(if using the PC-to-box cable method). BurnCardMaker utility (if using the SD card method).
If Android Lollipop proves unstable or if you want a dedicated media center experience, is an excellent alternative. LibreELEC is a lightweight Linux distribution built around Kodi, optimized for Amlogic S805 hardware.
MXQ Amlogic S805 Android 5.1.1 Lollipop: Upgrade Guide and Firmware Download
Because MXQ boxes have many internal board variations, flashing the wrong firmware can permanently brick
Yes, you can downgrade by flashing the original KitKat firmware using the USB Burning Tool or by restoring a full NAND backup (if you made one) [5†L18-L20].
Make sure you are holding the physical recovery switch down securely while plugging in the USB cable. Ensure your Windows drivers are properly installed.
Download the .img or .zip firmware and copy it to the root of a FAT32-formatted SD card.
When looking for the "hot download" files, you need to ensure you download a verified image file. Look for files labeled as MXQ_S805_Lollipop_5.1.1.img or structured ZIP files for SD card flashing. Firmware Download Options
A known quirk of the S805 platform is that power-off is not a true shutdown—the box enters a low-power standby mode with the power LED remaining rather than turning red. This is normal for this hardware generation. To fully cut power, unplug the adapter.
Method B: The Amlogic USB Burning Tool Method (For Bricked Devices)
Since there is no "official" over-the-air (OTA) update for this specific version on the S805 chip, you’ll need to rely on community-developed firmware.
The MXQ S805 is notorious for having multiple hardware revisions. Flashing the wrong firmware can hard-brick your device.
The S805 chipset belongs to Amlogic’s entry-level line, prioritizing and HEVC/H.265 hardware decoding over raw performance. Hardware decoding for H.265 works in MX Player but was not natively supported in XBMC/Kodi at launch; later firmware updates gradually improved codec support.
can be difficult because most of these older "all-black" boxes originally shipped with Android 4.4 KitKat. While there is no single official "hot" download button, enthusiasts have found success using custom firmware or images from similar hardware. Available Firmware Downloads Google Drive Link : A direct download for Android 5.1.1 Lollipop is available via Google Drive Ported Firmware : Some users have successfully used firmware from the Minix Neo X6 (which also uses an processor) on MXQ boards using the USB Burning Tool Custom ROMs
