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according to “Smartphone Selector” for your device → “Official or Community install doc” for your device → “Command line” install page for your device !
things you must take care about
Your Stock OS Android version, must be the latest available relative to the /e/OS build you want to install → not higher !
Remove all Gogol accounts, screen lock or SIM lock from the device.
Use a USB-A to USB-C cable on a rear USB port if possible, to avoid hub even internal
If you plan to relock the bootloader after the installlation
this is not mandatoty, and only available with Official version, why relocking ?
Most important thing to take care about is the “android Security Update" aka "Security Patch Level” date (SPL) included in the installed Operating System on your device at time of the unlock.
new version on witch you want to relock the bootloader, must included a NEWER (or the same) “android Security Update" aka "Security Patch Level” date (SPL),
otherwise you risk to change your device into Brick.
- You will find this information about stock OS
on the Fairphone website The Fairphone Release Notes
or on the device :
settings --> about phone --> android version 15 --> android security update
- you will find this information about /e/OS
on the /e/OS website / e / os 
Releases
(the title of the article need to match both “/e/OS version” and “android level”,
here "e-3.2-a15"
or on the device :
settings --> about phone --> android version 15 --> android security update
more detailled explications here : (answered) Install /e/ on FP5 with newer Security Patches
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1. Unlocking the bootloader
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The “Unlocking the bootloader” step may differ from device to an other, so to be safe, allways have a read on
“Smartphone Selector” → “Official or Community install doc” for your device → “Command line” install page for your device !
In case of Fairphone devices, get the Unlock code from Fairphone before proceeding with the next steps
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On your device, enable USB debugging and allow OEM unlocking .
you will be asked for the code.
- Reboot the device to bootloader mode with the command
adb reboot bootloader,
or with the device powered off - hold Volume Down + Power
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 :
and check bootloader status by copy this command and paste it into the git-bash terminal and press enter :
./fastboot oem device-info
./fastboot flashing get_unlock_ability
if the return is 1
→ you will be able to unlock
if the return is 0
→ you will not be able to unlock now
reinstall FairphoneOS boot on it on and re-enable USB debugging and re-allow OEM unlocking . (to get =1), and then reinstall /e/OS.
- Ask for unlock bootloader by running :
.\fastboot flashing unlock
- Approve with volume + then power
Your device proceed with a factory reset, and automatically reboots
On your device, re-enable USB debugging and re-allow OEM unlocking .
and reboot again into bootloader
- Unlock critical partitions by running
- Approve with volume + then power
Your device proceeds with a factory reset, and automatically reboots
the Bootloader is now unlocked
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2. Installing /e/OS
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On the device, re-enable USB debugging and allow OEM unlocking .
Again reboot the device into bootloader mode.
On the 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,
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Use the right clic of the mouse, and choose open Git Bash here.
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Copy this command and paste it into the git-bash terminal :
(replace “FP6” by your device codename)
chmod +x flash_FP6_factory.sh && ./flash_FP6_factory.sh
you will get something like :
you are done with installing /e/OS
now, if you don’t want to relock the bootloader, just run :
./fastboot reboot
if you want to relock the bootloader, continue with next step.
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3. Finaly, relock the bootloader (optional)
only how it is mentionned at the bottom of the official instructions in the “Smartphone Selector” for your device → “Official or Community install doc” for your device → “Command line” install page for your device !
only if the android security update in the previously installed OS was
older than the android security update included in the version you want to install
only if the newly installed version is an Official one, not a Community version.
re-enable USB debugging and allow OEM unlocking
with the device in bootloader mode, Open a terminal from the “/platform-tools” location
and check bootloader status by running :
./fastboot oem device-info
./fastboot flashing get_unlock_ability
if the return is 1
→ you can relock now, and you will be able to unlock again in the future
if the return is 0
→ relock is possible, but you may not be able to unlock again in the future
IT IS ADVISED to not relock now, but to reinstall FairphoneOS boot on it, re-enable USB debugging and allow OEM unlocking (to get =1),
and then reinstall /e/OS.
to relock the bootloader, copy / paste this command :
./fastboot flashing lock_critical
- copy / paste this command :
./fastboot flashing lock
- Approve with volume + then power
- the device must reboot, if not, copy / paste this command
./fastboot reboot
the bootloader is now relocked.
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What could go wrong
[Solved] Windows does not see my phone in Fastboot mode because needed drivers are not correctly installed
Tip :
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,
will use the version included into the relative folder (the latest you downloaded) instead of the one installed on your system (that can be outdated)
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