We flash, update and tune your smartphone without leaving Android. Preparing for the flashing procedure

Provides active customer support, releasing updates and upgrades for its gadgets with varying degrees of success. In practice, the developer delivers official firmware mainly “over the air” (via OTA updates), as well as by posting special file firmware image on your website or portal.

You can flash the image using a set of special software:

• CWM Recovery.
• TWRP Recovery.
• Using a computer and a special set of programs (Fastboot, KDZ Update, Odin and other utilities).

As a rule, firmware images before updating are packaged in special archives with the extension ZIP, ISO and others.

Besides official firmware, very often users and the gadget community form support for devices by releasing custom firmware versions and posting them on amateur forums and portals. Such updates can provide expanded or reduced functionality of official images, adding or removing unnecessary aspects from them.

To begin with, before the flashing process, be sure to take care of your data on the internal memory of the device. When updating, all files are erased, which means you need to make a backup in advance and save important files on external media.

On question how to flash android We won’t stop at OTA updates “over the air”, but rather, let’s concentrate all our attention on other update methods.

Flashing your phone using CWM Recovery

The rich functionality of CWM Recovery allows you to perform many manipulations with the device, including updating the firmware. By default, devices have stock Recovery installed, which means that first you need to install the ClockWorkMod Recovery utility itself.

The general flashing process described below applies to ZIP files. Instructions:

1. Go to Recovery. To do this, you need to completely turn off the device, and then press a certain sequence of buttons on the body of the device. The set of keys may vary depending on the device manufacturer. Each combination may be different. Additional information can be found using search engines by asking the appropriate question. A universal option is to set the following keystrokes:

• Volume up button + power key
• Volume down button + power key
• Volume up/down buttons + Power key + Home key.
• Simultaneously hold down the volume up+down keys and the power key.

Once in recovery, you will see a central menu, which you can navigate using the volume up and down buttons, and the power key will function as an action selection.

1. Before starting the device, you are required to perform a full reset of the gadget to factory settings. To do this, go to the “wipe data/factory reset” item and confirm the action by clicking on the line that says “Yes – Wipe all user data”.
2. Returning to the main lobby, select “Install zip”.
3. Next, click on the “Choose zip from /sdcard” item and in the Explorer tree, select the file with the previously saved firmware.
4. Confirm your choice by clicking on “Yes – Install...”.
5. The process of flashing the device will begin. At the end of the process, the user will see the message “Install from sdcard complete” on the screen.
6. All that remains for the user to do is return to the main CWM Recovery lobby and complete the process of rebooting the gadget by clicking the “reboot system now” line.

After these steps, the firmware installation will begin. Don't panic, because the installation algorithm can take up to 10 minutes.

How to flash an Android phone using TWRP Recovery

For those who prefer working with the utility in the form of TWRP Recovery, the following instructions are offered step-by-step installation updates in the form of a ZIP archive:

1. Upload the file with the firmware image to the device memory.
2. Go to TWRP recovery. This is done by analogy with CWM.
3. Perform a factory reset by clicking on the “Wipe” option in the main menu. Drag the lever to the right. When you finish cleaning the gadget, return to the original lobby by pressing the “Back” button.
4. In the main lobby, select “Install” and find in the tree file system previously downloaded image. Click on it by dragging the slider to the side.
5. After this, the firmware process will start. According to the standard, it does not exceed 2-3 minutes.
6. Upon completion, the utility will automatically display a message indicating successful flashing. By clicking on the “Reboot System” item, reboot the device.

Installing updates using ROM Manager

Using this application, you can not only flash the firmware, but also create backup copy systems. Use this option so as not to lose important data and quickly restore all the functionality of your smartphone.

To get started, you will need special devices on your device that allow you to access the internal files of your device at the system level. To do this, you can use any of the presented programs.

The second important aspect when ROM operation Manager serves as a custom recovery. All firmware operations take place directly in the Android launcher itself, and ROM Manager serves as a visual add-on to Recovery.

To get started, download the firmware file for your gadget and follow the instructions below:

1. Transfer the firmware archive, in a ZIP extension, to the memory of your device.
2. In the utility menu, go to “Install ROM from SD card.”
3. Among the folders and files, select your image and click on it.
4. In the new lobby, select “Reboot and Install”. Don't forget to check the "Save current ROM" checkbox. In this case, you will have the opportunity to restore the system at any time.
5. By clicking "OK" your gadget will go to Recovery mode, and the firmware update process will begin.

Thanks to the expanded functionality of the ROM Manager application, users can directly download images for their device from it. You can do this by clicking on the “Download firmware” item. Access to some ROMs is only available in the paid version of the program.

How to flash Android via computer

A universal tool for flashing Android devices using a PC is the Fastboot utility. It is part of the SDK Platform Tools, which means it is suitable for a large number of devices.

The second step before starting the firmware is gaining access to the system kernel. Very often, many manufacturers block this system parameter, not wanting users to change it themselves system files images of their firmware. Such manufacturers include HTC, the Nexus line of devices, Sony and others. To do this you need to unlock Bootloader. To do this, you need to study the detailed instructions for setting up and managing the command line. Before starting the firmware using a computer, do not forget to enable device debugging via USB in the engineering settings of the device.

Brief instructions for installing ZIP firmware using Fastboot

1. First, copy the .zip archive with the image and place it in the folder with “ADB”.
2. Switch your smartphone or tablet to fastboot mode and write the request on the command line: fastbooflash zip filename.zip, where filename.zip is the name of your firmware.
3. Wait until the installation is complete and reboot the device.

A few years ago, operations such as rooting, flashing and tuning an Android smartphone required fairly in-depth knowledge, special tools compatible only with desktop Windows, and a lot of patience. Today everything has become much simpler and all these actions can be performed using special software for a smartphone, available directly in Google Play.

Introduction

Usually installing alternative firmware on a pristine smartphone looks something like this: first you find in Google information by rooting your smartphone model, then you acquire the necessary tools (Android SDK, adb, fastboot, scripts), connect your smartphone to your computer and try to follow the instructions as accurately as possible. If everything is successful, you get root and, in some cases, a custom recovery console in addition.

Next you need to install the firmware. To do this, you dive back into the Internet and, after half an hour of browsing through forums and reading information about compatibility, you find and download a zip archive with the firmware. Connect your smartphone to your computer again and download the firmware to it. Then you turn off your smartphone, turn it on by holding down the volume down and power buttons, and gain access to the recovery console. After walking through the menu for five minutes using the volume keys, you find your firmware on the memory card and give the command to install.

After the installation is complete, you reboot your smartphone and pray that everything will work out. When the desktop appears on the screen, you exhale with relief and immediately remember that you forgot to download and install Google applications and the kernel. Well, to do this, you spend another half hour on the Internet, find the zips you are looking for, throw them onto a memory card, then the recovery console, poking through the menu, waiting with your fingers crossed, and here it is, the desktop... damn, I should have installed another one firmware...

Is this a familiar picture? If yes, then this article is for you. From it you will learn how to do the same thing in ten minutes by connecting your smartphone to your computer only once for two minutes.

What do you want and what will you get?

So, let's assume that you are holding in your hands absolutely new smartphone. Your task is to install CyanogenMod on it (optionally AOKP, ParanoidAndroid or the popular SuperVasyaAndroidModPlus) and the franco.kernel kernel. Both are distributed in zip files flashed through the recovery console. However, a regular console will not accept them because of the digital signature curve (“this is not a manufacturer’s signature, goodbye”). That's why you need a custom recovery console that doesn't pay attention to digital signatures. It could be ClockworkMod or TWRP.

But! To install a custom recovery console, you need write permissions internal memory smartphone, that is, you need root. And root in “non-Nexus” devices is always obtained by hacking Android security. So the overall picture of actions looks like this: getting root-> installing the recovery console -> flashing CyanogenMod -> flashing Google applications-> kernel firmware -> reboot -> joy. Let's see how to do all this.

Root

First things first, we need root. I’ll say right away that this is the only task for which you will have to connect your smartphone to your computer. There is nothing you can do about it; the Android security system will not allow an Android application to do this. On the other hand, you shouldn’t spit either, since everything is done very quickly and painlessly. The general algorithm of actions looks like this:

1. On your phone, go to “Settings -> About phone” and click on “Build number” many times in a row until the message “You are now a developer!” appears, then go to “Settings -> For developers” and check the “ USB debugging" (if Android version below 4.2 is installed, you can immediately go to the developer section).
2. We connect the smartphone to the computer using a USB cable, select “Media device” (MTP) or “Camera” (PTP) on the phone and wait for the drivers to be installed.
3. Download the iRoot application and launch it.
4. Click “Test connection...”.
5. Click “Install ROOT” and do what the program says.

According to the Ukrainian developers, iRoot works for any smartphone running Android 2.3–4.2.2, and not just devices from Huawei, as one might think after downloading and running the application. After completing the work and several reboots, the SuperUser application should appear on the smartphone and, of course, root access, which will open the way for us to install recovery and firmware.

Installing Recovery

Installing a custom recovery console, meanwhile, is very simple. There are a bunch of applications on the market for this, but I would recommend using Recovery-Tools, ROM Manager or TWRP Manager. The first is intended exclusively for installing recovery and, in fact, consists of only two buttons: “Flash Clockworkmod Recovery” and “Flash TWRP Recovery”. After clicking one of them, one or another recovery console will be installed. In principle, it doesn’t matter which of them to install, the only difference is that TWRP is more convenient to control with your finger, but this function is indifferent to us - we won’t rummage through their settings ourselves, but will rely on special software.

In theory, Recovery-Tools should itself determine the smartphone model and download the correct archive with the console, but this mechanism does not always work, and the database is incomplete. Therefore, as a backup option, you can use ROM Manager, which is intended exclusively for installing ClockworkMod, but includes a comprehensive database of devices. Again, all you need to do is click on the Recovery Setup -> ClockworkMod Recovery button, confirm your phone model and wait for the installation to complete.

If this method does not work, then you should pay attention to the model of your smartphone and make sure that it is not a Chinese craft. It goes without saying that super cheap Chinese phones cannot be flashed this way. No one will add them to the database, much less provide support. Therefore, for the Chinese, you will have to use the old-fashioned method of manual installation (and even then you will be very lucky if anything is ported to it at all).

Firmware installation

Now that the smartphone is equipped with a custom recovery console, it is ready to accept any firmware available for this model and swallow it without choking. Of course, we will not search for firmware on our own. We automate this process using the GooManager application. For those who are not in the know: from the very beginning of the distribution of custom firmware on the Internet, a website appeared. Initially, it hosted proprietary Google software (such as Gmail or the market), which authors of custom firmware could not use due to licensing restrictions, but then it turned into an open repository of all kinds of firmware, and after some time the GooManager application appeared, which allows you to automatically install firmware and Google applications.

This application is great because it gives you a choice of available firmware based on your smartphone model. As a result, we will not have to look for firmware on our own, nor be afraid that some of them may not work properly. In general, the algorithm for working with the application looks like this: “Launch -> Browse Compatible ROMs -> select firmware by name (for example, aokp or cm) -> select version -> Begin Download -> Order & flash selected -> Flash.” And that's all, the firmware will be downloaded and then installed automatically. The smartphone will reboot.

Installation, or, to be precise, additional installation of Google applications is even easier: Download gapps packages -> Yes -> Order & flash selected. Although it is better, of course, to download Gapps in advance, and only then proceed to download and install the firmware. In this case, at the last step of installing the firmware (Order & flash selected), you will be able to select the gapps package, and it will be installed along with the firmware. Installing several packages at once is only possible if you have TWRP Recovery; in ClockworkMod this function is blocked and only works in combination with the paid version of the ROM Manager utility.

I will also note that by default GooManager does not wipe before installing the firmware, but it can do it. Therefore, every time when you radically change the firmware, that is, replacing one with another, and not updating, in the last window (which appears after clicking “Order & flash selected”) you should check the box next to the “Wipe data (factory reset)” option. This way you will avoid possible problems with downloading and operating the new firmware.

Kernel installation

In addition to custom firmware, we can also supply a custom kernel. We have already talked in detail about what this is in one of the previous issues. In a nutshell, a custom kernel can give finer control over a smartphone, increase its performance and save battery power, but everything here is far from as simple as with firmware, and without a detailed familiarization with the topic, I would not recommend flashing a custom kernel and limit yourself to the one that comes with the firmware.

If the decision to install the kernel has been made, then it’s time to look at Google Play. For many popular custom kernels, special utilities for management and updating were developed at one time, with the help of which you can install the kernel as easily as launch mail client. Three well-known utilities from this list:

• franco.Kernel updater is an “updater” and configurator for one of the most famous kernels for Nexus line devices (Samsung Galaxy Nexus, LG Nexus 4, Asus Google Nexus 7 and Samsung Nexus 10 are supported). The free version can only install and update the kernel, but we don’t need more;
• Trinity Kernel Toolbox - a similar solution for the Trinity kernel, supporting all the same Nexus devices, as well as Samsung Galaxy Note II and Galaxy S III. In addition to the installation function, it also includes tools for managing all kernel functions and costs 114 rubles;
• GLaDOS Control is practically a copy of the previous application, but this time for, frankly speaking, not the most popular GlaDOS kernel (Galaxy Nexus and Nexus 7). Includes a complete tuning kit and automatic update. Costs 81 rubles.

All these applications allow you to install one of the three cores without unnecessary fuss. But if you don’t want to spend money or you chose a kernel for which there is simply no control application, then you can get out of the situation by downloading the kernel directly to your phone and then flashing it using the same GooManager. This is done like this:

1. We go to xda or w3bsit3-dns.com, find your device, select the kernel (yes, you will have to delve into numerous threads) and download it to your phone. Usually the core weighs 5–10 MB, so you won’t have to wait long and it will cost a penny (if there is no Wi-Fi).
2. Install and run any file manager, go to the Download directory on the memory card, find the archive with the kernel and copy it to the goomanager directory, again in the root of the memory card.
3. Launch GooManager, click on the Flash ROMs item, check the box next to the archive with the kernel, click the “Order & flash selected” button, and on the next screen, without changing anything, click the “Flash” button.

Firmware, kernel and gapps update

By this point, you should already have a custom recovery console, custom firmware, Google applications and a custom kernel; full house, everything you need. However, we won’t sit on all this for long, and soon new firmware versions based on the new version of Android, even faster kernels and even more feature-rich recovery consoles will be released. In short, you need to update. But how?

The update also has its own tools, but before moving on to their review, I’ll explain a few specific points:

• The Recovery Console can be updated whenever and however you want. It is located in a separate section, so even if you destroy this section, you will not destroy Android. You can update using the same Recovery-Tools, ROM Manager and TWRP Manager.
• The kernel is also located in a separate section, and it can be updated/changed whenever and however you want, the main thing is to take into account compatibility with Android versions and firmware types. The methods are described above.
• The firmware is updated without any wipes, however, if a custom kernel was installed, it will have to be reinstalled. No reinstallation of Google apps is required.
• The transition to another firmware is carried out with a full wipe (factory reset) and subsequent additional installation of Google applications and the kernel. All data except files on the memory card will be lost (this can be avoided by making a backup using Helium or Titanium Backup).

Now let's talk about how to update. The recovery and kernel are updated using specialized software or, in the case of using a rare kernel, manually downloading and flashing the firmware yourself, as shown in the previous section. You can update the firmware different ways. If the firmware was installed using GooManager, then when a new version appears in the goo.im repository, you will receive a notification, by clicking on which you can download and install the new version. You won’t lose any data or applications; all you have to do is reinstall the kernel.

CyanogenMod has its own update mechanism, which will also automatically alert you when a new version is released and offer to download and install it. By default, it only works with stable firmware versions, but it can be reconfigured so that warnings will continue to appear after nightly builds are released. To do this, go to “Settings -> About phone -> CyanogenMod update”. In the “Check for updates” option, select “Daily”, in the “Update type” option - “New versions (Including nightly builds)”.

The only problem with this update method is that each firmware will weigh about 200 MB - expensive if you update every day or several times a week. Therefore, I would recommend using the CyanDelta tool, which allows you to download only patches with changed firmware components instead of the entire archive. When using this tool, each update will weigh only 2–10 MB, so even cellular network. It’s very easy to use: after the first launch of the software, it will offer to download the entire firmware (patches will be applied to it in the future), after which it will hang in the background and notify about the availability of updates.

Backup

To protect yourself from a possible firmware installation error, you should make backups regularly. There are two main types of tools for this: Helium and Titanium Backup applications for app backup, as well as a special feature of custom recovery consoles called Nandroid. The second differs in that it takes a complete snapshot of all components of the smartphone so that after any action the smartphone can be returned to its previous state, including all settings, applications, contacts and messages.

Typically, Nandroid backup is performed manually directly from the custom recovery menu, but we will use the Online Nandroid Backup application, which creates a backup copy of the system while it is running. The application is free and available on Google Play. After installation, it will install the backup script (this, by the way, will have to be done after each firmware update) and will offer to execute initial setup, which comes down to choosing a method for automatically generating a backup name (current time by default), as well as choosing a backup format. The regular Clockworkmod format is universal and will be compatible with any custom recovery, but if ClockworkMod is installed on your smartphone, then it is better to select CWM Incremental in the Backup Mode option. In this case, each new backup will contain only differences from the previous one, due to which compatibility with TWRP will be lost, but it will be possible to save a significant piece of free space on the memory card.

After all this is done, just click on the “Quick Backup” button and the application will start working. You can easily use your smartphone at this time, so don’t put off the backup for the evening or another time. At the end of the procedure, the software itself will display a message about the successful completion of the backup and offer to view the backup in the Nandroid Manager application.

The latter, in turn, is a tool for managing existing backups, viewing their contents, restoring, as well as selectively restoring applications, settings, text messages, conversation logs, passwords from points Wi-Fi access, desktop, as well as browser history and passwords. All recovery tools are located on the “Recover Data” tab, and no explanations for working with the application are required here. Everything is Russified and understandable even to a child.

!(nandroid-manager1.jpg, nandroid-manager2.jpg)

!(online-nandroid1.jpg, online-nandroid2.jpg)

INFO

The AOKP firmware has a lot hidden settings, which can be activated by installing free application AOKP.co.

TWRP Manager allows you to perform almost all TWRP Recovery operations directly from Android: installing firmware, wiping, backup and recovery, rebooting in different modes.

conclusions

Today, the process of flashing and customizing a smartphone running Android is no longer the hair-raising quest that it was during the first versions of Android. As you can see, everything is done very simply, without reading long manuals and searching for compatible firmware. But even if something goes wrong, if you turn out to be so unlucky that you screw up not only installed Android, but also the recovery console and the boot sector will still remain in place and you can bring your smartphone back to life by connecting it to your computer and using the manufacturer’s proprietary firmware tools.

Just like with all multifunctional devices, the firmware of an LG TV must be updated periodically. Smart TV technology turns an ordinary television receiver into a kind of analogue of a computer or smartphone through which the user can access the Internet. Since technological progress never stands still, manufacturers are constantly working to eliminate identified errors in older versions of software, improve the interface, and expand functionality. Over time, the firmware becomes more and more outdated, and the TV may not work correctly.

In addition to the release of updates, you may need to flash your LG TV due to any operational failures, for example, if the channel settings are lost after each shutdown of the device. This may indicate that the firmware has failed.

You can reflash the tuner yourself in automatic mode or from a flash drive (a little longer, but, in general, not as difficult as it might seem). If you are unsure of your capabilities, it is better to immediately call a specialist. Here it should be understood that haste and failure to follow the sequence of the entire procedure can lead to damage to the device, and repair will cost much more and take more time.

Where to get the necessary files

Before updating the firmware of LG TVs, you need to accurately determine the model of your device. You can view this information on the back panel of the TV, in its technical data sheet, or search in the menu via the remote control remote control. Next in the same menu you should find out which firmware version is currently installed. You can find out if there is a newer one on the official website of L-G.

Update files host many network resources. However, it is not recommended to download them from unverified resources, as there is a high risk of damaging the system with viruses or errors.

Before flashing the TV, not in automatic mode, but via USB, manually, you need to do the following:

We go from a laptop or computer to the official website of LG;

Find the search bar at the top of the monitor and use the keyboard to enter the name of your TV model into it, press the Enter button;

We look through the search results, go to the support tab and select the section with programs;

Select the file of the required update, which will be called Software File Version (version number in the format xx.xx.xx);

Further steps are even simpler, and require only a little time and concentration on the process. If everything is done in strict sequence, there will be no problems.

Installing a new version using your hands

To flash an LG Smart TV firmware from a flash drive, the sequence of actions requires:

Download the update file in archive format to your computer and unpack it (the result is an .epk file that cannot be renamed;

If, when unzipping, there is not one file, but several, this means that the user previously missed some updates and now must install them strictly in sequence from the lowest version to the highest (if you break the sequence, the tuner will not work correctly);

Format the USB drive, open it, create a folder called LG_DTV and copy the previously downloaded and unpacked .epk file for Smart TV into it (nothing else should be written to this flash drive);

Disconnect the drive from your computer and insert it into the TV tuner (if USB port is available directly on the TV, which means we connect the drive there);

Further actions are no longer carried out manually, but automatically; the necessary information for updating is read directly from the flash drive.

The LG TV update and its process will be displayed on the TV screen regardless of whether there is a connected tuner or a drive inserted directly into the TV port. Once the process is completed, a corresponding notification will appear. You can check the status of the new firmware in the menu through the same remote control.

Automation and important rules

As you can see from everything that was said earlier, you don’t need to do anything super complicated to reflash your LG Smart TV - download, copy, insert a USB flash drive into the tuner and wait. However, there is an easier way to change the current version if the TV has stable support for Internet access - automatic.

To do this, you don’t need to have a TV or laptop at hand, you don’t need removable storage devices, you just need to have an Internet cable with good data transfer speed or Wi-Fi to which the TV is connected, and a remote control. It is important to remember some rules that should not be broken:

After starting the update until it is completely completed, it is strictly forbidden to turn off the TV and remove the flash drive if it is in use;

You cannot disconnect the TV from the power supply until a window appears on the screen indicating the completion of the firmware process;

It is necessary to update the current version only from smaller to larger in order to avoid technical malfunctions.

Automatic firmware update is carried out by a special firmware. From the remote control you need to enter the menu, select the SETTINGS section, then the Support tab. In the window that opens, you need to click on software update, where the current version will immediately be displayed. Click check for updates, if available, click Update.

It’s worth reminding once again that you cannot turn off the TV during the update process, but you can watch TV channels. Downloading and installing the new version takes some time, since the average file weight is about 500 MB. Once the automatic process is complete, the TV will reboot itself (turn off and then turn on immediately).

It is possible to reflash your Andriod device, even if there is no official new version released for it. This is a rather lengthy and complex procedure, however, if you follow the instructions exactly, you will succeed. It often happens that older versions of smartphones and tablets no longer receive updates at all. Meanwhile, the newer the Android system, the more comfortable and functional it is, so many users tend to update the firmware version manually. Thus, you have two options: perform an official device update that is available on your phone or flash the device yourself. You can read more about these methods in this article.

How to change firmware on Android via update

• First, it's best to check if your device has the ability to download the official update. If you find it, you can download and install it directly from your phone. The whole procedure will take about ten minutes, no more.
• Open the device tray and go to settings by clicking on the gear icon at the very top of the screen.

• Scroll down the list to open the “About device” item.

• You need the very first item “Download updates manually” at the moment. Click on it.

• The search for new updates will take a few seconds, wait and do not close this window.

• If updates are found, the device will prompt you to download them immediately. Agree with this and just wait - the installation will complete itself.
• But when you see the message “ Latest updates already installed”, you just have to resort to the second method.

How to change firmware on Android manually

Have some free time and patience. This article will use the example of Samsung J5. You will need the following software:

• Latest version of Odin program for computer.
• Firmware file downloaded from the Internet.
• Latest drivers for your phone.
• Installed Samsung Kies or other software for your model.

In addition, you will need your phone or tablet and a USB cable.

• Make sure your device is readable on your computer and has drivers and Samsung Kies installed. You can download the software from the official website at http://www.samsung.com

• Now download latest version Odin program, which is designed specifically for flashing devices. Go to http://www.droidviews.com and download the version that says “Latest”.

• Here you can download the latest drivers for Samsung.

• You can download the firmware on the website https://www.sammobile.com, where registration is required. But the easiest way is to go to the w3bsit3-dns.com service and search by your phone model.

• Once all components are downloaded to your computer, you can begin installation.
• Open the archive with the Odin program and double-click on the file with the extension .exe

• The program will open instantly. You just have to wait.

• Now unzip the phone firmware file. Specify any directory you wish.
• Click on the “BL” button in Odin.

• Select the firmware file for Android among the directories. Once you find it and select it, click “Open”.

• Connect your phone to your computer via USB. If the drivers are up to date, you will see the connection in the Odin program on the left side of the screen.
• You need to put your phone into boot mode. Each device has its own combination, it is better to check it on the Internet.

• Once everything is ready, click “Start”. Your phone may restart several times during the update process. Do not touch the device or click on anything in the Odin program. You will see a notification on the screen when the firmware is installed.
• If you encounter any problems during the process, try resetting your device. You will learn how to do this in the article.

Many holders of smartphones and tablet computers in certain moment thinking about how to flash Android. The need to flash the device may arise due to problems with the operation of the gadget. It also makes sense to update Android in other cases, for example, to improve the functionality of the operating system and.

What to do before flashing your Android

An incorrect approach to the issue of flashing can lead to serious problems with the device, and therefore you need to prepare for this event. Before flashing Android, you must do the following:

1. Before you start updating your operating system, make sure your device is fully charged. It is important to eliminate the possibility of shutdown. You can connect the gadget to charger during the procedure. If your tablet or smartphone turns off during a firmware update, system and data loss will occur.
2. Check the version of the Android operating system that is current for your device, and also find out what firmware is currently installed. You can clarify this information in the device settings in the “About phone” section. Pay attention to the Android version, kernel version and build number.
3. Now, based on this data, you need to find and download new firmware that will fully match your smartphone or tablet computer model.

How to flash Android using a computer

It should be said that there are several ways to flash Android and in this article we will look at the most common ones. Let's start with flashing the gadget's firmware using a special program that is pre-installed on the computer. There are many applications that allow you to install a new version of the OS on your device, but we decided to focus on the Fastboot program, since it is safe, convenient and reliable, and is also best suited for the model that we will be flashing as an example. So, let's figure out how to reflash Android using Fastboot.

Note: the program for flashing Android should be selected based on the device from which manufacturer you are using. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the following list of programs by manufacturer:

1. Samsung - Odin
2. Lenovo - Flash Tool
3. HTC - Fastboot
4. LG - KDZ Updater
5. Sony - Flashboot
6. Nexus - Fastboot.

First of all you need to download this application. There will be no problems finding Fastboot, you just need to know how to use it search engines, and today everyone can do this. Download the program and unpack it to the root of drive C so that the path to the file looks like this: C:\Android.

The “Tools” folder contains the necessary utilities, and the “Driver” directory contains drivers. Now you need to connect the device that you plan to reflash to the computer and install the driver. As a rule, the device automatically finds the necessary drivers, but sometimes this does not happen. In this case, you need to open the website of the manufacturer of your smartphone or tablet and download the software. Please ensure that the firmware you plan to download is suitable for your gadget model. The firmware must be downloaded in .zip format and placed in the Tools folder, which is located here: C:\Android.

Before flashing Android, you need to unlock the bootloader on your device. The bootloader unlocking process will differ depending on the specific gadget model. Open the Start menu on your computer, enter “cmd” in the search bar and select the cmd.exe program.

In the Command Prompt window, type cd C:\Android\Tools. Confirm the command by pressing the Enter key, after which you will find yourself in the “Tools” directory.

Now you need to enter the following command: fastboot devices.

If you were given a device code, then fastboot has identified your smartphone or tablet and you can start flashing the Android. If the message “waiting for device” appears in the window, you need to turn off the gadget and install the drivers. Now you need to enter the command for flashing: fastboot update firmware_file_name.zip After this, flashing will begin. Don't forget to restart your device after the operating system update is complete.

How to reflash Android via recovery

Another way to reflash Android is to use standard recovery or custom recovery (TWRP\CWM). We will explain what custom recovery is in more detail below. In short, these are unofficial firmwares. So, find the firmware that suits you on the Internet, download it and save it to the root of the file system of your device.

Reboot your device into recovery mode. The process for entering this mode may vary depending on the specific tablet or smartphone model. Most often this is done by using a combination of the power button and the volume down key. After entering recovery mode using the “up” and “down” keys, you need to open the firmware and patch installation section and specify the firmware file previously downloaded from the Internet. As a rule, this item has the following name: “apply update from externel storage”, in TWRP - Install ZIP, in CWM – “apply update from sdcard”.

Following the instructions above, you will start the flashing, after which you need to reboot the gadget and reset the factory settings. To return to factory settings, go to the settings of your device and go to the “Privacy” section, then click on “Reset settings”. After this, you can check the functionality of the newly installed firmware.

How to flash Android via ROM Manager

ROM Manager is designed to perform various tasks, for example, you can use this application to create a system backup. By the way, we strongly recommend performing this procedure before flashing the firmware in order to restore the data later. ROM Manager can also be used to flash Android.

ROM Manager won't work if you don't have root rights. Similar rights can be obtained using special programs For example, the following applications are perfect: Kingo Android ROOT, Unlock Root, Framaroot or Vroot ( detailed instructions Here). In addition, custom recovery must be installed. By the way, essentially using ROM Manager you flash the device via recovery, but unlike the previous option, this one involves working with a much more convenient and understandable interface.

So, we find and download the ROM Manager program. Now you need to download the appropriate firmware for your device. Open the ROM Manager utility and follow these steps:

1. Place the .zip archive of the firmware in the memory of your Android gadget.

2. In the ROM Manager menu, open the “Install ROM from SD card” section.

3. Find the archive with the firmware and click on it.

4. Next, select “Reboot and Installation”. In order to be able to restore in the future operating system If such a need arises, you need to check the box next to “Save current ROM”.

5. In the next window, click “OK”, after which the smartphone or tablet will go into Recovery mode and flashing the device will begin.

What is custom Android firmware?

Firmware of unofficial versions is called custom, that is, created from scratch, or modified. To install them, the receipt procedure is not always required. As you already understand, such firmware has nothing to do with the official developers, but is created by enthusiasts with the goal of improving the OS by adding additional features and removing errors. At first glance, it may seem that custom firmware offers continuous advantages and is superior to the official versions in everything. However, not all so simple.

The fact is that such firmware is often unstable and can lead to problems with the device. That is why, before flashing your Android using custom firmware, you need to study the reviews of those who have already done it. Only after a detailed study can you download the firmware and begin installing it. As for installing unofficial firmware, the above options are quite suitable. In addition, detailed instructions for installing custom firmware are almost always available on the website where the firmware is located.

It should also be said that unofficial Android flashing involves some differences depending on the specific developer, therefore, the approach to flashing the firmware will be different. If you plan to use special application to flash the device, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the following list of programs by manufacturer:

• Samsung - Odin
• Lenovo - Flash Tool
• HTC - Fastboot
• LG - KDZ Updater
• Sony - Flashboot
• Nexus - Fastboot.

This is where we will end this article. We hope you now know how to flash Android. If you still have questions, ask them in the comments or in the “ask a specialist” section.