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 11/10/9/8: Samsung, HTC, Lenovo, LG, Sony, ZTE, Huawei, Meizu, Fly, Alcatel, Xiaomi, Nokia and others. We are not responsible for your actions.
Attention! You can ask your question to a specialist at the end of the article.
Description
A new operating system almost always means increased productivity, bug fixes, and a lot of additional innovations that expand the user's capabilities. It is for this reason that the question of why Android is not updated is very relevant for every owner of a multifunctional gadget. This problem is faced not only by users of Chinese devices, but also by owners of branded devices and even flagships. In this post, we will look at the main causes and solutions for problems with updates.
When is it necessary to update Android?
Anyone who owns an Android phone needs to update the system as soon as the developers release it. Usually, when there are updates, the phone receives information about this, that is, the system is already ready to install the necessary objects on the device.
Despite this, many users ignore updates; they are necessary. A complete overview of all the pros and cons of rebooting the system is worth watching in this video
As the developers themselves say, when users ignore the necessary system update, they automatically shorten the life of the device several times. Therefore, if a person wants to work on a normal and fast smartphone, it is worth installing the update and not ignoring it.
Why update your Android system?
Android is an operating system that provides the user with a universal set of capabilities to realize the potential of any multifunctional gadget. Each new version of the OS is designed to correct system errors and make significant adjustments to the operation, thereby increasing the practicality, comfort and reliability of the use procedure.
Updating the firmware is a mandatory action for any user who wants his gadget to demonstrate stable operation.
Other important reasons for the need to update the firmware include the fact that many game and application manufacturers eventually stop supporting their programs on older devices. Consequently, the user subsequently cannot use the full potential of the software.
What to do if you can't update System WebView
If you are unable to install updates for the Android System WebView component, the cache of some important applications may be full on your smartphone. In some cases, cleaning it helps. It is worth paying attention to the WebView application itself, as well as the market in which the update takes place - Google Play. First, clean your smartphone with special programs for this, if they are installed. Then you can work on individual applications.
- Open settings;
- Select the “Applications” item;
- Find it in the Play Market list and select it;
- In the settings window, find the “Clear cache” button.
Do the same for the Android System Webview application. It will be easier to find it in the list of system applications. When the cache is cleared, you can go to the market and try to install the update. The status may be set to "Disabled" in the description. This is most likely due to the fact that the component can be used by the Google browser.
In some cases, disabling it helps to update Android System WebView. You need to do the following:
- Open the settings again and select “Applications”;
- Find it in the Google Chrome list;
- Click the “Stop” button in the parameters;
- We return to the Play Market and find System WebView through the search to update.
This time, an update button should appear in the component window, clicking which will begin the download process.
This can be done in other ways, for example, through the mobile phone settings. The new version of the application promises to fix software errors in the smartphone that may have appeared earlier. It's also worth paying attention to the last update date in the settings window. If it occurred in March 2022 or later, there is likely no need for a new version of the component.
This may be useful: System application does not respond in Android what to do.
Why is my Android device not updating?
Every user of smartphones and tablets faces the question of why the phone does not update Android. When purchasing a flagship or a new model of a device, the consumer immediately receives the current firmware version with all its rich functionality. With the release of a new version of the OS, he has to think about where and how to update.
Practice shows that when choosing a flagship, you can count on a couple of updates in the near future. But sooner or later, support from the official manufacturer will stop anyway. Users of budget versions will feel “lonely” much earlier. That is, with the release of a new version of the software, you will immediately wonder why the update is not installed on Android.
Next, we will try to succinctly outline the main causes of problems with updates.
No official update
Not all gadget manufacturers provide support for their devices. Updating to the current version of the operating system is hindered by the banal lack of official archives with the latest firmware developed by the manufacturer.
When faced with the question of how to update Android on a phone if there are no updates, you will have to consider alternative methods, including downloading custom firmware, the installation of which is carried out at the user’s own risk.
Before installing such firmware, it is advisable to make sure that the service life of the device at the service center has expired, since replacing the software yourself is not a service case.
Problems with Google services
After making sure that the manufacturer's official website has an update for your gadget's software, you may encounter problems during the update. We are talking about errors and crashes that appear at the very beginning of the installation process and refer to Google services.
The cause of these errors is the excess information that the utility stores. Uninstalling applications, numerous installations of games and additional utilities clog up the services, and the program that monitors user actions begins to systematically fail. Problems with services may appear even when installing regular applications from the Play Market.
Installing firmware from unofficial sources
Having certified software installed and wanting to install custom firmware, you may encounter a number of errors that will appear in the middle of the installation process of new software. These errors can lead not only to the loss of personal data, but also to the “bricking” of the device.
It is also common for the opposite effect to occur when they try to overlay licensed software onto custom firmware.
Try to always use updates only from official manufacturers. Otherwise, talk about stability fades into the background.
If you find official firmware on the Internet, but the source for downloading raises your doubts, take the time to make sure it is reliable.
Presence of viruses
Often the reasons for the inability to install fresh new software are viruses, adware and spyware. Moreover, unwanted utilities can be loaded into the gadget’s memory through useful software as some kind of add-on.
Removing viruses and advertising products often involves installing additional functional software in the form of an antivirus. Even if you uninstalled the program that caused a virus to appear on your smartphone or tablet, it is not a fact that you have gotten rid of the obstacle that prevents you from installing new software.
Incorrect installation of updates
Failures during the installation of new software can also occur due to the fault of the user himself. There is a human factor involved. The main reasons for such failures include lack of battery power.
Installing new software is a resource-intensive process in terms of power supply, and before starting it, it is advisable to charge the device to at least 50%. If you use a computer to update, errors may occur if the USB cable is faulty or due to the lack of the latest driver version.
By being extremely attentive to these little details, you can protect yourself from a large number of errors when installing new software.
Hardware fault
Android is a universal system that organizes strong connections between software and hardware. A mechanical malfunction of any part of the device can lead to errors during the firmware update process.
Before flashing the device's firmware, Android conducts a thorough scan of mechanical components to identify faults. If critical damage is detected, the system does not give the go-ahead to continue the firmware.
The reason for this behavior is the responsible attitude of manufacturers towards users. No normal manufacturer will take responsibility for the fact that after installing the system on a gadget with faulty modules, a failure, data loss, or “bricking” will occur.
Fixing the problem
In some cases, you can fix the problem yourself. Sometimes the cause of problems lies somewhere on the surface and it doesn’t take much effort to fix it.
Manual setting
Available updates can be viewed manually using Settings.
To do this you need to follow a few simple steps:
- open phone settings;
- click on the “About phone” button;
- select “System update”;
- Click “Check for system update.”
The system will search for updates and, if available, offer to download them. It is advisable to download while connected to Wi-Fi.
Using the Recovery Menu
If manual configuration does not help, you can try to update the device using drastic measures:
- First, you need to download the official firmware on your PC from the manufacturer’s website.
- After that, transfer the file using a special cable to your phone.
- Now you should start installing updates using the Recovery Menu. To do this you need to do the following:
- while turning on the device, press the power button and volume up (the key combination may differ depending on the phone model);
- in the menu that opens, use the volume and power keys to select “Apply Update”;
- then click “... internal storage” if the file was downloaded to the device’s internal memory, or “Choose from sdcard” if the updates are on the memory card;
- start the installation by selecting the firmware file.
During the download, the device will constantly reboot. It is advisable to connect it to a charger so that it does not turn off in the process.
If your phone stops updating itself, you should find out the cause of the problem. You can try to eliminate the identified problem in various ways.
What measures to take
When faced with problems during the firmware process, the user should not give up, because almost 99% of situations are resolved in favor of the gadget owner. You will be able to update to the latest version of the software, but to do this you will need to find a way out of the current situation.
There is no universal method for solving problems with firmware installation. The whole process is carried out by trial and error. If one operation did not lead to anything, try another method. If none of the known firmware methods work, take the phone to a service center.
Let's look at the most popular firmware options.
Forced flashing via built-in utility
If you notice that your gadget has not updated its main software for quite some time, it is worth checking the utility built into the OS. It is quite possible that you simply have automatic over-the-air updates disabled.
To start the procedure for searching for the latest firmware versions using the FOTA method, you need to go to the device settings, scroll to the very bottom, and go to the “Help/About device” directory.
Here you will find the Check for Updates feature. By tapping on it, you just have to wait until the device sends a request to the server for search and download.
This installation method is best done through available and free Wi-Fi networks. Otherwise, mobile traffic will be burned.
Checking for updates via USSD request
A very effective way to check for updates is the USSD request *#0000#. With its help, you will find out the firmware version, which will subsequently help you determine whether the system installed on your device is up-to-date.
You can also use the code *2767*3855#. With its help, a complete reinstallation of existing software is carried out, removing all personal data. Quite often, after such a “zeroing”, users are able to install a new firmware version. The only unpleasant moment is that you have to spend time again setting up the device for yourself.
Clear cache and data GoogleServicesFramework
If, when installing new software, the problem affected Google services, you need to perform a number of simple manipulations.
- First, you must go to the application settings on your device, find GoogleServicesFramework among them.
- By tapping once on the utility, you will open its settings, in which you will see several blocks of data and buttons.
- To eliminate problems with services, you will need to click “Clear cache” and “Erase data”.
- After the device has completed the tasks you set, you need to reboot the gadget and try installing the latest version of the software again.
Using proprietary software for updating
Many well-known Android device manufacturers offer users special update programs. Lenovo has such a program as UpdateToolL3, Samsung has developed SmartSwitch, and LG pleases its fans with the Mobile Support Tool utility.
Each of these programs has an intuitive and similar interface that will not be difficult to use even for an inexperienced user. The only drawback of the programs is that they are used only through an intermediary in the form of a PC connected to the global network.
But this method is stable, since the proprietary program will always show the presence of new software for a particular device model.
Installing custom firmware
When the user has already tried all possible methods to install the official firmware and this has not yielded any results, it is worth thinking about custom versions of the software. With a responsible selection of such firmware, you can not only provide yourself with the necessary functionality, but also save space on your tablet or smartphone due to the fact that custom builds imply the exclusion of a large number of unnecessary tools.
It is advisable to download custom firmware from trusted sources, which include the 4PDA and XDA forums.
Firmware compatibility
Always download files only from official themes for your smartphone on the XDA or 4PDA forums, this way you will reduce the likelihood of infection by viruses and hidden miners. Carry out actions with custom recovery with extreme caution and remember that the warranty will be lost. If you are unsure whether a certain patch is compatible with your phone model, ask the experts at w3bsit3-dns.com.
If the device was purchased recently, but updates are not installed, contact the manufacturer’s official service center. Specialists will update the device manually; usually this procedure is free if manipulations with the OS or installation of ROOT rights have not been carried out.
