Upgrading an TV box to Android 5.1 (Lollipop) is possible, but it comes with significant risks because the
Breathing Android 5.1 (Lollipop) Life Back Into Your MXQ S805: The Ultimate Firmware Rescue Guide
Remember the little blue-and-black TV box that refused to die? The MXQ S805 (powered by the legendary Amlogic S805 chipset) was the people’s champion of budget Android TV boxes back in 2014–2016. But over time, they slow down, boot-loop, or get stuck on a four-color swirling circle of despair.
- produce a concise step‑by‑step SD card flashing checklist for your MXQ (assuming a typical m201d/HD18Q variant), or
- search for available Android 5.1 images matching a specific board ID or PCB photo you provide. Which would you prefer?
Risks and precautions
- High risk of bricking if firmware mismatch occurs. Amlogic devices are sensitive to wrong images.
- Potential loss of device-specific data (Wi‑Fi MAC, hardware calibration).
- Malware risk from unofficial firmware; always prefer trusted community sources.
- Some images require specific flashing tools: Amlogic USB Burning Tool (Windows) for full image flashing, or applying update.zip via recovery for sideload updates.
- Need for correct drivers (Amlogic USB drivers) on the PC to enter bootloader/USB mode.
How to verify firmware compatibility
- Compare the device’s CPU/board info from Settings → About or via terminal app (cat /proc/cpuinfo).
- Identify vendor strings, board name, and kernel messages.
- Match file/package names and included board identifiers in the firmware package readme.
Step 2: Find a Trusted Source
Avoid random Google Drive links from unknown blogs. Instead, use: