The long-awaited Android 6.0 Marshmallow is finally here, and while Nexus device owners can rejoice at the prospect of an over-the-air update, others might be left impatiently waiting for manufacturers to roll out the update for their devices. However, if you’re fortunate enough to own a Nexus smartphone or tablet, there’s a way to skip the wait and manually install Android 6.0 Marshmallow right now. We understand the temptation, but always back up your data before venturing into uncharted territory. This guide will walk you through the process of manually installing Android 6.0 Marshmallow on your Nexus device, allowing you to experience its exciting new features without delay.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Installing Android 6.0 Marshmallow on Your Nexus Device
This guide will lead you through a detailed process to manually install Android 6.0 Marshmallow on your Nexus device. It’s crucial to understand that this is not a straightforward, foolproof method. While we’ve done our best to provide clear instructions, any errors during installation could potentially brick your device. We strongly recommend proceeding with caution and only following these steps if you’re comfortable with advanced Android procedures.
Step 1: Download and Setup Android Studio
1) Begin by downloading and installing the latest Android Studio Preview on your computer. This software package includes essential tools like ADB and Fastboot, which are necessary for communicating with your Nexus device. You can find the download link on the official Android Developer website.
2) Android Studio will install the SDK package, which contains the necessary tools for Android development. You’ll need to add the SDK folder path to your computer’s environmental variables so that the system can easily find ADB and Fastboot. Here’s how:
- Windows: Right-click My Computer, select Properties, then Advanced System Settings. Click on Environment Variables in the System Properties window. In the system variables section, select Path and click on Edit. Add the complete path to the SDK folder you just installed, making sure to separate each entry with a semi-colon.
Step 2: Enable USB Debugging on Your Nexus Device
1) Navigate to Settings on your Nexus device.
2) Go to About Phone, and then Software information.
3) Locate the Build Number and repeatedly tap it seven times. This will enable Developer Options.
4) Return to Settings and go to Developer options.
5) Enable USB debugging by toggling the switch.
Step 3: Download the Factory Image for Your Nexus Device
1) Download the factory image for your specific Nexus device from Google’s official site. You’ll find factory images for all supported Nexus devices, including:
- Nexus 5 (Hammerhead) – https://dl.google.com/dl/android/aosp/hammerhead-mra58k-factory-52364034.tgz
- Nexus 6 (Shamu) – https://dl.google.com/dl/android/aosp/shamu-mra58k-factory-5b07088c.tgz
- Nexus 7 (2013) Wi-Fi (Razor) – https://dl.google.com/dl/android/aosp/razor-mra58k-factory-300dc903.tgz
- Nexus 7 (2013) Cellular (Razorg) – https://dl.google.com/dl/android/aosp/razorg-mra58k-factory-7221a6d9.tgz
- Nexus 9 Wi-Fi (Volantis) – https://dl.google.com/dl/android/aosp/volantis-mra58k-factory-cc430962.tgz
- Nexus 9 LTE (Volantisg) – https://dl.google.com/dl/android/aosp/volantisg-mra58k-factory-de7a6ff6.tgz
- Nexus Player (Fugu) – https://dl.google.com/dl/android/aosp/fugu-mra58k-factory-61ac65bc.tgz
2) Extract the downloaded file. You’ll usually end up with a tar archive file. Extract the contents of the archive to a convenient location on your computer. This will create a folder containing all the necessary files for the installation.
Step 4: Boot Your Nexus Device into Fastboot Mode
1) Connect your Nexus device to your computer using a USB cable.
2) The most common way to boot into Fastboot mode is to hold down a specific key combination while powering on your Nexus device. The key combination varies depending on your device model. For example, for the Nexus 5, you’ll need to hold down the Volume Up, Volume Down, and Power buttons simultaneously. You can find a complete list of combinations for all Nexus devices on the Android source site.
3) Alternatively, you can boot into Fastboot mode using ADB commands. With your device powered on, navigate to the command terminal and execute the following command:
adb reboot bootloaderStep 5: Unlock Your Bootloader (if necessary)
1) If you’ve never unlocked your device’s bootloader before, you’ll need to do so now. Unlocking the bootloader allows you to modify the device’s software and install custom ROMs. However, unlocking the bootloader will wipe all data from your device.
2) In the fastboot mode, navigate to the command terminal and execute the following command:
fastboot oem unlock3) Follow the prompts on your device’s screen to confirm the unlock.
Step 6: Flash the Factory Image
1) Open a command terminal and navigate to the directory where you extracted the factory image files.
2) Execute the flash-all.bat script. This script will automatically install the required components, including the bootloader, baseband firmware, and operating system, onto your Nexus device. For this script to work correctly, you must have added the path to the SDK folder (where ADB and Fastboot are located) to your system’s environmental variables, as described in Step 1.
3) Once the flashing process completes, your device will automatically reboot.
Step 7: (Optional) Lock Your Bootloader
1) After the installation, Google recommends locking your bootloader again for security purposes.
2) Boot your device back into fastboot mode (using the key combination or ADB command).
3) Connect your device to your computer using a USB cable.
4) Execute the following command in the terminal:
fastboot oem lockThis will lock your bootloader, returning your device to a more secure state.
Step 8: Enjoy Android 6.0 Marshmallow
You have successfully installed Android 6.0 Marshmallow on your Nexus device! You can now explore its exciting features, including Doze mode for increased battery life, Google Now on Tap for context-aware search, improved app permissions, fingerprint authentication, and much more.
A final word of caution:
While this guide provides a detailed walkthrough of the process, it’s important to emphasize that manual installation carries inherent risks. If you encounter any issues during the process, you might potentially "brick" your device, making it unusable. We strongly advise that you proceed with extreme caution and only attempt this if you’re comfortable with advanced Android procedures and are willing to accept the potential risks. If you’re unsure at any point, it’s best to seek help from experienced Android developers.
Always back up your data before you attempt any major software changes to your device. Keep in mind that Android 6.0 Marshmallow brings exciting new features. By taking the time to understand the process and following these steps carefully, you can unlock the full potential of Android 6.0 Marshmallow on your Nexus device.
