Android is not updated after flashing the firmware. Automatic and manual updating of applications on Android

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

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

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

Google and Open Handset Alliance logos

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

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

How to update Android through official updates

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

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

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

How to update Android using unofficial firmware

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

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

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

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

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

Google releases major Android OS updates to a new version every year. 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 do not bother at all about releasing new firmware; users of their devices find themselves hostage to the old version of the operating system. However most of Such problems can be 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 in 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 it takes days or even weeks for an update to reach the end user. 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 of fans of your trademark 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, the additional options menu 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 as a basis the firmware from another 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 for your 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 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 of unofficial 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.

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.

Installing the official Android update on your 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 checking for new updates and downloading 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 official firmware is to use computer programs, for example Odin. For different manufacturers, proprietary programs have their own names; 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 the data after doing it first backup. 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 Recovery mode. 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

Experienced users can try updating the phone's firmware through the command line. Windows string. 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 dialing the necessary commands on the Windows command line.

Update via Windows command line

Periodically, every device running Android OS needs to update the current version of the operating system. Of course, even without this, the gadget will remain in working order, but nevertheless, some problems may arise with the old version. Therefore, today we will talk about how to update Android.

Often, when a new model is launched, some software problems remain out of sight of the manufacturer. A conscientious developer always tries to eliminate shortcomings in previously released versions that were identified while using the gadget, and in addition, add new functions that are more user-friendly.

There are also third-party developers who do not work for a particular company producing mobile devices, but they release their own unofficial software (custom firmware) for many device models, which can even be best quality than Android versions directly from the manufacturer.

In addition, devices from little-known manufacturers (usually Chinese) purchased outside the Russian Federation and not properly localized also need firmware updates.

How to update the version (firmware) of Android

Standard procedure

Official updates from the manufacturer are released quite regularly. As a rule, this applies popular models gadgets or devices produced by well-known companies.

Such updates are absolutely free and do not require the user to special knowledge and, as a rule, occur automatically. An Internet connection is required to check the firmware and update it.

Go to the main settings, in the section " System", at the very bottom we find the item " About the phone" (May be " About the device"), then open the position " System update" (May be " Update BY", on some models you will need to press the " Check now«):

The display will show " System check“, after which a message will appear indicating that the latest version is available or that it is being used, which means the system has been updated automatically. If this does not happen, then before upgrading to a new version of Android, we find out information about the firmware installed on a specific device. To do this, go back to the “About phone” section and at the very bottom we find the necessary information:

Knowing the current firmware version is necessary to obtain information about the availability of more recent software versions for a specific smartphone/tablet model and the possibility of installing them.

Note: if you are using a gadget whose software does not support the Russian language, then you need to find the items “ About tablet" or " About phone» and look for the necessary information there.

Using third party programs (ROM Manager)

Sometimes downloading an official update via Internet is impossible, and custom firmware cannot be installed this way at all. In this case, one of the best apps, used for these purposes - .

Using this program, you can easily create system backups and (in our case) manually update the current version of Android, including on Chinese smartphones.

To work correctly with the program, it is necessary if your device is not rooted.

After launch, the program will ask you to install ClockWorkMod Recovery (CWM), this is a more advanced mod of the standard Recovery Android OS. We agree, and then do the following:

Loading on SD card your device, the required firmware (zip archive format), which can be found on the official website of the developer of our device, launch the utility ROM Manager, then select the menu item “ Install ROM from SD card" Using folder navigation, indicate the path to the archive on your SD card. Now let's activate the button " Save current ROM"(this is done to make it possible to roll back to old version, if you don’t like the new firmware) and select the “” position:

We agree with the reboot and the program will start the process of rebooting the smartphone in mode CWM and installing new firmware.

Also, the ROM Manager application will help in searching for firmware for a specific device; to do this, select “ Download firmware", and it may well be that there is something more suitable just for you.

Learn more about the app's features ROM Manager watch the video:

Via ClockWorkMod Recovery

It is possible that updating Android using the ROM Manager utility failed, especially this situation is possible on smartphones from Chinese or little-known manufacturers. In this case, you can use the CWM menu.

ClockworkMod Recovery (or CWM Recovery) is an analogue of standard recovery with advanced functions. This utility will help not only perform full reset devices or install patches for games, but also update the firmware of the mobile gadget.

CWM supports most Android devices. In fact, every second modern Android smartphone (or tablet) is equipped with Modrecovery CWM. But if your device only has stock (standard) recovery, then install CWM Recovery using the ROM Manager application (see above).

After entering the ClockWorkMod Recovery menu, move using the volume key and first select “ wipe data/factory reset" (to reset all settings to factory settings), then " wipe cache"(to clear the cache). Now we find the line “ install zip from SD card" and confirm the action with the hardware button " Home"or the device power button (it plays the role of the " Yes»):

Note: for some device models, menu operation can be controlled using a sensor.

Next, getting to the point “ choose zip from sd card", indicate the path to the new firmware in the ZIP archive that was saved on the SD card, confirm the choice by clicking " Yes – Install /sdcard/update.zip»:

After completing the steps, the process of flashing our Android devices will be launched. Upon completion, select “ reboot system now"to reboot the device and wait for the device to boot, which can take quite a long period of time.

Important ! Before updating the Android version (firmware), you need to fully charge the device, because the whole process will take about half an hour. During the firmware update, the smartphone will require a lot of energy to correctly complete the task. In addition, the display backlight will be at maximum brightness during the update procedure, and the update process interrupted due to a lack of power can lead to disastrous consequences.

Therefore, before you start updating your device, assess the degree of risk and try to approach the question of how to update the Android version responsibly. Good luck!

Today, many of us actively use tablets with operating system(OS) Android, which needs to be updated periodically. How to do it? There are several ways, which we will discuss below.

Of course, it is wrong to say that updating the OS on a tablet is a mandatory procedure. However, we still recommend that all users do this. Why? There are several reasons for this:

• Without updating the firmware, you will not be able to use all the capabilities of the device.
• The tablet may even stop functioning normally.
• Each update fixes various errors, improves the functionality and interface, which means that using the device becomes easier and more convenient.
• Without an updated OS version, it may be difficult to install new programs or games.
• Changing the firmware also improves the system for protecting confidential information contained in the device’s memory.
• The new version of Android improves the performance of the tablet, that is, web pages load faster (though not much), the work of some programs speeds up, the number of freezes decreases, etc.

Finally, it should be noted that updating the OS removes a lot of unnecessary information and data. This frees up a significant amount random access memory and hard drive space.

There are several ways to update Android on your tablet. First of all, let's talk about automatic update . Moreover, this is the most common option for changing the firmware.

As a rule, when a new version of Android OS is released, a notification appears on the tablet screen. Most often, it looks like a pop-up window in which, in addition to information about the possibility of changing the firmware, a request for permission to update the system is displayed. In this case, click “yes”, “allow”, “update”, etc.

As a result, the latest available firmware version is downloaded directly to the tablet and installed automatically. The maximum that is required of you is to agree several times with what will appear on the display.

However, remember that for automatic operation on a tablet you need a reliableWI— FI-Internet connection. It’s just that the size of the installation package of the new firmware sometimes exceeds 500 MB. It is quite difficult to download such a large file via a 3g or 4g connection. In addition, make sure that the battery charge is at least 40%. After all, if the tablet turns off during an update, this is fraught with serious consequences.

On average, it takes from 5 to 20 minutes to update the Android OS to the latest version (to 6 or 7 depending on the gadget itself). However, before starting the update procedure, it is recommended to close all applications. Don't be alarmed if your tablet turns off and on again several times. This is done in order not only to correctly install the new firmware, but also to optimize the applications available in the device’s memory. Otherwise, they may stop working correctly with installed updates.

How can I check if an updated OS version is available for my tablet?

To do this, you need to go to the “Settings” section. Next, scroll the list almost all the way down. There should be an item called “About the tablet” or “About the device”. Enter it. In addition to various information about the model itself, you will also find an indication of the current version of Android. There will also be a “System Update” button. If it is active, then after clicking on it, the download of the new firmware will begin. If you have the latest version of Android installed, then nothing will happen.

How to update Android via computer? It's not that complicated. You will need to connect the tablet via cable to your PC or laptop. Then you will need special software. For example, the Kies application from Samsung (each vendor has its own similar software: Lenovo has Downloader Lenovo, Huawei has HiSuite, LG has PC Suite, etc.).

This utility will check whether the latest firmware version is available on the manufacturer's servers. The result will be sent to the user in the form of a corresponding window. If an update is available, an Update button will appear. Click it, read the user agreement and study all the necessary information. Where necessary, do not forget to check the box next to the items “agree”, “allow”, etc.

We must not forget about another way to update the Android version. For this all you need is:

1. Go to the website of your tablet manufacturer - Huawei, Asus, Explay, Acer, Irbis, etc.
2. Then find the appropriate section where you can download the new version of the OS. As a rule, you need to first click on the “Support” link, and then find the “Downloads”, “Updates” or something similar there.
3. Next, select the firmware for your specific tablet model.
4. Download the special file and open it.
5. Follow all installer instructions during the installation process to change the OS to a new version.

A special utility will also help you update the Android version on your tablet. It's called AnyCut. Using this program is easy. Moreover, with the help of this utility, the system update process is simplified as much as possible. Let's tell you in more detail:

1. First you need to download “AnyCut” to your device. For example, through the Play Market.
2. Next you will need to install the program.
3. Then open the utility and activate the “System Information” item.
4. Click on “Check for updates”.
5. The program will check if there are new firmwares. If yes, it will offer to install them.

The advantage of AnyCut is its simple and understandable interface (even for a beginner). At the same time, you can check for updates through this utility in a few seconds.

Possible consequences after updating Android OS on the tablet

Many people are interested in the question of what problems with the device may arise after updating the Android OS. In fact, if you do everything correctly, then there will be no problems. At most, some applications will disappear or programs that are incompatible with the updated version of the OS will not work.

New icons may also appear on the desktop. These are the programs and applications that are provided by the developers. Typically they cannot be removed. However, many of them are absolutely unnecessary, and many do not even use them. You just have to put up with the presence of such applications and programs in the tablet’s memory.

In addition, updating the OS is not always useful for those devices that were purchased a relatively long time ago (3-4 years or more). The fact is that progress does not stand still, and new firmware is tailored for powerful and modern devices. As a result, the latest version of Android OS can even harm an old tablet.

Is it possible to return the old firmware version?

It's quite difficult. After all, on many devices there is no official option to “roll back” to the previous version. Of course, some craftsmen suggest downloading from the Internet and using various programs that return most of the functions and capabilities that were relevant with the old firmware. But all this is unoriginal software, often harmful to the entire system.

Therefore, it is best to take a closer look at the new version of Android and use it for at least a few days. Most likely, you will get used to the different interface and appreciate the new features. After which the desire to “return it the way it was” will disappear.

If, after a couple of days, you are still not used to updating the OS, then you can return the basic factory firmware. That is, the one that was installed on the tablet when you purchased it. To do this, you need to go to settings and find the “Reset settings” item. Mostly it is located in the “Confidentiality” or “Restore and Reset” sections.

On a note!

It is extremely important to note that tablets from different manufacturers have certain features for updating the Android OS. For example, for Samsung devices, to change the firmware to a newer one, you need a “Samsung Account”. Not to be confused with account Google. You can create a Samsung account in the “Settings” menu by selecting “Accounts and synchronization”. Here the user will have to go through different stages of registration, specify a mailbox, and come up with a username and password.