How to flash an Android phone - Step-by-step instructions. Firmware for tablets: step-by-step instructions

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The reasons why owners of mobile communication devices begin to study the question of “how to flash phones” can be very different. Some people learn to change the software of their mobile phones out of curiosity, wanting to eventually get additional functions; others are trying to make money from this, subsequently offering their repair services; Well, still others want to restore the phone themselves.

The topic of mobile communication devices is now very popular, so finding information, for example, on how to flash a dead phone, is quite easy. Let's take a closer look at why flashing is done and what is required for it.

Update

It is known that the more complex a device is, the more susceptible it is to failure. This is true for mobile phones as well. It is not for nothing that developers periodically release update programs that eliminate errors and shortcomings in their products. However, it often happens that such support ceases, and all efforts are thrown into developing new solutions (which helps stimulate demand). In this case, the owner can either use the faulty device, or learn how to flash phones and perform this operation independently. Here are just some examples that require a software update: freezing when unlocking the screen, a non-working camera, a Wi-Fi module failure, etc. In addition, by learning how to flash phones and upload the required firmware, you can get additional functions or increase performance.

Preparing the device

Most modern phones do not require a computer to perform firmware updates. The user only needs to download the desired firmware file from the Internet, designed specifically for this device, and transfer it to a memory card. All contacts should be saved (imported to the drive). The same applies to installed applications (data will be lost). Further actions depend on the model, so there cannot be universal instructions. As an example, we will look at how to flash an Android phone, since this is the most popular operating system.

Updating programs

The easiest way to flash the firmware is to use the built-in over-the-air update function. You need to enable Wi-Fi Internet access on your phone, then go to “Settings - About phone - Software update”. If the developer has released new firmware, all you have to do is agree to install it.

However, as we have already pointed out, sometimes support is not provided properly. Therefore, you can download the so-called custom firmware (with changes) for this model and place this file on the memory card. Many sources that explain this always indicate the need to obtain root rights. The most convenient way to do this is with the help of specialized programs, for example, Framaroot. This allows the user not only to install a custom one, but also to change the entire software part. After receiving root rights, you need to go into recovery mode. To do this, turn off the phone, then press the power button and volume up rocker. Keep pressed until the menu appears.

Procedure

To update correctly, you need to select Wipe Data/Reset, but you can skip this step for the first time (if the firmware does not install, the data will not be lost in vain). Then the Update from zip item is indicated in the menu (the name may differ. The meaning is to select the source and path to the file). After the operation is completed, all that remains is to select the reboot option and wait for the operating system to load (sometimes you have to wait for several minutes). In some cases, preliminary installation of a prepared recovery is required. It's that simple. However, we recommend installing custom only with a full understanding of what is being done and why, since full compatibility with the device is only possible with official firmware.

There are times when you need to change the software on your mobile phone. This thought makes many people's hair stand on end and their heart rate increase. And in vain, because in fact it is not difficult to do.

Why flash a mobile phone?

Now is the time of computer technology and flat smartphones with touch screens. However, despite the technological boom, old push-button mobile phones should not be discounted. The same “bricks”, sliders and “clamshells” that everyone had just a few years ago. Nobody even thought about changing the software on these legendary devices. The question is, why flash them at all?

Firmware updating of a phone (Samsung, Nokia, etc.) can be done for the following reasons:

the device software has broken down or started to work worse;
to obtain newer software.

Few people have seen such a device crash, but this is quite possible, and there are plenty of reasons for this. In addition, official and independent developers release new firmware versions for these gadgets.

Flashing phone firmware via computer

Before installing new software, there are a few things to keep in mind.

First you need to create a backup copy of all data (contacts, SMS, settings, etc.) on your phone to your computer. This can be done using specialized programs (MyPhoneExplorer and others).
After this, you must charge your mobile phone: at least 80% of the battery, although 100% is better.
It is best to flash the phone firmware via a computer using a laptop. The reason is that it contains a battery, as a result of which, due to an accidental power outage, it will be possible to complete the process started. Otherwise, the consequences could be catastrophic.

For the firmware you will need the following things:

of course, the phone is 100% charged;
data cable (in most cases USB is used, but some mobile devices require a special data cable);
firmware file; it needs to be downloaded from the Internet, but before that you need to carefully read the information, read comments and reviews, and before that you need to find out the version of the old firmware: enter the code *#06# on the keyboard (for Nokia there will be a different code - *#0000#);
drivers for a mobile device;
program for flashing a phone (“flasher”).

Programs

There are quite a lot of utilities for firmware and they are divided into two categories:

general ones that are suitable for all models;
those that are intended for one manufacturer (for example, the Phoenix program for flashing Nokia phones).

General utilities can flash almost any model. However, if there is a program that is created specifically for a certain brand of mobile devices, it is better to use it, since it already contains all the necessary drivers and, possibly, the OS itself. Here is a small list of “flashing tools” for specific brands that will help “cure” the gadget:

for Nokia – Phoenix Service and the official Nokia Software Updater service;
Sony Ericsson – PC Companion (updated SEUS), unofficial DaVinchi;
LG – flashers Speedo, GsMulti;
Motorola – Flash&Backup, P2K;
Samsung – OptiFlash;
BenQ – Winswup, Update Tool.

Let's look at the algorithm using the example of the Phoenix utility.

Flashing Nokia

Before flashing your phone's firmware, you need to download and install the Phoenix utility, which is designed specifically for this brand. In addition to the initial preparations described above, you need to do something else, namely, remove all programs that can somehow be associated with the mobile device (Nokia Software Update, Nokia PC Suite, etc.) and then clear the cache and register. Otherwise, the firmware of the Nokia phone may fail. Also, just in case, you should turn off your antivirus.

Now you need to install the Nokia Connectivity Cable Driver and Nokia Flashing Cable Driver. We connect the mobile device to the PC. You can make sure that all drivers are in place in Device Manager. Open computer properties. Then select “Device Manager” and expand the Wireless Communication Devices item. The number of devices should be from four to six.

Connect to your computer (select PC Suite mode) and launch Phoenix. In the Connection item, click Setting. In the window that opens, select Add. Click on the Driver drop-down list, select USB and scan (Scan). Select the device that appears. Click Select. Now select the desired device from the drop-down list in the Connection item. Next, go to the File\\Scan Product tab. After scanning, the desired mobile device should appear below. If this happens, move on.

Go to the Flashing section, where you need to click Firmware Update. Now you need to select a code. If we don’t have the slightest idea which one is needed, then we take any one. At the same time, you need to remember one point: if Russian is desired in the phone, then look for the words Russian, Cyrillic or RU in the name of the firmware file. When Product Code is selected, click on Refurbish. Congratulations, flashing your phone via your computer has begun. It will last approximately 7-10 minutes. During this time, you should not touch the phone, cable or the program itself.

Flashtool

If there is no special utility and you need to flash the phone’s firmware via a computer, the Flashtool program can easily handle this if you have the OS file and drivers, which you will need to find yourself.

The work algorithm is as follows. Turn off the phone, remove and insert the battery. Turn on the Flashtool program. Click on the lightning icon and leave a dot on the Flashmode item. Next, select the downloaded firmware from the list in the left window and click “Ok”. Afterwards you should see instructions for connecting your smartphone to your PC via a USB cable. We do this, and the program for flashing the phone starts working.

Flashing Android

Mobile devices based on the Android operating system require an OS change much more often than regular mobile phones. The reason for this may be numerous malware, applications downloaded from unknown sources, etc. However, the most basic and most common reason for a smartphone to fail is its owner.

The phone's firmware is flashed via a computer, but you can do without it (in Recovery mode).

Via PC

First you need to make some preparations.

Download a special utility for flashing (Flashtool, Bootloader or a program from the official developer - PC Companion for Sony Ericsson, “Fly smartphone software update” for Fly, etc.).
At the same time, download the firmware for a specific device model. In this case, you should definitely familiarize yourself with the characteristics, read comments and reviews. Copy the firmware to the Firmwares folder of the Flashtool program.
Install drivers on the PC.
We make a backup copy of the files from the smartphone, and also copy the contents of the flash drive to the computer (flashing the phone's firmware through the computer will not leave old marks about the location of the files on the flash card, so it will create new ones on top of the old ones).
We find a USB cable, and also do USB debugging (go to “Settings”, find “Developer Features”, then check the “USB Debugging” checkbox).
We charge the device 100%.

Then open the Flashtool utility and go through the algorithm described above.

Without PC

This is done through Recovery mode. To do this, the firmware file must be downloaded and moved to the memory card. Now turn off the smartphone and turn on Recovery. To do this, you need to simultaneously hold down a certain combination of keys (power and volume down, up or menu - the combination depends on the manufacturer). You can find out the exact combination by looking at the device passport. Next, select the “Apply Update From External Storage” item (firmware for a Samsung phone and many other Android-based smartphones happens the same way).

We are working on Windows Mobile

With smartphones based on Windows Mobile, things are much simpler. To do this, you will need, in fact, the gadget itself, a USB cable and the Windows Phone Recovery Tool program for your computer. First, download this utility from the official website (or via this direct link: go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=522381, the download will start automatically), install and launch. The program will immediately begin searching for updates, after which it will ask you to connect your smartphone to your PC.

Now the search and installation of drivers for the connected device will begin. If they are not found, you can click on the corresponding button to search on the Internet. When the drivers are installed, a large tile with an image of the connected gadget will appear. By clicking on it, you will start downloading the firmware file. Don't panic if the process takes too long, as the file can weigh around a gigabyte. In addition, if the download is suddenly interrupted, it can always be resumed from where it stopped. There is also one nice thing: if you want to flash your smartphone again, you won’t have to download anything, since the OS will remain on the computer.

When the download is complete, the Reinstal Software button will appear, clicking on which will begin installing the software. At the same time, it is strictly undesirable to touch the phone, USB cable, or turn on/off the computer, since the results of such manipulations can be quite disastrous.

If you want to use your old cell phone with a new cellular operator, then you need to know how to flash the phone. Firmware is also sometimes called “reprogramming.” Of course, you can contact authorized service centers for flashing, but you can also find out how to flash your phone yourself.

Steps

Part 1

Working with the right equipment

Make sure you are trying to flash a CDMA phone. CDMA stands for Code Division Multiple Access. If you are not sure that you really have a CDMA phone, remove the battery from it and look for a removable subscriber identification module (SIM card). If the phone does not have a SIM card, it is a CDMA phone and can be flashed.

Take out your USB cable. The firmware process will use the same cable that you use to connect your phone to your computer to download music or something else to it.

Find the right firmware software. There are several easy-to-use programs that can be used to easily flash your phone, and some of them can even be downloaded for free. Before attempting to flash your phone, make sure that the program you choose will work with your phone.

Find out for yourself what you want to flash into your phone. You will change your current mobile operator to another. The only condition is that it must also be a CDMA network. Cricket, Page Plus and Metro PCS are three popular options.

Part 2

Let's start the firmware process

Download the program of your choice for flashing your phone to your computer and unzip the files. Read the instructions carefully and follow them strictly. After reading the instructions, you can flash your phone in 15 or 20 minutes.
- Each phone's settings are slightly different, so it's impossible to write step-by-step instructions here. However, we will try to cover the basic points you need to know.
Check the drivers. If you're not sure you have the latest drivers for your phone, simply download them online. If you know the model number or model name of your phone, this will not be a problem. If you don’t know, you can also find out the model name online.
- Before starting the firmware, make sure that you have all the necessary drivers! Otherwise, the firmware process may not work. To do this, visit the website of your cell phone manufacturer (for example, Samsung).
Learn the basics. The program will ask you who your current carrier is, which carrier you are trying to flash the phone for, and the make and model of your phone. It will also ask you to choose between partial and full flashing. Incomplete firmware will only change the greeting and some inscriptions.

Find out your MEID and ESN. If you have launched a program to flash your phone, you can “read” it, which will give you all the information you need for the further process. Or you can find out in advance. MEID and ESN must be indicated under the battery.

Let the program detect your phone. Your program should be able to detect the connected phone itself, which will allow it to read data from it. If you do this, you won't have to worry about identifying the COM port - the program will do it for you.
- If she asks you for the unlock code, it's always six zeros for Verizon phones. Less likely, but still possible, are options with six ones or six threes.
- Some phones may require you to download a PRL. In the US, this can be done by dialing *228 (for Verizon/MetroPCS/US Cellular) or ##873283# (“update”) for Sprint. In Canada the code is *22803 for Telus Mobility.
- If for some reason no information is being sent on the COM port you specified, you can use Device Manager to manually find which port is actually in use.
Select "record". Most software will wait for you to select the "record" option and then ask you to confirm your choice. Once you click "yes", the flashing process will begin and once completed, the phone will automatically reboot. That's all! Ready. Too easy, right?

Part 3

Risk awareness

Be aware that there is a possibility that your phone will turn into a brick. This is the term used for the "sudden death" of your phone. It becomes practically useless... unless you want to use it as a brick.

This risk exists even if the firmware is performed by a professional. The chances are, of course, less than if you asked your roommate to do it, but they still exist.

Please understand that this will void all warranties. The logic is very simple - you betray the mobile operator, it betrays you. However, if you go to a store and they do the firmware for you (optional), your warranty may still be valid (depending on the circumstances, of course).

Make sure that the operator for which you are flashing the phone supports other people's ESN identifiers. If you are flashing under Boost or Cricket, you shouldn't have any problems. But firmware for such giants as Verizon can cause certain problems - they do not really approve of such methods of switching to them, including independent firmware.

Know that you are still using the same technology. When you work with a CDMA phone, whether it's flashed or not, it's still using CDMA technology. If you live in the US and travel a lot, be aware that most phones in other countries use GSM technology (meaning they have a SIM card). The main benefit of flashing your phone is saving money since you're giving money away to fewer people.

Flashing your phone to Straight Talk is illegal. To do this, you will have to copy your phone's ESN, i.e. clone it. Having two phones with the same number is suspicious, it is a crime and can lead to a large fine or more serious punishment. If you are considering switching to Straight Talk, visit their website in advance and speak with a professional.

Flashing your phone can save you money because you won't have to buy a new phone when you switch carriers. You'll also be able to take advantage of cheaper plans offered by other carriers if you have the ability to flash the phone yourself.

Warnings

CDMA phones can only be used with CDMA carriers such as Metro, Sprint, Cricket, Boost and Verizon.
You can only reflash CDMA phones. GSM phones containing a SIM card used by operators such as AT&T and T-Mobile cannot be flashed. If you have a GSM phone, you are forced to use the services of the operator with whom you originally signed the contract.
A CDMA phone can only be used on a CDMA compatible network if the new operator is willing to activate the phone on their network. Low-cost carriers like Cricket or Boost usually allow reflashing, while larger mainstream carriers like Sprint or Verizon do not. In general, before attempting to update the firmware, you should call the new operator and find out whether they really accept other people's electronic serial numbers (ESN) on their network.
There are always risks associated with phone firmware. Data may be permanently lost, or even the phone may stop working. Flash at your own risk and make sure you follow all the instructions in the program if you decide to flash it yourself.
Reflashing your phone will void the manufacturer's warranty on it. If you bring your phone to an authorized service center or store, they will be able to reflash it without voiding the warranty.

What you will need

Firmware software (downloadable)
USB cable compatible with your phone
Computer with Windows 2000 or higher operating system, USB port, 800 MHz processor or higher, 256 MB RAM
CDMA phone

Articles and Lifehacks

Before flashing a phone without a cable, you should still think about possible unpleasant or even sad consequences for the phone.

If by firmware a person means a complete reinstallation of the operating system, perhaps it is not worth risking a device dear to your heart and running to the nearest store, because buying a USB cable is not a problem now.

And the mini-USB/micro-USB connectors recently built into many mobile models make searching much easier.

Updating existing software

In cases where the software just needs to be updated, the cable may not be useful at all.

Many phones can update their software themselves using Wi-Fi or the internet. To start flashing, you just need to enable this function.
Often the phone itself “reminds” that it’s time to update the software, offering to download the latest version via the Internet. The only disadvantage of this method is that you will have to pay for the downloaded data according to the traffic used.
There are special proprietary programs with which you can update the software. For example, for Nokia it is Nokia PC Suite, thanks to which you can perform many manipulations with the phone, even use it as a modem.

Firmware with complete software reinstallation

After making sure that the phone's firmware is supported from the memory card, you can flash it like this:

Prepare a phone flash drive - download information from it and format it;
Make a backup copy of data from your phone to a SIM card or computer. Remove the SIM card and turn off the device;
Find out what combination to start flashing is needed for this cell phone model;
Find and download the original version of the firmware on the Internet, preferably one that has “live” positive reviews;
Unzip the file and put it on a flash drive. Make sure that there are no extraneous files on the flash drive;
Insert the flash drive into the phone and start the flashing process using a special digital combination. Reinstalling the software should take about 10 minutes;
Wait for the phone to reboot. Turn on the mobile phone in normal mode and check for correct operation.

Not many users imagine what phone firmware is until they encounter problems such as decreased performance, bugs, frequent freezing, and unauthorized shutdown of the device for no apparent reason. Firmware provides a unique opportunity to eliminate factory defects on a newly purchased smartphone. It also helps to modify and modify the gadget’s software according to the tastes and needs of a particular user.

As a result, flashing literally gives new life to the Android gadget, allowing you to eliminate many common problems associated with its long-term use. Thanks to this procedure, the cell phone shows high performance for several more years.

Update and new life of the Android system

Phone firmware: what is it?

In a nutshell, for the uninitiated user, firmware is a complete update of the non-volatile memory of a digital device, that is, something like replacing the built-in software.

The operating system that the phone runs on is the holy of holies of any digital device model. Full performance and expansion of all available functionality depend on the optimal configuration of the system.

By firmware we mean a complete set of all software settings, this includes the process of uploading a new software shell to the device, and a file image that includes the entire “flash” memory of the phone.

Firmware adds security to a digital device

You can customize your smartphone, that is, update the operating system, expand functionality and add all modern devices yourself using a computer. Firmware installed at home according to all the rules does not cause further malfunctions in the operation of mobile devices.

Important! Within one line, you can improve some options in the phone, for example, improve image brightness, add battery life, . But you shouldn’t naively expect that an old device will transform into a new generation phone.

Why do you need to flash a digital phone?

Partial or complete software updates are usually carried out for three reasons:

The need for Russification of digital devices. These are models imported from abroad that have an interface in a foreign language and are completely devoid of Russian language support.
In case of replacing outdated software with a newer version. Digital devices are flashed in order to “enrich” the phone with improved, trendy features that were not originally provided by the manufacturers.
Due to serious damage to the software shell of the smartphone. This can be either partial inoperability of individual built-in functions or a complete failure to start the system.

What do you need to flash your phone yourself?

A user who does not have initial skills and knowledge of the principles of software operation, and has little understanding of computer programs, should not take risks, but rather entrust the digital gadget to a specialist.

Flashing represents only a small part of what is loaded into the memory of a digital device. If you decide to do the firmware yourself, then the first thing you should do is familiarize yourself with the components of this process and familiarize yourself with the terminology.

The main parts of the firmware consist of two elements:

Fullflash is a complex of all software utilities built into the device, that is, a complete memory image.
Monsterpack (monsterpack) is a software “fill” from the manufacturer. It is a complete set of all programs and consists of three parts: a program image of the device (firmware), FlexMemory (flex) and EEPROM.

These above components must be replaced, both individually and collectively. However, for the uninitiated user the question will be: where can I get the manufacturer’s source codes for a complete update of these parts?

It is practically impossible for the average Internet user to find original codes, and self-made codes can easily turn a smartphone into a “brick.” Based on this, it is recommended to limit yourself to replacing only the firmware, or entrust the digital device to specialists.

Tools for updating Android on your gadget

What tools will you need:

Directly the smartphone itself.
Computer or laptop.
Special USB cable.
Required drivers.
Suitable firmware version.

Saving the installed firmware version

Before installing the firmware of your mobile phone, try to save all data (settings and programs) using a special backup application to a memory card or computer. A backup copy of the existing version may be needed if, of course, it’s not a fact, but something goes wrong or the new firmware will worsen the performance of the device.

Launch ClockworkMod Recovery and go to the “Save current ROM” tab.
Click “ok”, thereby starting the creation of a data backup.

Backup button for backing up files

Restoring the saved version is started by opening the same CWM Recovery option, then launching the “Restore” function.

Preparing the smartphone for the firmware procedure

Firmware for different model ranges of smartphones will require “uploading” of suitable software. Therefore, it is recommended to study all the intricacies of the firmware for your phone model. There are many special resources on the Internet, for example, 4pda, where you can find suitable software, a program for installing firmware, drivers, as well as instructions for the process itself.

Important! Before launching the firmware, you should disable the anti-virus program on your digital device, otherwise it will not allow the new software to launch.

The preparatory process takes about half an hour, complete the following steps:

Download and install the MobileuncleMTC Tools application using Google Play.

Steps to install the application

Install the program with administrator rights.
Download the “CWM – recovery” file suitable for flashing the firmware of a specific smartphone model.

Submenu of built-in options in ClockworkMod Recovery

Place a ZIP folder with downloaded files (firmware, recovery) on the smartphone's CD-card.
Open the main menu of the installed Mobileuncle utility, find the Recovery file.
Start the update by simply clicking “ok”.

The main program window, and the option “replacement recovery via update from sdcard”

The procedure for self-firmware Android via computer

After carrying out the preparatory steps, the Android device is completely ready for the most important procedure. The recommendations below will familiarize users with how to properly flash Android on their own via a computer and avoid mistakes. Recommended procedure:

Check your phone's charge, it should be at least 50%. Flashing smartphones from different manufacturers differs in the time spent. So the procedure for flashing a Chinese model will take much less time, unlike its European counterparts.
Connect your smartphone via USB port to your computer and wait for it to be detected.
Open ClockworkMod Recovery.
Select and click on “Wipe” in the menu. This option will reset all data from the device.
Then select “Wipe cache partition” and click.

Recovery main menu and the “wipe cash partition” option, responsible for erasing all temporary accumulated files

After agreeing and confirming, click on the “Install form scard” item, after which the “Choose Zip from internals sdcard” option will open. Click on the pre-loaded flashing file image.
Wait until the installation process is completely loaded and reboot the device. Throughout the entire process, it is strongly recommended not to disconnect the connecting USB cable.

Alternatively, after reinstalling the software, your smartphone will not want to turn on the first time. Don't worry, try rebooting it again. If no changes appear, it is recommended to reflash it again, or restore the old saved version.

For those who would rather see once than hear a hundred times, it is recommended to watch the video with detailed instructions about Android firmware:

Smartphone firmware provides users with opportunities that are difficult to overestimate. This is an effective increase in the performance of almost all the functionality of your favorite gadget. However, if you decide to do this procedure yourself, you should take into account that the process is quite risky.