How to update your Android even if there is no official update

Having the latest version of Android has its advantages, such as being able to take advantage of the latest usage changes introduced, enjoy better security or take advantage of improvements in battery usage. However, we already know that the update does not always arrive, or does it very late.

If your mobile manufacturer has already abandoned it, you get stuck in the current version with no hope that the available update notice will appear. In addition to accepting your destination or changing mobile, there are other two things you can do: Find compatible firmware from another region or install ROM.

Why is your mobile no longer updated?

Android’s update process takes a long time, and manufacturers typically limit it to two years.

Let’s start with the symptom before looking at the possible drug: why your mobile has not already received the new version. Here are two possible scenarios: you have not yet received the new version, but wait to receive it in the future, or that it will never be updated.

Updating the version of a mobile phone is a long and complex process and it can be said that the mobile manufacturers do not have much interest in doing it either. Typically, official updates last a period of two years, although there have been exceptions lately, such as the case of Samsung. This applies to high-end and generally mid-range terminals. Sometimes the most economical range is updated only once … or not at all.

that is to say in most cases limited to two updates, regardless of the specific dates and whether the latest update is already out of date, because a new version is available. Note: We are talking about Android updates here, not security updates. These can last longer and Google requires that they be done for at least the first two years.

What happens after the manufacturer “abandons” the terminal? Well basically what stay as isunless you act on it. There are two possible actions, although in most cases they will boil down to the second.

First option: install firmware from another region

Odin is the software to install firmware on Samsung mobiles

In some cases the update to the latest version exists, it exists, but for some reason never reaches your mobile. The update process usually starts in a specific region and with a limited number of users, so if there is an issue with the new version it only affects a few and can be fixed beforehand. that the problem does not get worse.

In those cases where the check for updates button never gives you results even though you know the update exists, it is possible force install firmware. This is especially common at Samsung, a company known to take a long time to send the update to everyone.

The specific way of doing this varies from mobile to mobile, although the essence is the same: download the firmware from the internet and install it manually, without having to wait for the OTA to arrive. It sounds easy, although in reality it is a bit more complicated.

Download firmware

Sammobile, the best repository for Samsung mobile firmware

First you will need the firmware, which should be exactly for the same model, even if it is for another region. Firmware files today occupy several gigabytes, and where to get them varies by brand of phone.

In some cases it is the company itself that officially shares the firmware, while in others you have to resort to third-party repositories. Here are some of the places you can look firmwares for different brands of laptops:

• Samsung phones, Sammobile firmwares, StockRom
• Sony Phones, XperiaFirmware, StockRom
• Nokia phones, no official repository, only unique pages
• Motorola Phones, StockRom
• Google Phones, Android Developers
• LG Phones, LG Firmware
• HTC phones, official page on HTC
• Official Xiaomi, MIUI and XiaomiFirmwareUpdater phones
• ASUS phones, ASUS official support
• Huawei Mobiles, StockRom
• OnePlus phones, official page

Install firmware

Now comes the most complicated and decisive step, the installation of the firmware in question. It is a process that very variable from one mobile to another, so it is best to look for the instructions on the page where you downloaded the firmware.

For example, on Samsung mobiles you have to restart them in Download mode (turn it on while holding down some physical buttons), then use Odin to install the firmware from a PC. However, in ASUS mobiles You must copy the firmware file to internal memory and restart the terminal. On the Pixel and the Nexus, this is done with ADB.

Your best bet is that you follow the instructions carefully, and if you have any doubts, check out specialist forums such as XDA-Developers, where the vast majority of mobiles have their own forums where questions like these are resolved. Upgrading firmware the wrong way can turn you into a brick, so do it at your own risk.

Second option: install a ROM

What if your mobile has no pending updates, neither in your region nor in any other? This is where most Android phones end up after two years, and in many cases before. Then you are in charge of the Community ROM for your device. These firmwares are not developed by the manufacturer of your mobile, but rather created – or rather modified – by third parties.

The road to ROM is long, sometimes complicated and everything does not always end the way you would like, but in return the potential is immense. However, it requires patience, knowledge of the subject, and the ability to follow directions to the letter.

Unfortunately, the way to install a ROM may vary from mobile to mobile to give specific instructions, but generally these are the steps you need to take before installing a ROM on your mobile (the order can sometimes vary).

• Get root access. In most cases, you need root access. It’s said quickly, but root A specific mobile is a world of its own, and you will need to find out how to do it on your specific mobile. Generally, it won’t take you long to find it on the XDA forums.

• Unlock the bootloader. The bootloader is the first thing that is loaded on the mobile and in some mobiles it is blocked so that the user does not reach into the system. If you’ve unlocked the bootloader, you don’t need to do anything, but if not, you’ll probably need to unlock it. Again, the process varies, as some manufacturers allow you to do this easily, while others do not.

• Install a recovery mode. Recovery mode is a kind of emergency menu where you can make some adjustments to the system, even before the system loads. Android brings its own, but the grace is to install a third party with additional functions, such as TWRP or CWM Recovery. You will use this mode to install the ROM in question.

• Download a ROM and copy it to your mobile. Now comes the easy part: download the ROM itself. While there are some reputable ROMs that we will see later, for smaller projects (cooked ROMs) you had better check the XDA forum for your device’s firmware. Copy the unzipped file to your mobile.

• Install ROM from Recovery Mode. As long as you don’t care about the data on your mobile – as it is possible that it will get erased – the next step is to use the recovery mode you installed before to run the ROM installation. This will usually erase the entire system partition (and maybe the data) first and then replace it with the new one. Read and follow the official instructions carefully.

• Reboot and enjoy your new ROM. The last step is to restart the mobile and wait for it to start. The first reboot takes a long time, so don’t be nervous if it seems to never end. If all went well, you will soon have a new version of Android. If something goes wrong, you can always go back to recovery mode to try a different ROM or flash the original firmware.

Some famous ROMs

CarbonRom

There are many ROMs in Android, although many of them are re-releases of others. However, there are a few big projects that offer an Android alternative, often updating to or near the latest version available, and with exclusive features.

• LineageOS. It was first called CyanogenMod, then it’s reborn as LineageOS and lately it’s made a comeback, taking Android Pie for example on the LG G2. On their site, you can consult the compatible mobiles: a list that is constantly growing.

• Paranoid Android. After a period of silence, Paranoid Android was reactivated with an Android Pie-based version available for a handful of mobiles and followed by the version of Android 10. You can see the list of compatible mobiles here, although many of them they are still with old versions.

• SlimRoms. It has not been updated since last year, but it is a ROM where what matters is lightness. Based on AOSP, it includes a few additions like a recent minimalist view. On their site you have the compatible models.

• Resurrection Remix. Also without much activity for a year, Resurrection Remix is ​​one of the oldest ROMs and basically tries to pack as much functionality as possible. Here you will find downloads and compatible models.

• Dirty unicorns. This ROM also tries to include a large number of add-ons, although it does so in a more stable way than Resurrection Remix. The official download page is here (you need to open the menu to see the devices)

• Extended AOSP. It’s like AOSP (Android from Unmodified Source Code), only better, with new features and more customization options. On their website you have the download links and compatible models.

• CarbonROM. Still very active, with releases from two weeks ago, this is one of the most stable ROMs on the market, with plenty of customization options. You can check the compatible models here.