Fairphone 5 bricked by faulty Android 15 update: Difference between revisions

Reform (talk | contribs)
Added an update to the situation, removed sections that were repetitive, compressed information, reordered for legibility, increased NPOV, and addressed article verifiability concerns by removing indignation parts & adding citation needed markers
Tempo123 (talk | contribs)
References: Archive
 
Line 13: Line 13:


==Incident==
==Incident==
Following the Android 15 update, users of devices with broken fingerprint sensors reported getting stuck on the boot animation and could not complete startup.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=Jul 2025 |title=FP5 not booting (hard bricked) after update to Android 15 (VT28.C.042), in my case fingerprint sensor is working |url=https://forum.fairphone.com/t/fp5-not-booting-hard-bricked-after-update-to-android-15-vt28-c-042-in-my-case-fingerprint-sensor-is-working/123159 |url-status=live |website=Fairphone Community Forum}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=5 Oct 2025 |title=Software Update: FP5.VT2E.C.059.20250908 |url=https://forum.fairphone.com/t/software-update-fp5-vt2e-c-059-20250908/126404 |access-date=6 Apr 2026 |website=Fairphone Community Forum}}</ref> There were unsuccessful attempts from users to recover affected devices through standard troubleshooting methods, which includes forced reboots and attempts to downgrade firmware.<ref name=":0" />  
Following the Android 15 update, users of devices with broken fingerprint sensors reported getting stuck on the boot animation and could not complete startup.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=Jul 2025 |title=FP5 not booting (hard bricked) after update to Android 15 (VT28.C.042), in my case fingerprint sensor is working |url=https://forum.fairphone.com/t/fp5-not-booting-hard-bricked-after-update-to-android-15-vt28-c-042-in-my-case-fingerprint-sensor-is-working/123159 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/gTFl7?wr=false |archive-date=7 Apr 2026 |website=Fairphone Community Forum}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=5 Oct 2025 |title=Software Update: FP5.VT2E.C.059.20250908 |url=https://forum.fairphone.com/t/software-update-fp5-vt2e-c-059-20250908/126404 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/xCdE6?wr=false |archive-date=7 Apr 2026 |access-date=6 Apr 2026 |website=Fairphone Community Forum}}</ref> There were unsuccessful attempts from users to recover affected devices through standard troubleshooting methods, which includes forced reboots and attempts to downgrade firmware.<ref name=":0" />  


==Fairphone's response==
==Fairphone's response==
Line 126: Line 126:
Changes:
Changes:


* Fixed an issue that prevented devices with a malfunctioning fingerprint sensor from booting into Android 15.
*Fixed an issue that prevented devices with a malfunctioning fingerprint sensor from booting into Android 15.
* Security patch level.
*Security patch level.


Important patch for those suffering from a malfunctioning fingerprint<ref name=":1" /><blockquote>Hi all, today I noticed that Android 15 was rolled out to the FP5. I downloaded and updated the Phone. After the update it started, first with a Green “fairphone” text. After that the whole background became green and there was a light green text “fairphone”. I assume that is the boot animation, but after the text collapsed into only a green l in the middle of the screen nothing is working. I cannot do anything with it. The only thing the phone can do is: Enter fastboot (after foceshutdown…</blockquote>Fingers crossed it will work out smoothly for those concerned.
Important patch for those suffering from a malfunctioning fingerprint<ref name=":1" /><blockquote>Hi all, today I noticed that Android 15 was rolled out to the FP5. I downloaded and updated the Phone. After the update it started, first with a Green “fairphone” text. After that the whole background became green and there was a light green text “fairphone”. I assume that is the boot animation, but after the text collapsed into only a green l in the middle of the screen nothing is working. I cannot do anything with it. The only thing the phone can do is: Enter fastboot (after foceshutdown…</blockquote>Fingers crossed it will work out smoothly for those concerned.
Line 137: Line 137:
===Responses before the patch===
===Responses before the patch===


* A user could replace the fingerprint sensor module, but that may not be available for individual retail purchase in all regions depending on company policy and stock availability.{{Citation needed|date=6 Apr 2026}}  
*A user could replace the fingerprint sensor module, but that may not be available for individual retail purchase in all regions depending on company policy and stock availability.{{Citation needed|date=6 Apr 2026}}


* Advanced recovery via Qualcomm Emergency Download (EDL) mode requires a device/soc-specific firehose programmer file is a functional solution, but only an authorized Fairphone repair partner can do the repair.{{Citation needed|date=6 Apr 2026}}
*Advanced recovery via Qualcomm Emergency Download (EDL) mode requires a device/soc-specific firehose programmer file is a functional solution, but only an authorized Fairphone repair partner can do the repair.{{Citation needed|date=6 Apr 2026}}
* There was an OEM flashing command <code>fastboot oem allow-flashing</code> but is no longer accessible{{Clarify|when}}.{{Citation needed|date=6 Apr 2026}}
*There was an OEM flashing command <code>fastboot oem allow-flashing</code> but is no longer accessible{{Clarify|when}}.{{Citation needed|date=6 Apr 2026}}


==Consumer response==
==Consumer response==