Program for updating Android devices. How to update Android - flash your smartphone to the latest version Android version 2.3 4 how to update

Google Company annually releases major updates to the Android OS to a new version. Users of the Nexus (and now Pixel) series devices receive the latest firmware releases promptly and quickly, which can be installed without the need for 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 companies don’t bother at all about releasing new firmware; users of their devices find themselves hostage old version 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 using standard means

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

And this is the appearance of the entrance to the update submenu in 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 available, the phone will report this and begin downloading it. After this, the installation will occur (it is advisable 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 the update to everyone at once, since their servers may not be able to withstand the heavy load. Sometimes you have to wait until the update gets to end user, takes days and even weeks. However, in this case, you can outsmart the developers and avoid the wait.

How to update Android if there are no updates

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

The menu interface for selecting update options over the air and on MIUI is implemented in a similar way.

In the first case, you can update Android from a flash drive using the “Local updates” item, in the second case, “Select firmware file”. Captions may vary depending on the translator, but the general meaning of the title should be approximately 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 must be done with a charged battery to avoid 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 customers and does not release firmware updates for old devices, there is still a chance to get a fresh OS. There are many enthusiasts developing alternative Android builds for many smartphones. The most famous is the CyanogenMod project, the OS build of which is installed on more than 15 million devices.

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

To update the Android version to an unofficial build, you need to follow the firmware instructions specific model smartphone (for different phones the flashing procedure is different). The easiest way is to install the update from Recovery menu. First you need to download the Android update and save it to your memory card. To enter recovery, you need to turn off your smartphone, hold down the volume up and power buttons at the same time, and wait to enter the menu. Sometimes, in addition to the above two, you need to hold down 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 carried out with the volume rocker, selection is made by briefly pressing the power button), find the firmware on the flash drive and install it.

Sometimes, to flash the firmware, you first need to install an alternative recovery menu, for example, TWRP, since the native one may not support the installation official updates. Once 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 updates Android firmware- via computer.

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

Update on your smartphone

The most in a simple way Update Android on your phone by auto-booting, as well as installing the latest software. For this option, there is no need to use your PC, pre-download the firmware file to your gadget, etc. This procedure for receiving updates is suitable if the device has an Android 4.0 operating system and lower.

The update process is not much different different models phones, and in general it looks like this:

Before installing a new update, it is advisable to make a backup copy of your data. This way, you can always be sure of the safety of your information, and if the OS build is unstable or the device is incompatible with the update, you can easily restore all user settings. Backup It is recommended to do this not only in 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 it has its own characteristics.

If the tablet has constant access to wireless network, it will automatically display a notification about the availability of a new OS version. 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 “About Tablet PC” item, and then select the auto-update section.

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

1. Enable the "Settings" section.
2. In the “About Tablet PC” subsection, find the “System update” item. Select it.
3. After this, the latest version of the operating system will begin to autoload.
4. Once the process is complete, your Tablet PC will reboot. When you have a new version installed, you will naturally receive a notification from the system.

To prevent errors and problems associated with installing a new operating system, make sure that you have more than 50% battery charge at the start of the update and that you are not having problems with . To be sure, you can turn on the tablet PC to charge during the entire update process.

Update via computer

You can also update Android using your PC. All that is required for this is the appropriate software, as well as the disk that was included with your device. New firmware can also be downloaded from the Internet (if you don't have the disk or need a specific OS version).

1. Connect your device to your PC and then turn on Kies. The program will detect the device and check whether 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, you must read the warning carefully.
   
3. To confirm your consent, click “I have read all the information,” and then click start update. After this, it will automatically update to the latest OS version, which 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 evaluate all the benefits of your new firmware version.

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

Manual update

If you don't have it, 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 location in the device’s memory. Then go to the Recovery Menu. To do this, you need to turn off the phone and press a certain sequence of keys (depending on the manufacturer and version of the phone). The most common combinations are:

• Volume up button + power off key;
• Change volume (more or less) + power button + “Home”;
• Volume up button + volume down button + power off button.

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

What to do with the old version?

In this regard, many will ask the question: “How to update Android, if possible?” Answer: Yes, it is possible, and it is 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 application developers today are making changes to their previously released products to make them compatible with new platform releases. 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 the new applications offered in Android. 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 perform this operation correctly.

Before updating Android, be sure to back up all the data saved on 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 get to 40 and beyond?

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

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

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 types of devices.

Is an update to version 4.3 available?

In addition, Android 4.3 Jelly Bean OS has already been released, introduced in the new Nexus devices. 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 do not want to wait for the official release of this version, you can update directly from Google servers and try to download them using the Sideload command. In other words, it is better to wait a while and then enjoy the new features of your favorite platform to the fullest. Moreover, all new products become available to the general public quite quickly. As company representatives promise, it is planned to release about a dozen devices on the new version of the platform in the near future.

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 Android versions, 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? Only the manufacturer knows the answer to this question. 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 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 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 enter the Recovery Menu, first turn off the device.

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 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.

That's 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.