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Installing OrangeFox Recovery

Last updated: August 7, 2026

How do I install OrangeFox?

0. Firstly, you MUST unlock your bootloader. Then you can proceed in one of the ways described below.

1. Via a recovery

  • Unlock your bootloader (if not already unlocked)
  • To install an OrangeFox
    zip
    , simply flash the OrangeFox zip with OrangeFox itself, or with any TWRP-compatible custom recovery, without any wipes - exactly the same way that you would flash any other zip.
  • Do the same thing if you want to upgrade (or downgrade) OrangeFox (see further details about upgrading OrangeFox below).
  • When you flash an OrangeFox zip, there is no need to flash any DFE or any other such thing.
  • Always ensure that you are flashing the correct OrangeFox zip for the ROM that is running on your device.
  • See below for detailed instructions on how to install OrangeFox via fastboot.
  • Do
    NOT ever
    try to flash the OrangeFox zip via fastboot. The zip must be flashed with a recovery.

Detailed instructions on how flash OrangeFox Recovery

2. Via fastboot, and then recovery

You
need a PC for this
. If you do not have a PC, or access to a PC, then you are stuck! Note 1 - these instructions are mainly for A-only devices: Note 2 - do NOT
EVER
use fastboot to flash the OrangeFox zip file: Note 3 - do NOT
EVER
use fastboot to boot the OrangeFox zip file:
  • Unlock your bootloader (if not already unlocked)
  • Install adb, fastboot from here, and the relevant USB drivers onto your PC
  • Download the correct OrangeFox zip file to your phone, and to your PC
  • Extract
    recovery.img
    from the OrangeFox zip file, and copy
    recovery.img
    to your PC’s adb directory
  • Reboot your phone into bootloader mode (eg, with "adb reboot bootloader")
  • Open up a command line window / terminal emulator on your PC
  • Change to the adb directory on your PC
  • If you have an
    A-only
    device, or
    an A/B or Virtual A/B device that has a dedicated recovery partition
    , flash OrangeFox Recovery by running:
    fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
    (or whatever command your device's maintainer has recommended, if that is different). Then Reboot into OrangeFox by pressing the
    power + volume up
    keys, until you see the OrangeFox splash screen (the keys may be may vary on your device)
  • If you have a standard "boot-as-recovery"
    A/B
    or
    Virtual A/B
    device (eg, Poco F3 or Poco F4), boot OrangeFox Recovery by running:
    fastboot boot recovery.img
    . Do NOT ever try this command on a Virtual A/B device that has a dedicated recovery partition. If you do, you will brick your device.
  • If your ROM uses
    vendor_boot-as-recovery
    , then none of these will work; you will require special assistance and instructions from your ROM's maintainer
  • After OrangeFox has booted up, check that everything is working – eg, that it has mounted the data partition successfully, and that the touchscreen works.
  • Find and
    select the OrangeFox zip
    on your phone, tap on it, and
    swipe to install it (because OrangeFox Recovery needs some files from the zip)
    .
  • After installation, the phone will automatically reboot into OrangeFox
  • Enjoy!

Should I backup my device before flashing/upgrading/changing my recovery?

  • Yes. Yes. YES. YES.
  • Be sure to make
    full backups of your data partition and internal storage
    before flashing or upgrading a recovery.
  • Do this
    every single time
    you want to flash or upgrade a recovery.
  • By doing this, you can secure yourself against potential problems.
  • If you do not make these backups, and something goes wroing with the installation,
    you will be on your own
    .

How can I find out whether my phone is an A/B device?

  • Connect to your phone with a usb cable, open a command prompt, and run the command:
    adb shell getprop ro.boot.slot_suffix
  • If your phone is an A/B device, you will be shown the active slot (ie, either "_a", or "_b"). If the command shows no output, then the phone is NOT an A/B device.

How do I upgrade OrangeFox?

  • If you want to change your OrangeFox version, first, you should remove any OrangeFox password/PIN protection that you have set in OrangeFox itself. Do NOT skip this step;
  • Then flash the new/replacement OrangeFox zip with OrangeFox, in the same way that you would flash any zip

How do I uninstall OrangeFox?

You can only uninstall any recovery by replacing it with another recovery (stock, or custom). To uninstall OrangeFox, take these steps:
  • First, go to the "Fox Addons" menu, select "Remove OrangeFox files", and swipe (OrangeFox will reboot after finishing)
  • Then, flash another recovery, to replace OrangeFox

Can I run "fastboot boot ..." to boot an OrangeFox .img file?

  • If your ROM uses
    vendor_boot-as-recovery
    , or you have an
    A/B or Virtual A/B device with a dedicated recovery partition
    , you will not be able to do this. If you try to do it, you will brick your device.
  • If you have a standard "boot-as-recovery"
    A/B
    or
    Virtual A/B
    device, then you will be able to do this.
  • For
    A-only devices
    , see below:
  • Some devices allow you to "hotboot" a recovery image, without actually flashing it to the device. This is done via "
    fastboot boot <recoveryimage.img>
    ".
  • Old Xiaomi devices, running old MIUI firmwares (ie, based on Android 6.x, 7.x or 8.x) are typical devices that allow this.
  • Some new A-only Xiaomi devices also allow "hotbooting" a recovery image (eg, miatoll, vayu, etc).
  • For some older A-only Xiaomi devices (eg, violet, lavender), if your MIUI firmware is based on Android 9 or later, then it might not be possible. Why? Because newer Xiaomi firmware updates in newer MIUI ROMs (based on Pie or later) will replace your bootloader with one that cannot "hotboot" a recovery image in this way.
  • Your only option in such a case is to flash the image, with "fastboot flash ..."
  • This is not an OrangeFox issue, so please do not come to the OrangeFox groups to ask about it.

Can I use OrangeFox's own password feature?

  • Of course. Just be sure to NEVER, EVER forget your password/PIN. If you do,
    you will be on your own
    .

Do I really need to flash the OrangeFox zip?

  • Yes. Yes. YES. YES. You really
    MUST
    flash the OrangeFox zip.
  • Do you really think that we release OrangeFox in zip format, just for the sake of it, or just because we do not know what we are doing?
  • If you do not flash the zip, and you get problems,
    you will be on your own
    .