How To Download And Manually Install Android 6.0 1 Marshmallow

How to download Android 6.0 Marshmallow right now

Instant sugar rush

Getting Android 6.0 Marshmallow

Update: Android Marshmallow is bachelor for a number of new devices, and we show you how to emulate the Android vi.0 Marshmallow on whatever Android device.

Android is the world'southward about popular operating organisation, installed on billions of devices around the globe, which is why it'southward so exciting that Google has brought out a brand new, better-than-ever version: Android half-dozen.0 Marshmallow.

Every bit usual the Android half dozen.0 Marshmallow update brings a range of improvements and new features, and while it arrived first on the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P, it volition besides be made available to most modern Android handsets for costless.

Want an even newer version of Android? Check out our guide on how to download Android seven.0 N correct now

The Android 6.0 Marshmallow update is usually doled out by your handset'due south manufacturer and it can take some months for updates to the new operating system to be made available as the manufacturers test the new software to brand sure it's uniform.

If you don't want to expect that long, all the same, in that location are ways to download and install Android vi.0 Marshmallow right at present. If you'd rather expect for the update to be made bachelor past your handset's manufacturer (an easier and slightly safer manner of doing things) then keep an eye out for any news on when your device will be officially updated.

Is your device compatible?

When Android 6.0 Marshmallow was released, Google'due south own Nexus devices were the first to get it, with the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P coming with Marshmallow pre-installed.

Other devices, such equally the Nexus 5, Nexus half-dozen, Nexus 7 (2013), Nexus 9, Nexus Actor, Pixel C and Android One smartphones have received Android Chiliad as an OTA update.

OTA stands for "Over the Air", which ways your mobile phone network will push a notification that the update is available for you to download, which yous can then download and install wirelessly.

If you take an unlocked HTC Ane M9 so you should take an update waiting for you also. If not, it should be coming soon.

If you have an LG G4 then you should also go the Android 6.0 Marshmallow update, with LG's older handsets such every bit the LG G3 likely to receive the update sin due course.

In the US the Moto X Pure Edition (2015) is currently getting the Android 6 update on Verizon, Dart and USC, while the Moto 10 Style, Moto X Force and Moto 10 2022 should besides be getting the update in sure parts of the world.

You lot may have to wait a while for other handset makers to get effectually to delivering the Android 6.0 Marshmallow update, so check our Android 6 Marshmallow update: when can I become it? article regularly to keep runway of when Android 6.0 is coming to your device.

Subsequently on in this guide we'll as well testify you lot a style of (sort of) getting Android K on your device without having to wait.

Checking for an update

If you accept a device that'southward listed as getting the Android 6.0 Marshmallow update then you lot tin can check to see if the download is waiting for you.

Android updates are rolled out gradually, so you may not get the update directly away. Your mobile network operator as well needs to exam the software before it's made available to download, so this tin increase the time information technology takes for the update to reach you. If you accept an unlocked smartphone - one that isn't tied to a item network - then you lot may get the Android 6.0 Marshmallow update a flake sooner.

To bank check to run into if the update is waiting for yous, open up up Settings on your smartphone and whorl down and tap on "Virtually Phone". At the top you should run across either "Software updates" or "System updates". Tap on this and if the Android six.0 Marshmallow update is waiting for you, it will show upward here. Don't update just withal - follow our adjacent step first.

If the Android 6.0 Marshmallow isn't at that place, but other updates are, and so update these so that your telephone is ready for when Marshmallow arrives.

Back up your device

Before you begin updating your Android device to Android 6.0 Marshmallow, y'all should first back up y'all phone. Upgrading to a new operating system always carries the risk – no matter how minimal – that something could go wrong, and upgrading Android is no different, particularly if yous're updating to a version your smartphone doesn't officially support yet.

Backing up your smartphone means that in the unlikely event that something does go wrong, you tin restore your photos, videos and other information speedily and easily. Too the method that we'll be using to manually update to Android 6.0 Marshmallow means that your device will exist wiped – so you'll want to back up no thing what.

If you just want to back up your photos, then one of the quickest means is to plug your Android device into a PC via USB and and then view the telephone in Windows or Mac Os Ten and scan to the DCIM folder and copy information technology over.

You lot can also make your Android handset automatically back up your photos to the internet by opening up the Photos app and clicking on the menu icon (iii brusque horizontal lines in the top-left corner of the screen). Tap on Settings > Fill-in & sync and so make sure backup is turned on and it is connected to your Google business relationship.

Also ensure that the built-in backup feature of your telephone is enabled – to practise this go to Settings > Backup & reset and make certain both "Dorsum upwardly my data" and "Automatic restore" are checked.

This covers the basics, but to make sure absolutely everything is backed upwards, check out our comprehensive guide to bankroll upwards your Android device.

Downloading Android Marshmallow

If y'all've checked your device and the Android half-dozen.0 Marshmallow update is waiting for yous, and you've backed up your device, then yous can begin the process of updating. Make sure you have enough bombardment life in your smartphone, as information technology could cause problems if your device turns itself off while installing Android 6.0.

Most of the fourth dimension the update process won't fifty-fifty begin if you have a low bombardment, and then to be on the safety side plug in your Android handset. The Android half-dozen.0 Marshmallow update file is too quite large, so make sure you lot're continued to a Wi-Fi network so y'all don't incur any extra costs from using your mobile data assart.

Now go back into Settings > About Phone and tap on "Software updates" (also sometimes listed equally "Organization updates"). Tap on the update to begin the installation process. Your telephone will restart itself and it won't be usable while Android 6.0 Marshmallow is installing - and then don't do it if you're waiting for an important phone call!

If your Android device hasn't got the Android 6.0 Marshmallow update at the moment, there are another ways to get Android 6.0 Marshmallow right now. Read on to find out.

Enable USB debugging

Now you need to turn on USB debugging. To do this you'll need to turn on developer mode in Android, and then open up up Settings and curl downward to "Well-nigh phone." Tap that button seven times and it will tell you Programmer options is now enabled – you should now come across it in the Setting page. Tap it, and then turn on USB debugging.

Yous'll likewise need to enable OEM unlocking – merely be warned that this will erase everything on your device.

Download 15 seconds ADB Installer

You'll need an additional tool installed in Windows to add together Android Marshmallow to your device. The program is called 15 seconds ADB Installer, and to download it from its website, scroll downward to where it says "Version 1.iv.two," click on the link, select Brainstorm Download, then install the plan.

A window will appear request if you want to install ADB and Fastboot. Type Y on the keyboard to concord. Printing Y again when asked to Install ADB arrangement-wide and if you want to install device drivers. A new window will open to start installing the drivers. Permit this, then click Restart now to reboot your PC.

The program volition at present be installed to C:\adb (if C:\ is your default hard drive).

Download Android vi Marshmallow

Head over to Google's Android Developer website which will list a number of hardware arrangement images of Android 6.0 for you lot to download.

Each hardware system image is for a separate Nexus device, so brand sure that you download the correct one for the hardware that you're going to exist installing Android 6.0 Marshmallow on.

After clicking on the right hardware system image it will download equally a.tgz compressed file. Once downloaded you'll need to extract the files and folders using a plan such as WinRAR. Locate the file you downloaded (in our case we downloaded the file chosen shamu-MPA44I-preview-62b9c486.tgz for the Nexus half dozen), right-click it and select "Excerpt files…" and extract the files to the adb folder you created in the previous step (eg C:\adb).

Flash Android Marshmallow onto your device

Wink Android Marshmallow onto your device

Now yous can put Android 6.0 Marshmallow onto your device. Plow off your device and plug information technology into your PC. Now you lot need to commencement it in fastboot mode – to practice this on the Nexus six press and concur downwards the Volume Down and Ability buttons on the handset. For the Nexus 5, press and hold both Volume Upwardly and Book Downwards, and then printing and hold the Ability button.

For the Nexus ix, press and hold Volume Down, and so press and hold Power and for the Nexus Actor just press and concord down the Power button.

Once your device has booted in fastboot mode, open up up the folder on your PC where you extracted the Android 6.0 hardware paradigm to. In the folder there will be a file called flash-all.bat. Double click this to begin installing Android 6.0 Marshmallow onto your device.

Your device should now reboot and all being well you should accept Android 6.0 Marshmallow up and running.

Getting the Android 6.0 Marshmallow feel

Getting the Android 6.0 Marshmallow experience

If your Android device hasn't got the Android half dozen.0 Marshmallow update just nonetheless then there is a way to emulate some of Android Marshmallow'south features on your electric current version of Android.

First of all, open the Google Play Store and download and install the Google At present Launcher. One time this has downloaded, open information technology upward and select "Google Now Launcher". If asked, select to always use this from at present on.

At present open upwardly Settings and tap on "Security". Where information technology says "Unknown sources" tap to plow this option on. Next, download velvet-M2.apk onto your Android device and run it. You may get a alarm near opening files of this type, so allow this to install.

You'll now have a homescreen and apps drawer that functions the same as Android half-dozen.0 Marshmallow. For more of an Android 6.0 feel, download this pack of Android six.0 Marshmallow wallpapers to decorate your smartphone.

Senior Calculating editor

Matt (Twitter) is TechRadar's Senior Calculating editor. Having written for a number of publications such as PC Plus, PC Format, T3 and Linux Format, there's no attribute of technology that Matt isn't passionate well-nigh, particularly computing and PC gaming. If yous're encountering a problem or demand some advice with your PC or Mac, driblet him a line on Twitter.