Smartphone market different brands functions in such a way that as new versions of the operating system are released Android systems, companies that make phones on this operating system update the OS version on phones that are released and implement new firmware on those devices that are being developed. Some users don't know why it works this way.
The fact is that when a person buys a phone, it has basic version operating system, it is available by default. But after a while Google releases new version Android firmware, which improves the old one, removes some bugs, large and small problems. And when some time passes and the new version passes all the necessary checks and becomes stable, you can install it on your phone. The verification time depends on the region and usually takes about six months.
Once a new version has become available and you have installed it on your phone, you can get a new interface, support for new applications and more settings. Also get rid of some problems that were in the previous Android series. In some cases, the system update comes to the phone itself and the smartphone is updated without the owner’s participation through the application store, and then notifies you about the new firmware version. But sometimes there are no updates. Then a user who wants to use his phone more conveniently has a question about how to update Android if there are no updates. In this article, we examined in detail how to do this, and also told us how, on the contrary, to roll back the update if you have problems with the new version.
What you need to know before upgrading your system
Remember that if you update the software on your phone, or vice versa, roll back the update to a previous version, the data stored directly on the phone will be lost. In the case of automatic updating, the phone makes a backup copy on its own and then restores data from it. If you update or rollback manually, you will have to make a backup yourself.
You can also simply transfer all photos, note data, or number books to external media- it could even be a flash drive in your phone, it doesn’t matter. But it’s better to save it on a computer or external flash drive, it will be safer and more preferable.
Also note that updating the software takes some time. Sometimes it's about 10 minutes, sometimes longer - it all depends on your phone. So before you start updating, make sure your phone is sufficiently charged so that the update won't be interrupted when your phone accidentally turns off due to charging issues.
Automatic Android update
Automatic system updates are the easiest thing you can do. To do this, you don't need to do practically anything. You just need to go to the Android menu and select “Phone Information”, here you will find out what firmware version is on your phone.
After that, in the settings you should find “Software Update”; on all phones this item may be located in different sections of the settings. If you have a settings search, use it; if not, search manually using the settings. When you open this tab, you need to select the update icon and confirm your action. Before you start updating, enable download new system only via Wi-Fi so that the system does not waste Mobile Internet and your money.
When the data for the update is downloaded from the company’s server, a menu should appear on your phone and click “Install” there, after which you need to wait until the update takes place and the phone reboots.
Please note that in the method we described above, you can only update your phone to the minor release build. So in order to get a good full version firmware, you need to use a special mini-program that is released separately by the manufacturer. For example, for phones and Samsung tablets this is Kies, and for LG equipment - PC Suite. Google what utility your manufacturer has, install it on your phone and update through it.
Manually updating Android firmware
Almost all service centers use manually system updates if a client comes to them complaining about a program malfunction. But you can update your phone manually yourself if you put in enough effort and perseverance.
In order to update the operating system on your phone, you need to work with system application Odin. It can be downloaded to your computer from various web resources, it is even available on the well-known w3bsit3-dns.com. With this application you will be able to install not only a custom version of the firmware, but also the official one. In order to complete the update, you need:
If everything has been updated and went as it should, without any glitches, then the program screen should display the message PASS, which will turn green.
These methods work if you want to update Android 4.2.2 or any other firmware version. The main thing is to download the correct archive and make a backup copy of the data before proceeding with the update.
Rollback to previous version
Imagine that you carried out an automatic or manual update to the new firmware version of your smartphone, but you didn’t like the way the phone now works. It may have become much slower, often reboots or freezes, and errors appear. In this case, you can simply “roll back the phone” to any firmware version that was previously installed on the smartphone.
Rollback to factory version
This the method will work you if you want to return the basic official factory firmware, which was installed on the phone at the time you bought it in the store. This is done simply, in a few clicks from your phone.
You need to go to the “Settings” section on your smartphone and select the tab there that is responsible for resetting the settings. Each phone has a different name, some have it under the “Privacy” button, some have it labeled “Backup and reset”. If you can’t find it on your phone, google it; if your smartphone didn’t come out less than a few months ago, then this information should already be on forums or in articles analyzing the settings of your model.
After you have found this section, you need to select “Reset settings”. A window should pop up warning you that all data from the phone will be permanently deleted. If you have saved all important data in backup copies in the cloud or on external media, then confirm the action.
Note! If you think that your phone itself saved backup copies in the cloud, but you can’t be sure about it because you are updating for the first time, it’s better to save them yourself on an external storage device, just in case, than to grieve about lost important numbers, documents, etc. photo.
After this, the phone should reboot and roll back to the factory version. The reboot may take a long time - up to 15 minutes, don’t worry. After the phone turns on again, it will already have a completely clean system, as if you had just bought it in the store.
Heavy reset
This method involves completely manually restoring the phone to the old firmware version. This method is suitable for you if the phone does not boot at all or if you need to reset the PIN code, graphic key or password in case you have forgotten them. During this update, you will also lose everything on your device, so make sure you back everything up.
The rollback process goes like this:
- Turn off your phone or tablet on which you want to roll back the firmware version.
- You need to simultaneously press and hold the button that increases the volume, the home button, and the power button. The Recovery menu should appear on your screen.
- When controlling your actions using the buttons that adjust the volume, you need to find and check the “wipe data/factory reset” item and confirm your choice.
“Yes – Delete all user data”, this is also done using the keys that adjust the volume on the smartphone. - After this, you need to press the power button again, the main menu should pop up. In it we mark “reboot system now”.
- After that, everything is ready and you should load the factory version of the phone’s firmware.
How to rollback if a custom version of Android is installed
If you installed a custom version of the new firmware on your phone, then return official version, which you had before, can be done using a manual update. To do this, you will again have to use the Odin program, which we talked about above.
Before rolling back, you need to look for an archive with a firmware file that is suitable for your phone model. If the device has recently entered the market, you may not find it, be prepared for this. The best portal for searching in this case is 4PDA, it contains everything that can be found and everything that has already been uploaded to the Internet regarding the firmware.
When you have found the firmware file, you need to unzip it and get three files: PIT, PDA and CSC. Also note that you need to back up all the files on your phone and save it to HDD, any external media or to the cloud. After this you should do the following:
- Connect your phone to the computer and make sure that the computer recognizes it correctly.
- Launch the Odin program installed on your computer.
- Turn off your phone and put it into Download Mode. (Press the home button, power button and volume down at the same time).
- When the phone is booted, press the volume up key to activate Download Mode
- In the central window in Odin, you need to select the downloaded PIT, PDA and CSC files.
- In the program you need to click on start and wait for the full update.
If everything went well, you should see a PASS button at the top in the green field. As you can see, if you follow the instructions, resetting custom firmware is not very difficult.
conclusions
In this article, we tried to tell readers as accurately as possible about how to update Android different ways, and also figured out what a rollback is and how to carry it out correctly. When updating your phone, follow the instructions, do not forget to save the data on an external resource and carefully monitor what kind of firmware and from which site you are downloading so that you do not have to kill the virus on your phone later. If you still have questions about updates, ask them in the comments, and also share with other readers how to install new firmware if you know others.
Let us now look at ways to update Android “over the air”, i.e. receiving an update file via WiFi, as well as manual updating via a computer and .
This article is suitable for all brands that produce phones on Android 10/9/8/7: Samsung, HTC, Lenovo, LG, Sony, ZTE, Huawei, Meizu, Fly, Alcatel, Xiaomi, Nokia and others. We are not responsible for your actions.
Attention! You can ask your question to a specialist at the end of the article.
Update Android on your phone
The update process on an Android OS phone is necessary to ensure stable operation of the gadget. The update improves the performance of the smartphone, corrects manufacturer errors and creates new opportunities for the user.
When changing the current version of Android, the user is required to pay attention and fulfill certain conditions. Before changing the OS, you must ensure the following:
- Wi-Fi network is stable and reliable. This important point in a situation where the computer is not in use when downloading software.
- The smartphone is charged. The recommended battery level is at least 50%.
- The USB cable connecting the smartphone to the PC is working properly.
During the Android update, turning off the phone or removing the battery is prohibited. Interrupting the update process for these reasons may result in a breakdown that cannot be fixed without contacting service center. Before installing a new version of the system, it is recommended to transfer copies of your data to cloud storage, removable media or save on your computer.
Android update over the air
- Connect to the Internet, preferably via Wi-Fi connection. Then go to the “Settings” menu. It is often displayed as a gear icon. Go to the “System Data” tab. On some devices it is called “About the system” or “ General settings" A menu with different settings will be displayed there.
- Find the “Automatic Updates” section and see if these settings are enabled. If not, then they should be enabled. If you want Android to be updated automatically, click on “Updates”. The OS will update itself to the latest stable version available.
- Weigh system files quite a lot, so you won’t be able to use the phone for several minutes. With low internet speeds, updates can take hours. It is recommended to install updates overnight so as not to wait for the phone to accept the changes. This is the easiest way to update the Android system on your phone.
If the previous method does not work for you, then go to Play Marker. There, in the updates section, you can find the appropriate version for your smartphone.
Updating Android manually using a computer
You can update Android using applications from the manufacturer. The main purpose of these programs is to create backup copies and transferring multimedia files to PC and vice versa.
In some OS versions this setting hidden. To activate it, follow these steps:
Downloading a new Android using Xperia Companion
To download the firmware to your phone using Xperia programs Companion we do the following:
It is impossible to return to the previous version of the system. The user will receive this message before installation.
Update using Smart Switch
Install on Samsung phone new Android by using Smart apps Switch:
If a notification about the possibility of downloading a new version of Android is not displayed on the screen, it means that the gadget is Latest updates already installed.
Update via Samsung Kies
We follow the instructions:
The user's expectations may not be met by the new firmware (old ones are removed and new applications appear, changes appearance menu, etc.). It is important to read during installation what changes will occur and whether it is worth upgrading.
Manual update via Recovery Menu
Unofficial firmware
The manufacturer may no longer release updates for older phone models. In this situation, it is necessary to use unofficial Android firmware, of which there are a lot. There is one caveat: installing such software can cause malfunctions in the operation of the gadget or even lead to its breakdown.
This instruction is similar to “Manual update”. The difference is that here you need to install a custom Recovery, for example, TWRP.
Instructions:
- Need to download unofficial firmware. We dump it in the form of an archive into the external or internal memory of the gadget.
- Now we go into Recovery mode. Turn off the smartphone, then start it by holding the volume down/up button + power key (the combinations differ on different gadgets).
- Click on the Install button, find the copied archive with the firmware. In our example, this is Update MIUI.zip. You need to click on it.
How to update any phone to Android latest versions - all the most effective ways in one article! The world does not stand still and this fully applies to software mobile gadgets. Updates are regularly developed for operating systems that are designed to eliminate identified deficiencies of the outdated system. Below is an update guide for Android devices.
Inexperienced owners mobile devices the procedure for upgrading the OS is often neglected, which leads to instability of the device, a decrease in the number of supported programs, etc. Therefore, the answer to the question: “Should I update Android?” is obvious. Yes, if this is possible and the hardware capabilities of the phone or tablet meet the requirements of the new shell.
It should be noted that most programs are “tailored” to current Android modifications. IN outdated versions A significant amount of OS software may not function correctly or may not start at all.
Manufacturers of mobile equipment regularly carry out planned work to identify and eliminate defects in early modifications of the OS, and also add new functions to the system that make it easier for the user to use the gadget and ensure energy efficiency.
But not only the manufacturer is working in this direction. Third-party specialists also release custom firmware, which sometimes surpass official software in speed and brevity of external equipment. The main disadvantage of third-party firmware is removal from warranty service device by the manufacturer immediately after installing unofficial software, and there are also frequent cases of the gadget being “bricked” after a procedure performed by inexperienced users.
Among the disadvantages of updating with licensed firmware modifications, it should be noted that the parallel installation of a large number of utilities that the owner of the phone or tablet does not need. Without root rights, it is not possible to remove them from the system. Also, after the upgrade, some icons on the main screen may disappear, but this means that you will simply need to install their more advanced analogues from the market.
Preparatory activities before performing the procedure
Before updating the Android version, you must complete the following preliminary steps:
- Save important information for the user from the device’s memory on external media or carry out a full backup of the OS;
- Fully charge the device;
- Decide on the version to install (official or from third-party developers) and download it.
It's easy to update Android, but how do you know which modification is the latest? There are many ways to do this, from reading information on thematic forums on social networks to studying news from official sources.
Find out the Android version on your device
To do this, you will need to perform the following steps:
Enter the “Settings” section by tapping the icon of the same name in the general menu;
Or simply lower the curtain and click the “gear” icon;
Next, tap on the line “About phone”;
Ready. The menu that opens will contain the information you are looking for;
Sometimes the information is stored a little deeper and you still need to enter the “Software Information” tab.
Note: If you touch the line with the name of the OS modification about 10 times, a small gift from the developer may launch.
For example, Android 6.0 opens up an interesting toy from Google.
Is it possible to lose data and contacts when updating Android?
When updating the OS, all data stored on the device will be irretrievably lost. Therefore, before you start solving the question of how to update Android on your tablet or phone, you need to save data and contacts from internal memory device to external media or cloud storage on the Internet.
Note: All users of Android gadgets have a Google account and access to a free 15 GB of memory on Google Disk.
Required next steps:
10
- Open the settings tab and click “Phone information”;
- Then “Software Update”;
- Touch the line “Update”;
- Wait for the download process to complete;
- Click “Install”;
- Wait until the installation process is completed and the gadget restarts;
- Ready.
Important: You should make sure that the device has access to the Internet. It is recommended to use a Wi-Fi connection, as the amount of downloaded data may exceed daily mobile traffic provided mobile operator communications.
At first glance, it may seem that solving the problem of how to update Android on a phone or tablet is absolutely simple and is not worth detailed consideration, but there are some nuances that are obvious to specialists, however, unknown to users who have only recently become owners of a mobile device.
Typically the system notifies you when updates are available. Next, you just need to follow the instructions of the update wizard and successfully install it into the gadget latest version OS. But if such a message does not appear, then you can carry out the procedure yourself.
To do this you need to do the following:
- Open the settings menu;
- Next, in the “About device” tab, check the “System update” subsection;
- The display of the “Download” inscription here indicates the presence of a current modification of the OS available for installation on the device;
- Tap “Download”;
- Wait until the process is completely completed;
- Then click “Restart and install”;
- Wait until the process completes and the gadget automatically restarts;
- Ready.
We update with third-party applications
If you cannot use the built-in system tools, updating will help third party application"ROM Manager". After launching the application, the user will see a recommendation to install “ ClockWorkMod Recovery"(CWM). It is necessary to agree and install.
- Save the file with the firmware on the gadget’s SD card (it’s better to download it from the manufacturer’s resource);
- Click “Install ROM from SD”;
- Activate “Save current ROM”;
- The program will display a warning asking you to confirm the firmness of your intentions;
- Wait for the process to complete;
- Ready.
If installation using the above program turns out to be impossible, then “CWM” will come to the rescue.
You will need to complete the following steps:
- Save a file with the latest OS version to SD;
- Run " CWM Recovery"(it can be quickly launched from the "ROM Manager" menu);
- Specify “wipe data/factory reset” (done using the volume keys);
- Next, select “wipe cache”;
- Select “install zipfrom sd card” and press the physical “Home” key on the device or the “On/Off” key;
- Then show the application the location of the downloaded file with the latest OS;
- Click “Yes – Install /sdcard/update.zip”;
- Wait until finished;
- Click “reboot system now”;
- Wait until the device restart process is completed;
- Ready.
Sequencing:
- Download the “Kies” application from the Internet (it’s free);
- Connect the Android device to the PC, it is recommended to use a cable connection;
- Launch "Kies";
- The application will automatically monitor the availability of current software for the device;
- The application will recommend an upgrade, which you must agree with;
- Wait for the process to complete;
- Ready.
Manual Android update
If there is no exit to global network from an Android device, you can manually update its OS by first saving the firmware file in the gadget’s memory.
Step-by-step instruction:
- Enter Recovery menu. To do this, turn off the gadget and press the combination of buttons that is indicated in its instruction manual, for example, the “Off” button and one of the volume keys;
- Go to the “Apply update” tab;
- Specify the location of the archive with the latest firmware in the gadget’s memory;
- Wait for the process to complete;
- Ready.
Custom firmware for Android - how to install and where to download?
To do this, you need “Root” permissions, so install the “z4root” utility through the PlayMarket.
Having provided yourself with advanced rights, install “Team Win Recovery Project”.
Next, download the version of custom firmware you like, for example, from the resource: https://mdforum.ru/showthread.php?t=791. Or simply download by request in a search engine: AOKP, CyanogenMod, PAC ROM, MIUI, Paranoid Android or Illusion ROMS.
Now all that remains is to complete the following few steps:
- Log in to “Recovery” (how to do this is indicated in the previous paragraph of this instruction);
- Open the “Wipe” tab;
- Delete the “/data” and “/system” partitions;
- Go to the main menu and enter the “Install” tab;
- Specify the location of the firmware file;
- Wait until the process is completed;
- Ready.
For example, when a gadget uses a modification of Android 2, it is not always possible to update to 4, since this requires the device developer to make special changes to the software.
Also, users who use programs on their device that are not supported by current software modifications are in no hurry to switch to a more recent version.
After an update, utilities are often additionally installed that the device owner does not need, but only clutter up the device’s memory. Such applications are protected from uninstallation by the user.
Updating software and a large number of applications in it leads to increased consumption of traffic, and therefore the financial resources of the owner of the mobile device.
If the device has been used for a long time, then the new software version may not match the hardware components of the gadget.
Disable automatic Android updates
You need to do the following:
- Enter settings;
- Go to the “About device” tab;
- Next, open the “Software Update” section;
- Uncheck the “Auto-update” box;
- Restart the device;
- Ready.
How to return to the previous version of Android?
Sometimes the owner of an updated gadget is not happy with its performance. In this case, you can resort to the following algorithm:
- After entering the settings, tap the “Privacy” item;
- Next, go to the “Reset settings” tab;
- Click “Reset phone settings”;
- Wait until the process finishes and the gadget restarts;
- Ready.
One of best apps has already been described above in this manual "ROM Manager". However, on the Internet you can find decent programs that in some respects are superior to ROM Manager, for example, “Android Update Manager”. It is supported by all modern Windows versions and allows you to update Android via PC without much hassle.
TouchScreenTune app optimizes sensitivity and responsiveness touch screen. It will be especially useful in the following cases:…
Google releases major Android OS updates to a new version every year. Users of the Nexus (and now Pixel) series devices receive the latest firmware releases promptly and quickly, which can be installed without the need for a computer. However, other manufacturers are in no hurry (and often do not have time) to quickly create OS builds adapted for their devices, and updates have to wait for months. Some firms don't bother with production at all. latest firmware, users of their devices find themselves hostage to the old version of the operating system. However, most of these problems are easily solved with a little effort. Our material will tell you how to install a new version of Android.
How to update Android using standard means
The Android OS functionality provides the ability to receive updates from the manufacturer's server via the Internet. The item responsible for receiving updates is usually located in the settings menu, next to the phone information. Depending on the system modification, the appearance of this item may differ, but the functions are the same everywhere. This is what the update menu looks like in pure Android 5.1 Lolipop (top item).
And this is the appearance of the entrance to the update submenu in MIUI8 OS from XIaomi (bottom of the screenshot).
After entering the submenu, the system will contact the manufacturer’s server and check if a new firmware version has appeared. If it is available, the phone will report this and begin downloading it. After this, the installation will occur (it is advisable to charge the battery to 50% or higher) and the device will reboot.
Unfortunately, it is not always possible to update Android on a tablet or phone in this way. Even if the new firmware has already been released, manufacturers do not send the update to everyone at once, since their servers may not be able to withstand the heavy load. Sometimes it takes days or even weeks for an update to reach the end user. However, in this case, you can outsmart the developers and avoid the wait.
How to update Android if there are no updates
Before you update Android, if there are no updates, forcefully, you need to make sure that only you do not have updates, and that other owners of a smartphone or tablet of this model have already downloaded the firmware. To do this, you can visit the profile forum (XDA, w3bsit3-dns.com, forum of fans of your trademark etc.) and see if there are any messages about the release of updates. If they are, you need to find the update file for your smartphone. Make sure that the version matches: many devices are produced in several modifications, the firmware for which is incompatible! When the firmware file is found, you need to download the Android update and save it to the phone’s memory or to a flash drive. After this, go to the above system update item and click the ellipsis icon. On stock Android 5.1 menu additional options looks like that.
The menu interface for selecting update options over the air and on MIUI is implemented in a similar way.
In the first case, you can update Android from a flash drive using the “Local updates” item, in the second case, “Select firmware file”. Captions may vary depending on the translator, but the general meaning of the title should be approximately the same. After selecting the firmware file, the system will check its integrity and compatibility with the smartphone, reboot the system and install the update. Again, this must be done with a charged battery to avoid sudden shutdown of the device.
How to install a new version of Android if there are no official updates at all
If the manufacturer “forgot” about customers and does not release firmware updates for old devices, there is still a chance to get a fresh OS. There are many enthusiasts involved in the development of alternative Android builds for many smartphones. The most famous is the CyanogenMod project, the OS build of which is installed on more than 15 million devices.
Also, quite often, alternative OS builds are made by small groups of enthusiasts or individuals, using as a basis the firmware from another similar model equipped with a more recent version of the OS. However, before you update Android on your tablet or smartphone to such a build, you need to take into account that it may be unstable. The fact is that it is very difficult to assemble 100% working firmware alone, because such assemblies often have bugs and shortcomings.
To update the Android version to an unofficial build, you need to follow the firmware instructions specific model smartphone (for different phones the flashing procedure is different). The easiest way is to install the update from the Recovery menu. First you need to download Android update and save it to a memory card. To enter recovery, you need to turn off your smartphone, hold down the volume up and power buttons at the same time, and wait to enter the menu. Sometimes, in addition to the above two, you need to hold down the home button under the screen (for Samsung smartphones). To update Android, you need to find an item in the menu containing something like “Install from sdcard” (navigation is carried out with the volume rocker, selection is made by briefly pressing the power button), find the firmware on the flash drive and install it. 
Sometimes, to flash the firmware, you first need to install an alternative recovery menu, for example, TWRP, since the native one may not support the installation of unofficial updates. Once the Android update is installed, you need to select “Wipe data & cache” and reboot. Before updating in this way, carefully read the instructions so as not to break your phone or tablet.
Another way to install official and unofficial updates Android firmware- via computer.
Many users try to find on the Internet Android update program phone or tablet, although you don't actually need it. Why you ask? Because all official updates for your gadget come “over the air” (via connected Wi-Fi), or simply via the Internet. In 99% of cases, as soon as an update to your Android versions, you will see a pop-up message indicating that new updates are available for your operating system.
Official Android update
The pros of this method are that it is the easiest way to get the latest updates on Android over the Internet. The most important thing is that everything is official, and you can’t go wrong when installing, since there are a huge number of versions and builds of Android. There are several disadvantages to note - if there is no Wi-Fi, you will have to pay for GPRS traffic, and this can sometimes be very expensive and slow.
To obtain official update operating system you need to go:
Settings - General - About phone - Software information
U different versions Android menus may be slightly different, but the principle remains the same for all devices. Next, you can go to the Update Center and check for updates, and also check the box "Check for and download updates automatically"
This method is suitable for all users who have not installed other assemblies on their Android.
Android Update Manager - a program for updating Android
Android Update Manager- This free program which you can download and install on your computer. Using this utility you can flash custom firmware at one's own risk! If you have not previously installed updates to the Android operating system manually we do not recommend you to use this method.
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