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Sometimes it is useful to know how to roll back the Android firmware to the previous version. This operating system receives updates regularly. For example, Android 4.4.4 KitKat could have been upgraded to version 5.0.1 Lollipop at one time.
Thanks to updates, the system becomes more secure, since developers are always striving to find and fix vulnerabilities. In addition, after the improvement, Android receives a new graphical interface, as a result of which it acquires a more stylish and modern appearance.
Why do you need a rollback?
Changes sometimes concern not only functionality and visual design. Some applications that were actually usable in the previous version of the system may not be supported after installing the update, which is why the user begins to think about how to uninstall the new version of Android.
If there are concerns that switching to another version of the operating system may remove support for a particular application that was actively used by the previous system, then it would be wiser to wait until an official update for this program becomes available. If the user has updated the system, but for some subjective reasons is dissatisfied with the improvement and wants to return to the previous version, then he needs to perform a system rollback and remove the new software environment.
Next we will tell you how to return the old version of Android after updating. The Nexus 5 phone will be used as an example since it is officially supported by Google and has its own Factory image file and bootloader that can be unlocked by restoring an older version. When performing this operation, the user will face the risk of losing important data being deleted.
The user must act at his own risk. Performing the following steps may damage your mobile device beyond repair after unsuccessful firmware update.
Read also: How to reflash Android if the phone does not turn on
Preparing to perform a rollback
Nexus devices are very convenient for performing rollbacks. All you need to do is save your personal files, go to the developer page on Google and download any factory image ever released for the device. Then you should flash it via ADB data-lazy-type="image" data-src="http://androidkak.ru/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/14722200366071-300x225.jpg" alt="nexus" width="300" height="225" srcset="" data-srcset="http://androidkak.ru/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/14722200366071-300x225..jpg 350w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px">
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(Android Debugging Bridge).
This example uses a Nexus 5 phone with Android 5.0 installed, which should be replaced with version 4.4.4 (you need to find this firmware on Android and download it to save it in an accessible location). If you need to roll back another device, you should search for suitable images for it using the Google search engine.
So, how to restore the firmware on Android? In addition to the Factory image, you should download a few more files to your PC. You will need the Android SDK application necessary for flashing the firmware. In addition to the SDK manager, you also need a standalone SDK file. To use this software you will need the latest Java environment. During the SDK installation process, you will need to specify where Java is installed.
After installation is complete, go to the SDK manager to select Tools, Platform-tools, Android Support Library, Google USB Driver and install them. Now you need to go to where the Nexus 5 Factory image was previously saved. You should extract the contents of this file to the Platform-tools folder. From this point on, you can assume that all preconditions have been met and begin the procedure of rolling back the mobile device.
Process of reverting to a previous version
It is necessary to perform the following steps sequentially:
- go to the settings of your mobile device, scroll down the page and find the section with the build number;
- Click on the build number until a notification appears that developer mode has been successfully enabled;
- a new section “Developer Options” will appear in the settings, there you need to scroll down and enable “USB Debugging”;
- Connect the device to your computer using a USB cable and make sure that the computer recognizes it.
Many smartphone owners are wondering: “How to update the Android operating system?”. But there is another category of users. They are trying to roll back the update. Thoughts about this arise after you realize that the device, after receiving a new firmware version, is extremely unstable. So I want to get back the previous version of the operating system. Below you can read about how to perform a system rollback.
Modern electronic gadgets are very software-based. In many cases, the device is tailored for a specific version of the operating system. For example, if a laptop was sold with Windows 8 pre-installed, then with a high degree of probability you won’t be able to install “7” on it unless you replace the hard drive. A similar situation is observed in the case of Android-based smartphones. Only in some cases can you cope with installing a very old version of the operating system if the device came with Android 5.0 or 6.0.
Not all users know about this, but even mobile components work with the help of drivers - in this regard, they are no different from PC components. To save money, processor manufacturers write drivers only for specific versions of the operating system. So it turns out that some Snapdragon 820 is simply not recognized by the old Android 4.2.
However, a rollback involves installing the version of the OS that was previously installed on the device. And manufacturers, it would seem, should not interfere with this. But it's not that simple. Rolling back the system would be easy only if a copy of it was stored in the device’s memory. But Android devices do not have such a function - the update completely erases all data about the old version of the operating system. This is due to the fact that there is not very much built-in memory in smartphones and tablets, and no one wants to occupy it with unnecessary load. That is why it is very difficult to rollback on Android; it is better not for an untrained user to do this.
Differences from the update
If you have updated Android at least once, you should know that this does not delete the user's personal data. Photos, applications, music and everything else remain in place. But if you decide to roll back Android, then this will be equal to reset to factory settings. Absolutely all information will be deleted.
Another point is the difficulty of rollback. To update the operating system, you often do not need to do anything. The new version arrives over the air, after which you only need to click on the “Download” and “Agree” buttons. There is no universal guide for rollback. You will have to get a special program, install it on your computer, download a custom Recovery menu and perform many other actions. That is why it is recommended to roll back to a previous version of the system only in case of urgent need.
Rollback on devices from ASUS
So, it's time to talk about how to roll back Android to the previous version. On many devices this takes a very long time. But there are also exceptions. Old tablets and smartphones from ASUS require the following steps required for a rollback:
Step 1. Download the firmware you need, suitable for your model. You can find it on the official website or other resources dedicated to mobile technology.
Step 2. The downloaded file should be placed in the root directory of the device.
Step 4. After scanning, a triangle and an exclamation mark should appear on the panel near the clock. Click on this icon.
Step 5. Agree with the proposed procedure.
After this, the flashing procedure will begin. Interestingly, it doesn’t matter to the system which firmware version you installed. This means that in this way you can not only rollback, but also update.
Devices from other manufacturers
To perform a rollback, you will first need to prepare your device.
- The first thing you need to do is get root rights. This will give you access to all system files, and as a result you will be able to perform any actions with them.
- Next, you must download the appropriate firmware to your computer. To do this, you will have to visit the corresponding sites where fans of flashing smartphones and tablets are located.
- You also need to remember to install drivers on your PC. Without them, it is impossible to get full access to the smartphone’s file system from a computer.
- You also need to download a special flash driver. It also differs depending on the device manufacturer, so we cannot recommend anything specific.
- Finally, you may need to install a custom Recovery. But if you find a suitable program and get root access, then you can reflash your smartphone without going to the Recovery menu.
This should be your preparation. Then all you have to do is connect the device to your computer using a USB cable, launch the program and follow the instructions from its creators. In a word, this way you will perform a flashing, which is essentially what an update rollback is.
Developers update apps to add new features and fix bugs. But sometimes unpleasant surprises happen: after an update, you don’t like the application, won’t launch, or work incorrectly.
To fix this, the application version is returned to the factory version - remove updates.
Updates can only be removed from system applications - those installed at the factory. You cannot remove updates from downloaded applications - those that you downloaded yourself.
What version will be after the updates are removed?
After uninstalling updates, the version that was installed at the factory is restored, not the penultimate one.
The plant installed the Google Chrome application version 1.0 on the smartphone. After some time, the application was updated to version 2.0, then to 3.0, and then to 4.0. If you remove updates, the application version will be 1.0, not 3.0.
If the application is updated again via the Play Store, version 4.0 will be installed.
What to do if you need to remove updates for a downloaded application
The only option is to delete the current version, find the installation file of the old version on the Internet, install it and no longer update the application. But be careful and make a balanced decision: no one can guarantee that the application will not turn out to be a virus.
It’s easy to protect yourself from problems associated with updates: turn off automatic application updates and do not update them, or update manually after reading reviews.
How to remove system application updates
In addition to updates, all application data will be deleted: settings and files. The application will be the same as you launched it the first time.
Where to see the current and latest version of the application
The current version of the application is indicated in the settings.
The latest version of the application is listed on the Play Store. To view it, click “DETAILS”
There are probably several people who would delve into this issue after they tried to independently return the version of the operating system to the previously installed one. But, if faced with any difficulties, we would decide to read online to figure out what these difficulties might be associated with. And then it turns out that there are many nuances that need to be foreseen in advance.
In addition, from the huge number of foreign names and abbreviations, instead of understanding the process, the information in the head turns into mush. And every sentence you read adds more and more misunderstanding to the overall picture.
Well, let's figure it out together!
Brief educational program
- There is no universal algorithm of actions! This is the first thing you need to know about reverting Android OS to an earlier version. Each brand (and even model!) of device may have its own characteristics
- Reverting the OS version is a process that affects the system kernel. Consequently, manufacturers make sure that only “advanced” users in this matter can get there. Root rights were invented for this. They are intended to give you administrator rights. There are both pros and cons to their use. Before you start doing anything, find out how to get them and what the use of Root rights on your device can promise!
- If you are not scared by everything you read about Root rights and you are also full of confidence to return the Android 4.4 version, then another concept that you need to understand before starting the process is Backup. Speaking in Russian - .
After returning the system, you can easily restore all contacts, applications, settings, etc. The main thing is to choose the right program that will perform Backup on your device as correctly as possible.
How to return Nexus
The developer of the Android operating system and the manufacturer of Nexus devices is one company - Google. Therefore, for Nexus devices, the return process remains as simple as possible and consists of 4 simple steps:
- Download and install on your device the image of the Android firmware that you need;
- Run this firmware directly from the device and wait for the installation to complete;
- Load data from a backup.
How to return everything else
Devices from other manufacturers have their own characteristics when performing a system reset. But despite this, there are still general manipulations.
You will need a PC or laptop Typically, to downgrade Android from version 5.0 to version 4.4 or similar, you will need:
- Required firmware;
- Program for creating a backup copy;
- Program for establishing Root rights;
- Personal computer or laptop;
- The device (tablet, phone) on which you want to make a return;
- USB cable.
Firmware
The first thing you need to take care of is, of course, the firmware itself. You need to clearly understand and imagine what you want to see as a result of manipulations with Android. Decide what firmware you want, custom or official? Official firmware can usually be downloaded from the official website of your device manufacturer. Custom - search the forums, compare and choose. It is necessary that the firmware is suitable for your device and is known to be working, that is, tested. To find out, you will have to study more than one forum, read a lot of reviews and ask a bunch of questions. But this must be done, because otherwise you risk saying goodbye to your favorite device!
The selection of custom firmware should be approached responsibly Backup
The main rule of any gamer or programmer is “SAVE!!!” And in our case, this rule has the same importance.
It has the function of creating a backup copy and saving it to your Google account. But in this case, you can only save contacts. Therefore, it is necessary to acquire the necessary software. And then you can reserve almost everything: contacts, messages, system settings, and information about applications, thanks to which the system will automatically download them from Google Play and install them.
But, whatever one may say, you will again have to make a choice yourself. We will only list the most popular programs today:
- Titanium Backup
- GO Backup
- HTC backup
- Clickfree Mobile Backup.
You can use various programs to save data The backup process looks roughly the same for all devices:
- Install the memory card into your mobile device;
- Search, read reviews and download the Backup program you like on your tablet or smartphone;
- Install it and launch it;
- In the program settings, mark what you want to reserve. Don't forget to check in your settings if you have enough space to save your backup. This free space needs to be on the memory card;
- You start the reservation process, wait for it to finish, and remove the card.
Now all the important information is on the flash drive and after returning your Android from version 5.0 to the previous one, it will be restored using the same program.
Root
An additional program is required on your device. You also choose, read reviews, ask questions, compare. Then download and install on your computer.
Google is constantly improving its brainchild, the Android OS, releasing a new version of the software for Nexus devices several times a year. But, as we know, other manufacturers also take this system and remake it for their models, adding their own shell and exclusive functions for their gadgets.
In general, this is good, but, unlike the thoroughly developed original system, which works cleanly and easily, devices from other manufacturers receive one update for all with features such as two windows on the screen (Samsung) or even multi-windows (LG). And updated firmware does not always work as intended, especially on devices with budget configurations. Therefore, there may be a need to return to the old firmware, and I will tell you how to return the previous version of Android after the device has been updated.
Rolling back any firmware or Android update: Video
How to solve a problem
In general, returning an old version of Android is much more difficult than simply updating, because there is no official way to “roll back”: the developers simply do not provide such an option, implying that you will only use the latest version of their software.
You can return the previous version of Android by simply flashing it via a PC using a special application or via Recovery (recovery mode) directly (without the participation of a PC).
The first method is not universal, because the PC program can be individual for each device model, not to mention the manufacturer.
But I will tell you about the second method in more detail.
Execution steps
- First, you need to make sure that you have unlocked access to Recovery.
- To get into it, you need to turn off the gadget and when you turn it on:
- For most devices, simultaneously press and hold the “Power” and “Vol –” keys.
- Samsung – press and hold the “Power” and “Vol +” keys together.
- Sony Ericsson – hold down the “Power” and “Vol –” and “Camera button” keys
- LG – hold down the “Power” and “Vol –” keys and the “Operations” touch button for 10 seconds.
- Huawei – hold “Power” and “Vol –” and “Vol +” at the same time.
- HTC – press and hold the “Vol –” button, then briefly press and press “Power”.
If the device does not enter recovery mode in this way, then it must be unlocked. And install custom Recovery. This is written in detail in a separate article.
If you can’t find the official firmware for your model anywhere, I recommend searching among the modified ones on the website in the Download section. Download it to your device.
Working with Recovery
After this the installation will take place.
As you can see, for many this option may be difficult, so in order not to spend a lot of time thinking about how to cancel an update on Android, look at reviews of the new update for your model, read reviews, and only then upgrade the software version with confidence that the device will be updated with the functionality that suits you.
Rollback to the previous version of Android: Video
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