How to Update the Operating System on an Android or Samsung Phone or Tablet

As an Android device owner, you probably know that the Android operating system (OS) needs an update from time to time. These updates improve security, fix bugs, and add more features to your device.

If you want to update your Android device but are not sure how to go about it, you have come to the right place. In this article, we provide step-by-step instructions on how to update your Android device manually or set it to update automatically whenever a new operating system is released. And, if you have an old phone, we can also help you update this software.

How to Manually Update Android OS

In most cases, your Android device will automatically give an update notification. You can either choose to install the update immediately or set it for another time. But there may be times when you want to update manually. Here's how:

1. Open your Android phone and make sure you are connected to Wi-Fi. Sometimes updates are large and can use a lot of your data, so it is advisable to use Wi-Fi.
   
2. Go to your "Settings" icon, usually represented by a cog, and click on it. In the "Settings" menu, scroll down to find the "About phone" option and tap it.
   
3. Search for "System Updates" and select it. Then choose "Check for updates", followed by "Update to download and install the latest Android version".

Your phone will now update.

How to Manually Update Android OS on Samsung Phone

1. Open your device and go to "Settings".
   
2. Scroll down the "Settings" menu to find "Software Update". Click on it.
   
3. Select "Download and Install". Your phone will check for updates. If there is, select the update to start execution. But, if there are no updates, it will tell you: “Your software is up to date. »
   

How to Update the Android OS on a Tablet

Updating your Android tablet is quite simple; here's how to do it for Android Pie (9.0), Android 10 and 11:

1. Make sure your device is connected to Wi-Fi to avoid using a lot of your data.
2. Access the "Settings" icon by pulling down your notification bar or looking on your "Home" screen. This icon features an image of a cog or gear. When you find it, tap the icon.
3. In the "Settings" menu, scroll down until you see "Software Update" and click on it.
4. Select "Download and Install". Your tablet will then check to see if any updates are available; if not, it will inform you that your system is up to date. If an update is available, you can click on it to start running the software.

To update Android Nougat (7.0) and Oreo 8.0, use this method:

1. Open your tablet and connect to Wi-Fi. Then go to "Settings".
2. In the “Settings” menu, select “Software update”.
3. Choose "Download updates manually". You can then run the update once it is downloaded.

How to Update Android OS on Old Phone

Android will not update phones older than two or three years in an effort to entice users to buy new phones. So if you've had your phone for four years and it won't let you update your Android OS even though you know there are later versions, that's probably the reason.

But, there is a way around this, and it requires you to run a custom ROM. This method is advanced. We suggest backing up your system before attempting to follow this method.

1. Start by rooting your device. You can find different types of rooting software available for download. We suggest you try Root of King. This software will guide you through the necessary steps for your particular Android device.
   
2. You will also need to install a custom recovery tool on your phone. TWRP is a great tool to use and will provide you with the exact steps to follow for your specific device.
3. Then download the latest version of Lineage OS for your phone and install it.
   
4. You will also need to install Gapps, the Google apps for the phone which include Maps, Play Store and Search. To find the right version of Open Spreads for your device, you must first determine which architecture your device and the new version of Android are using, then choose a variant. To understand the architecture of the device, download an app like the CPU-Z app. Once installed, open the “SOC” tab and look at the “Architectural Value”. This should tell you the architecture of the device. If you are unsure, do a Google search to find out what architecture your phone uses. The Android version you get depends on the version of Lineage OS you downloaded.
5. Select your Open Gapps variant. There are several options to choose from and each offers different services. Don't worry too much about which one you choose, as you can always install missing apps later.
6. Download the version of Open Gapps you have chosen.

Now you need to flash your device.

1. Boot your device into recovery mode by pressing the "Power" and "Volume Down" buttons simultaneously. This will start TWRP.
2. TWRP will ask you if you want to "Keep system read-only". You don't want to accept this option, so select "Allow changes". Then select “Erase” then “Advanced Erase”.
3. Choose "Dalvik/ART Cache", followed by "System", "Data", then "Cache", then press to clear.
4. Go back to the main menu and press "Install". Choose the Lineage OS file you downloaded earlier from your "Downloads" folder. Then press to confirm the flash.
5. Once the flashing is complete, a “Wipe cache/Dalvik” button will appear; tap it, then swipe to wipe.
6. Again, go back to the main menu and select "Install". Choose the "Open Gapps" file from your downloads folder. Tap it, then swipe to confirm the flash.
7. Click "Reboot System" and when "Install TWRP Application?" appears, choose "Do not install". Your phone will now boot to the latest version of the Android operating system.

How to have automatic update of Android operating system

Android usually pushes updates to your device automatically. However, sometimes you may not receive these updates because a setting needs to be enabled. These steps show you how to enable automatic updates:

1. Open your Android device and go to "Settings".
   
2. Scroll down the "Settings" menu until you find "Software Update".
   
3. Here you will see an option to “Automatically download over Wi-Fi”. Slide the toggle to the right to enable this option; the toggle will then turn green.
   
4. Close the menu. Your Android device will now update automatically, provided you are within Wi-Fi range.

Additional FAQs

Why can't I update my Android version?

There are several reasons why your Android device may not be updating. It could be a low battery, insufficient storage space on your device, or something less easy to fix, such as your device being too old.

First, try charging your phone and freeing up storage space by deleting apps you don't use or transferring photos and videos to your PC. If that doesn't work, do a Google search to see which Android OS versions are compatible with your specific device. If your device is not compatible with the latest version, follow the steps above to update an older phone to a newer Android OS.

Updated Android OS!

Updating the operating system on your Android device can be tricky. But, if you follow the steps in this guide, you should find the process relatively straightforward. Soon you will have the latest operating system on your Android device and you will also know how to update for future versions.

Have you updated the Android operating system on your device? Did you use a method similar to the ones presented in this article? If you did, let us know in the comments section below.