Android 7.0 Nougat is available to supported Nexus devices and is announced to arrive to a slew of more Android devices from HTC, Huawei, LG, Motorola, Samsung, Sony and more.
However, some users might find the recent mobile OS a bit too clunky to their liking and would like to revert to Marshmallow 6.0.1. This particularly applies to the Nexus 6P and 5X devices, which are reportedly troubled by a few issues with the Nougat.
Luckily for them, there is an easy way to go back from Android 7.0 Nougat to Marshmallow.
One thing to remember is that the process is customized by each manufacturer. Users who want to roll back from Nougat to Marshmallow need a stock firmware build of Marshmallow for their gadget, which some might find more easily than others.
The reason is that every OEM has a special way of installing stock firmware.
For example, LG and Sony tap into their proprietary FlashTool; Samsung uses Odin; Motorola needs RSD Lite; and HTC has unique RUUs for each device. Nexus, on the other hand, has every device paired with factory images flashable via Fastboot.
Google offers these factory images for all of its Nexus devices, including Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X. Follow this link to download all the factory images, paired with step-by-step flashing instructions.
To flash an image successfully you need the latest fastboot tool, and you can download it from here. Once you have the fastboot tool, you can flash your device.
Flashing a system image
1. Get the right system image for your device, then open up the archive to a safe location.
2. Use a USB to connect your handset/tablet to your computer.
3. Use one of these methods for starting the device in fastboot mode.
• Adb tool: As the device is turned on, execute:
adb reboot bootloader
• Key combo: Shut down the device, then switch it on and instantly hold down the correct key combination for your gadget. To get a Nexus 6P ("angler") into fastboot mode, press and hold the volume down, then press and hold "Power" while the phone is in boot mode.
4. Some users might have to get into the device's bootloader by running:
fastboot flashing unlock
However, dated devices might need the following command to unlock the bootloader:
fastboot oem unlock
Keep in mind that this action clears out all the data from the device.
5. Once the bootloader is up and running, navigate to the location where you unloaded the system image.
6. Execute the flash-all script, which will install the required bootloader, baseband firmware(s), as well as OS.
When the script wraps up, your device should reboot. The next step is to lock the bootloader to ensure maximum security for your device
To do that, start with the device in fastboot mode and execute:
fastboot flashing lock
Older devices might need you to run:
fastboot oem lock
