• Ota update error. How to update Xiaomi firmware via OTA update

    Doesn't come Android update by air? Is it possible to update the device, is there a new official firmware for it, and how can I install it myself? You will learn the answers to all these questions from this article.

    It seems that updating Android is the simplest action that even a person who does not understand the system can handle. In general this is true, but there are a few important nuances which even many professionals have not heard of.

    How do smartphones and tablets receive updates?

    Users often wonder: how often do updates come? Unfortunately, there is no universal answer - it all depends on your manufacturer. Only gadgets from the Google Nexus line are updated regularly and in a timely manner.

    It is simply impossible to update all other devices in such a short time - you need to wait until the manufacturers create their own firmware based on new version Android, they will test them and only then begin the update. Typically this process can take from 1 month to six months.

    Often, many versions are simply “skipped”, that is, the device does not receive everything in order: for example, not Android 5.0, 5.1, 5.1.1 and 6.0, but only 5.0 and then 6.0. You must understand that each manufacturer has to support up to 30 models at the same time, and purely physically, company developers cannot have time to roll out new updates for each smartphone or tablet.

    How long will it take for your gadget to be updated? Reply to this question Only the manufacturer knows. It is impossible to predict this when choosing a new device. It is logical that the more popular the model, the more advantageous it is in terms of updates. It is profitable for the manufacturer to satisfy more users, so that they, in turn, remain loyal to the brand and buy its products again next time.

    But how can you find out about the release of new system updates for your smartphone or tablet before the corresponding notification appears on the device? Just follow thematic sites, forums or groups on social networks, and also check the manufacturer’s official website for new images for manual update devices (this process is described later in this article).

    Checking and installing Android updates

    After the announcement of a system update, it may not arrive to you immediately. Typically this process takes from 2-3 days to 2 weeks. The fact is that the manufacturer sends out updates gradually, so it turns out that your friend with the same smartphone received an update instantly, but it only reached you after some time.

    When it’s your device’s turn, a new Wi-Fi connection will prompt you to receive a notification asking you to update the system.

    Select System Update.

    Click the "Check for updates" button.

    And if an OTA update is available for the device, the “Download” button will appear.

    System Update will download to your phone or tablet, after which you will need to click on “Restart and install”.

    The installation process will begin, after which the device will reboot with the updated system.

    How to speed up (force) receiving OTA updates

    If the owners of your device have updated for a long time, and you still receive an update, you can resort to a method that few people know about.

    Go to Settings → Applications → All tab. Open " Google Services Framework". Select the "Erase Data" option.

    After that, check again for updates according to the instructions above and most likely you will be pleasantly surprised. Sometimes it doesn't work the first time, and sometimes it takes several minutes before the OTA update appears.

    How to update Android manually

    In order not to wait for an update over the air (and it happens that it doesn’t arrive at all), I recommend installing official firmware manually via Recovery.

    At first ZIP archive with this very firmware you need to download from the manufacturer’s official website to your smartphone, tablet and place it in any convenient place in your memory. After that, go to the Recovery menu and follow the instructions.

    1. To log in Recovery Menu, turn off the machine first.

    2. Then turn it on, but simultaneously hold down certain key combinations. Depending on the manufacturer, this combination differs, but the most common are (in general, it is better to find information on the Internet on how to enter Recovery on your model):

    • Volume up + power button
    • Volume down + power button
    • Volume up/down + power button + “Home”
    • Volume up + volume down + power button

    Navigation through Recovery (if it is not touch-sensitive) is carried out using the volume keys, and selection is made using the Power/Lock button.

    The names of the options may be slightly different, but I'm sure you can figure it out.

    3. Select “Apply update”.

    4. Then select “Choose from internal storage” if you saved the archive with the firmware in internal memory or "Choose from sdcard"if on the memory card.

    5. After that, go to the desired folder, in which you saved the firmware and select it.

    You would like to update the firmware on your Android smartphone or tablet, but the latest version does not arrive over the air. Is there any new firmware for your gadget? Where can you find it, and how to update Android on your phone or tablet? Let's understand the issue together.

    It would seem that what could be simpler than updating the firmware on Android? Even a person who has absolutely no knowledge of operating systems ah and devices can press the desired button, agreeing to the offer to update the platform. But, as it turned out, this seemingly simple process also has a number of nuances that can puzzle many experienced users and professionals. And yet, let's go point by point...

    How do Android devices receive updates?

    Beginner users are often concerned with the question: how Android updates come, and how often this happens. There is no single answer to this question. The specific timing depends on the device manufacturer, as well as on the general situation with the correct operation of the operating system. We can definitely say: devices belonging to model line Google Nexus.


    It is simply impossible to update all other gadgets in the same short time - manufacturers always need some time to create their own version of the platform based on the latest version of Android. Testing the so-called beta version and eliminating bugs still takes some time. Only after the final debugging of the software is the update sent “over the air” to smartphones and tablets. Approximate dates - from one month to six months.

    Sometimes users are perplexed: the gadget was running , and then an update comes straight to . Where are all the other versions? Why didn't they come? The answer is simple: having a big model range(sometimes three or more dozen devices are produced simultaneously), the manufacturing company simply does not have time to work on each new version for all models. Therefore, updates are developed whenever possible and “rolled out” when ready for a particular smartphone or tablet.


    How long will the manufacturing company send (develop) Android updates for specific device? Will she lose interest in him? From this point of view, of course, it is more profitable to purchase popular models. A whole army of users becomes their owners, and it is important for manufacturers to maintain the software of such a device at the proper level for as long as possible, so that owners can always update the Android version and not become disillusioned with the brand and remain faithful to it the next time they purchase.

    How can you find out when an Android update is available for your gadget? There are a lot of options here: communication on specialized forums and in groups social networks, reading news on resources dedicated to the Android OS. But the most the right way- regular viewing of the official website of the manufacturer. The new image of the platform for manually updating Android on your device will definitely appear there first. One way or another, the corresponding notification will definitely come to your device.

    How to update Android over the air?

    It happens that some time passes between the announcement of a new version of the platform and the receipt of updates. Sometimes someone familiar with the same model as yours has already updated Android, and you are still waiting for the coveted notification. There is nothing critical about this - manufacturers simply send out the update to users of their gadgets, gradually covering the entire audience, and not all at once. It may take from several hours to two to three weeks before you receive a notification, and you will learn about the opportunity to update the system the next time you connect to the Internet via Wi-Fi. However, you can periodically go to “Settings” and check the “ System update" in the "About device" section (located at the bottom of the settings menu).

    If, when checking the “System Update” item, you see the “Download” button, then it’s time to install the latest version of the platform.

    1. Click the "Download" button and wait for the download to finish;


    2. To initiate the installation process of the updated system, click the "Restart and Install" button;
    3. The device will then reboot on its own. After rebooting the device, it will work with updated version Android.

    How to speed up receiving Android updates over the air?
    You can speed up receiving OTA updates as follows:
    1. Go to "Settings" -> "Applications" -> "All";


    2. Open "Google Services Framework";


    3. Select the "Erase data" function;


    4. Check for updates: "Settings" -> "About device" -> "System update".


    Sometimes you need to repeat these steps several times, and in some cases it is enough to wait a few minutes and check again for updates (they may not appear immediately).

    How to update Android manually?

    We have already said that you can find the latest firmware version on the official website of the manufacturer. If you don’t want to wait for OTA updates, you can update the Android version manually using the platform mirror provided by the manufacturers of your smartphone or tablet computer. The first thing you need to do for this is go to the website and download the ZIP archive with the firmware to your gadget, placing it in the device’s memory in any place convenient for you. Next, follow the step-by-step instructions below:
    1. Turn off your device.


    2. Enable it again using a specific key combination - find it on the Internet for your smartphone or tablet model (even better if you use the instructions “How to enter Recovery” (Recovery Menu) for your device). The most common keyboard shortcuts:
    Power button/"Volume +";
    Power button/"Volume –";
    "Volume +/-" + power button + Home;
    “Volume +” + “Volume –” + power button.
    Navigation by Recovery menu is carried out using the “Volume +” and “Volume –” keys, selection is made using the power/lock button (if navigation through the menu is not touch-sensitive).
    3. After entering the Recovery menu, select "Apply update".


    4. If the ZIP archive with the firmware is located on a memory card, then select "Choose from sdcard". If the archive is located in the device’s own memory, you need to select “Choose from internal storage”.


    5. Next, find the folder where you saved the firmware and select it - the update installation process will begin automatically.

    Upon completion of the update installation process, you will need to return to the main Recovery menu, where select " Reboot system now" - the gadget will reboot with the latest firmware version.

    Now you know how to update Android over the air and manually. If you have any questions, you can ask them in the comments to the article - we will be happy to help.

    How to update Android?





    Despite the fact that the operating room Android system from Google appeared in the segment mobile devices relatively recently, it managed to take a leading position in the smartphone market. About half of all activated smart phones worldwide run on this OS.

    It is worth noting that Google quite often releases various software updates, allowing you to maximally protect Android users from detected software failures. But often these updates do not reach end consumers, since many smartphone manufacturers stop supporting their devices almost immediately after their release. To decide this problem, many people install third-party firmware on their gadgets, released by enthusiasts. Often, you can update Android only with their help.

    How to update Android on a smartphone or tablet?

    First, it is necessary to provide some clarity about how the update process occurs and in what cases it can be done. Despite the fact that a new version of the OS is released once a year, not everyone will be able to use their device. Stable update to the latest latest versions The OS is guaranteed for 2 years only for users of the Nexus and GPE line of devices ( Google Play Edition, which is served in the Google online store).

    Also, in most cases, all smartphone manufacturers update the firmware for their flagship models, but updates come out with a long delay.

    Updating Android using a proprietary utility

    To update your smartphone's operating system to the latest state, you can use software developed by the device manufacturer. For Samsung smartphones you need to use the KIES utility; users of LG devices need LG PC Suite or HTC Sync Manager for HTC devices.

    Android update process via PC:

    1. First you need to download the branded software from the official website of the manufacturer of your smartphone. Address of this Internet resource can be found in the device instructions.
    2. After this, you need to install the software on your computer, as well as, if necessary, an additional set of drivers.
    3. Next, you need to connect your smartphone or tablet to personal computer using a USB cable.
    4. Now you should run the installed software and give it some time to detect the connected device.
    5. When the model of your device is identified, you should find it in the program interface and click the “Software Update” button.
    6. Next, you need to follow the prompts given by the program.
    7. During the software update, it is strictly forbidden to disconnect the USB cable or remove the battery from the device. In addition, a smartphone is best on a laptop or computer with a source uninterruptible power supply so that in the event of a power outage the update process will not be disrupted.
    8. After the update is completed, the smartphone or tablet will restart and its settings will be reset to factory settings.

    The process of updating an Android device over the air:

    1. First connect your device to charger and wait fully charged battery In addition, if your smartphone or tablet is guaranteed to be charged more than 80%, you can safely try to update.
    2. Now connect the gadget to the Wi-Fi network, since using mobile internet, even unlimited, will make the process of downloading the update very long (it may take from several hours to a day). In addition, when using mobile network The download process may be interrupted due to low speed.
    3. After that, open the software update utility on your smartphone:
      • For devices from various Chinese manufacturers, as well as from FLY, Explay, etc. you will need to go to system menu settings, then go to the “Software Update” section;
      • For Samsung or HTC devices, you need to go to the settings section, select the “About device” menu item, then go to the “System updates” section and click the “Check for updates” button;
      • Smartphones from LG are equipped separate program to update Android, it is located in the main menu and has the appropriate name “Software Update”. You just need to open it and start the update process.
    4. During the update process, the smartphone may reboot several times. If the system update was minor, user data may be retained. Otherwise, you will have to restart or restore the settings from the backup.

    Android firmware update based on CyanogenMod

    1. Download the firmware image for your device to a memory card or place it there using a computer.
    2. Turn off your smartphone and boot it into “Recovery” mode by simultaneously pressing the volume button and the power button (the key combination depends on the device model).
    3. Select “Update” and open the previously saved firmware image;
    4. The device will be updated and rebooted.

    We talk about the technology for updating smartphones and tablets “over the air”.

    As we know, everything software products subject to regular updates. Developers of operating systems and other software strive to improve, optimize and make them more functional. The Android operating system is no exception. Since its release (2008), it has received a huge number of updates. All of them related to bug fixes and functionality improvements.

    Google has chosen to update its operating system exclusively via the Internet - it is called OTA or over-the-air update.

    What is an OTA update?

    OTA is an abbreviation for the English words “Over The Air”, which translates as “by air”. To get a new shell for Android, you do not need to connect it to your computer to install new files - just an Internet connection or Wi-Fi network. This is a huge plus for owners official versions Android, since the improvement and optimization of the operating system occurs automatically and does not require user involvement.

    Pros and cons of over-the-air updates

    After downloading a package of new files, the operating system will definitely ask the user when to install them - now, at night or later. It would seem like a complete convenience, but why do some users prefer to disable the ability to update? The fact is that owners of mobile devices try to save space in system memory, and updates often take up more and more space.

    But there is another danger. Downloading software when wireless update occurs unplanned, while the Android device can be connected to the Internet either through a mobile network channel or via Wi-Fi. In the second case, the process of background downloading is welcome, since the speeds are high and the cost of tariffs is low. As for the first option, receiving an update brings with it a lot of inconvenience, since the limit suddenly depletes mobile traffic allocated according to the tariff plan.

    In this case, the speed of web surfing may drop significantly or video viewing may slow down, since the downloaded update “pulls” all the speed onto itself. In this regard, in the device settings, you can select the option “download updates only when connected to a Wi-Fi network.”

    Sometimes it happens that a user heard an announcement about the release of a new version for Android and wanted to get it. But when I try to check the update through the device settings, I find that it is empty. There is a lot of information on the Internet about how to speed up the process of receiving an OTA update. standard means. For example, this is a data reset in the system Google app Services Framework or sending USSD codes with a specific combination of numbers and characters.

    But it is important to understand: developer reviews indicate that such actions are unlikely to have a good effect on stable work devices in the future. In most cases, the update will result in only minor changes: appearance application shortcuts, improved energy saving and performance. Due to such minor changes, it is better to wait for timely automatic downloading new firmware rather than jeopardizing the correct operation of the operating system.

    Here's a clear demonstration of why iOS still rules.

    Nowadays it has become fashionable to scold iOS, saying it’s slow, Apple has already not a cake and, in general, everything is bad in the “Apple” world, while Android furiously steers, pedals and works very quickly. There is some truth in all this, but it is only a share. Do not, in righteous anger, forget about the pros of one platform and the cons of another. To support this, I'll be sharing my fun adventures with upgrading my Nexus 6, which began when I bought it two months ago and continue to this day.

    Reference Googlephone, including software

    Readers unfamiliar with my work can easily suspect Roman Yuryev of thoughtless fanboyism in relation to Apple and its products. Friends remember that I always tried to treat both competing platforms equally and, even if I was not burning with a wild love for Android, I perceived it adequately. Here are examples:

    However, iOS has always remained the main platform due to the fact that for me personally it is simply more convenient, it is more comfortable to work in it, plus the ecosystem (iPhone + iPad + MacBook), no matter how hackneyed it may sound. Yes, I experimented, arranged for myself to move to Android, but always returned to iOS, which I described in detail earlier:

    At the same time always praised the Nexus series smartphones for their long-term and high-quality software support, comparing it with that of Apple. Still promoted and supported by the Google devices, promptly receiving software updates for two or even more years. Good example- 2012, which my wife owns and which is still invigorating compared to Android smartphones of the same period, but from other manufacturers. It's no longer official, but it was updated to Android 5.1.1 and continues to receive . It works quite quickly and my wife is quite happy with it as a dialer + mini-tablet.

    Having experimented with Android devices from third-party manufacturers, I decided to use it for my work, my gadget-loving soul and as a additional smartphone purchase a reference “Google phone” represented by Nexus 6. I really liked him when he and .

    6-inch AMOLED display (I really like this technology and size) with QHD resolution, excellent design and, of course, always latest android on board. I just didn’t expect that the reference “Google Phone,” the “face of Android,” so to speak, could be so unstable and sad with standard firmware update functions. And, to be honest, this is my biggest disappointment in Google and its platform. But, first things first.

    OTA battle “iOS vs Android”

    OTA is an abbreviation for " Over-The-Air", that is, an update "over the air", when the firmware is downloaded to the smartphone via Wi-Fi or cellular network, after which it is automatically installed, saving all user data. This feature appeared in Android a little earlier than in iOS, than lovers of the “robot” for a long time trolled iPhone/iPad owners. Although in the end, Apple's OTA implementation turned out to be better.

    So, just the other day, almost all Apple devices were updated with software. Came out, and... I have five Apple devices: , and - they were all updated within half an hour almost simultaneously. How the process happened:

    • « Settings → General → Software Update → Install iOS 9.1» for iPad and iPhone.
    • « Launch Watch apps on iPhone → General → Software Update → Install watchOS 2.0.1» for Apple Watch.
    • « App Store → Updates → Install OS X El Capitan 10.11.1 update» for MacBook.
    • 30 minutes and all gadgets are updated automatically. At the same time, I did not take any active part in the process, but simply drank tea and relaxed my brain after a hard day of work.

    An OTA update came out a little later Android 6 Marshmallow for Nexus 6. How the process happened:

    • The system reported that " there is an update, click to install».
    • Clicked, went to the installation menu, clicked on the “ Download" and... bummer. Instantly it showed up Failed to load”, and the button changed its name to “Download again”.

    I pressed the button many times, waited for several hours (suddenly there was a rush and all that, Google servers could not stand it) - no effect. I did not perform any manipulations with the system - neither root, nor an unlocked bootloader, nor even a third-party launcher. Everything is stock, clean and tidy. How did I solve the problem? I spent an hour, or even more time, installing the update via the lanyard using the “Terminal”, Android SDK, ADB and the “sideload” command, manipulating the smartphone itself to enter it into desired mode(type DFU in iPhone). In general, it was fun and a little later I will tell you how fun it was, but the adventures began much earlier. Literally right after I printed out the brand new Nexus 6 and turned it on, which happened in Moscow at one in the morning. If it weren't for that experience that cost me four hours hard work, then I would install the update to Android 6 much longer.

    So what happened? I printed out the Nexus 6, turned it on, did basic setup by entering your account Google. Then the operating system cheerfully told me: “ There is an update to Android 5.1, let's install it?" My soul felt good from the feeling that I had an Android smartphone in my hands with the best software support from the “Good Corporation” itself! Of course I agreed. The update downloaded quickly from Google servers, the phone rebooted, the installation process began, everything was going well, but at the end I saw this sad picture:

    I repeat, this is a brand new, clean flagship Nexus 6, on which the software downloaded by Google itself was installed. " Well, okay, suddenly there’s a small glitch. I'll reboot now and everything will work. As a last resort, I'll download the update again“, I thought and pressed the power button for a few seconds so that the device rebooted. How naive I was

    The system seemed to boot and began standard program optimization, which occurs every time after an OS update. Moreover, this process is very slow, even on flagship devices. In my case it took about 15–20 minutes. But he didn’t get to the end, on the 49th application the phone itself went into reboot and so on in a circle.

    From the owners Apple smartphones Incidents also happened, I read about it, although I myself have not encountered any problems with OTA updating iOS devices, although I have been constantly updating them this way since the very moment the opportunity arose. What should an iPhone user do in this case? Connect your smartphone to your computer via a USB cable, launch iTunes and press one button “ Restore iPhone" After this it will automatically load required firmware, will be established, and if before that the person was not too lazy to do backup copy data, then it will successfully restore address book, notes, SMS and information/settings from third-party applications.

    What then does Google offer? Now I will tell you this joke, which has been going on for many years. After all, in Android support OTA appeared earlier than in iOS, but with the system emergency assistance The “Good Corporation” still hasn’t figured it out.

    Naive Roma climbed into Google search engine with a request to restore the firmware in Nexus, hoping that there is some simple one-button solution similar to that of Apple. Yeah, right now!

    Here's a short description of what my 3-hour adventures resulted in:

    You need to download and install Android Studio

    Then you will need to go to hidden folder « Libraries", find there " Android\SDK\platform-tools" Sorry, you polluted the system with all this rubbish just for the sake of two files: adb And fastboot, which are used to manipulate the Nexus firmware.

    You need to download the required stock firmware from Google Developers - there are a lot of them out there, you will have to choose carefully.

    After downloading, you will need to unpack it into a temporary folder, where you should also throw the files mentioned above.

    For Nexus firmware even stock firmware you need to unlock the bootloader.

    Firstly, load the Nexus in the “bootloader/fastboot” mode by holding down the “ buttons on the switched off device volume down + power».

    Secondly, we check whether the computer sees the phone, for this in “ Terminal"go to the folder with the firmware and the files obtained above and enter the command " fastboot devices" If she shows serial number connected phone, then everything is ok, you can move on and enter the command “ fastboot oem unlock", then reboot the phone with the command " fastboot reboot", and then put it back into flashing mode.

    Now you can reflash the previously downloaded and unpacked stock firmware. Again through the "Terminal".

    And it turned out to be not as easy as I thought. You need to run the script " flash-all.sh”, who in theory will do everything himself, but he did nothing. The geniuses of Google did not add a couple of symbols before the fastboot commands, if my memory serves me correctly, these are “./”. Ok, I entered everything manually, saved the script, the flashing of the modem and something else began - in total, 5 or 6 files were uploaded there one by one - but on the largest one, the operating system itself, an error was displayed. The phone was not reflashed and remained a “brick”.

    I searched long and tediously for the reason, which turned out to be some wrong version fastboot module. In principle, it’s my own fault, since I tried to save time and took the archive recommended in the instructions with a couple of the mentioned modules. In general, I did put it Android Studio, I think I took it correct files, but there was a blockage again. The phone was not reflashed. And all this at 3 am. After a hard and stressful day. I didn’t want to abandon the process, because in the morning all the knowledge gained would be forgotten and I would have to put my brains back together again, and there was no time for that then. You need to do everything at once and forget it.

    Flashing all files one by one manually.

    Yes, I finally completed the process by finding another method where each firmware file is downloaded to the phone manually in a strictly defined sequence. After that, the phone came to life, it was already working on Android 5.1.1, I set everything up, installed applications and configured them too. ( Normal system backing up data on Android? No, I haven’t heard.) It’s still about 40 minutes of work. And then I discovered that instead of 64 GB the system sees 32 GB. It turned out that after flashing it was necessary to do the so-called “Wipe” - completely reset the smartphone, all caches, etc. Although this already happens during the firmware process.

    Repeated Wipe.

    As you understand, I had to boot the phone in flashing mode, find in service menu the desired command, reset the device, and then reinstall all your applications and configure the Nexus.

    In approximately the same way, I had to install the Android 6 OTA update by downloading (it’s important not to make a mistake, since there is no “foolproof” there - if you fix something wrong, you’ll get a “brick”), installing Android Studio (since everything is superfluous I took it with pleasure after the adventures described above) and after working with the “Terminal”. Yes, it was much faster, and I didn’t have to reinstall all applications again, upload media content and configure the phone. But this operation is far from being for ordinary people.

    How long, Google?

    Why all this big text above? Firstly, I hope it helps some Nexus owners. Secondly, I wanted to show how BAD EVERYTHING is at Google with a seemingly basic function - restoring a phone after a failure that was caused by the company itself.

    Okay, I advanced user, able to work with the “Terminal”, use Google search, and has repeatedly flashed smartphones on almost all current platforms. What should less experienced people do in this case? A person bought an expensive smartphone, the best from Google, with the best software support, and received a “brick” immediately after the first update. Let’s say he spent his time and took the device to a store/service/friend, they reflashed his Nexus, and then again it’s a bummer, since an important system update cannot be installed on the machine.

    Against this background, friends, screams, they say, “ Apple is no longer the same», « everything is bad with the company», « iOS has gone downhill"and others look funny. Yes, I’m ready to pray to Apple for the fact that the company has been saving my time since 2008, when I transferred all my work to Mac and finally moved to the company’s ecosystem. How many branded laptops, operating systems, smartphones have been changed and I still have my workspace, content, applications, documents from those very days. I'm moving to new laptop With using Time Machine or update OS X without any hassle at the click of a button. I change my smartphone to a new one and within half an hour, while I drink tea or coffee, I get all my applications, data and even “saves” in toys. Yes, I spent an order of magnitude more time and effort just moving between five Android smartphones than in seven years of working with two dozen Apple devices.