How to install Android 12 on Honor: official and alternative methods

Updating the operating system to Android 12 on smartphones Honor can significantly improve performance, add new interface features Material You, enhance privacy and extend device life. However, the installation process depends on the phone model, the current firmware version and even the region of sale. Some devices Honor receive updates "over the air" (OTA), others require manual firmware via HiSuite or custom recovery.

In this article we will analyze all the current installation methods Android 12 —from official to alternative (including Custom ROM for unsupported models). You will learn how to check the compatibility of your Honor, prepare the device for updating, avoid errors and restore data in case of failure. Important: for models Honor 8X, Honor 10 Lite and older, there may be no official support for Android 12 - in this case, unofficial firmware will be required.

Before you begin, make sure you have a backup copy of your data, a charged battery (at least 60%) and a stable Internet connection. If your device is not on the list of supported ones, don’t despair: at the end of the article we will look at options with LineageOS and other custom firmware.

1. Official Honor models supporting Android 12

Not all smartphones Honor received the update to Android 12. The company has prioritized flagship and mid-budget models released after 2019. Below is the current list of devices with confirmed support (data may vary depending on the region):

If your model is not in the table, check support on the official website Honor by model number (you can find it in Settings → About phone → Model). For devices older than 2018 (for example Honor 8X or Honor 7A) official update to Android 12 will not - consider the option with custom firmware (section 5).

⚠️ Attention: Firmware for Chinese versions (CN) may not be suitable for global ones (EU or RU) due to differences in modem modules. Check the region of your device before downloading files!

2. Preparing your smartphone for an update

Regardless of the installation method chosen, preparing the device is a critically important step. Neglecting it can lead to data loss, “brick” (inoperability) of the phone or malfunctions of the new system. Here's what you need to do required:

• 📱 Create a backup: use HiSuite (official software from Huawei/Honor) or cloud services (Google Drive, Honor Cloud). It is especially important to save contacts, SMS and application data.
• 🔋 Charge the battery up to 70% or more. When updating via HiSuite connect your phone to the network.
• 📶 Connect to Wi-Fi: downloading the firmware over the air can take 2–4 GB. mobile data is not recommended due to the risk of connection loss.
• 🧹 Clear memory: free up at least 5 GB of internal storage (in Settings → Memory).
• 🔑 Find out the bootloader unlock: for unofficial firmware you will need to unlock bootloader. Check the status by command fastboot oem get-bootinfo.

Make a data backup|Charge the phone >60%|Connect to Wi-Fi|Free up 5+ GB of memory|Check model and region firmware|Disable antivirus (may block HiSuite)-->

If you are updating via HiSuite, download the latest version of the app from official website (link for PC). For manual firmware via fastboot drivers will be required. data-i="96">and ADB And Fastboot —they can be installed via SDK Platform Tools from Google.

⚠️ Attention: On some models Honor (for example, Honor 20 Lite) after updating to Android 12 stops working Google Mobile Services (GMS). This is due to Huawei restrictions. The solution is to install GMS manually via LZPlay or alternative services.

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

The simplest and safest method is automatic updating through the settings menu. It is suitable for devices that officially support Android 12. Here are step-by-step guide:

1. Open Settings → System and updates → Software update.
2. Click Checking for updates. If a new version is available, the system will prompt you to download it.
3. Confirm the download and wait for completion (may take 20-40 minutes depending on the Internet speed).
4. After downloading, click Install and follow the instructions on the screen. The phone will reboot several times.

If the update is not found, try the following:

• 🔄 Forced verification: go to Settings → About phone and click on Build number7 times to activate the mode developer. Then in Developer settings enable Update via Wi-Fi even with limited data.
• 🌐 Change region: some updates are released first for Chinese or European versions. Use a VPN to change the region (for example, to Germany) and check again.
• 📦 Manual download: if OTA does not work, download the full update package from the website Honor (support section for your model) and install it through Local update in the menu Software update.

If OTA update is not available, but your model is on the list of supported ones, proceed to the next method - flashing firmware via HiSuite.

4. Method 2: Firmware via HiSuite (for PC)

HiSuite - official software from Huawei/Honor, which allows you to update the firmware manually if OTA does not work. This method is suitable for most models, including Honor 20, View 30 And Honor 30. Here's how. to do this:

1. Download and install HiSuite on your computer (Windows or macOS).
2. Connect your phone to the PC via the original USB cable (recommended port USB 2.0 for stability).
3. Enable on your phone USB debugging (Settings → About phone → Build number (7 taps) → Developer settings → USB debugging).
4. Run HiSuite, wait for the device to be recognized and click Update.
5. The app will automatically find available firmware. Select the latest version and follow the instructions.

If HiSuite does not find the update, try:

• 🔌 Change USB cable or port: a faulty cable may interrupt the connection.
• 🖥️ Disable antivirus: it may block firmware loading.
• 📥 Download firmware manually: find the file for your model on the forums (for example, XDA Developers or 4PDA) and install via Local update in HiSuite.

Firmware via HiSuite takes about 30-60 minutes. Do not disconnect the phone from the PC and do not interrupt the process! After completion, the device will reboot and you will receive a clean system Android 12 with the latest version Magic UI.

5. Method 3: Installing custom firmware (for unsupported models)

If your Honor has not received an official update to Android 12 (for example, Honor 8X, Honor 10 Lite or Honor 7A), the only way is to install custom firmware. The most stable options:

• 🤖 LineageOS 19 (based on Android 12) - supports most models Honor with processors Kirin 710/970.
• ⚡ AOSP Extended - firmware with advanced settings and optimizations.
• 🔄 Pixel Experience - ported firmware from Google Pixel s pure Android.

The installation process includes unlocking the bootloader, flashing custom recovery (TWRP) and the firmware itself. This is a risky operationwhich can lead to loss of warranty or “brick” of the device. Here are the main steps:

1. Unlock the bootloader:

   fastboot oem unlock [your_unlock_code]

   The code can be obtained on the official website Huawei (for old models) or through unofficial services (for example, DC-Unlocker).

2. Install TWRP Recovery:

   fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.6.0-honor_xx.img
   fastboot reboot recovery

3. Flash custom firmware:

   - Download the firmware ZIP file (for example, LineageOS 19) and GApps (if you need Google services).

   - In TWRP exe Wipe → Advanced Wipe (check Dalvik, Cache, System, Data).

   - Install the firmware and GApps via Install.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with processors Kirin 710/980 (for example, Honor 20 Lite), the camera or NFC module in custom firmware may not work. Before installation, check the reviews on the forums (for example, XDA or 4PDA)!

After installing custom firmware you will need:

• 🔧 Configure Magisk for root access (optional).
• 🔄 Install Open GApps (if Google services are needed).
• 📡 Check the operation of the mobile network and Wi-Fi (sometimes you need to flash a separate modem file).

6. after the update

Even with successful installation of Android 12 on Honor problems may arise. Here are the most common ones and ways to solve them:

If data (photos, contacts) are lost after the update, restore them from backup copy. To do this:

1. Connect your phone to the PC and copy the files from the folder Backup (if the backup was on a memory card).
2. Use HiSuite to restore from the cloud (if the backup was made through it).
3. For contacts: log in to the same account Google or Honor IDfrom which you did the synchronization.

If the problem cannot be solved, contact the forums XDA Developers or 4PDA —there are thematic branches for each model Honor with solutions to common errors.

7. Rollback to the previous version of Android

If Android 12 is unstable or you don’t like the changes, you can return the previous firmware version. To do this:

1. Download the official one. firmware for your model (for example, Android 11 for Honor 20) from the site Honor or forum 4PDA.
2. Unpack the archive and find the file update.app (for HiSuite) or fullOTA-MF.zip (for manual firmware).
3. To rollback via HiSuite:
   • Connect the phone to the PC.
   • In the app, select System recovery and specify the downloaded file.

fastboot flash system system.img
fastboot flash boot boot.img
fastboot reboot

⚠️ Attention: Rolling back to an old version of Android may lead to data loss and application failures. After downgrading, it is recommended to perform a full reset (Wipe Data)!

Please note that after the downgrade. rollback:

• 📱 Applications installed on Android 12 may not work.
• 🔒 Some functions (for example, Magic UI 5.0) will become unavailable.
• 🔄 OTA updates may stop coming (manual will be required firmware).

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about updating Honor to Android 12

fastboot oem get-bootinfo