Why is Android not updated to the latest version? The main reasons why the Android system does not update

When each new version of the Android operating system is released, many users immediately begin to look for information on how to update Android on their phone. The fact is that very rarely, immediately after the release of a new version of the OS, it becomes available for download and installation.

At first it comes only to a limited number of people, and then to everyone else, but, again, not immediately, but gradually. Some people do not receive a notification about the new version at all. Then you have to resort to independent, manual installation of a new version of the operating system. Let's look at several of the most effective and, accordingly, popular methods for performing this process.

Automatic update

As we know, the system can be updated automatically. At least, when a new version is released, the user will see a notification about this and the opportunity to install it. All this is done, by the way, for free.

So, to enable this feature, you need to do the following:

• Connect Wi-Fi so that later the update will not be downloaded using the mobile Internet, and the operator will not charge extra money for this.
• Go to settings and find the item “About smartphone” (or “About tablet”).
• Find the “System Update” item there.

Clue: The names of the items may differ depending on the version of the operating system already installed. But based on the meaning, you can still guess which point is responsible for what. In the latest versions of the OS, by the way, these items are called “About the device” and “Download the update manually.”

• After this, it will check for updates and, if there are any, offer to install them. In the future, when a new version is released, the user will see corresponding notifications on his screen.

The secret of this method is that the system, in forced mode, begins to search for system updates. Even if your phone is not yet included in the list of “favorites” that received a notification, you will add yourself there. All this, as mentioned above, is done absolutely free.

Additional Applications

There are also a number of Android applications that help you check your system for updates and update it if possible. Let's look at the most popular of them.

"Update for Android" from Womboid Systems

A very unusual application that allows you to check the system and update it if necessary. In this case, the user will be able to see information about what hardware is installed on his phone.

To use this application, you must do the following:

1. Download (here is the link) and install the “Update for Android” from Womboid Systems.
2. In the main program window, click on the “Check your Hardware” button. After this, the system will be checked, and you will be able to see real data about it (it happens that the real information differs from that indicated by the seller).
3. Next, in the “Upgrade to” block, a complete list of operating system version options that are available for updating on your device will be shown.
4. Once selected, the update will either start automatically or you will need to enter three more texts shown below. In the second case, after each test the result will be displayed, and if the test is successful, the message will say “You can upgrade”.
5. Next, in the main menu, you need to click on the “View android firmware” button to see the available system updates. There you just have to click on the selected OS version to begin its installation.

It was not possible to find other truly working programs for the phone that could update the system. Therefore, we recommend updating the system in the standard way (described above) or through a computer.

Using a computer

Android Update Manager

As they write on the Internet, this is not a very reliable program, but it works well. Another disadvantage is the fact that Android Update Manager does not support all modern smartphone models.

To use Android Update Manager to update the system via your computer, you must do the following:

• Download and open the program. Select the device model from the list. This is done by clicking on the select button and selecting among the proposed options.
• View the list of available firmware for the selected device.

• Click on the desired version. After this, you will be taken to a page with its description. You don't have to read all of this. All that remains is to click on the download button.
• After the download is complete, you need to download the resulting file to your phone and install it like any other program.

Kies

This is a much more proven method. You can download the program here.

After downloading and installing, you need to do the following:

• Connect your device to your computer using a USB cable. After this, you will need to wait a little so that the program can recognize the connected phone. It will also check to see if an operating system update is available for the device. If it is available, the user will see the corresponding notification shown in Figure 5. There you need to click on the “Update” button.

• The user will then see a large warning text. It is advisable to read it, check the box next to the inscription “I have read…”, as well as next to the inscription “Allow saving”. Then you can click on the “Start update” button at the bottom of the window.

• Then you will need to wait a certain time while the program downloads the necessary files and installs them. At the end, a window will appear where you need to click on the “Confirm” button.

This process can be seen clearly in the video below.

Android is an operating system that has many versions. A user who keeps up with the times undoubtedly wants to try new versions. To do this, you can buy a gadget with the latest version already installed or upgrade Android to that. But not everyone knows how to update Android. We will tell you how to install a new version of Android in this article.

We offer step-by-step and detailed instructions for updating Android. In order to understand how to update Android on your device, you need an Internet connection (preferably Wi-Fi, so as not to empty your mobile account).

Android updates are individual for each smartphone or tablet. Therefore, there is no universal software or program for PC to “update Android”. The update method common to all device models is updating the Android version over the air.

How to improve the version of Android on your phone

Perform a series of simple manipulations:

• go to " Settings» system of your Android device and connect to the Internet using Wi-Fi
• if you have a new Google account, go back to " Settings" and go to the section " About the smartphone (tablet)»

• Allow automatic operating system updates. When a new firmware version is released, you will see a corresponding message on the tablet

• click " Restart and Install" This way you will run the update and within half an hour your device will be updated to the latest version of Android

The Android update process is individual for each individual brand and device model

The question “how to update the Android version” on a phone or tablet with an installed operating system from Google is not at all idle, as it may seem to many users. There are many cases in life that require you to flash a new version of Android on your device.

When might you need new firmware?Android:

1. Very often, when launching a new model for sale, the manufacturing company is in such a hurry to do this that it does not have time to correct all the flaws in the software and the firmware with many errors may be installed on the smartphone.

2. Mobile equipment manufacturers who value their reputation consider it good practice to update the firmware of their devices, adding improvements to it, or doing this with the release of each new version of the Android OS with additional functionality.

3. There is a huge army of third-party developers in the world who do not work for mobile device manufacturers and produce their own, unofficial (so-called “custom”) firmware for many models, which can sometimes be of better quality than the Android version from the phone or tablet manufacturer.

4. And finally, you may need to update the firmware on a Chinese device that simply does not have normal localization.

In all these cases, the user needs knowledge about how to update the Android version, and whether this can be done in each specific case. We will tell you about this in our article today.

Find out your firmware version

Before upgrading to a new version of Android, information about the firmware that you already have installed may be useful. Here is an excerpt from

To find out your Android version, follow these steps:

1. Go to the main program menu;

2. Select the “Settings” menu item;

3. The last item in this menu is usually the item “About the phone”, “About the tablet”, or simply “About the device” (in the case of an anonymous Chinese without Russian language support, look for the item “About tablet” or “About phone”);

4. Somewhere in this menu item you will find the version of your Android operating system, as well as information about the build number, etc.

Knowing the current firmware version can help you understand whether there are newer versions of software for your smartphone and whether they can be installed.

How to update your Android version using the official update

Official firmware updates for phones or tablets with Android OS are released quite regularly, at least this applies to products from well-known manufacturers and more or less popular device models. For little-known Chinese smartphones, the situation with new firmware can be much worse; sometimes their basic firmware is not updated at all.

Firmware from the manufacturer can be updated completely free of charge, and this operation does not require any special knowledge from the device owner. Note: To check for the availability of new firmware and its update, the Internet must be turned on on the smartphone.

To check if you can update the firmware on your Android phone or tablet, do the following:

1. Activate your Internet connection in any way;

2. Go to the “Settings” menu item of your device;

3. Go to the very bottom to the item “About phone” (sometimes “About device”);

4. Find the “System Update” (sometimes “Software Update”) item in the menu;

5. Click the "Check Now" button.

If a new version of Android is available, you will receive a system message about this, after which your system will update itself and you will be able to enjoy the new functionality of your mobile friend.

How to Update Android Version Using ROM Manager

It is not always possible to download an official update via the Internet, and, in addition, you will not be able to install unofficial (custom) firmware on your phone or tablet this way. In this case, applications from third-party developers will help us update the Android version.

We have already reviewed one of the best programs for working with the firmware of mobile devices on the Android OS, ROM Manager, when we studied. In addition to creating a backup copy of the entire system, ROM Manager can help us manually update our version of Android if we need to install firmware from third-party developers or in our unnamed Chinese smartphone, official updates over the air simply do not work.

To run the R programOM Manager You must first obtain root rights on your phone or tablet, if you have not done so yet. How to get root rights, read this article on our portal:

Before starting to work with ROM Manager, the program will ask us to install ClockWorkMod Recovery, which is a more advanced version of the standard Recovery mode of the Android operating system. Agree with this proposal. Next you will need to perform the following sequence of actions.

1. Download the firmware in zip archive format that you want to install to the flash drive of your device;

2. Launch the ROM Manager application and select the menu item "Install ROM from SD card";

3. Using folder navigation, specify the path to the archive on your SD flash card;

4. Select the “Reboot and installation” item, and also check the “Save current ROM” checkbox in case you don’t like the new firmware and want to roll back to the previous version;

5. Agree to the reboot, after which ROMManager will reboot your device in ClockWorkMod Recovery mode and install new firmware.

In addition, this application can independently search for firmware for your device. Select the menu item "Download firmware", and perhaps you will find something interesting for yourself.

How to Update Android Version Manually Using ClockWorkMod Recovery

The ROM Manager app is a great tool for installing unofficial firmware, but sometimes things can go wrong, especially on a Chinese smartphone or tablet from a little-known manufacturer. In this case, there is no need to be very upset, because you still have the opportunity to try to manually update the Android version using the ClockWorkMod Recovery menu mentioned above. Install it using the ROM Manager program, copy the archive with the firmware you need to the SD flash card of your Android device, and follow the instructions below.

To carry out the firmware process, you first need to get into this very ClockWorkMod Recovery mode. This can be done by turning off your smartphone and then simultaneously pressing some combination of its hardware keys. This combination varies depending on the device manufacturer, but usually you need to press one of the following:

- "Power on" and "Add volume";

- "Power on" and "Lower volume";

- “Power on”, “Lower volume” and “Add volume”.

- “Power on”, “Home” and “Lower volume”.

To clarify this question, it is better to ask the all-knowing Google by entering a query for the name of your model. After you have entered the ClockWorkMod Recovery menu, look for the item “install zip from sd card” or something similar there. Moving between menu items in ClockWorkMod Recovery is carried out using the volume down and up keys, the selection of the item is confirmed by the power key of the device or the Home key. In some mobile device models, this menu may be touch-sensitive.

1.Select the menu item "install zip from sd card";

2. In the menu item "choose zip from sd card" specify the path to the new firmware saved on the SD flash card in the archive;

3. Confirm your choice by clicking "Yes";

4. Wait until the system installs this firmware.

After the update, the system will reboot, and all you can do is enjoy the new version of Android.

Today we learned how to update the Android firmware (version) on your mobile phone or tablet. This operation is nothing scary, and there is no need to be afraid of it. Even if the manufacturing company does not release any more operating system updates for your device, or you have a smartphone in which half the menu is in Chinese, you can always improve the situation using unofficial firmware.

There are no universal recipes for flashing mobile devices with the Android operating system, so read specialized sites, study forums dedicated specifically to your model, try different firmware options, and you will definitely find the optimal one for yourself. Good luck!

New OS versions are constantly being released for modern smartphones, but not all users receive them. If the firmware on your Android is not updated over the air or via cable, then the reasons can be very different: from lack of memory to the termination of support for the phone by the manufacturer. Let's figure it out.

This article is suitable for all brands that produce phones on Android 9/8/7/6: Samsung, HTC, Lenovo, LG, Sony, ZTE, Huawei, Meizu, Fly, Alcatel, Xiaomi, Nokia and others. We are not responsible for your actions.

Why is there no update on Android?

The most common reason why Android is no longer updated is the cessation of support from the manufacturer and the obsolescence of the device itself. Android developers are forced to work on compatibility with a large number of devices and create additional drivers. Therefore, only the latest models of smartphones, the flagships of the series, usually receive updates.

Other reasons for missing system updates on your phone include:

• Insufficient memory on the device. There is no place for the update to install. A corresponding message should appear.
• Google Services malfunctioned.
• Using unofficial software - installing custom firmware and recovery, installing applications from unverified sources.
• Hardware faults that lead to failure of individual components.

In addition, you need to understand that the new firmware is distributed among users gradually, from the region the phone is bound to. Even if your friends have already updated their Android, this is not a reason to look for problems - perhaps you need to wait a little longer.

Increase

Only the latest Nexus models in the line-up of various brands are updated regularly and in a timely manner. Owners of other devices are forced to wait for information about whether the new version will work on their phones at all, and when the update will arrive - in a week or a couple of months.

Automatic and manual system updates

Typically, a notification about the availability of an update comes when you connect to the Internet. You can download and install it via Wi-Fi or mobile traffic. But if other users have already installed the new firmware, but you haven’t received anything yet, try to force a request for an update.

1. Open settings.
2. Go to the “About device” section.
3. Go to "System Update".
4. Click Check for Updates.

If there are updates available for your device, click Download. It is preferable to use a Wi-Fi Internet connection. It's important that your phone doesn't run out of power during the reinstallation process, so connect it to a charger when the battery is low.

If the update does not arrive, but you are sure that your model supports the new version, then force the update:

1. Open settings.
2. Go to the "Applications" section.
3. On the All tab, open Google Service Framework.
4. Erase data and clear cache.
5. Force check for updates.

If the manufacturer supplies a proprietary management utility with the device, then use it to obtain a system update. The example below is Samsung Kies, and other brands have their own programs.

When you connect your phone, a list of available updates that can be installed will appear in the utility window.

Installing firmware updates via Recovery Menu

If all else fails, install the update manually by downloading the file from the smartphone manufacturer’s website.

1. Download the new official firmware to your computer. You can find it on the manufacturer’s website on the support page for your phone/tablet model.
2. Move the update file to the root of the memory card or internal memory of the device.
3. Turn off the device and go to the Recovery Menu. Typically, to enter Recovery, the combination “Volume up” - “Power button” is used. What to do if the combination didn't work? View the combination for a specific manufacturer and model.

The Recovery menu is navigated using the volume keys and the power button. To install the firmware.

Software updates and the operating system itself are known to be the key to security and stable operation. Yes, if you do not update, your device will also work, but new functions may be missing or vulnerabilities may appear. To prevent this from happening, we will tell you how to update Android in different ways.

When a new smartphone first goes on sale, its software is often quite crude. A good manufacturer tries to fix bugs and release updates as soon as possible. It turns out that a user who does not install the patch will continue to use a buggy device.

Moreover, sometimes holes are discovered in the operating system that allow attackers to steal your personal data and force your smartphone to work in networks for DDoS attacks. It is in order to protect the user and make the smartphone fast, reliable, and also more functional that firmware updates are needed.

Preparing for the update

Before you begin the procedure for installing new versions of the OS, you need to make sure that your Internet connection is stable and has sufficient speed. The update algorithm is designed in such a way that an incompletely downloaded file will not be installed. However, if you are using a slow network, packages, often reaching gigabyte sizes, can take almost days to download.

Also, before you start, just in case, we advise you to create a backup copy of all existing data. Usually, the user’s personal files are not lost, but it’s still worth being safe. Just connect your smartphone to your computer or laptop and copy all your videos, photos and music there.

In what cases auto-update may not work?

There are 8 generations of the Android operating system. In addition, each manufacturer modifies the OS to suit itself. But one way or another, there are a number of established reasons why new updates may not be installed:

• the update is simply disabled in the phone settings;
• the manufacturer has stopped supporting the model and updates for it are no longer provided;
• there is no connection to the network;
• There is not enough free space on the drive.

From all this you can understand what to do if Android is not updated. Next, we move on to instructions for updating your device.

How to change the version (firmware) of Android

Since there are many versions of the Android OS, we will describe the process for each of them. Also, working with the OS may vary, for example, depending on the device manufacturer. In Xiaomi Redmi Note 4x, HTC One M7 or Meizu, everything may look completely different. We will not consider the first and second editions of the green robot, since if such devices still exist, then updates for them have not been released for a long time. An example of updating using third-party programs will also be given.

Standard over-the-air update procedure

So, let's get started and start with the oldest version of Google's OS and work our way up.

Android 4.x

In order to change the OS configuration, you first need to get into its settings. In the fourth edition of Android this is done like this:

1. On the home screen, tap on the icon depicting several dots arranged in a row.

1. Click on the settings gear, which is located in the main menu of the device.

1. Scroll the list to the very bottom and select the item marked in the picture.

1. We need the “System Update” item.

1. Here we see that there are no new versions of the OS, but to be sure, we still press the marked button.

In the case of Android 4.x, if there were updates, the system would download them, then reboot and install in PreOS mode. The situation is exactly the same with other versions of OS.

Android 5.x

In the fifth edition of the operating system we do this:

1. Move the notification line or, as it is also called, the “curtain” down and tap on the settings icon.

1. Scroll the contents of the window to the very bottom and select “About tablet” or “About phone”.

1. Just like in the fourth edition, click on the item circled in the screenshot.

1. As you can see, there are no updates, but you can check them manually.

Android 6.x

Let's move on to the conditional equator of the development of operating systems from Google. This is the sixth version named Marshmallow. Let's look at how to check and, if necessary, apply updates here:

1. On the desktop or, as it is also called, the home screen, press the menu button.

1. Tap on the settings gear.

1. Let's move on to the point marked in the screenshot below. You can find it at the very bottom of the settings.

1. Click on “System Update”.

1. As a result, we see that there are no updates. To be extra sure, click on the circled button to check their availability again.

Android 7.x

We won’t talk about the newest version of Android “eight”, because it is currently installed only on some smartphones. But let’s talk about its predecessor right now:

1. We lower the “curtain” and go to settings.

1. Scroll the list down and tap on its last list.

1. Here, on the contrary, we select the very first point.

1. Then click “Check for updates”.

As in other cases, there were no updates. This means we have the latest version of the operating system and you don’t have to worry about its security.

ROM Manager

1. In order to install the program, you need to open the Play Market.

1. Here we write down the name of the program we need and select it from the generated list.

1. Click the button that will begin installing the application.

1. We allow the utility access to the necessary resources.

1. We wait until all the files necessary for the program to work are downloaded and installed.

1. You can launch the application directly from the store.

1. The program shortcut will also appear on the Android desktop.

Here is the ROM Manager software interface. We need to tell you something here. The fact is that this program has extensive functionality, which you will not need in its entirety. All you need is the “Check for update” item. Then just follow the program prompts.

Recovery

The last option we will consider is working with custom Recovery using unofficial firmware. In order to install the firmware through it, you must first download it in .zip format. This can be done on one of the forums that are replete with the Internet.

1. To get into recovery, turn off your smartphone. Then press and hold the power button and volume up button at the same time. When the logo appears, release them. In the custom Recovery menu, select the installation option.

Since there are several such recovery options, the names of the items and their location may change.

1. Next, open the folder in which you previously placed the archive with the firmware.

1. And select the firmware itself.

Attention! If you flash a file that is not for your device, it may turn into a “brick” that even a service center cannot restore.

1. To apply the update, pull the slider to the right.

You can also update your phone through a special package from the manufacturer. For example, in the case of Samsung, this is the proprietary KIES utility. You need to work with it through a computer.

Results and comments

This concludes our article and we can only say that if you have comments, you can leave them a little lower in the form provided for this.

Video instruction

For greater clarity and completeness of the picture, you can also watch a video on this topic.