this files are not so recent.

Did you updated the device before trying to install /e/ ?

[mihi]

If you lock it and it doesn’t boot (it should be looping) then you can unlock it again and wait until newer patch is out (/e/OS v3.3). That atleast I have read from other users experiences.

[Andigreen]

I was not able to get into the phone, it was stuck on bootloader. hence I never had the chance to write it down.

I had this Phone new and I updated to the latest.

so what are the options?

• can I get the information somehow?
• or wait unlocked till next /e/ update comes out?
• or whats the safest bet?

[mihi]

@Andigreen

I had this Phone new and I updated to the latest.

Version: FP6.QREL.15.151.0
Release date: 10 November 2025
Security patch level: 05 October 2025
md5sum: 75e4c4d0f71d28b1ef4d4ab8fc947b3c
sha256sum: e663de08099d5897a9bcfedb8dd621293a9abb6e155b93a794c002e5c84663f1

If you had this one, than the 5th October is newer than the 1st October which /e/OS has now.

You can’t check now anymore, you already flashed a different OS. Having the bootloop after locking is the only way to know.

(Sidenote: The /e/OS installer does not warn you at all about this rollback, I don’t understand why they can’t put a disclaimer in. Recently they added new devices, they could have changed texts at the same time…)

[piero]

@Andigreen

wait unlocked till next /e/ update comes out?

that is reasonable,
keep in mind that you will lose /data partition content when you will relock.

[Andigreen]

ok…will c what happens. thx a lot piero