home-Net-How to quickly and efficiently update the firmware on an Android device? How to update Android - flash your smartphone to the latest version Android 6.0 update.

How to quickly and efficiently update the firmware on an Android device? How to update Android - flash your smartphone to the latest version Android 6.0 update.

Updating the Android operating system is not only recommended, but also a necessary process for stable operation smartphone. For the phone owner, this is primarily an increase in the performance of the device, the emergence of new features, and not just the correction of errors by the manufacturer. Therefore, every user should know how to update Android on their phone.

Change process current version Android on the device requires the user to pay attention and fulfill several conditions.

Before you proceed to change the operating system, you need to make sure of the following:

  • that the phone is charged (the recommended battery level should be at least 50%);
  • that the Wi-Fi network is reliable and stable (only important if you are not using a computer when downloading the software);
  • that the USB cable connecting the phone to the computer is working properly.

During the update to 9.0, 8.0, 7.0, 6.0 or earlier versions of Android, it is prohibited to remove the battery or turn off the smartphone.

Interrupting the update process for one of these reasons can lead to irreparable consequences (without the help of specialists service center not enough).

There are two main ways to change Android yourself:

  1. Launch the update on the smartphone itself.
  2. Changing software modification using a computer.

How to install a new Android without connecting to a computer

The easiest option to change the OS version is to start the process on the smartphone itself.

Usually the system notifies about the availability new version(notification appears at the top of the gadget screen):

Note: update algorithm to new versionAndroid always the same: it doesn’t matter if the operating system is updated to 5.0, 7.0 or 9.0.

Depending on the phone model and the current firmware modification, the text and design of the notification on the screen may differ.

After receiving the notification, you should click “download” and wait until the software is downloaded to the device.

When Android is downloaded, a message will appear in the notification bar and the user will be asked to install or postpone the process.

Important: before clicking “install now”, it is recommended that you read the information provided above, where the developers warn about the possible loss of personal data and the need to backup.

The system does not always notify the user about the availability of a new Android versions. The reason may be a lack of Internet connection or refusal to receive notifications (can be set in the “Software Update” section).

In this case, you can download the new Android manually. To do this you need to complete the following steps:

How to update Android OS using a computer

Change operating system Android can be done using an application from the manufacturer.

The main purpose of such programs is to create a backup copy of data, transfer photos and videos to a computer and vice versa.

Among such applications we can highlight Samsung kies or Smart switch for Samsung smartphones and Xperia Companion for Sony phones.

Before you change Android 4.4.2, you need to activate special setting, intended for developers - “USB Debugging”. In later versions of the OS, this setting is hidden, and to activate it, you need to do the following:

How to download a new Android using Xperia Companion

To download the firmware to your smartphone using Xperia programs Companion required:


Attention: it is impossible to return to the previous version of the OS, about which the user will receive a notification before installation.

How to update using Smart Switch

For installation new Android to tablets and Samsung smartphones are used Smart apps Switch and Samsung Kies.

To update to 7.0, 8.0 or 9.0 using Smart Switch, you need:


Note: if the notification about the opportunity to download a new version does not appear on the screenAndroid– this means that the latest updates are installed on the device.

How to update Android using Samsung Kies

To update, for example, Android 4.2.2 using Samsung Kies, you need to do the following:


New firmware may not meet user expectations (changes appearance menu, new applications appear and old applications are deleted, etc.). Therefore, it is important to read during installation what changes will occur and whether it is worth upgrading.

Over time, the phone's operating system becomes outdated. You can return your phone to normal life, while expanding its functionality and personalization settings, by updating its firmware. Since not everyone knows the necessary algorithm of actions, we will look at several ways to update the firmware on Android.

Install official update Android on a phone or tablet is quite simple. To do this, it is most convenient to use two methods: updating “over the air” through the settings menu of your mobile phone or via a computer using proprietary utilities. Let's take a closer look at both methods.

Via Wi-Fi

With the release of a new OS update for your mobile phone, the easiest way to update is online, through the main settings menu of the Android device itself. All you need for this:

  • Open the settings tab (by selecting the icon on the home screen or notification shade).
  • Find and click on “About device”.
  • Click on the “Software Update” line and click on the corresponding button.
  • After confirming the firmware download, the system will begin downloading it. Depending on its size and Internet speed, it may take from 1 to 30 minutes.
  • Once the download is complete, a notification about its installation will appear. Having agreed with it, the installation will begin, during which the device can reboot. It is very important not to interrupt the installation process, since this may turn the mobile phone into a “bricked” state.

In the settings menu you can also set automatic check new updates and downloads exclusively through Wi-Fi network. In the event that you already have the latest firmware installed, the system will issue a corresponding alert. But it is worth noting that if your phone does not turn on and it is impossible to go to the settings menu on it, you will not be able to update this way.

The over-the-air firmware update is shown in more detail in the video below.

Using computer programs

An alternative way to update and install the official firmware is to use computer programs, for example Odin. For different manufacturers, branded programs have their own name, we will look at one of the most popular ones called Smart Switch. You can download it from the official Samsung website, and for installation it requires no more than a few Megabytes free space on your hard drive. So, to install the official update on your Android phone via Smart Switch you will need:

  • Run the pre-installed utility on a computer that is connected to the Internet.
  • Connect your mobile device via USB cable to PC.
  • Information about the connected smartphone will appear in the program menu with the ability to perform basic functions. If there is a new firmware version for it, the screen will prompt you to download it. If there is none, no notifications will appear.
  • Click on the update button.
  • The process of downloading the new firmware will begin, first to the computer, and then to the mobile phone itself. You must follow the instructions that appear on the screen.
  • After the firmware has been downloaded to the phone, it will reboot and an image of a green robot with an update bar will appear on its screen. As in the previous case, you cannot interrupt the installation process, including disconnecting the mobile phone from the PC.

Updating a Samsung smartphone through a utility on a PC

Once the installation is complete, the smartphone will reboot and display a notification that the updates have been installed successfully. It is recommended to reset your data after backing it up first. Otherwise, the new firmware on the mobile phone may work with system errors.

For more information about installing updates on Android via a PC, see the training video below.

If your phone doesn't turn on

In the event that your mobile phone does not start, you can install the official update through a special menu. In addition, in this way you can also install custom (custom firmware). Such OSs are upgraded by Android phone users themselves and can be downloaded from thematic forums and other resources.

Algorithm of actions

Users of Android phones have probably heard about the Recovery. This is a special menu that is hardwired into the smartphone’s memory, regardless of the OS itself. It allows you to reset settings, format a memory card, and manage your phone when it doesn't start. Also in the Recovery menu there is an option to update the firmware. To do this you need:

  • Download the update archive from the official website and move it to your phone’s memory.
  • Turn off your mobile device and enter recovery mode using a combination of buttons. In most cases, these are the volume up/down keys + the power/lock key.
  • Navigating through the menu is done using the volume and lock buttons.
  • Select “Apply update”.
  • Next, depending on where you left the archive with the firmware, select Choose from internal storage or Choose from sdcard.
  • Go to the desired directory and click on the name of the file with the firmware.
  • The update installation process will begin, which is not recommended to be interrupted under any circumstances.
  • Once the firmware installation is complete, you need to go back to the main recovery menu and select Reboot system now to reboot.

Firmware update via Recovery

After these steps, the mobile phone will restart with the new version of the OS and display a corresponding notification on the start screen. For more information about updating using this method, see the training video.

For advanced users

Advanced users can try updating the phone's firmware via command line Windows. To do this, as in the case of Recovery mode, you will need to first download the archive with the required update and place it on your PC. You will also need to install a special Fastboot utility on your computer, and the bootloader on your mobile device must be unlocked. To prepare for installing the update, you need to connect your phone to your PC via a USB cable, set USB debugging and run the Fastboot utility. All further actions are carried out by typing the necessary commands in the Windows command line.

Update via command Windows string

The market for mobile products is structured in such a way that as new versions of the Android OS are released, smartphone manufacturing companies 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, it is available basic version system installed by default. After some period of time, Google releases a new Android release. After six months or a little later, depending on the geographic region, when the new version becomes tested and stable, you can install it on your smart phone. As a result, you get a new, modern interface, support for new applications and more settings and customization. In this material we have compiled a detailed guide for you, how to update Android on your 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 do backups all the data you need ( address book, notes, photos) to a secure external storage device before taking any of the steps in this guide. It could be external storage, hard drive on a PC (as a last resort, a memory card, but not advisable).

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

Automatic Android update

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

Now tap on the “Update” button, having previously set the option to download updates only via Wi-Fi, so that the update does not “eat up” all your money from your account.

Option in the settings menu to automatically update the OS

When all the data from the manufacturer’s server has been downloaded, in the menu that appears, tap the “Install” button and wait until the device reboots.

Since using the method described above you can only update your mobile device to the minor release build, you should also use special utility from the manufacturer (for Samsung gadgets it’s Kies, for LG it’s PC Suite, etc.) or updated “over the air” (most of the companies that produce smartphones or tablets have such a proprietary feature).

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

Manually updating Android firmware

Almost all service centers use this method, but we can easily update ourselves, using exclusively available means. Applies to update system application Odin. 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 a custom one.

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

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

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

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

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, power and volume down keys at the same time

6. Confirm activation of Download Mode by holding down the “Volume Up” key

7. in the central Odin window, select the downloaded files so that they correspond to the PIT, PDA and CSC objects

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

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

Successful system update via Odin

Rollback to previous version

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

1 way

Suitable for those who want to return the basic official factory firmware installed in the device at the time of its purchase in the store. This is quite easy to do. Go to the device settings and select the item responsible for resetting the settings (this can be “Privacy” or “Backup and reset”). On the test phone, this function was available in the “Backup and reset” menu in the “Personal data” category.

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

  1. We go to this section of the menu and stop at the “Reset settings” item.
  2. A form pops up warning you that all data from the gadget will be deleted. If the backups are already saved in a safe place, feel free to click “Reset phone settings”.
  3. The phone begins to reboot. After 5-10 minutes it will boot again, this time with a clean basic system on board.

Method 2 - reset to factory settings (hard reset)

  1. turn off the phone/tablet
  2. simultaneously press and hold down the “Volume Up”, “Home” (bottom center) and “Power” buttons. The Recovery menu opens.
  3. Using the volume keys, select the “wipe data/factory reset” item.
  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, select “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, return official firmware You can do the same thing as a manual update - using the Odin program already mentioned in the review. First, you will have to search the Internet for files with the firmware you need, individually suitable for your smart model. Perhaps the best resource for searching is the mobile portal 4PDA; here you can find any firmware for almost every phone model.

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

How to update Play Market on Android

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

Proposal to connect your Google account to the system

Once you enter your authentication details account Google, Play Store components will appear in the notification panel, which can be updated exactly like any other applications.

Updates for Play Market components

If you are using custom firmware, you need to go to the store itself at least once to update. After this, an update for the service will appear on the display.

Answers to readers' questions

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 marshmallow support are devices from the Nexus and Android One. As for the Samsung brand, this month they promise updates to 6.0 for the following models 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 about others trademarks. Sony announced an update for all current devices in the Xperia line, starting from the Xperia Z Ultra GPE released in 2013 and ending with all models of the Z5 series (both Premium and budget). The range of devices from LG is limited to the 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 promise to equip their flagship devices and mid-level devices with Android 6.0. This list is not yet final. Subsequently, we will keep you updated on the latest announcements.

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

  1. We take out the battery and hold down the volume buttons on the phone. After this, the Android update process will begin.
  2. Go to Settings -> Storage -> Software Update -> SD Card Update, launch the Android OS update.

I have a MFLogin3T tablet and until now I didn’t know that it was possible to update the system. I read it on different sites, tried it, but it doesn’t 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 Android OS partition location may vary. In this way, a standard update on Android is performed and the official software is downloaded. This is the safest and easiest way.

I have Samsung Duos, version 4.1.2 I can’t update the operating system to a higher version. Please help me update Android on my 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 specifications your phone is preventing you from installing newer versions of Android.

On the other hand, you can download the update for Android from the 4pda forum, where modified firmware is posted. But we wouldn't recommend setting it to enough old phone such updates if you do not have the necessary skills and are not prepared 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 an opened Android with a red triangle hanging above it with exclamation point. What should I do? How to update OS to latest version?

Answer. Why isn't Android updated? 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 4pda forum say. Of course, you can update your phone by installing custom firmware, but no one guarantees stability after such an update.

I purchased NTS one m7. I can't update Android 4.4.2. The device does not find the software update, how to solve this problem? How to update it?

Answer. NTS one m7 can be updated to at least Android 5.1. If you can’t install the official update, try downloading custom firmware on the 4pda 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 a Moto x play, I don’t want to update the system, the message “Android 6.0.1 software available” constantly appears, which is wildly annoying. Please tell me how to remove this message so that it doesn’t appear again. I even contacted the support service of the smartphone manufacturer itself, All the instructions they gave me did not bring any 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 my device died (the phone stopped turning on), it was replaced, but the firmware was not the original one (it’s no different, only the yellow Kernel inscription appears in the corner on the startup screen). Naturally, there are no updates for this firmware. Can I use Kies to roll back Android (install the native one) and update it?

Answer. In order to roll back the update, you need to reboot the phone into Recovery mode, select wipe data/factory reset, wipe 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 manufacturer’s official website and on the 4pda forum, in the section with the corresponding name of your mobile device.

Acer tablet Iconia A1-810. I don't have firmware updates... I click system update and it says "your device requires an update." How can I “force” it (forcefully update the Android system) or update it myself?

Answer. This model The tablet was released about 5 years ago, it does not support new versions of Android, so the manufacturer does not provide firmware updates. You can search for custom (unofficial) firmware on the 4pda forum, but we do not recommend installing them - it’s better to purchase new tablet than experimenting with firmware to the detriment of the stability and speed of the device.

The build number does not open on Android. I called for a long time. What should I do?

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 by clicking on the build number, just 4-7 clicks on this line.

Android update doesn't arrive over the 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 several important nuances that even many professionals have not heard about.

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 firmware based on the new version of Android, test them and only then start updating. 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? Answer 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 beneficial for the manufacturer to satisfy a larger number of 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 in in 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 the official firmware manually via Recovery.

First, a ZIP archive with this very firmware must be downloaded from the manufacturer’s official website to a smartphone, tablet and placed in any convenient place in memory. After that, go to the Recovery menu and follow the instructions.

1. To enter the Recovery Menu, first turn off the device.

2. Then turn it on, but hold down certain key combinations at the same time. 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 a memory card.

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

The update installation process will begin.

Once completed, return to the main Recovery menu and select “Reboot system now”. Your device will reboot with the updated firmware.

This is how I told you everything you need to know about Android update. If you are interested in any questions on this topic, ask them in the comments.


Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) is one of the latest versions of the popular operating system, the appearance of which could not but please the owners mobile gadgets. When creating it, the developer tried to make it intuitive, introducing a number of things that users need. These are the presence of several working screens, the ability to resize widgets, communicate and exchange information, as well as a large set additional functions. But its main advantage is multitasking.
Workers Android screens 4.0 allows you to move not only shortcuts, folders and icons, but also interactive widgets that provide access to the necessary information directly from the home screen. Appeared in it and new system screen lock, and the ability to quickly answer incoming calls. Managing notifications, tasks and applications has also become easier. Now you can dismiss them with one swipe of your finger across the device screen. We touched upon improvement and typing. The so-called “soft” keyboard allows you to quickly type text while simultaneously checking the correct spelling of each word. A powerful voice input system has also appeared in the arsenal of Android device owners. One more interesting feature Ice Cream Sandwich has become available with features that make smartphones accessible to people with vision problems. One of them is the “explore-by-touch” mode, which allows you to control the gadget without looking at the screen.

Of course, this entire arsenal cannot but interest users and those who would like to have Android 4.0 games in their arsenal, and even prompt them to the question of how to update Android 2.3.6 to 4.0 on a tablet?

Answering this question, it is worth noting that you cannot immediately update Android 2.3.6 to 4.0! There's too much difference between technical capabilities mobile devices on which they are installed. But if you decide to install the Android 4.0 update on your tablet or smartphone, it is worth remembering that this may adversely affect its operation and lead to the loss of information stored on it. That is why before installing updates, do not forget to save it to an SD card or external storage device.

How to update Android to 4.0 on your phone.

In order to update the operating system you need to:
1. Connect to the Internet, go to settings and find the section with system information.
2. Select the function " Automatic updates" Then the OS will do everything on its own.
3. If there is no auto-update feature, updates will have to be done manually. To do this, click on “Update”, the system itself will scan the information on the official server and update.
4. The OS can be updated via a computer.
5. If for some reason the update functions do not work, you can download Android 4.0 firmware from the developer’s website.

If you cannot install updates using the official method, you can try to do it “illegally.” For example, for Samsung Galaxy Wonder (GT-I8150) it looks like this:
1. Translate the device into English and disable geopositioning.
2. Translate PC standards into English, and its location in the USA.
3. Install Samsung Kies and VPN Gate. In the second application, connect to virtual server in USA.
4. Then launch VPN Gate and connect the phone to the PC via USB.
5. If found Samsung updates Kies will prompt you to install it. If this does not happen, then you will have to reflash the device manually.

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