Android 5.1 Lollipop OTA files start showing up for Nexus devices, here’s how to install them

Google recently started publishing Nexus factory images for Android 5.1, but now download links for the over-the-air update are hitting the Internet. It likely won’t be long before your Nexus device has the update up and running (5.1 for the Sprint Nexus 6 started rolling out yesterday, for example), but if you just can’t wait to get your hands on those performance improvements, we’ve got you covered…

In case you didn’t know, Google made the Android Lollipop 5.1 update official earlier this week. Google’s official change log doesn’t list many monumental differences coming with this version, but the biggest changes include support for multiple SIM cards, “Device Protection” (which keeps a device locked until its owner logs in with their Google account), High Definition voice calling, and a host of bug fixes and performance improvements across the board.

Here are some of the Nexus OTA download links for 5.1, with more coming soon (we’ll keep this post updated):

Nexus 5:
from 5.0 to 5.1: hammerhead LMY47D from LRX21O
from 5.0.1 to 5.1: hammerhead LMY47D from LRX22C

Nexus 6:
from 5.0.1 to 5.1: shamu LMY47D from LRX22C

Nexus 7 2012 WiFi:
from 5.0.2 to 5.1: nakasi LMY47D from LRX22G

Nexus 10:
from 5.0.2 to 5.1: mantaray LMY47D from LRX22G

Nexus 4:
from 5.0.1 (LRX22C) to 5.1: occam-mako LMY47O from LRX22C

If you’re not quite sure what to do with that factory image, we have a convenient guide written up just for you—although it’s best for those who aren’t as experienced to just wait for the OTA to actually hit their device as it will surely be dropping relatively soon (if it hasn’t already).