Updating the firmware on an Android smartphone is a procedure that can significantly improve the operation of the device: fix bugs, add new functions or improve security. However, many users are afraid to do this themselves, for fear of bricking the phone or losing data. In fact, with the right approach, the risks are minimal, and the update process is accessible even to beginners.

In this article we will look at three main methods of updating the firmware: standard (through settings), through recovery mode (Recovery) and using Fastboot. Each method has its own nuances, advantages and limitations. You'll learn how to prepare your device, where to download the official firmware files, and what to do if something goes wrong. And also - how to avoid typical mistakes that 90% of users make during the first independent update.

Important: if your smartphone was released more than 5 years ago, some methods (for example, updating via OTA) may not be available. In this case, you will have to use alternative methods or custom firmware - but this is a topic for a separate article.

Before you begin, check:

  • 🔋 Battery charge level (must be at least 60%)
  • 📶 Stable Wi-Fi connection (for downloading files)
  • 📱 Backup of important data (contacts, photos, messages)
📊 How often do you update the firmware on your smartphone?
Only when the phone itself suggests
I check it manually once every six months
Never updated
Only if there are critical bugs
I don’t know how to do it

1. Method 1: Over-the-air (OTA) update - the easiest method

Method Over-The-Air (OTA) This is a standard update method offered by the smartphone itself. It does not require a connection to a computer or special knowledge. The firmware is downloaded directly from the manufacturer’s servers and installed in the background.

How it works:

  1. The manufacturer releases a new firmware version for your model.
  2. The update arrives on the servers and gradually distributed across regions.
  3. Your smartphone receives a notification that an update is available.
  4. You confirm the installation, and the system does the rest automatically.

To check for updates manually:

  1. Open Settings → System → System update (the path may vary depending on shell: MIUI, One UI, ColorOS etc.).
  2. Click Check for updates.
  3. If the update is available, follow the instructions on the screen.

Advantages of OTA:

  • ✅ Does not require technical skills
  • ✅ Saves all data and settings
  • ✅ Minimal risk of errors

Disadvantages:

  • ❌ Update may arrive with a delay (weeks or months)
  • ❌ Some manufacturers stop supporting older models
  • ❌ It is impossible to roll back to the previous version without a full reset
💡

If the update is stuck at the download stage, try connecting to another Wi-Fi network or using the mobile data. Sometimes the problem lies in traffic blocking. provider.

2. Method 2: Update via Recovery Mode - for advanced users

If the OTA update is not available or you want to install the firmware manually, you can use recovery mode (Recovery). This method is suitable for smartphones with an unlocked bootloader or if you downloaded the official firmware file from the manufacturer's website.

What you will need:

  • 📱 Firmware file in format .zip (only for your model!)
  • 🔌 Battery charge at least 80%
  • 🔄 Unlocked bootloader (for some brands, for example Xiaomi or Samsung)

Step-by-step guide:

  1. Download the official firmware from the manufacturer's website (for example, Samsung Firmware, Xiaomi Community, Google Factory Images for Pixel).
  2. Transfer the file update.zip to the root directory of the internal memory or to the SD card.
  3. Turn off the smartphone and hold down the combination of buttons to enter Recovery (usually Power + Volume Up, but may differ).
  4. In the menu Recovery select Apply update from SD card (or a similar item).
  5. Specify the path to the firmware file and confirm installation.
  6. Wait for the process to complete (usually 5-15 minutes) and reboot the device.

Download the correct firmware version for your model

Check the integrity of the file (MD5 hash)

Disable protection (Pin/Pattern) to avoid blocking

Connect the charger during installation-->

Attention: if you select the wrong firmware (for example, for another model or region), the smartphone may stop turning on. Always check the model code in the settings (Settings → About phone → Model) with the name of the firmware file.

⚠️ Attention: On some devices (for example, Samsung s Knox) installing firmware via Recovery can reset the counter Knox and void the warranty. Check this in advance in the service menu (#06# or #0*#).

3. Method 3: Firmware via Fastboot - for advanced

Method Fastboot is the most flexible, but also the most risky. It allows you to flash the device completely, including the bootloader, radio module and other critical sections. This method is often used for:

  • Restoring “bricked” ones. devices
  • Installation of custom firmware (LineageOS, Pixel Experience)
  • Downgrade to a previous version of Android

What you will need:

  • 🖥️ Computer with installed drivers ADB/Fastboot i Platform Tools
  • 📎 Firmware files in format .img (unzipped)
  • 🔓 Unlocked bootloader (required!)
  • 🔌 Cable USB-Type C (preferably original)

Instructions:

  1. Unzip the firmware files into the folder with platform-tools.
  2. Open the command line (cmd) in this folder (hold Shift + right mouse button → "Open PowerShell window here").
  3. Connect your smartphone in Fastboot (hold Power + Volume Down with the device turned off).
  4. Check the connection with the command: 
    fastboot devices

    The serial number of the device should be displayed.

  5. Flash each partition in turn (example for Google Pixel): 
    fastboot flash bootloader [filename].img

    fastboot reboot-bootloader
    

    fastboot flash radio [filename].img
    

    fastboot reboot-bootloader
    

    fastboot flash --slot=all [other_files].img
    

    fastboot reboot

⚠️ Critical points:

  • Do not interrupt the firmware process - this may make the phone inoperable.
  • Not all manufacturers allow unlocking the bootloader (for example, Huawei after 2018, this feature is blocked).
  • After flashing the firmware via Fastboot a full reset may be required (Wipe Data).
What to do if Fastboot does not see the device?

1. Check if ADB drivers are installed (download from Google website or via SDK Manager).

2. Try a different USB port (preferably USB 2.0).

3. Disable driver signing in Windows (for this you need to boot in a special mode).

4. Use the original cable - cheap ones often do not support data transfer.

4. Where to download the official firmware for your smartphone

Using unofficial or pirated firmware is fraught with viruses, spyware or unstable operation of the device. Always download files from trusted sources:

Manufacturer Official source Alternative resources Notes
Samsung Samsung Firmware (SamMobile, Frija) Updato, Sammobile Registration required. Files in the format .md5 or .tar
Xiaomi Mi Community (section "ROM") Xiaomi Firmware Updater For global (Global) and Chinese (China) versions there are different files
Google Pixel Google Factory Images Flash.android.com Firmware format .zip with installation instructions
OnePlus OnePlus Community Oxygen Updater (application) Only official models are supported (not for Oppo/Realme)
Huawei/Honor Huawei Support (section "Software") FunkyHuawei After 2019, firmware may require authorization through Huawei ID

⚠️ Important: Firmware files often weigh several gigabytes. Download them only through a stable Internet connection, preferably via cable. If the download is interrupted, the file may be damaged - always check the checksums (MD5 or SHA-256).

⚠️ Attention: Some manufacturers (for example, Sony or LG) require special software for firmware (XperiFirm, LGUP). Without it, installing official firmware may not be possible.

5. updating the firmware and how to avoid them

Even experienced users sometimes make mistakes that lead to data loss or failure of the device. Here are the most common ones:

Error 1: Mismatch of firmware model and device

Symptoms: the phone does not turn on, it is frozen. logo, constantly reboots.

How to avoid:

  • Check the exact model in Settings → About phone → Model.
  • Check with the name of the firmware file (for example, RMX1971 for Realme 6).
  • Consider the region: firmware for Europe (EU) may not be suitable for Global (WW).

Error 2: Interruption of the firmware process

Symptoms: the device does not respond to buttons, does not boot further Fastboot or Recovery.

How to avoid:

  • Use a laptop with a charged battery or UPS if flashing via Fastboot.
  • Do not disconnect the USB cable during the process.
  • Close all background apps, that may interfere (antiviruses, download managers).

Error 3: Not enough space to update

Symptoms: "Not enough storage" or "Update failed" error.

How to fix:

  • Clear the cache in Settings → Storage → Clear cache.
  • Delete unnecessary files or transfer them to an SD card.
  • If you update via Recovery, use an external memory card.
💡

If, after an unsuccessful update, the phone does not turn on, try going to Recovery and making a Wipe Cache Partition. In 70% of cases, this solves the problem without losing data.

6. What to do if after the update the phone works worse

Sometimes new firmware versions bring not only improvements, but also problems: rapid battery drain, lags, overheating or errors in the computer. applications. Here's what you can do:

Problem: Rapid battery drain

Solution:

  • 🔄 Recalibrate the battery: discharge the phone to 0%, then charge it to 100% without interruption.
  • 📵 Turn off background activity for unnecessary applications in Settings → Battery data-i="209">Solution: Settings → Battery.
  • 🔍 Check which applications consume the most energy (also in the battery settings).

Problem: Lags and slowdowns

Solution:

  • 🧹 Clear the partition cache /cache via Recovery.
  • 🗑️ Reset the settings to factory settings (but make a backup first!).
  • 🔧 Disable animation in Settings → For developers (if developer mode is enabled).

Problem: Applications crash or do not work

Solution:

  • 🔄 Update applications via Google Play.
  • 📥 Clear the data and cache of the problematic application in Settings → Applications.
  • 🚫 If the problem is after updating Android, check the compatibility of the application with the new OS version.

If nothing helps, you can try roll back to the previous firmware version. However, this is not possible on all devices (for example, Samsung blocks downgrading via Knox). Read more about how to do this safely in our separate article.

7. Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Is it possible to update the firmware if the phone does not turn on?

Yes, but only through Fastboot or special service utilities (for example, Odín for Samsung or QFil for QualcommFor this you will need a computer and the correct firmware. If the phone does not respond at all (no vibration, the indicator does not light), there may be a problem with the hardware - contact the service center.

Why is my device not receiving OTA updates?

There are several reasons:

  • The manufacturer has stopped supporting your model.
  • You have custom firmware installed or root access.
  • The firmware region does not match yours (for example, a phone is for China, and you are in Europe).
  • Manufacturer's servers are temporarily unavailable (check later).

Solution: try updating manually via Recovery or Fastboot.

Do you need to reset the settings after updating?

In most cases, no. update. However, if serious lags or errors appear after the update, resetting to factory settings can help. But make a backup first! Use Google Drive, Titanium Backup (for rooted devices) or built-in backup tools.

Is it possible to flash a phone without a computer?

Yes, if we are talking about updating via OTA or Recovery. To do this, just download the firmware directly to the phone and install it through recovery mode. However, for Fastboot or restoring “bricks” a computer is required.

How to check if the bootloader is unlocked on my phone?

Checking methods:

  • Boot into Fastboot (Power + Volume DownIf there is an inscription at the bottom of the screen Unlocked or Device State: Unlocked —the bootloader is unlocked.
  • Enter the command in the ADB terminal: 
    adb shell getprop ro.boot.verifiedbootstate

    If the answer orange is unlocked, green is blocked.

  • On some devices (for example, Xiaomi, with an unlocked bootloader, a warning appears when turned on.