Download and Install AOSP Android 13 on Google Nexus 6

Google Nexus 6 Overview

Talking about the specifications, Nexus 6 features a 5.96-inches display with a screen resolution of 1440 x 2560 pixels. It is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor coupled with 3GB of RAM. The phone packs 32/64GB internal memory. The camera on the Nexus 6 comes with 13MP and 2MP front shooting camera. It is backed by a Non-removable Li-Po 3220 mAh battery with Qi wireless charging.

Android 13 and Its Features

Google has finally started rolling their stable Android 13 update to the public. As expected, only Google has released the update to their Pixel lineup, but no OEM has started cooking a stable yet.

Regarding the Android 13, it seems that the Android 12’s successor has plenty of additional features and improvements to its predecessor. We’ve already seen and used the major UI and design element changes in Android 12 last year, known as ‘Material You.’ This materialistic theming design enhanced the Android user experience from the minimal subtle look, rounded corners, improved pop-ups, etc.

Whereas the improved scrolling screenshots, optimized one-handed UI mode, better privacy & security features, improved app notifications, per-app basis language preferences, app permissions to send notifications, BT LE Audio support, auto theme icons, updated now playing widget, etc. Users will also find intuitive QR scanner support, enhanced silent mode, tap-to-transfer media controls, multiple profiles for NFC payments, and more.

What’s Working and Known Bugs:

Whats working?

Wi-Fi
RIL
Volte
Mobile data
GPS
Camera
Flashlight
Camcorder
Bluetooth
Fingerprint
FM radio
Sound
vibration

Known issues ?
You tell me

How to Install AOSP Android 13 on Nexus 6 (shamu)

As the title suggests, we’ve shared the requirements and steps to flash the AOSP Android 13 build on the Nexus 6 (shamu) variant.

Before heading over to the guide, make sure to follow all the requirements below.

Pre-Requisites

Before we begin with this procedure, I would strongly recommend you create a backup of your device storage and all your files stored on your device. Moreover, following the steps mentioned in this post carefully is advised to avoid permanent damage or bricking your device.

Charge Your Phone

It’s highly recommended to charge your handset before unlocking the bootloader to avoid your device from shutting down occasionally while going through the process. Make sure to keep at least 50% of charge or higher for a smooth operation.

Download ADB and Fastboot Binaries

You can skip this adb and fastboot part if you have already installed TWRP Recovery on your Nexus 6.

Using the ADB and Fastboot command (platform-tools), you’ll be able to boot your Android device into the bootloader mode (download mode), which will be easy for you to proceed with further steps. ADB (Android Debug Bridge) creates a connection or bridge between the device and computer to sideload files.

Fastboot is a more advanced command utility tool for Android devices that works with computers. You can download ADB and Fastboot Binaries (Platform-Tools).

Download Google USB Drivers

A USB Driver is a set of files that allows you to create a successful and strong connection between a mobile device with a computer properly using a USB data cable. It’ll be useful to transfer files between the connected devices, flash files on the handset, and more.

It’s also worth mentioning that mobile devices and other external devices can use and run USB Drivers on a Windows computer. Such as a mouse, keyboard, printer, external hard drives, speakers, USB flash drives, etc. You can grab Google USB Drivers here.

Unlock Bootloader Your Phone:

You must first unlock the bootloader on your Nexus 6 to enjoy any custom ROM.

Install TWRP Recovery:

You must install TWRP Recovery on your phone to install any custom ROM on your device. After unlocking the bootloader, follow our guide to install TWRP Recovery on your Nexus 6.

Download Android 13 ROM:

Here, you will find all the Android 13 custom ROM for your Nexus 6 (shamu).

Lineage OS 20

XDA Development Page

Download Android 13 Gapps:

It’s worth mentioning that most of the third-party AOSP (Android Open Source Project) ROMs (also known as aftermarket firmware) come without any preinstalled Google apps package. You can manually install the Android 13 GApps by following our guide.

Instructions to Install:

1. Connect your device to the PC via USB cable. Make sure USB Debugging is enabled.
2. Then head over to the platform-tools folder, type in CMD in the address bar, and hit Enter. This will launch the Command Prompt.
   
3. Execute the below command in the CMD window or enter recovery mode by using the Volume and Power button combination. your device to TWRP Recovery:

   adb reboot recovery

4. Now head over to the Install section and navigate to the downloaded vendor and firmware. Perform a right swipe to flash it.TWRP Home
5. If you want Google Apps as well, then you need to flash it at this instance itself. Go to Install, select the GApps ZIP file, and perform a right swipe to flash this file.
6. When that is done, you may reboot your device. Head over to Reboot and select System.
   

Your device will now boot to the newly installed OS. With this, we conclude the guide on installing the AOSP Android 13 on Nexus 6. Remember that the first boot might take time, and you might have to set up your device from scratch.

Conclusion

Flashing the ported Android 13 on your Nexus 6 will give you an early taste of the latest Android OS version. It looks like the Nexus 6 model won’t officially receive the Android 13 update from the manufacturer. So, it’s a good idea to get most of the features and visual treatment. However, if you find any extra bugs or stability issues, you should report them to the respective forum.

That’s it, guys. We assume this guide was helpful to you. For further queries, you can comment below.