Get the Nexus factory images for Android 6.0.1 here

Like keeping your Nexus device up to date? Who doesn’t!? Google has just let go of the Android 6.0.1 factory images for Nexus devices on its Developers site.

Bear in mind that installation isn’t just a simple download and execute. The new build needs to be flashed, which involves having the Android platform tools ready on your computer, communication channels to your Android flowing, and adb commands. If all this sounds foreign to you, you may just want to wait for an official OTA push of the update.

[toggles title=”Factory image flashing instructions”]To flash a device using one of the system images below (or one of your own), you need the latest fastboot tool. You can get it from one of the sources below.

• From a compiled version of the Android Open Source Project.
• From the platform-tools/ directory in the Android SDK. Be sure that you have the latest version of the Android SDK Platform-tools from the SDK Manager.

Once you have the fastboot tool, add it to your PATH environment variable (the flash-all script below must be able to find it). Also be certain that you’ve set up USB access for your device, as described in the Using Hardware Devices guide.

To flash a system image:

1. Download the appropriate system image for your device below, then unzip it to a safe directory.
2. Connect your device to your computer over USB.
3. Start the device in fastboot mode with one of the following methods:
   • Using the adb tool: With the device powered on, execute: adb reboot bootloader
   • Using a key combo: Turn the device off, then turn it on and immediately hold down the relevant key combination for your device. For example, to put a Nexus 5 (“hammerhead”) into fastboot mode, press and hold Volume Up + Volume Down + Power as the device begins booting up.
4. If necessary, unlock the device’s bootloader by running: fastboot oem unlock
   The target device will show you a confirmation screen. (This erases all data on the target device.)
5. Open a terminal and navigate to the unzipped system image directory.
6. Execute the flash-all script. This script installs the necessary bootloader, baseband firmware(s), and operating system.

Once the script finishes, your device reboots. You should now lock the bootloader for security:

1. Start the device in fastboot mode again, as described above.
2. Execute: fastboot oem lock

Locking bootloader will wipe the data on some devices. After locking the bootloader, if you want to flash the device again, you must run fastboot oem unlock again, which will wipe the data.[/toggles]

[toggles title=”Downloads for new Nexus devices”]

“angler” for Nexus 6P

“bullhead” for Nexus 5X

[/toggles]

Hit up the source link below for downloads to other Nexus devices. And as always, don’t forget to backup your user data!

The 6.0.1 update brings a multitude of new/redesigned emoji’s and some other minor changes. Check out our coverage of the update here.

Happy flashing!

Source: Google Developers