Android is an operating system that has revolutionized mobile technology. More and more gadgets are produced on this platform every day due to its flexibility and mainly because it is an open source software. Developers are constantly coming up with new ideas to make Android even better, but there are users who still operate devices with older versions. Because of this, they cannot use some of the new applications and modern features.

What to do with the old version?

Many in this regard will ask the question: "How to update Android, if possible?" Answer: yes, it's real and it's quite easy to upgrade from the old version to the latest one.

Even though the Android OS is already widespread in the 4.0.5 distribution, many people still use version 2.3. Even developers of various applications today make changes to their products that have entered the market earlier to make them compatible with new releases of the platform. Updating Android 23 to the new version will improve your device in many ways, adding multitasking and functionality, and most importantly, making it compatible with new apps offered on the Google Play Store.

So let's see how you can update Android 2.3 to 4.0 or even newer releases using OS settings (OS Updater). Follow the instructions below to properly perform this operation.

Before updating "Android", be sure to make all the data saved in your smartphone. This is necessary in case you make a mistake and delete all the contents of the memory. Otherwise, all data will be lost forever.

So, how to 40 and above?

First you have to download OS Updater for Android. Then save it and run. Connect your device to your computer and click "Find Android Device" in the menu of the program you just installed.

After the device is found, go to the next step and click on the "Find Similar OS Platform Ver" button to find updates. Then click the "Upgrade to 4.0" button and start the download process. Speaking of how to update Android, you can install version 4.0.3, and even 4.0.5 in your device in a similar way.

Then reboot your smartphone or tablet - and you will have the latest distribution. As you can see, this process is very simple. This instruction works with all kinds of devices.

Is an update to version 4.3 available?

In addition, the Android-4.3 Jelly Bean operating system, introduced in the new Nexus devices, has already been released. However, other gadgets will take time to be upgraded to this version. Speaking about how to update Android to version 4.3, it should be noted that the standard procedure may not be effective (for the above reason). However, if you don't want to wait for the official release of this version, you can update directly from the Google servers and try to download them using the Sideload command. In other words, it's better to wait a while and then enjoy the new features of your favorite platform to the fullest. Moreover, all new items become available to the general public rather quickly. As the representatives of the company promise, in the near future it is planned to release about a dozen devices on the new version of the platform.

The Android system has a comfortable interface for receiving updates. This process is necessary for your device to receive full protection, improve functionality and performance. In addition, with the update of the operating system to the latest version, it is often possible to download new applications and widgets.

Smartphone update

The easiest way to update Android on your phone is to auto-download as well as install the latest software. For this option, there is no need to use your PC, pre-load the firmware file on your gadget, etc. This procedure for obtaining updates is suitable if the device has an Android 4.0 operating system or lower.

The update process does not differ much on different phone models, while in general it looks like this:

Before installing a new update, it is advisable to backup your data (backup). So you can always be sure of the safety of your information, and in case of an unstable OS build or device incompatibility with the update, you can easily restore all user settings. Backup is advised not only in the case of auto-update, but always when you are going to somehow change the firmware configuration.

Update on tablet

Everything is clear with updating the OS on smartphones, now you need to understand how to update Android on a tablet. The process of updating to the latest version is not much different from the version on the phone, but has its own characteristics.

If the tablet has constant access to the wireless network, then it will automatically display a notification about the availability of a new version of the OS. All you have to do is accept or reject the update. If you accidentally clicked "Cancel", then there is no reason to panic. Just turn on the item "About the tablet PC", and then select the section with auto-update.

If for various reasons there is no automatic notification, then the process can be performed independently. To do this, you must perform the following steps:

1. Enable the "Settings" section.
2. In the subsection "About the tablet PC" find the item "System update". Select it.
3. After that, autoloading of the latest version of the operating system will begin.
4. When the process is complete, your tablet PC will restart. When you have a new version installed, you will naturally receive a notification from the system.

To prevent errors and problems with installing a new operating system, make sure you have more than 50% battery charge at the start of the update and that you have no problems with . To be sure, you can turn on the tablet to charge during the entire update process.

Update via computer

You can also update Android using a PC. All it takes is the appropriate software and the CD that came with your device. The new firmware can also be downloaded from the Internet (if you don't have a disc or if you need a specific OS version).

1. Connect your device to PC and then turn on Kies. The program will detect the device and check if a new version of the operating system has been released for your phone or tablet. The result of the query will be displayed on the screen.
   
2. When a new version of the software is found, a dialog box will appear asking you to update. If confirmed, read the warning carefully.
   
3. To confirm your consent, click "I have read all the information", and then click start updating. This will start auto-updating to the latest OS version that is fully compatible with your phone or tablet.
   
4. As soon as the program installs the file (the update process is considered complete), you can enjoy all the benefits of your new firmware version.

In the same way, you can, if desired, return the old version of the OS.

Manual update

If you do not have, then you can complete the update process manually. To do this, you need to download the OS from the manufacturer's official website, and then place it in any convenient place in the device's memory. Then go to the Recovery Menu. To do this, turn off the phone and press a specific key sequence (depending on the manufacturer and version of the phone). The most common combinations are:

• Volume up button + off key;
• Volume change (more or less) + power button + "Home";
• Volume up button + volume down button + off button.

Google annually releases major Android OS updates to a new version. Users of the Nexus series devices (and now Pixel) receive the latest firmware releases in a timely and efficient manner, which can be installed without 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 do not worry about the release of fresh firmware at all, users of their devices become hostages of 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 by regular means

The functionality of the Android OS 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 information about the phone. Depending on the modification of the system, the appearance of this item may differ, but the functions are the same everywhere. This is how the update menu looks in pure Android 5.1 Lolipop (top item).

And the entrance to the update submenu has such an appearance in the 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, the phone will notify you and start downloading it. After that, the installation will take place (it is desirable 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 out updates to everyone at once, as their servers may not be able to withstand the heavy load. Sometimes it takes days or even weeks to wait for an update to reach the end user. However, in this case, it is possible to outsmart the developers and avoid waiting.

How to update Android if there are no updates

Before updating Android, if there are no updates, forcibly, you need to make sure that only you do not have updates, and 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 brand, etc.) and see if there are any messages about 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 USB flash drive. After that, go to the above system update item and click the ellipsis icon. On stock Android 5.1, the advanced options menu looks like this.

Similarly, the menu interface for selecting update options over the air and on MIUI is implemented.

In the first case, the item "Local updates" allows you to update Android from a USB flash drive, in the second - "Select firmware file". Signatures may vary, depending on the translator, but the general meaning of the name should be about 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 should be done with a charged battery, in order to avoid a 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 the 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 builds of Android for many smartphones. The most famous is the CyanogenMod project, the OS assembly of which is installed on more than 15 million devices.

Also, quite often, alternative OS builds are made by small groups of enthusiasts or loners, using firmware from another similar model equipped with a more recent version of the OS as a basis. However, before you update Android on a tablet or smartphone to such an assembly, you need to consider that it may be unstable. The fact is that it is very difficult to assemble a 100% working firmware alone, because such assemblies often have bugs and shortcomings.

To update the version of Android to an unofficial assembly, you need to follow the instructions for flashing a specific smartphone model (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 the Android update and save it to your memory card. To enter the recovery, you need to turn off the smartphone, hold down the volume up and power buttons at the same time, wait for the menu to enter. Sometimes, in addition to these two, you need to hold 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 done with the volume rocker, the choice is made with a short press of the power button), find the firmware on the USB flash drive and install it.

Sometimes for flashing you first need to install an alternative recovery menu, for example, TWRP, since the native one may not support the installation of unofficial updates. After 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 Android firmware updates is through a computer.

The market for mobile products is arranged in such a way that as new versions of the Android OS are released, smartphone manufacturers introduce their support into their own, both recently released and already proven models. How it works? At the time of purchasing a new mobile product, the basic version of the system installed by default is available on it. After a certain period of time, Google releases a new release of Android. Six months later or a little later, depending on the geographic region, when the new version becomes run-in and stable, you can install it on your smart phone as well. As a result, you get a new, modern interface, support for new applications and more settings and customization. In this article, we have compiled a detailed guide for you, how to update android phone.

What is a software update on Android and why is it needed

You need to be aware that as a result of updating or rolling back the operating system, all data stored on the phone will be irretrievably lost. Be sure to back up all the data you need (address book, notes, photos) to a reliable external drive before taking any of the steps in this guide. This can be an external drive, a hard drive on a PC (as a last resort, a memory card, but not desirable).

One more nuance. Since it will take a certain time to update the operating system (from 5 to 10 minutes, and sometimes more), be sure to charge the phone to 70-80% of the total battery so that the update procedure is not interrupted due to problems with the phone's battery.

Android auto update

Here we go to the item "Software Update". On your device, this section may be located somewhere else, so you may have to go through the settings.

Now we tap on the "Update" button, after setting the option to download updates only via Wi-Fi, so that the update does not "eat" all your money from the account.

Option in the settings menu to automatically update the OS

When all the data from the manufacturer's server is downloaded, in the menu that appears, tap the "Install" button and wait until the device reboots.

Since, in the manner described above, you can only update a mobile device to a minor release build, you should also use a special utility from the manufacturer (for Samsung gadgets, this is Kies, for LG, PC Suite, etc.) or update "over the air" (most of companies that produce smartphones or tablets have such a proprietary feature).

Latest Android update, if it is already available on the server, at any time you can download it to your device using just such a program.

Updating Android Firmware Manually

Almost all service centers use this method, but we can easily update ourselves, using only improvised means. To update, use the Odin system application. You can download it on many web resources (for example, on the same w3bsit3-dns.com). Using this technique, you can only install a new version of the official firmware, but not custom.

1. download the Odin program. We need version 1.83 (or newer) - it is very popular among technicians and is suitable for the vast majority of products

2. we find and download the archive with the firmware we need on the network. After extracting the contents from the archive (you will first need to download the archiver for Android), you should have 3 files on hand: PIT, PDA and CSC

3. connect the smartphone to the PC. It is critical that the phone is correctly identified in Windows

4. launch Odin. If the connection of the device was successful, the name of the port will light up in yellow in the corresponding field in the program

Indication of successful connection of the device to the PC for updating in Odin

5. turn off the mobile device and transfer it to Download Mode by pressing the home key, power and volume down at the same time

6. confirm the activation of Download Mode by holding down the "Volume up" key

7. in the central window of Odin, select the downloaded files to match the PIT, PDA and CSC objects

8. In Odin, press the Start button and wait until all files are updated.

If the Android system update went smoothly, the application screen will display a field with the inscription PASS in green.

Successful system update via Odin

Rollback to a previous version

Perhaps you upgraded to one of the latest versions and were not satisfied (the phone is slow, errors often appear, a reboot is necessary, etc.). If necessary, you can roll back to any version you need. How to roll back?

1 way

Suitable for those who wish to return the basic official factory firmware installed in the device at the time of its purchase in the store. It's pretty easy to do this. Go to the device settings and select the item responsible for resetting the settings (it can be "Privacy" or "Backup and reset"). On the test phone, this feature was available in the "Backup and Reset" menu in the "Personal" category.

Section in the options menu designed to reset the device to the factory state

1. We go into this section of the menu and stop at the item "Reset settings".
2. A form pops up with a warning about deleting all data from the gadget. If the backups are already saved in a safe place, feel free to click "Reset phone".
3. The phone starts rebooting. After 5-10 minutes, it will boot up again, with a clean base system on board.

Method 2 - reset to factory settings (hard reset)

1. turn off phone/tablet
2. Press and hold the Volume Up, Home (bottom center) and Power buttons at the same time. The Recovery menu opens.
3. using the volume keys, mark the item "wipe data / factory reset".
4. press the power key to confirm your choice
5. in the next menu you need to confirm your decision. Select "Yes - Delete all user data" using the keys designed to adjust the volume
6. press the power button again. The main menu pops up in front of you again.
7. using the power key, mark "reboot system now"

All is ready. Next time, the factory version of the OS will boot.

How to rollback if a custom version of Android is installed (Cyanogenmod, MIUI, Paranoid Android)?

If you installed a custom ROM, you can restore the official firmware in the same way as doing a manual update - using the Odin program already mentioned in the review. You will first have to search the network for files with the firmware you need, suitable individually for your smart model. Perhaps the best resource for searching is the w3bsit3-dns.com mobile portal, here you can find any firmware for almost every phone model.

1. connect mobile device to PC
2. launch Odin
3. turn off the phone and enter it into Download Mode. To do this, press the home key, power and volume down
4. when the phone is booted, press the volume up key to activate Download Mode
5. on the main Odin form, select the uploaded files as a match for PIT, PDA and CSC
6. in Odin, press the Start button and wait until all files are updated.

The successful completion of the rollback procedure will be indicated by a green field with the inscription PASS at the top.

Information about successful rollback to the previous version through Odin

How to update Play Store on Android

When you first boot a fresh system, you have to set everything up again: account, language, mail, time zone, network, etc. The same goes for the Google Play Store. The update of this module will become available immediately after setting up a Google account on a mobile device.

An offer to connect a Google account to the system

As soon as you enter the data for Google account authentication, Play Store components will appear in the notification panel, which can be updated exactly like any other application.

Updates for Play Market components

If you are using custom firmware, you need to go to the store itself at least once to update. The service update will then appear on the display.

Answers to questions from readers

When will the new Android update be available?

Answer. Since a certain time passes between the immediate release of a new version of Android and the physical possibility of installing it on a gadget (from 2-3 to 6-8 months), you need to be patient and follow the announcements of companies. Among the first products with the support of "marshmallow" are devices of the Nexus and Android One lines. As for the Samsung brand, this month they promise updates to 6.0 for the following mobile devices: Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S6 edge +; in January 2016 - Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge; in February - Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note Edge.

Now for other brands. Sony has announced an update for all current devices in the Xperia lineup today, from the Xperia Z Ultra GPE released in 2013 to all models of the Z5 series (both Premium and budget). LG devices are limited to G4, G3 and G Flex2. HTC, in turn, limited itself to only the last two generations of devices of its own production: One M9/E9 and One M8/E8. In addition, companies such as Motorola, Xiaomi, Huawei, Asus, OnePlus and ZUK are promising to equip their flagship and mid-range devices with Android 6.0. This list is not yet final. Subsequently, we will keep you updated with the latest announcements.

I have a Huawei U9500 phone, and I didn’t know or didn’t understand that I needed to update the version. Now I have Android 4.0.3, how to update the firmware to the new version, please help!

Answer. The Huawei firmware update process is described. In short, there are two ways to update Huawei U9500 firmware.

1. We take out the battery, hold down the volume buttons on the phone. After that, the Android update process will begin.
2. Go to Settings -> Memory -> Software update -> SD card update, launch the Android OS update.

I have an MFLogin3T tablet and until that moment I did not know that it was possible to update the system. I read on different sites, tried, it does not work. I have Android 4.4.4. How to update the Android version?

Answer. The easiest way to update your phone is through Settings - Options - About device - Software update. In different versions of the Android OS, the location of the partition may vary. Thus, a standard update to Android is performed, official software is downloaded. This is the safest and easiest way.

I have a Samsung Duos, version 4.1.2, I can't upgrade the operating system to a larger version. Please help me update my android phone!

Answer. First you need to find out if it is possible to update Android on your phone to version 5.x. It turns out not. The fact is that the technical specifications of your phone do not allow you to install newer versions of Android.

On the other hand, you can download the Android update from the w3bsit3-dns.com forum, where modified firmware is posted. But we would not recommend installing such updates on a fairly old phone if you do not have the necessary skills and are not ready for a drop in the performance of your mobile device.

Lenovo A1000, Android is not updated. I'm trying to update version 5.0 to the newest one. At first everything goes well, but then he writes "Error" and shows the opened Android with a red triangle hanging above it with an exclamation mark. What should I do? How to update the OS to the latest version?

Answer. Why is Android not updating? The fact is that Android 5.0 is the latest version of the OS to which you can officially update the firmware on your phone. At least that's what users of the w3bsit3-dns.com forum say. Of course, you can update the phone by installing custom firmware, but no one guarantees stability after such an update.

Acquired NTS one m7. Can't update Android 4.4.2. The machine does not find the software update, how to solve this problem? How to update it?

Answer. HTC one m7 can be upgraded to at least Android 5.1. If you can't install the official update, try downloading custom firmware on the w3bsit3-dns.com forum. Instructions for updating on this device are also collected there (see). In this topic, you will find solutions to the problem if the Android OS is not updated.

I have Moto x play, I don’t want to update the system, the message “Android 6.0.1 software is available” constantly appears, which is wildly annoying. Please tell me how to remove this message so that it does not appear again. I even contacted the support service of the smartphone manufacturer itself, all the instructions given to me by them did not bring results.

Answer. To disable firmware updates, go to Android settings, section About phone - Software update and disable updates by unchecking the corresponding item.

A year ago, the memory on the device flew off (the phone stopped turning on), it was replaced, but the firmware was not installed native (it's no different, only the yellow Kernel inscription appears on the startup screen in the corner). There are no updates for this firmware, of course. Can I roll back Android through Kies (put my own) and update it?

Answer. In order to roll back the update, you need to reboot the phone in Recovery mode, select wipе data / factory reset, wipе cache partition and reinstall the firmware from the zip archive previously downloaded to the memory card. You can find the official firmware both on the official website of the manufacturer and on the w3bsit3-dns.com forum, in the section with the corresponding name of your mobile device.

Tablet Acer Iconia A1-810. I do not have firmware updates ... I click system update and writes "an update is required for your device." How can I "force" - (update the android system forcibly) or update it myself?

Answer. This tablet model was released about 5 years ago, it does not support new versions of Android, so the manufacturer does not upload firmware updates. You can search for custom (unofficial) firmware on the w3bsit3-dns.com forum, but we don’t recommend installing them - it’s better to buy a new tablet than to experiment with firmware to the detriment of the stability and speed of the device.

Build number not opening on Android. I clicked for a long time. How to be?

Answer. The Android build number is initially available for viewing in the “About smartphone” (“About tablet”) section. If you want to enable hidden settings (section “For Developers”), you can activate them just by clicking on the build number, it is enough to make 4-7 clicks on this line.

Before version 5.0, think carefully. There may be two reasons why the update did not “arrive” automatically for you. Either this is an error (during distribution, upon receipt, etc.), or the manufacturer did not plan to update the software for your device. And if in the first case the defect is easy to fix, then the second option makes you think. Of course, the point here is not that the manufacturer does not care about your device or he forgot about you. Everything is much more prosaic.

Each manufacturer, be it Samsung, Sony, HTC, LG or any other, remembers every device very well. But he also knows in detail all the technical characteristics of each model. Much better than us! And no matter how many OS developers talk about increasing the performance of gadgets after updating them, numerous tests and user reviews indicate either a meager or zero "increase" in the speed of work. But most often, users report a deterioration in the operation of the device after the update. The explanation for this is simple: Android 5.0 Lollipop is brighter and more functional than its older brother, and this requires more resources to work. And all manufacturers also know about this, and therefore do not send an update to your device.

Therefore, let's start with advice: if it seems to you that your device on Android 4.4 Kitkat is working at the limit of its technical capabilities, then most likely it does not seem to you! Of course, you can experiment with deleting photos, videos, games and applications, installing accelerator programs, checking for viruses, and more. But the risk of getting a "brick" after a forced update still remains!

It is worth recalling that before starting the installation, you need to take care of some things. Surely you are well aware of them, but, as they say, "Repetition is the mother of learning!"

First, you need to make a backup. After installing the update, your device will have nothing but the operating system itself and programs installed by default. Therefore, SMS, applications, games and everything that you downloaded will have to be done on your own. Fortunately, there are a lot of special programs that will help you do this.

Secondly, if you decide to install custom firmware, of which there are an incredible amount now, you will have to take care of Root rights. Just like with Backup, you will need special software.

Thirdly, before you start manipulating the system, make sure that the battery is fully charged and that you have a USB cable (preferably original) at hand.

Before proceeding directly to the Android update process, it must be said that there are not so many options to do this, only two: “over the air” (that is, via the Internet) and via a computer.

Option number 1. "By air"

As mentioned above, there can be two situations here. Either the update came automatically, or it needs to be checked and installed forcibly.

If the update came automatically, then there are no problems at all. You will see a notification that a new version of Android 5.0 Lollipop is available. Typically, the same notification will suggest "Update Now" or "Postpone Update". You know what to choose!

If your Android has not received an update automatically, you can check for it manually. To do this, open the "Settings" menu, go to the "About device" submenu, then to the "Updates" section. In the window that opens, tap on the "Check for updates" button. If the update is "found" - install.

It happens that this method does not work. Then you can go the other way. To do this, you must first erase the data from the Google Services Framework application. And you can find this application at the address "Settings" - "Applications". After the data is erased, restart your phone and check again for updates.

Before moving on to the next OS update method, I would like to note that the options described above will install official firmware on your device. Therefore, you do not need to think about and some other nuances. But it's better to do Backup!

Option number 2. Through a computer

This method will be of interest to those who want to install custom firmware, as well as for all owners to whom Android 5.0 Lollipop was not originally "intended".

I would like to note right away that for each specific device, be it a smartphone or a tablet, the process of installing the OS through a computer is individual. Before you start installing the update, study the algorithm in detail in theory. Read forums, reviews, ask questions. The assembly of the firmware is individual for each device separately. Install only the one that is right for you.

In essence, the process of updating via a PC boils down to downloading the firmware to a computer and using a certain bootloader program to install it on the device. For many gadgets, the network has detailed installation instructions, and even videos with visual reviews. Especially for popular models of the tablet-smartphone world.

The update method will depend on the specific device

We will focus on the main actions that will have to be performed, based on the fact that you have already downloaded the firmware, root-, bootloader- and backup programs, unpacked everything, installed it and are ready to start.

1. Switch the device to firmware mode (see the instructions for your device).
2. Connect to computer.
3. Run the bootloader, load the firmware into it.
4. , start the installation process and wait a bit.
5. After completion, the device will reboot and turn on with the new version of Android.

This is the structure of the process. In fact, for devices from some manufacturers, this process can be much more tricky. But you can definitely figure it out!

Conclusion

In conclusion, I would like to say thanks to those programmers who, despite all the restrictions of manufacturers, bypass the prohibitions and adapt the firmware for our phones and tablets. Also, the people who test these updates, find bugs and test again deserve words of gratitude. After all, everyone wants to enjoy new features and a new design, and not just those who bought their gadget today!

Conclusion (alternative)

In the end, after all of the above, I want to philosophize a little. Because a number of questions hang in the air:

• Why, by default, device manufacturers "send" updates only to flagship devices?
• Why do they make the decision to upgrade for us?