Q1. Why should I downgrade to Android 6.0.1 from the newer Android 7.1.1 update?

Many users found that the official update to Android 7.1.1 introduced severe battery drain, overheating, and made the camera perform worse. This Android 6.0.1 firmware is considered by a large part of the community to be the most stable and power-efficient version for the Aquaris X5 Plus.

Q2. My phone gets extremely hot when recording video or gaming. Can this help?

Yes, a clean firmware installation can help. It resolves software bugs that can cause the Snapdragon 652 processor to run hotter than necessary. Flashing this stable Marshmallow build is often reported to provide better thermal management than the Nougat update.

Q3. The fingerprint scanner on my phone has become unreliable. Will this fix it?

It often can. A full firmware reflash restores the original drivers and calibration software for the fingerprint sensor. For best performance after flashing, remember to delete your old fingerprints and re-register them in a clean, dry environment.

BQ Aquaris X5 Plus Firmware (Stock ROM, Snapdragon 652)

The BQ Aquaris X5 Plus was a powerful upper-mid-range smartphone from 2016, featuring a sharp Full HD display, a capable Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 processor, and an excellent camera. The device launched with Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow and later received an official update to Android 7.1.1 Nougat. However, this update was plagued with issues, and a massive number of users reported severe battery drain, overheating, and a decline in camera performance. As a result, many users seek to **downgrade back to this more stable Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow firmware**. This guide provides the official stock ROM to fix these issues or to unbrick a device.

⚠️ CRUCIAL WARNING: Downgrading and Fastboot Method
This firmware is for **downgrading** from a newer Android version or performing a clean install of Marshmallow. Downgrading can be risky and may fail if your device’s bootloader has been updated. The process uses the advanced Fastboot method, requires an unlocked bootloader, and will completely erase all your personal data.

⚠️ Prerequisites: Before You Begin

Click Here for the Essential Pre-Flashing Checklist

Backup Your Data: This process will wipe everything on your phone’s internal storage.
Charge The Battery: Ensure your phone has at least a 60% charge to prevent it from shutting down during the process.
Windows PC & USB Cable: You will need a Windows computer and the phone’s original micro USB cable.
Unlock Bootloader: Your device’s bootloader must be unlocked to flash firmware via Fastboot.

📱 Quick Device Specifications

Device: BQ Aquaris X5 Plus
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 (MSM8976)
Display: 5.0″ Full HD LTPS IPS (1920×1080)
Operating System: Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow
RAM: 2GB / 3GB
Storage: 16GB / 32GB
Battery: 3200 mAh

🛠 Required Tools & Downloads

File / Tool	Download Link
ADB and Fastboot Platform Tools	Download from Google
Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader Drivers	Download Drivers

⬇️ BQ Aquaris X5 Plus Stock ROM / Firmware

OS Version	Build Number	Chipset	Download Link
Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow	1.5.1	Qualcomm Snapdragon 652	Download (MediaFire)

Quick Steps to Flash BQ Aquaris X5 Plus Firmware

Download and install the Qualcomm drivers. Download and extract the ADB/Fastboot Platform Tools and the firmware ZIP file (BQ_Aquaris_X5_Plus_..._20161117.zip) into the **same folder**.
Power off your phone completely. Reboot it into Fastboot Mode by pressing and holding the Power + Volume Down buttons simultaneously until you see the Fastboot menu.
Connect your phone to your PC via USB cable.
Inside the folder where you extracted the files, find and double-click the `flash-all.bat` script to run it.
A command prompt window will open and automatically begin the flashing process. Do not unplug the phone or close the window.
The script will flash all necessary partitions and the phone will reboot automatically once the process is complete.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Why should I downgrade to Android 6.0.1 from the newer Android 7.1.1 update?: Many users found that the official update to Android 7.1.1 introduced severe battery drain, overheating, and made the camera perform worse. This Android 6.0.1 firmware is considered by a large part of the community to be the most stable and power-efficient version for the Aquaris X5 Plus.
Q2. My phone gets extremely hot when recording video or gaming. Can this help?: Yes, a clean firmware installation can help. It resolves software bugs that can cause the Snapdragon 652 processor to run hotter than necessary. Flashing this stable Marshmallow build is often reported to provide better thermal management than the Nougat update.
Q3. The fingerprint scanner on my phone has become unreliable. Will this fix it?: It often can. A full firmware reflash restores the original drivers and calibration software for the fingerprint sensor. For best performance after flashing, remember to delete your old fingerprints and re-register them in a clean, dry environment.

🔧 Device Troubleshooting

The `flash-all.bat` script fails, especially when downgrading: If the script fails, it may be because the bootloader from a newer Android version is preventing the flash. Ensure your bootloader is unlocked. If it still fails, the downgrade may not be possible on your specific device, which is an inherent risk of the process.
My phone is not detected in Fastboot mode: This is a driver issue. Ensure you have installed the Qualcomm and ADB drivers correctly. You can check if the device is recognized by opening a command prompt in your Fastboot folder and typing `fastboot devices`. If a serial number appears, you are connected.
After flashing, the phone is stuck on the BQ boot animation: The first boot can take a very long time (up to 20 minutes). If it’s still stuck, you must perform a factory reset. Boot into recovery mode (Power + Volume Up), then navigate to “Wipe data/factory reset” and confirm.