How to Get Android 5.0 “Lollipop” on the Nexus 5 / Nexus 7 (Video)

With the announcement of the Nexus 6 and Nexus 9, Google also announced the release of their latest version of Android called Android 5.0 “Lollipop”. Just like with the developer preview of Android L (the codename for Android 5.0 before it was finished), if you have a Nexus 5 or the Nexus 7 (2013) Wifi version, you don’t have to wait for the OTA.

Using the factory images from Google’s developer site and the Android SDK, you can simply flash the new version of Android directly onto the device.

Here’s how to get it done:

I. Before You Begin

1. This will erase the data from your Nexus 5 or Nexus 7 so please backup everything to your computer (like photos, etc.) and make sure everything else is synced with your Google account).

2. These are previews and not fully functional, expect bugs.

3. I’m using Windows for this procedure as it’s what most will have to use. You can follow these same steps though for Mac (with changing the syntax for typing in commands).

II. Enable Developer Mode

1. On the device, go to Settings > About Phone.

2. Tap on Build Number repeatedly until it says you are a developer.

3. Hit back.

4. Tap on Developer Options.

5. Turn on USB debugging.

III. Download  and Setup the SDK & Android 5.0 “Lollipop” Factory Image

1. Download the SDK Manager, install it, and open it (if that link doesn’t work, use this one).

2. Under tools, select SDK Tools, Platform-tools, and Build-tools.

3. Select everything under Android L Developer Preview section and click Install packages.

4. Accept the Licensing Agreement for all of the packages and click Install.

5. Download the correct version of the preview for your device at the page below:

Nexus Device Downloads

6. Right-click the file you downloaded and select Extract All and extract it to your Desktop.

7. Take all of the files that are inside the folder and copy them to the C:/android-sdk/platform-tools/

IV. Flash the Android 5.0 “Lollipop” Factory Image

1. Plug the device in via USB cable.

2. Open the folder android-sdk/platform-tools.

3. Hold shift on your keyboard and right click in a blank area in that folder, then select Open Command Window Here.

4. Type adb devices and you should get a serial number back (if you didn’t your drivers are not installed properly, head here for more help with that). If you did get a serial number, continue.

5. Type the following into the command prompt with hitting enter at the end of each line:

adb reboot bootloader

6. When the device reboots into fastboot mode, type the following into the command prompt with hitting enter at the end of each line:

fastboot oem unlock

7. Say yes on the device and this will unlock the bootloader (and erase your data). Then the device will reboot.

8. When it reboots, type the following into the command prompt with hitting enter at the end of each line:

flash-all.bat

9. This will now begin to flash the Android L image to your phone.

10. When it’s all done, unplug, and enjoy.

If you did this, what do you think of it so far?

If you want to undo this and get back to KitKat follow this video.

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20 thoughts on “How to Get Android 5.0 “Lollipop” on the Nexus 5 / Nexus 7 (Video)”

  1. Thanx for your help.Insatlled Android L in nexus 5.But in nexus 7 i am getting a message “checking product…. ‘FAILED'”.Please help me on this.see the below screen

    1. Two questions:

      1. Is it the Wifi only version (not the LTE version)? It will only work on the WiFi only version.
      2. It says you are on Deb and need Flo. This would mean you need to update your Nexus to the latest version of Android FIRST, then try and flash Android 5.0. You can do that by going into the settings and checking for a software update.

      Let me know if that worked!

  2. Hey, when I select upsate driver software, then ADB Interface I dont get any manufacturer to select from, it sayas that I have nothing installed, but I downloaded the Universal ADB Drivers.

  3. I was wondering how the future upgrade to the actual Android 5.0 will work. Will it just install normally or do I have to do a factory reset to get back into 4.4 or what’s the deal?

        1. Sorry no clue then. Makes no sense as I can clearly see the boot.img file in the screenshot you posted so no clue why it doesn’t see it. The OTA should be coming soon you might have to just wait for that unfortunately.

        1. The packages wouldn’t matter for this.
          Try a different USB port or cable, o computer.
          If that still doesn’t work, uninstall the drivers unplug the phone and reinstall them and plug it back in.
          Good luck!

      1. Is it necessary of installing all the packages in andriod sdk..?? It installed only 11 packages out of 16 in my pc..Is this the main reason..

  4. I flashed last night seeing your youtube video, but had issues with google apps. I noticed my build number for nexus 5 is LPV79 which is not latest. How should i make it to latest LRX210?

  5. Hi i installed new lollipop but “when device is rotated” isn’t working and gallery is missing please help me..

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