Android 6.0.1 Factory Images released (here's how to flash unlocked devices without wiping)

[Guest PaulOBrien]

Android 6.0.1 Factory Images are now available for Nexus 6P, 5X, 9, 6, 5, 7 (2013) and Player Devices. The minor OS version bump includes December's security patches, new Emoji (including the Taco, Unicorn and sadly the demise of the cheering blob), tweaks to the do-not-disturb functionality and a host of other minor improvements under-the-hood.

If you want to apply the updates without wiping your device, you either need to wait for the OTAs (which will be rolling out shortly) or, if you have already unlocked the bootloader on your device, you can apply the Factory Images, skipping the 'userdata' part.

To do so...

• Download the appropriate factory image from the Google page
• Extract the .tgz file to your machine
• Attached your device in fastboot mode (use 'adb reboot bootloader' to access fastboot quickly and easily)
• Run the 'flash-base.sh' or 'flash-base.bat' script as appropriate to flash the bootloader and radio
• Extract the zip file containing the images
• Flash the images in turn (e.g. 'fastboot flash vendor vendor.img', 'fastboot flash system system.img' etc), SKIPPING userdata.img
• Reboot your device ('fastboot reboot')

After the customary looooooong first boot, you'll be up and running on 6.0.1!

View full item