Many users are faced with a situation where their favorite application stops running due to an insufficient version of the operating system. Often this happens precisely at the border between Android 6.0 Marshmallow and Android 7.0 Nougat, as software developers stop supporting outdated APIs. The desire to update your device is quite natural, because this opens up access to new functions, improved multitasking and a more modern interface design.
However, the process of changing the software version does not always go smoothly and requires careful preparation. Unlike automatic updates that come over the air, the transition between major versions may require manual intervention or data reset. Smartphone You must be fully prepared for the procedure, otherwise there is a high risk of turning it into a “brick” or losing important information.
Before taking active steps, you must understand whether your device supports the official update or will have to resort to installing custom firmware. You can officially update Android 6 to 7 only on devices for which the manufacturer has released the corresponding OTA update package. If there is no official way, the process will become much more complicated and will require unlocking the bootloader.
⚠️ Attention: Before starting any manipulations with system files, make sure that the battery charge is at least 60-70%. Interrupting the firmware process due to a low battery can lead to irreversible errors in the boot sector.
Compatibility check and official methods
The first step should always be to check for official updates. Manufacturers often distribute new versions Android in stages, so one device may receive an update earlier than another. The standard verification path is through the system settings, where the device itself will contact the manufacturer’s server.
To do this, you need to go to the menu Settings → About phone → System update. If the server detects an available version Android 7.0 Nougat, it will offer to download it. In some cases, especially on custom shells like MIUI or EMUI, you need to manually select “Check for updates” or even change the region in the settings to initiate the search.
If the automatic search did not give anything, do not despair. Sometimes an update is available, but no notification has been received. In such cases, you can use official PC utilities, such as Kies for Samsung or HiSuite for Huawei. These apps often see updates that the phone itself ignores and allow you to update via cable.
- 📱 Go to settings and check the version of the current build in the "About phone" section.
- 🔄 Click the "Check for updates" button in the system menu.
- 💻 Connect the device to the computer and launch the official utility from the manufacturer.
- 📶 Make sure you are connected to a stable Wi-Fi network, as the data volume can exceed 1 GB.
Device preparation: backup and cleaning
The update process, especially if it involves resetting data or flashing the firmware, requires a full backup copy of information. Android 6 has built-in backup tools, but they do not always save Wi-Fi passwords or data from some applications. Therefore, relying only on Google cloud synchronization is risky.
It is recommended to manually copy important documents, photos and videos to your computer or external drive. The easiest way to save contacts and calendar is to make sure that synchronization with your Google account is successful and all data is displayed in the web version of the service. It is also worth paying attention to instant messengers: the history of correspondence in WhatsApp or Telegram needs to be saved separately through their internal settings.
Cleaning free space is another critical stage. Even if you don't manually download the firmware, the system may require a significant amount of space to unpack temporary files before installation. If the memory is critically low, the update may fail with an error or a cyclic reboot.
☑️ Checklist before updating
Don't forget to disable third-party launchers and antiviruses before starting the process. They may interfere with system files during the update, leading to conflicts. After successful installation, they can be activated again, but at the transition stage it is better to leave the system in a “clean” form.
Installing updates via Recovery Mode
If the update does not arrive over the air, but the firmware file is officially available on the manufacturer’s website, it can be installed manually through recovery mode. This method is safer than a complete flashing, since it does not require superuser rights and unlocking the bootloader, but requires strict adherence to the instructions.
First, you need to download the update archive for your specific device model. The file usually has the extension .zip and weighs from 1 to 2 GB. It must be placed in the root of the smartphone’s internal memory or on an SD card, if supported. Important: the file must be intended specifically for your model; firmware from another device can damage the phone.
To enter Recovery mode, you must turn off the smartphone and hold down a certain key combination. Most often this is Volume Down + Power or Volume Up + Power. In the menu that appears, navigation is carried out using the volume buttons, and selection is made using the power button. You need to find the item Apply update from storage and select the downloaded file.
⚠️ Attention: Under no circumstances select the item
Wipe data/factory reset, if you want to save the data, although when updating the Android version, a reset is still recommended to avoid errors in the operation of applications.
After selecting the file, the system will begin the installation process. The screen may go dark or the device may vibrate - this is normal behavior. Interrupting the process at this stage is unacceptable. Upon completion, a success message will appear and you will need to select Reboot system now.
What to do if Recovery does not see the ZIP file?
If standard Recovery does not display the update file, it may not be in the root of the memory or has the wrong structure. Try moving the archive to internal memory if it was on the SD card. Also make sure that the file is not damaged when downloading - check the checksum if it is provided by the developer. In rare cases, it is necessary to rename the file to update.zip, but this depends on the specific device model.
Using Odin and manual firmware for Samsung
For device owners Samsung the standard manual installation tool is the app Odin. This is a powerful tool that allows you to boot various sections of the system, including the bootloader, system and modem. Upgrading from Android 6 to 7 to Samsung often requires this method if OTA update is not available.
The process begins by downloading and installing Samsung USB Drivers on your computer. Then the firmware itself is downloaded (usually the archive contains files starting with AP, BL, CP, CSC) and the Odin app. The phone is switched to Download Mode (usually by pressing Volume Down + Home + Power), after which it connects to the PC.
In the Odin interface, you need to distribute the firmware files into the appropriate fields: BL for the bootloader, AP for the system, CP for the modem and CSC for regional settings. It is important to choose the correct CSC file: using a file HOME_CSC will allow you to update while saving data, while a regular one CSC will perform a full reset.
| Partition in Odin | Firmware file | Description | Importance |
|---|---|---|---|
| BL | BL_...tar.md5 | Bootloader | Critical |
| AP | AP_...tar.md5 | System partition (Android OS) | Critical |
| CP | CP_...tar.md5 | Radio module (Communication) | High |
| CSC | CSC_...tar.md5 | Regional settings | Medium |
After distributing the files, press the button Start. The process will take a few minutes, and a message will appear in the log PASS! in green. The device will automatically reboot. The first boot after flashing can last up to 10-15 minutes, which is normal for the application optimization process.
Use the original USB cable and connect the phone directly to the motherboard port (on the back of the system unit), avoiding USB hubs, to avoid loss of communication during flashing.
Custom firmware and unlocking the bootloader
If the manufacturer has stopped releasing updates for your device, the only way to get Android 7 is to install custom firmware, for example LineageOS. This path requires unlocking the bootloader, which on many devices (especially Huawei or US versions of Samsung) may be impossible or difficult to do.
Unlocking the bootloader usually erases all data from the device and requires obtaining a special code from the manufacturer or using exploits. After unlocking, a custom Recovery is installed, most often TWRP, which allows you to install modified versions of Android. This gives a second life to old devices, but voids the warranty and may disrupt the operation of banking applications.
The process of installing custom firmware is more complicated than updating the stock version. You need to find a stable build specifically for your model (device code name), download Google Apps (GApps) separately, since they are not available in pure firmware, and correctly flash both archives via TWRP. An error in choosing the version can lead to a bootloop (cyclic reboot).
- 🔓 Unlocking the bootloader will void the device warranty.
- 📉 Performance on custom firmware may differ from stock.
- 🏦 Some banking applications may not work without additional manipulations (Magisk).
- ⚙️ Exact matching of the device model and code name is required.
⚠️ Attention: Installing custom firmware carries risks. If you are not sure of your actions or have not found a proven build for your specific model, it is better to stay with the official version of the software or consider purchasing a new device.
Possible problems and their solutions
Even if you follow all the instructions, errors may occur. One of the most common problems after updating is rapid battery drain. This is due to the fact that the system and applications need time to re-index files and optimize processes. Usually the problem resolves itself within 2-3 days of active use.
Another common issue is lack of memory. After updating from Android 6 to 7, the system partition may become bloated, taking up more space than before. In this case, clearing the application cache or a complete reset (Wipe data/factory reset) via Recovery will help, which is often recommended to be done immediately after a major update to the Android version.
If the device is stuck on the logo after the update, try entering Recovery Mode and selecting Wipe cache partition. This will not delete personal data, but it will clear temporary system files that might conflict with the new OS version. If this does not help, you will have to do a full reset or reflash again.
Factory Reset after updating a major version of Android is the best prevention of errors in the operation of the system and applications.
In some cases, applications may stop opening or work incorrectly. This often happens with utilities that have deep permissions or work with system libraries. Check for updates for such applications on Google Play or uninstall and install them again.
Optimizing the system after updating
After a successful transition to Android 7 Nougat it is worth revising the settings. The new version of the system offers improved notification management (direct response, grouping) and a Doze energy saving mode that works more aggressively. Customize these settings to balance autonomy with timely notifications.
It is also recommended to check application permissions. When updating the OS, some old security settings may be reset or, conversely, become too strict. Go through the list of installed apps and make sure that they have access only to the necessary functions.
Do not forget that switching to a new version of the OS is also a reason to remove unused software that may have accumulated while using Android 6. This will free up space and speed up the operation of the device. New versions of Android work better on a “clean” system without unnecessary software junk.
Is it safe to update if the phone is already old?
If the device was released more than 4-5 years ago, updating to Android 7 may make it work slower due to increased system resource requirements. However, if the phone runs stable on Android 6, the risk is minimal. The main thing is to make a backup.
Will my photos and contacts be lost after the update?
When updating over the air (OTA), the data is usually saved. However, if you manually flash it via Odin or Recovery and select a full reset (Wipe Data), all data will be deleted. Always make a backup copy before starting work.
Is it possible to return to Android 6 if you don’t like it?
It is officially almost impossible to return to the previous version (downgrade) due to version rollback protection (Anti-Rollback). To do this, you will need to look for old firmware versions and use complex firmware methods, which does not guarantee a successful result.