Android 7.0 Nougat factory images are now available on Google Android developer page for Nexus 6P, Nexus 6, Nexus 5X, Nexus 9, Nexus Player, Google Pixel C and Android One devices. The factory images can be used to fix your soft-bricked Nexus or Android One devices. Read on to know how to install the Android 7.0 Nougat factory images on your Nexus device.
Note that, Android 7.0 Nougat OTA update file has also now available, which you can sideload via ADB on an unrooted Nexus device. This method does not wipe your device, so you will not lose data. Interested users go here to download the full OTA update file and follow this instruction to sideload it on your Nexus device.
For installing Android 7.0 Nougat factory image, you need unlocked bootloader (which will wipe your device, so backup data before proceeding), appropriate system image for your device (Download from Google here) and ADB and fastboot setup on your computer. Follow the instruction below to know how to flash the system images on your Nexus devices.
How to Install Android 7.0 Nougat Factory Image on Nexus Devices
1. Ensure that proper USB driver for Nexus device is installed on your computer
2. Also, ensure that ADB and Fastboot tools is installed on your computer (read this guide)
3. Download Android 7.0 Nougat factory image for your device [HERE], unzip the factory image and move all the contents to the same folder as the ADB installed on your computer.
4. Enable “USB Debugging” on your device from Developer options
5. Now, boot your device into fastboot/bootloader mode. To do so, power off the device, press and hold both Volume Down and Power button together few seconds.
6. Now, connect your phone to your computer via a USB cable
7. Go to the ADB installation folder and open a command window there (shift key + right click and select open command window here option)
8. If the bootloader is locked, type: fastboot oem unlock at the command prompt, and press Enter. On your phone, choose “Yes” (use volume key) and confirm it by pressing the Power button.
[Note: This will ERASE your device, so make sure you have backed everything up first]
9. With the bootloader unlocked, you can install the system image. To do that, go to the ADB folder (where you have saved the unzipped factory image) and double click the ‘flash-all script‘.
[This script installs the necessary bootloader, baseband firmware(s), and operating system]
On Windows: Run the file “flash-all.bat”.
On Mac: Run the file “flash-all.sh” using Terminal.
On Linux: Run the file “flash-all.sh”.
[Wait for the process to complete. The phone will reboot automatically]
Finally, you should lock the bootloader again for security. For that, boot your Nexus into fastboot mode, and then issue the command: fastboot oem lock. (Source – Google)
