Download and Install Android 13 for Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge

The Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge launched in 2015 on Android 5.0.2 Lollipop and officially stopped at Android 7.0 Nougat. This guide installs an unofficial Android 13 custom ROM (LineageOS 20) on them through TWRP recovery, so you can run a far newer version of Android than Samsung ever shipped. Because it is an unofficial build for old hardware, expect some bugs and check the source thread before flashing.

Samsung Galaxy S6 / S6 Edge overview

The Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge have a 5.1-inch 1440 x 2560 display, an Exynos 7420 octa-core processor, and 3GB of RAM, with 32, 64, or 128GB of storage. Both have a 16MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera. The S6 has a 2,550mAh battery and the S6 Edge a 2,600mAh battery, both with fast and wireless charging.

Android 13 and its features

Android 13 builds on Android 12’s Material You design. It adds per-app language settings, a notification permission prompt for apps, Bluetooth LE Audio support, themed app icons, a built-in QR scanner, tap-to-transfer media controls, and multiple profiles for NFC payments, among other changes.

What works and known bugs

Most day-to-day features work on this build, including Wi-Fi, mobile data, calls (RIL), VoLTE, GPS, the camera and camcorder, Bluetooth, the fingerprint sensor, FM radio, sound, and vibration. As this is an unofficial build, check the XDA thread for the current list of what works and any open bugs before you flash.

How to install Android 13 on the Galaxy S6 / S6 Edge

Go through the requirements first.

Prerequisites

• This ROM is for the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge. Flash it only on the matching model.
• Charge the phone to at least 50%.
• Back up your data, since this wipes the phone. See how to back up your Android device.
• Install the Samsung USB drivers on your PC.
• Your bootloader must be unlocked, and TWRP recovery installed (on Samsung, TWRP is flashed with Odin).

Download links

Instructions to install

1. Copy the Android 13 ROM ZIP and the GApps ZIP to your phone’s storage (or keep them on your PC to use ADB sideload).
2. Boot into TWRP recovery. With the phone off, hold Volume Up + Home + Power, or run adb reboot recovery with USB debugging on.
3. In TWRP, take a backup, then go to Wipe and wipe System, Data, Cache, and Dalvik/ART cache.
4. Go to Install, select the LineageOS 20 ROM ZIP, and swipe to flash it.
5. Flash the GApps ZIP the same way, right after the ROM.
6. Go to Reboot and choose System. The first boot can take several minutes.

FAQ

Is this an official Android 13 update from Samsung?

No. Samsung stopped the S6 and S6 Edge at Android 7.0 Nougat. This is an unofficial community build based on Android 13.

Do I need to flash GApps?

Yes, if you want the Play Store and Google apps. Flash the Android 13 GApps package right after the ROM, before the first boot.

Will Android 13 run well on the S6 Edge?

It runs thanks to the Exynos 7420 and 3GB of RAM, but it is an alpha-stage community build on old hardware, so treat it as experimental rather than a flawless daily driver.

How do I go back to stock?

Flash the official firmware with Odin using our S6 Edge stock firmware guide.

That is how you install Android 13 on the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge. If you run into trouble, leave a comment below.