Install Android 5.1 - so it'll work

Googel is rolling out Android 5.1 for more and more smartphones. If you don't want to wait for it, you can install the update yourself. Either via factory image or OTA file. Our instructions will guide you through the individual steps.

Install Android 5.1 - you need it

First you have to create a backup, because all data will be lost when updating to 5.1 via factory image. You need the following files for the update using Factory Image:

• Google's official factory image: Nexus 4 needs occam LRX22C, Nexus 5 needs LMY47D, Nexus 6 needs shamu LMY47E, for the Nexus 7 nakasi LMY47D, the Nexus 7 razor LRX22G (depending on the model either Wifi or mobile) and the Nexus 10 manatray LMY47D.
• The ADB drivers and ADB tools: For the Nexus 6 there are ZIP files in the XDA-Developer Forum (version 1.0.32.), The Nexus 5 and other devices work with this driver. You have to unzip the ZIP file with Winrar, for example.

Android 5.1: Install Factory Image - in 10 steps

1. After backing up and downloading the correct factory image, switch your smartphone off completely.
2. Then hold down the [Volume Down] and [Power] buttons until the Fastboot menu opens. Now you have to connect your smartphone to the computer via USB.
3. Then open the downloaded folder adb-tools, right-click on a free space and select "Open command prompt here".
4. Now enter the command "fastboot oem unlock" (without quotation marks). You still have to confirm this on the smartphone: Press the [Volume Up] key once to go up and press [Power]. Wait several minutes until " erasing ... "has disappeared.
5. Now you have to upload the factory image (your smartphone must still be in the Fastboot menu): Open the downloaded folder and unzip the TGZ file in it, then you must still have the TAR file in the folder you just extracted unpack.
6. Here you will find another folder that contains the "flash-all.bat" file. Open it with a double click.
7. Now you have to wait until the smartphone has received, opened and installed the file. It takes about 5-15 minutes.
8. At some point the device will restart and try to boot. However, cancel this process by holding down the [Power] key.
9. If the smartphone is off again, use the [Power] and [Volume Down] keys to open the Fastboot menu again, open the command prompt as described in point 3 and now enter "fastboot oem lock".
10. After a restart, the Nexus device is ready to start with Android 5.1.

Install Android 5.1 via Google OTA file

For the update via OTA zip file you need the following ZIP depending on the device: Nexus 4, Nexus 6, Nexus 7 (2012), Nexus 7 (2013 Wifi), Nexus 7 (2013 mobile), Nexus 10.

1. Copy the ZIP file downloaded from Google into the folder of the ADB tools and rename it (for example in nexus51).
2. Now turn off your Nexus and then press the [Volume Down] and [Power] buttons simultaneously until the Fastbood menu appears.
3. Use the volume buttons to select "Recovery Mode" and confirm with [Power]. When the Android appears, press [Power] again and once press the [Volume Up] key.
4. This opens the recovery menu and you can navigate to "apply update from ADB". Confirm this again with [Power].
5. Now connect your device to the PC via USB, navigate to the dab-tools folder, hold [Shift] and select "Open command prompt here" with a right click.
6. Enter the command "adb sideload nexus51.zip" here (without special characters, "nexus51" corresponds to the renamed file from step 1).
7. Wait approx. 5-15 minutes until the update has been installed and select "reboot system" on the smartphone in recovery mode. After a restart, your device runs on Android 5.1.

In the next article we will show you which great features are waiting for you with Android 5.1.