How To Install Android M Developer Preview On Nexus 5, 6, 9 & Player

Google introduced Android M to the world at the developer I/O 2015. The upcoming iteration of Android is going to see some core changes. Google hasn’t made any prominent changes to the UI, Android M is all about system enhancements basically. New features in the Android OS include better app permissions, intent update, doze, Android Pay and Fingerprint integration in the core OS, App Standby features etc. Google has provided all the necessary information and highlighted the key features of Android M at the I/O event however, the name of firmware remains disclosed and will be announced when the firmware makes its way in fall, 2015.

Android M will be adapted by device manufacturers for their latest flagship devices in the first go, and then to some of the old devices as well. As usual, Google itself will be the very first one to roll out this firmware for its latest and past flagship devices, but while Google cooks the complete firmware for GoogleBees, it has already brought up the developer preview of Android M.

Android M developer preview’s images are available for Google Nexus 5, 6, 9 & Nexus Player. These images can be flashed on all these devices without any hiccups here and there. If you’re an Android enthusiast who doesn’t want to wait for the complete build of Android M to come out and eager enough to taste Android M, you may want to flash the developer preview right now. Wondering how can you do so? Well, that’s what we are going to do in the following guide. Let’s go ahead now and learn how to install Android M developer preview on Google Nexus 5, 6, 9 and Nexus Player.

Here are some pre-requisites in order to make this installation safe and secure

1. This guide is only for Google Nexus 5, 6, 9 and Nexus Player. Do not try this tutorial on any other device. It may result in bricking it.
2. Your phone’s battery should be charged at least over 50%. This is recommended in order to avoid power issues during the flashing process.
3. Enable USB debugging mode on your device. You have to enable developer options first. You can do so by going in to settings > tap build number for 7 times. Now you will have developer options in settings. Open developer options > Enable USB debugging.
4. Backup all your important contacts, text messages and call logs. Also copy your media content to your PC. Backup is recommended as your device will be wiped during the flashing process.
5. Download and install latest Google USB drivers. Installation of these drivers will be a little different. Download the file from the attached link and unzip it. Now connect your phone to your PC. Right click “Computer or This PC > Click on Manage > Device Manager > Find your device i.e. Nexus 5 or Nexus 6 > Right click Update driver > Browse My Computer For Driver Software > Locate and select the Google USB folder that you got after unzipping > select install now”.
6. Once the installation has been completed, your device will be shown as Android  Composite ADB Interface.
7. Download and install Minimal Android ADB & Fastboot drivers on your computer.

Download Android M Developer Preview image file according to your phone.

• Android M Developer Preview For Google Nexus 5
• Android M Developer Preview For Google Nexus 6
• Android M Developer Preview For Google Nexus 9
• Android M Developer Preview For Google Nexus Player

Extract the downloaded image file to get the following files:

• boot.img
• cache.img
• recovery.img
• system.img
• userdata.img
• bootloader.img
• radio.img
• vendor.img (only in Nexus 9 file)

How To Install Android M Developer Preview Now:

1. Copy all the .img files from the extracted folder to Minimal ADB & Fastboot Folder in C>Program Files > Minimal ADB & Fastboot folder.
2. Now connect your Nexus device to your PC. Make sure that you’ve followed all the pre-requisites prior to this step.
3. Now open Minimal ADB & Fastboot.exe file from the shortcut on your desktop or from the Minimal ADB & Fastboot folder under program files in your Windows drive.
4. To verify your device’s connection with your PC issue this command:
   

   adb devices

5. It should show you the list of attached devices followed by a code.
6. Once you’ve verified the connection, issue the following command and press enter: adb reboot-bootloader
7. Your Nexus will now reboot into bootloader mode. Once it has booted up, enter the following commands.

8. fastboot flash bootloader bootloader.img

9. fastboot flash radio radio.img

10. Now reboot your device into the bootloader mode again by issuing the following command.

    1. fastboot reboot-bootloader

11. Your device will boot up into the newly flashed bootloader. You’re all set to flash the remaining files now. Issue the following commands one by one.

    1. fastboot flash recovery recovery.img

    2. fastboot flash boot boot.img

    3. fastboot flash system system.img

    4. fastboot flash cache cache.img 

    5. fastboot flash userdata usersata.img

    6. fastboot flash vendor vendor.img (Only Nexus 9 users will issue this command.)

12. Once done, reboot your device using the following command.
13. fastboot reboot.
14. That’s all. Your Nexus will now boot into the newly installed Android M Developer Preview.