What changes in the phone after the firmware update. Firmware. What is it and why is it needed. Types of firmware and methods of installing them

How to install firmware on an Android smartphone? Is it worth it or not to update the firmware? Firmware is an update to a phone or tablet. Because of this, the hardware does not work correctly on firmware with the new version of Android and you will not receive the new unofficial version of Android.

What types of firmware are there? How to flash Android and why? Sooner or later, everyone faces this question! But many who encounter this operation for the first time do not know how to flash an Android tablet or how to do the same on another gadget.

Android firmware is a responsible thing, so first you need to prepare. Flashing an Android starts with choosing firmware. Depending on this, you need to choose how to reflash Android.

We have already written how to make a backup copy of Android. A few words should be said about how to flash a Chinese Android. When buying an Android smartphone, you first of all buy hardware! Firmware or Firmware is the software that is installed on your Android device.

Many users are interested in how to find out the firmware version on an Android device.

These include: build number, kernel version and Android version. And there can be many different firmwares with the same version of Android. You just need to strictly follow all the instructions, and then very soon you will understand how to flash Android.

Why do you need firmware for Android (instructions for working with android - all about android)

Let's return to the topic of the article and finally find out how to install firmware on Android. You can flash three-file firmware using the Mobile Odin Pro application. This is another program for flashing Android.

There are also firmwares that are packaged in a .TAR archive. In principle, everything is the same as in the previous instructions. Chinese gadgets are also flashed, but the difficulty here is that finding the right firmware is not easy.

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An Android smartphone is essentially a laptop. These are components assembled into one case and a system (firmware) you can install on it that you like.

Recovery

It happens that at the previous stage some problems arise. For example, the smartphone stopped showing vital signs, the screen became somehow suspicious. Any process that causes confusion requires quick action. In this case, the switched off device must be put into recovery mode. To do this, you need to turn it off and then start it again using the power and home buttons held down. This combination may differ on different device models. The main thing is that two mechanical keys of the device are used.

After getting into the recovery menu, you need to find the “Install archive from memory card” item and open the menu. In it, select the line - Toggle signature verification. Here you really need to make sure that the display shows the message “Selecting an archive from a memory card.” Then wait until the download is complete and use your smartphone or tablet.

This happens: the phone’s firmware is finished. Android then refuses to work. These problems can be software or physical. If after all the operations performed the device shows at least some signs of life, then this is a software problem. The third step described above will help here. With a physical breakdown, everything is more complicated. If the device is still under warranty, then you should immediately take it to a technician who will probably know how to change the firmware on an Android device.

Why flash Android?

But, unfortunately, not all manufacturers open the source code for their firmware. We have decided on the firmware. Root or root rights is full access to the Android system (more precisely, to the hardware). This removes all restrictions on smartphone control.

To flash the recovery - you need to find out about this on the forum in the topic on your phone. Download the firmware and upload it to your smartphone’s memory card. Go into recovery - do everything WIPE and then INSTALL the firmware. For each version of tablets, depending on their manufacturer and the boards that are inside, there are many different firmware methods.

Without Android firmware, the gadget is just a brick that won’t even turn on. To do this, just open the Android settings and go to the “About smartphone” section (or to the “About tablet” section if you have a tablet computer).

The firmware update is installed when the Android device is connected to the computer or using WiFi. For example, Samsung uses the KIES application, which runs on Windows.

The device will prompt you to reboot the gadget and install new firmware. For example, one of the most popular custom firmware is CyanogenMod. Installing custom firmware is already more difficult compared to installing firmware from the manufacturer.

So, what is firmware, in the original understanding of this term. Now let's get back to our tablets and smartphones. Without an operating system, any computer, tablet or smartphone is a set of dead hardware. Now you understand that the expression “change the firmware” on a tablet or phone means about the same as “reinstall Windows” on a computer.

Why do you need to flash an Android and is it so difficult to flash Android? In this article we will tell you how to reflash Android.

Articles and Lifehacks

It's no secret that most owners of mobile gadgets have a hard time understanding what phone firmware is and why it is needed

, although they encounter it every day. How does this happen? But it turns out that the operation of any mobile device, including the simplest ones, is ensured by special software, thanks to which a person can make phone calls, listen to music on it, and so on.

The software is divided into three modules: - EEPROM is a module responsible for the technical settings of the mobile device; — FlexMemory – the so-called “virtual” memory of the phone; - “flash” is, strictly speaking, the phone’s firmware, which is a set of codes that links together all the components of the mobile phone, which allows it to work.

Why do you need phone firmware?

The role played by firmware in any mobile device is, without exaggeration, enormous, since without it a phone, smartphone or computer is just a “piece of hardware” that does not perform any functions. Having asked the question of what phone firmware is and what it is needed for, a person learns that with the help of firmware it is possible to improve or update the software, change some functions of telephone keys, improve the quality of photo or video shooting, or change the interface. In addition, with the help of firmware, you can “enrich” the phone with functions not provided by the manufacturers and even improve the sound quality in the speakers.

When the firmware is installed incorrectly, which happens quite often in conditions of fierce competition between manufacturers, the phone may not work at all or may not perform any functions. In this case, new firmware must be installed on the mobile device, which will correct problems with the phone. Moreover, it is better to make new firmware at a service center, then you won’t need to install it and in general it will probably be of high quality.

Types of firmware for phones

Since all mobile devices are different, software, that is, firmware for each of them is created separately. It comes in two types:

1. Official firmware. Official software is usually released by mobile device manufacturers. They are installed on the phone automatically (via the Internet), so they are often called “over-the-air” firmware. You can download the official firmware to your phone yourself; to do this, you just need to go to the mobile phone manufacturer’s website.

2. Homemade firmware. Homemade firmware is official software improved by independent developers. Such firmware is often called alternative.

Our news will become your main assistant and consultant among a huge range of mobile equipment, and in your spare time you will have the opportunity to read about interesting and curious facts from all over the world. You will learn about the latest events and news from mobile technology manufacturing companies, witness new ideas that are the result of their fierce competition, find out which models will be in demand in the near future, what they will look like and how much more functional they will become.

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26.01.2011 12:54:16

Very often lately problems in software are solved by flashing the firmware. This word is on the lips of service workers and most ordinary users of mobile equipment who want to get as many services as possible from their mobile friend or improve the operation of some of its functions. Despite this widespread use of this concept, many phone owners are still afraid to use just such methods to improve or correct certain phone capabilities. Let's try to figure out what is the benefit and harm of flashing, which many recommend as a panacea for many telephone “diseases”.

There are a lot of forums and communities online that offer flashing services.

mobile phones, answers questions from beginners and offers detailed instructions with a complete description of the process. But almost no one will tell you whether it is really that safe. More precisely, they will say that this will be done by mobile phone manufacturers, who for the most part are against such interference in their creations. By the way, in some countries around the world, reflashing phones will soon be criminalized.

A few words about what flashing is

First, let's look at the terms that we most often hear on this issue - the firmware

, flashing and their derivatives are required. Very often these concepts are remembered when the phone starts to work poorly or its functions become insufficient. Or, during operation, it turns out that the phone cannot perform a number of functions that were available in another phone from another manufacturer.

Most often, the reason lies in the operation of the phone software - the so-called “firmware”. If they say that “the firmware has crashed,” this means that it has started to work incorrectly, is not coping correctly with the tasks assigned to it, or is not working at all. In this case, it needs to be reinstalled (similar to the operating system for your computer) or updated.

Software is not exactly a complete system; rather, it is a set of modules working in parallel, each of them has its own tasks and each can have its own breakdown, which does not affect all other modules. And here another new concept awaits us - “full flush”. It means nothing more than a complete set of installed programs on the phone. A synonym for this concept is the word “monsterpack” - it usually means those modules that are installed by the manufacturer. The latter includes the phone software itself (“flash”), FlexMemory and EEPROM.

Flashing capabilities

Before talking about the disadvantages of flashing

, it doesn’t hurt to find out what exactly positive it gives. And it gives a lot of useful and good things:

The ability to work with a newer version of the software, which usually already corrects minor shortcomings that were noticed after the firmware was released;

Minor changes to the shell interface, sometimes replacing the graphic part - pictures, icons, additional installation of themes, etc.;

Reassigning key functions (default navigation key deflections, for example);

A slight improvement in camera performance in terms of shooting quality;

Changing the sound parameters of the speakers (you often come across models with very quiet speakers).

How is flashing done?

It’s one thing to want to do a flashing, another thing to decide to take this step. If only because for this, in the most ideal case, you will need to visit a service center staffed by professional engineers with appropriate training and experience. We categorically do not recommend contacting friends, acquaintances or simply unknown persons based on an ad - you never know what you will get at the end, but you still want to get the phone in working condition, don’t you?

Another option is online firmware update

, but with this everything is clear and everything is legal: the manufacturer offers you to update the software the next time you connect your phone to a PC, although this cannot be done with every phone (although for modern models this is not a problem). You simply confirm the update request, and all the necessary files are automatically downloaded into memory. The maximum that will need to be done after this is to reboot your device for the changes to take effect.

Disadvantages of flashing

And now we come to the most important thing we wanted to know: how harmful is flashing

for mobile phone. If you are dealing with the official firmware from the Internet, which the phone itself offers to download, there will be no problems. The same applies to service center workers. But if you yourself or some outsider took up the matter, expect the following troubles:

If your phone is before flashing

was under warranty (and usually this is about one year from the date of purchase), then after flashing you can safely say goodbye to it: for a model that has been flashed, the warranty ends, no service center will want to compensate for losses and work with it for warranty service, only for money;

Perhaps this flashing

will be the last action that you can perform with your phone - it may well not turn on after this or, when turned on, not respond to your presses in any way, in some cases the call function disappears;

Some software capabilities simply disappear - for example, sending messages in Cyrillic, non-working wireless modules, etc.

As you can see, troubles will most likely await you, although no one excludes the possibility of a positive outcome.

If you still want to take a risk and reflash the phone

Don't say we didn't warn you. This is a serious and responsible step if you want to do a flashing

themselves and at home. To do this, you will need to purchase a data cable (or it already came with your phone). Next, you should find the required firmware on the Internet (be sure to check it and read reviews about its performance). In some cases, they are also available on manufacturers' websites, although this is the exception rather than the rule. And lastly, find detailed instructions on how to install it. Have you changed your mind yet? Then just follow the instructions, and the result will only be a consequence of your decision. And one more thing - say goodbye to the warranty on your phone if the warranty period has not yet passed. We hope it will still be positive.

The functionality of any modern phone can be improved if desired. To do this, you don’t have to be a specialist; it’s enough to be able to perform firmware. What is it and why is it needed? More about this in this article.

A phone, even one just purchased, can sometimes work with interruptions, slowdowns and freezes. Often the reason is a manufacturing defect, but it also happens that the phone's firmware is to blame.

Firmware is a set of hardware settings and software located in the flash memory of the device. If on a computer the memory and OS are located independently of each other, then in a mobile device this is impossible, this is the whole bottom. Let's figure out why you need phone firmware.

Main pros and cons of stock firmware

• And so, stock firmware is the official software released by the developers and optimized as best as possible for most mobile devices
• As a rule, tablets and mobile phones are initially sold with the optimal version of the operating system (firmware) for them and replacing it with earlier or later versions is not recommended, but in some cases such a need may arise. For example, if you skipped updating to a new version after getting root rights

pros

• Official firmware provides a guarantee of quality and stable operation of the system
• Provides reliable protection against external hacking
• It is possible to automatically update if a new version of the operating system is released
• Absence of any serious bugs, glitches or software that conflicts with third-party applications
• If a device with stock firmware breaks down, it can be sent to a repair service or exchanged under warranty

Minuses

• There is a lot of unnecessary software in official firmware that cannot be removed. If you have a weak mobile phone or tablet, this may even slow down the system
• No full access to device management
• There is no option to install some additional software

Custom Android firmware

Why are there problems with the firmware?

Usually the reason lies with the manufacturer. He simply doesn’t try too hard to develop and test new firmware, trying to get the phone on sale faster due to high competition. Popular phone models have several firmware versions. The first one is released together with the phone. And others will be released soon. Why is this necessary? The manufacturer may understand, and sometimes even know, that the phone has problems, but strives to release it faster. This attitude is not uncommon among manufacturers today. And then you can release the modified firmware. For this reason, the first versions of firmware often have quite a lot of “glitches”.

Advantages of flashing:

• Ability to correct errors that were made in an earlier version.
• Software updates, adding new functions, themes, pictures, ringtones, games;
• Ability to support new headsets;
• Increased performance and battery life (by optimizing some processes in the software;
• Changing button functions, improving sound quality;
• Signal improvement. This is especially important where the signal is not very strong. Sometimes it is enough to change the phone's firmware rather than buy a new device.

Preparing the smartphone for the firmware procedure

Firmware for different model ranges of smartphones will require “uploading” of suitable software. Therefore, it is recommended to study all the intricacies of the firmware for your phone model. There are many special resources on the Internet, for example, 4pda, where you can find suitable software, a program for installing firmware, drivers, as well as instructions for the process itself.

Important! Before launching the firmware, you should disable the anti-virus program on your digital device, otherwise it will not allow the new software to launch.

The preparatory process takes about half an hour, complete the following steps:

• Download and install the MobileuncleMTC Tools application using Google Play.

Steps to install the application

• Install the program with administrator rights.
• Download the “CWM – recovery” file suitable for flashing the firmware of a specific smartphone model.

Submenu of built-in options in ClockworkMod Recovery

• Place a ZIP folder with downloaded files (firmware, recovery) on the smartphone's CD-card.
• Open the main menu of the installed Mobileuncle utility, find the Recovery file.
• Start the update by simply clicking “ok”.

The main program window, and the option “replacement recovery via update from sdcard”

Disadvantages of flashing

In general, if you do it correctly, then the firmware has no negative aspects. But it happens that it is chosen incorrectly or produced incorrectly. The result could be:

• Completely inoperable device;
• Some functions will not work (for example, SMS will not be sent);
• Some functions will not work fully (for example, the Cyrillic alphabet will not be displayed).

If you did the flashing yourself, the manufacturer will not be able to replace such a device for you. So that there are no questions: why did I do the flashing myself? - It is recommended to contact the service center.

Popular samples

Today, there are two main types of mobile firmware: official and unofficial. As a rule, when it comes to such a phenomenon, we most often mean the second type of shell for the system. To install them, you need to perform a number of manipulations on the gadget. We recommend entrusting this matter to professionals by contacting a specialized service. Android modifications are created by a variety of people. They can be ordinary folk craftsmen or professional development teams with extensive experience. The most famous firmwares are CyanogenMod, MIUI, Illusion ROMS, Paranoid Android, PAC ROM. All of them provide ample opportunities to personalize the device and increase the stability of its operation.

Components of the firmware

The mobile device software is called fullflash (or “monsterpack”). It is divided into three elements, each of which has its own functions:

This is what is called the device's software code. It combines and works together all the components of the device. Flash memory is divided into several components. For example, this is a Russification package that usually comes in the form of patches.

This is the device's virtual storage device. It stores all settings, games, ringtones, contacts, etc. In other words, this module works with files and settings on the phone.

This is a memory that is electrically erased. It contains all the device software settings that are required for its operation. This is data about the parameters of the network, battery, etc. Without this memory the phone will not be able to work.

1. The actual phone software (or flash);
2. FlexMemory (or flex);
3. EEPROM

What does it mean to reflash or flash a phone Well, it’s not clear... O.o

On one breath...
Any digital device has software to implement the necessary functions. The phone itself, the player, the camera, and even the computer are just a piece of hardware. To revive your computer, you need to install an operating system on it (the well-known Windows, for example). Phones also need an OS, which is somewhat different from a computer and is popularly called firmware. Firmware is a set of programs that perform all phone functions, from displaying menus and making calls to taking photographs and playing music. Each phone model has its own firmware, which in almost all cases does not work on other models, even phones from the same company (but for one model there may be several interchangeable firmware versions). The reason for this is the differences in the hardware, or more precisely, in the individual modules of the device (memory, screen, camera, etc.). In some cases, when using the phone, its functionality is impaired, completely or partially. Most often this is due to glitches in the firmware, which require a “flashing” to fix, or, more simply put, installing new software instead of the old one. To flash the firmware, you usually only need a DATA cable compatible with this device, and the Internet from which you can download the firmware program and the firmware itself. The flashing itself is essentially copying files from the computer to the phone via a cable. At the same time, the device itself comes back to its original form from the inside, as if it had just arrived from the factory. And for the lazier, there are service centers where for 500 - 600 rubles they will do everything that can be done on a home computer...

Android phone firmware

Among mobile device users, the question often arises: how to flash an Android phone and why is firmware needed? This OS is very popular. For what reasons might it be necessary to reflash it? For example, if there are glitches on the OS, some functions don’t work, or you just want to install a new version of Android. Let's take a closer look at how to flash firmware on such a device.

1. The phone needs to be connected to the computer. Install the mobile device driver (it should be on the disk that was in the box with the device, or you can download it from the official website);
2. Download the firmware itself. To do this, go to a specialized website or forum. File extension – OPS;
3. Press the key combination “Power”, “Home”, “volume minus”. The message “Downloading” will appear, which means that the flashing mode is activated on the phone;
4. Connect your mobile device to your PC using USB;
5. Turn on the Odin app. Choose the latest version of the program. Select OPS will appear;
6. Click on the OPS button and specify the path to the firmware file;
7. Click “Start” and wait for the flashing to complete. This usually takes about 5 minutes.

During the process, the device may turn off, but you should not turn it on yourself. Wait until the program finishes.

Before flashing, transfer all files from your phone as they will all be deleted. The battery should be at least 40% charged, but it is better to charge it completely. If during flashing the phone freezes or the program crashes, press the three key combination again.

Any modern phones can be flashed. If we are talking about smartphones and tablets running Android, IOS, Windows phone, then we can say that flashing the firmware is simply a necessary thing. New versions of OS for mobile devices often have many advantages over previous ones, so installing them (firmware) is an urgent need.

Android is open source, so developers can freely modify it, add new features, and create their own images of the operating system for phones and tablets. Some of these firmwares become extremely popular and even become the basis for successful commercial projects. We introduced you to some of them in this and also. And now we want to discuss with you the reasons that may convince you to take a risk and install third-party firmware on your Android.

How to flash Android yourself

After completing the preparatory activities, the Android device is completely ready to perform the main procedure - updating the firmware. The recommendations below will help you properly launch and monitor the process at all stages of its implementation. You can update the software on your smartphone in two ways: through the Recovery menu and using a computer.

Via the Recovery menu

Almost every device running Android OS is equipped with a recovery environment that provides the ability to manipulate certain sections of the built-in memory.

It is worth noting that the list of operations available in the “native” recovery is extremely limited, so in some cases a modified environment is installed on the smartphone. However, basic steps to update the software and restore the device’s functionality can still be performed. For this you will need:

• Find the installation zip package.
• Download the required file and install it on the memory card.
• Next, you need to turn off the device, and when it goes out, activate Recovery mode. To do this, you need to simultaneously hold down the Power and Volume Down keys.

• To install the firmware or its individual components into memory partitions, you need to go to the recovery menu, select and go to the “apply update from external SD card” section.

• In the list of files that appears, find the update.zip package copied earlier to the memory card and confirm the selection with the appropriate key.

• From this moment the installation will begin automatically.
• When copying files is complete, you will need to reboot your Android device by activating the “reboot system now” option.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ca4_jyf7gcg

From computer

Flashing a smartphone via a PC is carried out in accordance with a completely different scenario and requires attention and adherence to the sequence of actions. The user will need:

• Check the battery level on your phone - it should be above average.
• Install "ClockworkMod Recovery".

• Connect the device to the PC using a USB cable.
• Launch the program and go to the menu where you activate the “Wipe” option. This will help you reset all the data stored on your mobile device.
• When the process is completed, select and activate the “wipe cache partition” option to delete all accumulated temporary files.

• At the next stage, after agreeing and confirming, click on the “install from sdcard” line.

• When the “Choose Zip from internals sdcard” function opens, click on the pre-downloaded firmware image.
• Wait for the installation process to complete and reboot your phone.

It is not recommended to disconnect the device from the computer during the software update operation.

Getting the latest version of Android

It's no secret that many manufacturers of even expensive devices don't bother themselves too much with supporting their products. As soon as they sell you their product, they immediately forget about the need to release new firmware versions for them. As a result, it turns out that you do not have the opportunity to update to a new version of Android, even if the smartphone’s hardware freely allows it.

In this case, the best and sometimes only solution would be to use the well-known CyanogenMod, which, although it has many of its own “chips,” is in many ways similar to stock Android. Thanks to this development, owners of even fairly old devices can use the latest versions of the system.

Saving the installed firmware version

Before installing the firmware of your mobile phone, try to save all data (settings and programs) using a special backup application to a memory card or computer. A backup copy of the existing version may be needed if, of course, it’s not a fact, but something goes wrong or the new firmware will worsen the performance of the device.

Recommended actions:

• Launch ClockworkMod Recovery and go to the “Save current ROM” tab.
• Click “ok”, thereby starting the creation of a data backup.

Backup button for backing up files

• Restoring the saved version is started by opening the same CWM Recovery option, then launching the “Restore” function.

Refusal of “branded” shells

Many popular manufacturers (let’s not point fingers) love to equip phones with their own proprietary shells, which, however, is not liked by all users. Not only are many of them frankly ugly and inconvenient - this, as you know, is a matter of taste, but they also manage to noticeably slow down the system. Naked Android against this background shows speed records and impresses with its responsiveness.

Yes, of course, you can install your own launcher and remove all these widgets, but there is no way to refuse all the dubious settings that the manufacturer has made in the operating system. So in order to get a truly "pure" Android, you will have to install a custom ROM.

How to install custom firmware?

Let's look at the Galaxy S3 as an example:
– first of all, select the firmware, download it to your computer and unzip it;
If everything ended successfully - congratulations, if not - we warned you. It is better to install ONLY official updates. Gray firmware is usually used by people whose phone is outdated - just to get the capabilities of modern gadgets. Instead of resorting to such tricks, it is better to look for a powerful phone that will be supported by the manufacturer, and not by enthusiasts. For example, this one - with it people generally forget what custom firmware is.

Sources used:

• https://technosova.ru/cifrovaja-tehnika/smartfony/chto-takoe-proshivka-i-kak-proshit-svoj-telefon/
• https://lifehacker.ru/5-prichin-pereproshit-svoj-android-i-stolko-zhe-ne-delat-etogo/
• https://mobilegadjet.ru/aksessuary/604-kak-proshit-smartfon.html
• https://andevice.ru/kak-pomenyat-proshivku-android/
• https://nsk-digital.ru/articles/proshivka-samsung-galaxy-i-drugih-smartfonov-na-android—zachem-eto-nuzhno-i-kak-eto-delaetsya/

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Removing pre-installed software

Having received your brand new phone and having played enough with the programs installed on it, you gradually come to the understanding that it would be better not to have them at all. Most often, manufacturers complete the software package of a device, focusing not on feasibility and quality, but purely for commercial reasons. In addition, these programs are considered system programs and cannot be easily removed. As a result, we get a device full of outright rubbish that interferes with our lives.

A radical solution to this problem is to flash the device to a custom assembly that does not contain pre-installed software.

Over-the-air update

This method can hardly be called firmware, since, in fact, no work is required. But the system is being completely updated, and the variant falls under the definition. It is used only for official, stock firmware, and is performed using a Wi-Fi connection.

All gadgets have a notification function about the release of new software releases, which are installed independently. The user can only activate automatic updating:

1. Enter the settings section.
2. Find and open the “About Device” tab.
3. In the “Update” menu, select “Automatic”.

The update may take a long time, so it is recommended to connect the charger before starting. During the process, you need to be prepared for the fact that the gadget will reboot several times in a row.

Getting additional features and system settings

Many firmwares have such a different appearance and set of functions from the original Android that we can safely talk about independent operating systems. First of all, we are talking about such popular Chinese projects as MIUI, Lewa, Oppo, which are developing at a gigantic pace. It is likely that after trying this oriental cocktail at least once, you will look at the bland Android dish with undisguised regret.

Other firmware, for example AOKP, although based on stock Android, give such scope in settings, such customization possibilities that owners of ordinary smartphones have never dreamed of.

Official Android firmware

Almost everything happens automatically. You will need the following:

1.

Go to “Settings” and select “Allow automatic operating system updates.” On Samsung Galaxy, this option is located in the About device section;

2.

Click “Yes” when you receive a notification like this: “An Android update has been released for Samsung Galaxy. Should I update my device?

3. You can update manually

To do this, go to “Settings” > “About device” > “Software update”. IMPORTANT NOTE: charge your phone before flashing the firmware! It is better to start this process when the battery is 100% charged, otherwise it may break

IMPORTANT NOTE #2: Please note that the system downloads an average of 300 MB for an update. It's better to update via Wi-Fi, with unlimited traffic

IMPORTANT NOTE #3: Before flashing, be sure to back up all your data. As a rule, there are no problems updating Android over Wi-Fi

However, sometimes crashes occur, and therefore advanced users prefer to update through official programs from the developers. For Samsung, this is Samsung Kies (something like iTunes) - this program can be downloaded from the company’s official website. Then everything is simple:

As a rule, updating Android over Wi-Fi is not a problem. However, sometimes crashes occur, and therefore advanced users prefer to update through official programs from the developers. For Samsung, this is Samsung Kies (something like iTunes) - this program can be downloaded from the company’s official website. Then everything is simple:

– Install Samsung Kies on your computer and connect your smartphone to it via USB – the program will recognize it automatically;

– Click on the “Update Software” button (if there is an official update);

– Wait for the download to complete and click “Confirm”.

One more tip.

Some people update the official Android using the Odin program. This is not worth doing, because Odin is an UNOFFICIAL application, and by using it, you automatically remove the phone from warranty. Only Kies - if you have a Samsung device - or other official utilities if you have a smartphone from another manufacturer.

Safety

It may sound strange, but free community-created firmware can sometimes be safer than Google's product. In them, if you wish, you can completely get rid of the all-seeing eye of this company, completely replacing all their services and applications with third-party developments. It turns out, therefore, “Android without Google,” no matter how strange it may sound.

In addition, many custom ROMs contain a built-in antivirus and such detailed permission settings for each application that you can thoroughly specify who can do what on your device for what purpose.

Reset to factory settings

If the user does not receive what the firmware of an Android phone usually provides, all that remains is to get rid of it. Usually wipe is done in Recovery mode. If the device begins to perform worse, or problems arise with the functionality of individual modules and programs, a full reset will help return the system and settings to their original state. To do this you need:

1. Enter "Settings".
2. Open the “Restore and reset” section.
3. Activate the “Reset settings” icon and follow further instructions on the screen.

Sometimes these manipulations do not help. In such cases, more radical and effective methods are used.

Reasons not to use third-party firmware

But, as you understand, everything is not so rosy and there are quite significant problems that you may encounter in your experiments with firmware.

1. Bricks
   . The flashing process, although thoroughly developed and quite easy, still, with a certain degree of bad luck and crooked hands, can turn your device into just a dead block of plastic and microcircuits.
2. Battery problems
   . A custom ROM may not be optimized enough for a specific device and may drain your battery faster than the official firmware.
3. Hardware problems
   . Your new firmware may not fully support all the hardware in your phone, so you may encounter errors, some broken modules, and other issues. For example, your device's camera may not capture images as well as it used to, or your GPS may suddenly be slow to find satellites.
4. Errors
   . The manufacturers of your device test the software well before releasing it for sale, which, of course, cannot be said about independent firmware developers. Therefore, you may encounter annoying errors, which, although they will be corrected in the future, can spoil a lot of blood for you.
5. Guarantee
   . If you use third-party firmware, you will lose your warranty. If this is important to you, then think about it.

And now I would like to know your opinion about the need to flash Android. We ask you to participate in the survey and express your point of view in the comments.

Why do you need drivers when flashing firmware?

Among all working methods of flashing, the option using a personal computer is considered the most reliable. That is, Android will have to be connected to a PC that will have a different operating system. So, for the computer to be able to “see” the gadget, you need special software - drivers. In our case, we need a USB driver for a specific Android, which will be connected using the appropriate cord.

And you need to search for and download such software on the official website of the developer or manufacturer of the mobile device. The latter often post utilities themselves, with which you can quickly find the required driver.

They are usually available in the software package on the disk supplied with the device. It is very important to install it correctly.

Flashing an Android device via CWM Recovery

The utility is known for its functionality. Not only is the gadget stitched through it, but other manipulations are also performed. However, it became popular thanks to the convenient flashing of smartphones and tablets. Manufacturers do not install CWM Recovery out of the box, so install it yourself. Download it from user forums or the official website.

To get started, download the ZIP archive. The firmware must be strictly for your smartphone. Download the file to your SD drive. The installation is carried out from there.

Step by step guide:

1. Open Recovery. To do this, turn off your device, then hold down a specific key combination on your phone. The sequence of button presses may vary. If one doesn't work, try another. To find out for sure, look for information in this article. Basically, there are two combinations that work on 99% of devices. After turning off completely, hold down the following keys:

• power button and volume up rocker;
• power button and volume down rocker.

If these combinations do not work, then hold down the power button, volume up and down, as well as the Home key if the navigation is not touch-sensitive.

1. After this, the recovery menu will open. It looks almost the same in different smartphones. Use the volume rocker to control. The power button selects a menu item and confirms the action.
2. Using recovery, completely clean your smartphone, reset the device settings: use the navigation buttons to go to the “wipe data/factory reset” option. By pressing the power key, confirm the action by clicking on the corresponding menu item.
3. Select “Install zip”, then “Choose zip from /sdcard”, find the archive with the firmware. Confirm installation. The firmware of your smartphone or tablet will begin. Upon completion, the device will notify you with the appropriate message “Install from sdcard complete”. Next, return to the lobby, click “reboot system now”.
4. The smartphone will reboot and another installation will begin. This will take some time, on average 10-20 minutes. Depends on the power of the phone or tablet.

How to reflash a Samsung phone

In this section we will describe flashing using the MultiLoader application. After downloading it, you need to launch it and select “BRCM2133”. Then follow these instructions:

1. Go to the “Download” mode by holding down the power (lock) and volume keys. If the message “Download” appears on the screen, it means that everything was successful.
2. We connect the phone to the PC using a USB cable. After detecting the device, click the “Download” button and wait a couple of minutes.
3. Disconnect USB and reboot the smartphone. If the mobile phone starts in English, then we do a simple “Pre-configuration” by typing “*#6984125*#” → “Pre-configuration”, after which we enter the password “*#73561*#”. Select your country of residence and reboot. Next, enter “*2767*3855#” in the window, which will help reset the settings.
4. All is ready. The system has been updated. We think you understand how to reflash a Samsung phone.

Firmware Sony Xperia

To flash the firmware we will need the Flashtool program and a USB cable. Let's start the process. So, how to reflash a Sony Xperia phone?

1. First, we download the required firmware, which will be in .ftf format.
2. Place this file in the /flashtool/firmwares folder.
3. Then you need to launch the FlashTool utility, turn off the phone and wait 30-60 seconds. Next, click on the button in the application where the lightning is drawn and select “Flashmode”.
4. A little later you will receive a message stating that the firmware is ready for installation and you need to connect the device.
5. We hold down the key responsible for lowering the volume, after which the Flashtool program identifies your device.
6. We wait for the end of the firmware until the message “Flashing finished” appears. Reboot the device and enjoy the updated software.

Let's move on to the last phone, for which we will tell you the firmware process.

How to reflash an HTC phone

First you need to download the firmware itself. In addition, it is important to obtain root rights and make a backup using the method we described earlier. You can also create a backup using the Titanium Backup application. Let's get started with the process:

1. First we do a full “wipe”. We have already told you how to do this.
2. Next, select “install zip from sd-card” in recovery.
3. Then you need to enable or disable signature verification “toggle verification mode”.
4. We find our firmware and launch it. We wait for the update to complete and reboot. At the end, “Installation completed” should be displayed.

As you can see, the firmware for phones of this model largely coincides with the method of flashing firmware from a ZIP archive that we described earlier.

TWRP Recovery: step-by-step guide to flashing smartphone firmware

To do this, download an archive with a ZIP extension for the corresponding smartphone into the device memory. The installation process is simple and does not take more than 30 minutes. Almost the same as in the previous instructions.

Step by step guide:

1. Prepare an archive with official or unofficial firmware. Carefully read the name of the gadget model, because after installing inappropriate software, the device will not work.
2. Download and install TWRP on your gadget. Turn off your device. Go into recovery. This is done in the same way as in the previous instructions.
3. Reset to factory settings (“Wipe”).
4. In the main lobby, select "Install". Find the software archive. Select firmware. The utility will do everything itself. The process lasts up to 5 minutes.
5. From the main menu, select "Reboot System". The device will restart.