It’s been nearly a week since the Android 15 rollout began for the Fairphone 5. While this new update is supposed to bring a smoother experience, the update is causing serious problems. Some users have reported that the latest Android 15 update is bricking their devices. In addition to this major issue, there are a few other bugs in the update.
The latest Android 15 update is now rolling out to Fairphone 5 users with build number VT28.C.042. It introduces various new features, including Private Space, Passkey integration, Theft Protection, and much more. I’ll share the full changelog below. Let’s talk about the more important part first.
The Issue
Many users have reported that their Fairphone 5 gets stuck on a green screen after attempting to install the Android 15 update. In technical terms, this issue is known as bricking. During the update process, your device requires a reboot, and this is where things can go wrong.
If your Fairphone 5 is bricked after the update, you can reset your phone; however, this will revert your phone to Android 13, not Android 14, and it will delete all data. Before taking that step, you should try the official troubleshooting instructions provided by Fairphone.
Fairphone support has issued a detailed statement regarding the bricking issue. According to the response, the problem only affects Fairphone 5 units with broken fingerprint sensors. Luckily, Fairphone has also shared a solution that allows users to downgrade to Android 14 without losing their data. Here’s the official instruction.
If your device is frozen on the boot animation:
- To force a reboot, press and hold the power button for around 15 seconds.
- If the device returns to the boot screen, continue to repeat this process until it fully boots into Android (can be up to 7-8 times)
If the official fix doesn’t work, you can try resetting your phone. However, this will erase all data on your device. Also, this method will switch back to Android 13 instead of Android 14.
Fortunately, Android 15 is working fine for Fairphone 5 users who do not have any issues with their fingerprint sensor. So, if your device’s fingerprint scanner is working properly, you can go ahead and install the update. Just make sure to back up your data before attempting to upgrade your device.
Fairphone 5 Android 15 Changelog
Once you upgrade to the latest version, you’ll get the following new features and changes on your Fairphone 5.
The Fairphone 5 is getting an upgrade to Android 15! This update brings enhanced security and privacy features to protect you and your device, along with some other improvements.
Private Space
- Create a separate private space with an additional layer of authentication to keep sensitive apps, like social, dating or banking apps, away from prying eyes.
Passkeys integration
- Passkeys was first introduced by Google in Android 14 and is now available on Fairphone, including the recent updates as part of Android 15 which supports one-tap sign in.
Theft Protection
- Theft Protection is a hub for proactive security features and tips that help keep your devices and data more secure by deterring theft and providing quick recovery in the event of a stolen device.
Small Quality of Life Improvements:
- New 4×5 grid option for home screen
- Option to increase contrast
- Disable sending device name wifi
- Partial Screen Recording
- Interactive control center Bluetooth panel
- App Archiving
- Set your default wallet app
- You can now remove the search bar from your homescreen to get additional space to place icons
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