How to install new software on Android. How to quickly and efficiently update the firmware on an Android device

Updating to the latest version of Android in your tablet or phone Samsung Duos, Lenovo zte, fly, htc, xiaomi, huawei, meizu, lg, asus, sony xperia, bq, honor, alcatel, micromax, xiomi, dexp and others allows you not only enjoy the fresh interface, but also use new system parameters.

It's just the new functionality that isn't the most important. The main reason is safety.

However, studies show that only 20 percent of phone and tablet users have the latest version.

This fact is even more surprising when you consider that the test took place when Google released the latest version of the Android 6.0 Marshmallow operating system.

It’s even more interesting if you look at the installation statistics for new software six months after the premiere.

Android 6.0 appeared on only 2.5 percent of devices. Other versions such as 5.0 and Android 5.1 did not record such alarming results - 7.5 and 9.7 percent, respectively.

Why does this happen? Firstly, most manufacturers are slow to prepare their overlays with the latest systems and often even refuse support for older phones.

The second reason is much more trivial - the users themselves are to blame. Often they don't even realize that their Android phone or tablet can perform much more efficiently.

Below you will find a simple guide on how to cope with updating devices running Google Android operating system.

The first way to update Android to the latest version yourself

The fastest and easiest way to update Android is to use the update function yourself, which is included in the operating system of your phone or tablet.

Below is how to check if your phone is the latest version of Android, and if not, I will show you how to do it.

Just before you start installing a new version of the operating system, it is worth remembering a few important things.

• connect to a WiFi network, since the android update is files up to several gigabytes, so you can easily reach your data limits;
• charge the battery at least 50%, and even better, 100%;
• take care of free space on your phone (at least 1 GB);
• Do not remove the battery during the update;
• do not use your phone during the update;

Android operating system update

Each version of Android has an automatic mechanism that ensures that your device has the latest updates.

Sometimes, however, it is worth doing this manually, because the system does not always work as it should, especially if the corresponding option has not been activated.

To do this, go to the “Settings” menu of your smartphone and scroll down. Click on "Software Update" (on some models you may need to select "Device Information" or "Phone Information").

The name of this option may differ depending on the manufacturer, but in any case you will find it at the very bottom.

A new window will display information about your smartphone. We are interested in the first two options:

If the system detects new updates and they are successfully downloaded, then you will be prompted to restart your smartphone.

The process requires a little time and power, so you need to fully charge the battery - turning it off during the update can cause a serious system crash.

NOTE: Most manufacturers have prepared special programs that will not only check whether you have the latest version of Android, but also backup your data and allow you to manage music and photos.

For example, for Samsung phones there is a program - Kies, for Sony phones - Sony Companion.

The second way to update Android to the latest version yourself

This method can update even an old Android phone, like Samsung, Sony, Huawei, Meizu, Asus, Xiaomi, Fly, LGi, ZTE, Lenovo, Honor, to any version: to Android 7.0, to Android 6.0, to Android 8 and even Android 4.1 to Android 7.1 or to the latest Android 8.1.

But the method is complicated and it’s unlikely that everyone will risk using it. What do you need for this? On some phones you can do without a computer, but for most you will have to update manually, via a PC.

You need to find LineageOS firmware specifically for your phone on the Internet. Today they are already available for almost all smartphones, even with the eighth version, and then reflash your device following the manufacturer’s instructions.

A logical question arises here: why can’t you install a clean latest Android? It’s possible, but most likely everything won’t work on the phone.

Why. Because manufacturers install their own components, for example, a video camera, which require individual drivers.

There are many people who cannot update the system on their smartphone on their own and they do not have the opportunity to use additional features and improve the security of their data.

Manually installing updates (using special computer programs and USB connections) is very risky and requires special knowledge in this area.

Moreover, this is associated with the risk of losing the warranty for the smartphone - authorized services very often refuse to repair a device that has undergone any modification. Good luck.

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 9/8/7/6: Samsung, HTC, Lenovo, LG, Sony, ZTE, Huawei, Meizu, Fly, Alcatel, Xiaomi, Nokia and others. We are not responsible for your actions.

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 is an 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 lead to a breakdown that cannot be fixed without contacting a 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 them on your computer.

Android update over the air

• Connect to the Internet, preferably via a 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.
• System files weigh 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 backups and transfer multimedia files to a PC and vice versa.

In some OS versions this setting is hidden. To activate it, follow these steps:

• Go to “Settings”.
• Select the “About phone” section.
• Scroll down, then click on the “build number” line several times until the message “You have become a developer” appears on the screen.
• We return to “Settings”, there we select the new item “Features for developers”.
• Find the “USB Debugging” tab. Let's activate the option.

Downloading a new Android using Xperia Companion

To download firmware to your phone using the Xperia Companion program, do the following:

• We connect the phone to the PC and download the software.
• Click on the “Software Update” item.
• Right-click on the “Update” button.
• Then we confirm our choice and click on the “OK” button.
• We wait for the software to finish installing the operating system.

It is impossible to return to the previous version of the system. The user will receive this message before installation.

Update using Smart Switch

We install the new Android on a Samsung phone using the Smart Switch application:

If a notification about the possibility of downloading a new version of Android is not displayed on the screen, then the latest updates are already installed on the gadget.

Update via Samsung Kies

We follow the instructions:

The user's expectations may not be met by the new firmware (old applications are removed and new applications appear, the appearance of the menu changes, 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:

• You 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 Android? This question arises for many users of smartphones and tablets based on the Android operating system. In this article we will talk not only about how to update the Android operating system, but also consider the update system as a whole.

In order to understand how Android is updated, you need to start with theory. The Android operating system is developed by Google and a consortium of interested companies called the Open Handset Alliance. The Android operating system is completely free and open source. Naturally, all Android updates are also free and open.

But there are also pitfalls in the Android operating system update system. Before an update reaches a user's phone or tablet, it must go through the device manufacturer. In other words, the manufacturers who produce these devices are responsible for Android updates directly on the devices themselves.

Google and Open Handset Alliance logos

For example, in order for the Android 4.4 update to reach the Samsung Galaxy S4 mini smartphone, Samsung must receive this update from the operating system developers and optimize it for the Samsung Galaxy S4 mini smartphone. At the same time, Samsung has hundreds of different models of Android smartphones, each of which needs to be updated. All this takes a huge amount of time. As a result, this leads to many months passing from the moment an Android update is released until it appears on users’ smartphones. Some Android updates appear after a year or even later.

And in some cases, the update does not come out at all. Some time after the release of a new smartphone or tablet model, the manufacturer stops releasing updates. This is due to the technical obsolescence of the device and the company's reluctance to spend resources on releasing updates. In addition, an outdated operating system is an excellent reason to buy a new model, so manufacturing companies are not interested in releasing updates for a long time. As a rule, flagship models receive Android updates within 1.5 – 2 years. Models from the middle and lower price ranges stop receiving updates even earlier. As a rule, manufacturers update them within 1 year, after which they are successfully forgotten about.

How to update Android through official updates

In order to check if there is an Android update for your smartphone, you need to open the Android settings and go to the “About device” section (in some cases, this section may be called “About the tablet” or “About the smartphone”).

After this, you will be taken to a section with information about your device. Here you can find out the version of Android that is already installed, as well as other information about the firmware. To check for updates for Android, go to the “Software Update” section (in some cases, this section may be called “System Update” or simply “Update”.

After this, the system will check for Android updates for your device model. If there is such an update, you will be prompted to install it; if there is no update, you will see a message stating that you have the latest version of Android installed.

How to update Android using unofficial firmware

If the speed at which updates are released for your device does not bother you or updates do not appear at all, then you can install non-official firmware based on a newer version of Android. But installing non-official firmware is quite a troublesome and risky business.

If you decide to install non-official firmware, then be prepared for a long study of various instructions that explain how this can be done. Moreover, these instructions may vary greatly depending on the model of your device and the firmware that you want to install.

In addition, you need to understand that if you make an error when installing non-official firmware, you may end up with a completely non-functional device. Even if the installation is successful, there is no guarantee that the installed firmware will work as you expect it to.

You also need to take care of the safety of all contacts, photos and other data stored in the device’s memory. When installing non-official firmware, they will all be deleted.

Therefore, before deciding on such a risky move as updating Android by installing non-official firmware, you need to carefully weigh the pros and cons.

Android 4.4 KitKat- This is the latest version of Google's OS, creating which the developer had the goal of making it accessible to all gadgets. Taking care of its users, Google has developed a special application that allows you to check how the new version will work on a specific device. This year's new models will have the latest version of the OS, while everyone else can upgrade to Android 4.4 KitKat.
Traditionally, the new version will provide an increase in performance, but the most visible updates affected the interface. The developer also changed the design color, inviting users to make their own choices. Another change concerns the use of the display. In addition, the updated version has several additional profiles for Bluetooth. In addition, KitKat allows wireless printing of various documents, and also received a new graphic editor. Along with the release of the next update, qualitatively new ones appeared, presented in all existing genres.

How to update Android to 4.4 on a tablet or phone?

The easiest way is to download Android 4.4 from the developer’s website, and then follow the instructions to download and install the OS update.
You can also install the files manually, using a home PC with fastboot and adb installed and a USB cable to connect these devices to each other. Then you need to do the following:

1. Connect your tablet to your PC and boot it into bootloader mode.
2. On the command line, write fastboot flash recovery specifying the file name.
3. Reboot your device into a new recovery by entering the adb reboot recovery command.
4. Download the archive file with the latest version of SuperSU.
5. Flash the unpacked file via TWRP or Clockworkmod.
6. Reboot your device and use it.

If your tablet has an alternative recovery, you can download and directly install the Android 4.4 KitKat update on your tablet.

1. Download it from the Google website.
2. Download the zip file to the tablet using the adb sideload command without unpacking it.
3. Reboot your device and use it.
When installing an update, do not forget that it does not always end well. In some cases, a new version of the OS may perform worse than the previous one.

For most Android device owners, the release of a new OS version is a long-awaited event. There is no point in parting with your favorite old phone and buying a new, more functional one if you can “refresh” it with new firmware. Therefore, for this category of users it is important to know how to update Android on your phone quickly and correctly.

This question becomes especially relevant in view of the release of the new Android 8.0, called Oreo. Like previous versions, Oreo opens up a lot of possibilities for gadget owners.

Features of the new OS based on Android 8.0

Even in previous versions, you could experience all the benefits of using the “picture-in-picture” function. But in the latest Android, programmers have improved it: now the user can, while working with the main program, in parallel, not only observe what is happening with the second (for example, correspond with friends in the messenger and watch videos at the same time). There is no need to go to the second window to stop or continue watching the video: when you hover over one of the windows, control buttons appear.

Managing notifications has become much easier. If in the previous version, to block or enable notifications, you had to go to settings, now the user saves time. To block unnecessary messages, just double-click on it and click on the corresponding switch.

Starting with firmware 6.0, when the application was first launched, the system asked the user for permission to access data (contacts, photos, etc.). In the latest OS, the developers paid even more attention to security. It is now possible to indicate sources from which downloading programs is prohibited.

Which smartphones and tablets will be updated to Android 8.0

Unfortunately, not all gadgets running Google's OS will be able to receive the update to Oreo. Basically, the new firmware will be available for flagship smartphones, tablets and some models in the mid-price segment of almost all well-known brands.

You can update the Android version to 8.0 on the following models of smartphones and tablets:

• Google: Nexus and Pixel;
• Samsung: Galaxy S8, S8+, S7, S7 edge, A and J series smartphones 2017, Tab S3 tablet;
• Sony: XA1, XA1 Ultra, Xperia X, XZ, X Performance;
• Xiaomi: Mi 5S, Mi 5S Plus, Note 2, Mi 6, Mi 6 Plus;
• LG: V10, V20, G6, G5, Q6;
• HTC: U11, U Play, Desire 10 Pro, HTC 10, 10 Evo, U Ultra;
• Nokia: Nokia 3, 5, 6 and 8;
• Motorola: Z Droid, Z Force Droid, Moto G4, G5, Z, X4, G5S;
• OnePlus: models 5, 3, 3T.

The list of devices that will be updated to Oreo may change. To clarify information on the desired device model, you need to go to the manufacturer’s website or contact the support service of an official representative.

How to update Android on your phone over the air

You can update to the latest version in the following ways: make an update using a PC or start the process of changing the firmware on the phone itself.

The last method is the easiest, since the user is not required to install special software or use additional devices.

By default, the phone is configured to receive notifications when a new version of Android is available. When the latest OS version appears, a corresponding message will appear on the gadget screen.

If the owner of the gadget has disabled this function previously, then, accordingly, he will not be notified of the opportunity to download new software.

How to download and install the latest Android, for example from 5.1 to 6.0, without connecting to a computer:

After the software is downloaded, you must either install it or postpone the installation.

How to update Android on your phone manually

Gadget owners have the opportunity to change the firmware, for example to 7.0, using special utilities (Odin, KDZ Updater), even despite the lack of up-to-date software from the manufacturer.

When using these utilities, you must act strictly according to the instructions, otherwise your phone may malfunction.

In addition to the programs, you need to download the driver and official firmware to the PC (firmware resolution - tar or tar.md5).

Most often, users resort to this method of changing Android when they want to return the previous version (the new firmware with its changes does not always meet their expectations).

Before connecting the smartphone to the computer, you must start it in Download Mode. To do this, you need to hold down 2 or 3 buttons on your phone (depending on the brand).

For example, in order to enter the Download Mode menu on a Samsung phone, you should hold down the power, volume down and home buttons.

If the user has done everything correctly, the following image will appear on the screen:

The last step is to press the volume up button. As a result, the following will appear on the phone:

Installing a new version of Android using the Odin application:

If the folder with the firmware contains not one, but three files at once, then they should be correctly distributed in the “Files" area:

• add the file whose name contains “CODE” to the “PDA” section;
• add the file whose name contains the word “MODEM” to the “PHONE” section;
• in the “CSC” section we indicate the path to the file whose name contains the word “CSC”.

How to update Android on your phone via computer

You can change Android via a computer using a special program from the manufacturer.

There are two applications for Samsung gadgets: Samsung Kies or Smart Switch. The difference between these programs is that you cannot download later firmware through Samsung Kies (you can update a maximum of Android 4.2.2 to 5.0).

Updating Android using Smart Switch:

• connect the smartphone to the PC;

• if a smartphone with an old software version is connected, the user will receive a message about the opportunity to download a new version. Click on the “Continue” button;

• We are waiting for the new software to install on the phone.

In a similar way, you can update through the Samsung Kies program. In the same way, when connecting the device and launching the program on the screen (if new software is available), the user will be prompted to install the firmware.

What consequences can an Android OS update lead to?

It is strictly prohibited to interfere with the running update of Android 4.4.2 to 5.0 (or to other OS versions). Interrupting the installation may lead to the loss of personal information (photos and contacts may be deleted), incorrect operation of the device or its failure.

Before connecting your smartphone to your PC, you need to make sure that the USB cable is working properly.

Before installing new firmware, you should make a backup copy of your data in any known way (use a backup program, synchronize photos, videos and contacts with your Google account, etc.).