To
get the best performance and features from your Android Smartphone or tablet
you should make sure you're always running the very latest software available
for it, not just in terms of apps but also the Android operating system. Here's
how to update Android on your smartphone or tablet.
How
to update Android phone or tablet: Summary
You can
force your Android phone or tablet to search for an update from the Settings
menu on your device, but you should note that just because a newer version of
Android exists it doesn't mean it will be available for your device - now
or ever. In this article we'll guide you step-by-step through how to update
your Android phone or tablet.
How to update Android phone or tablet:
Step-by-step guide - How to check whether your Android device is up to
date
Before
you go trying to update your device, you should check which version of Android
you are running. You might already be on the latest version. It's easy to check
so follow this guide up to step four. This screen will have a section called
'Android version'. If it doesn't, click 'Software information' to find out.
1>
The latest version is
Android 6 Marshmallow, which will gradually become available for more and more
devices over the coming months.Lollipop is 5.x, and KitKat is version
4.4.x, with 4.3, 4.2 and 4.1 all coming under the code name name Jelly Bean.
If
your device is running anything lower than Jelly Bean, unless you have simply
never updated its software it's very unlikely that an update for Marshmallow or
KitKat will be available for it (the manufacturer doesn't appear to support
this device any longer).
2>
As a precautionary measure it's good
practice to back up your data such as contacts and photos. The upgrade should
not affect your data but there are no guarantees.
Navigate to the Setting menu of your
device. On most Android devices this can be done via the app menu or
notification bar. Typically the Setting app will have a cog or spanner logo.
3>
Scroll down the Settings menu and click on 'About
Phone' or 'About Tablet'. If you have a tabbed setting
4>
The menu can vary from device to
device but click the 'Software Update' or similar button. This section of the
menu will also detail which version of Android your device is runnings menu then this will
appear in the 'general' section.
5>
Your phone or tablet will now search
for an available update. If you are taken to another menu, select the 'Software
update check' button or similar.
If an update is available your device
then you will be asked whether you wish to install it. If you select yes then
the system will download and install the new software and reboot.
Note: You device may require a Wi-Fi
connection to search for an update. We also recommend downloading the software
over Wi-Fi because the file size can be large.
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