Where to find security patch levels to avoid to brick phone

[lory]

Hey y’all

I’m a little helpless.

I want to flash e/os on a new fairphone 6 via installer and also want the bootloader to be clised in the end of that process.

I understand, that the e/os security patch level must be newer/higher than the one of the original android version of the fairphone 6.

I really fail to find the right information.

The Android security update on the phone: February 5, 2026, Build number FP6.QREL.15.178.0

How do i know if this version is “old” enough to use the installer securely and be sure that the bootloader will also get closed by the installer in the end?

I once bricked a phone by installing e/os using the instalker so I want to be sure and I’m a little overwhelmed to find the right information.

Thank you so much for your help…

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

[urs_lesse]

Welcome to the Community

You are currently on the safe side there, /e/OS 3.6 has a security patch level of March 2026, see here:

Releases · e / os / 🚀 Releases · GitLab

[piero]

@piero

• 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

[aibd]

@lory

be sure that the bootloader will also get closed by the installer in the end?

eosinstaller will stop short of doing the locking. That will be down to you using final section of Install /e/OS on a Fairphone The Fairphone (Gen. 6) - “FP6”.

Locking the Bootloader

After you have completed the installation and verified it starts up successfully, you can lock the bootloader on your FP6. (A chance to final check the actual Android SPL)

[GabrielT]

Here:

[piero]

sorry @GabrielT, this is false information,
the right date is 2026-03-01

Security fixes

This /e/OS 3.6 version includes all Android security patches available as of March 2026.

https://source.android.com/docs/security/bulletin/2026/2026-03-01

[GabrielT]

Say that to murena people who wrote it in the official installation instructions

[bluegargamel]

Hi everyone!

I’m new here and just got my first fairphone (FP6) with currently A16 running.

I have a related question to make sure I fully understand the security patch requirement. Does this rule also apply when flashing an older Android version over a newer one?

For example, if a device is currently running Android 16, would the same restriction apply when trying to flash an Android 15-based /e/OS build? In other words, could the bootloader fail to relock (or the process fail entirely) because the target OS has an older security patch level than what’s currently installed?

Just want to be extra careful and avoid running into issues like a failed relock or, worse, bricking the device again.

For now, I assume that I’ll have to wait for the A16 release for the FP6 before I can switch to /e/OS/?

Thanks a lot for your help!

[Philip456]

Yes, in order to be able to successfully relock the bootloader and not brick your phone, the date of the security patch of the OS you’re flashing onto the device must be newer than (or equal) the one of the Android already present on the device (with still locked bootloader). The Android versions don’t matter.

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