Device errors 

How to install the previous version of Android on Samsung. How to restore stock firmware on any Samsung Galaxy device. How to return the old version of iOS

Sooner or later, every user of Apple mobile devices is faced with the idea that it might be worth returning to the old version of iOS. There may be many factors for this - a new unusual interface that came with the next update, errors in the new version associated with shortcomings or poor compatibility with a specific device.

The company itself has never welcomed the return of previous versions of software to the device and, strictly speaking, neither the iPhone nor the iPad support the installation of older versions of iOS. However, after the release of a new iteration of the operating system, users have a couple of weeks to properly study the new version, make a choice and, if desired, do a so-called firmware rollback to the previous version.

With the release of iOS 9, this issue has again become relevant for some users, and therefore we want to remind you in these instructions how to return the old version of iOS.

Necessary preparation

First of all, we recommend that you make a full backup of your device both in iTunes on your computer and in iCloud cloud storage. The procedure for returning a previous firmware version itself involves completely erasing information from your device and restoring absolutely clean software. Accordingly, you should have a backup copy from which you can restore all your personal information and files.

It is advisable to do the copying using both of these methods at once, since on some versions of iOS it was impossible to restore data from a backup made on a more recent firmware.

After this, in your device, be sure to follow the path Settings > iCloud > Find iPhone or iPad and disable this feature. This is done temporarily in order to remove protection from the software of your device and after restoring the firmware, the function will be enabled again automatically.

How to return the old version of iOS

To begin restoring the previous version, you need to download the firmware file itself, and to install it on an iPhone or iPad, you will need a computer, the latest version of iTunes and a USB cable.

  • Go to getios.com.
  • In the field YOUR DEVICE select the Apple mobile gadget on which you are going to restore the old version of the software.
  • In the field THE MODEL indicate the model of your device.
  • In the field iOS VERSION select the iOS version you want to restore. Keep in mind that Apple only supports going back one firmware version and only for a few weeks after the new version is released.
  • Click the button DOWNLOAD and wait until the firmware file is completely downloaded.

Now you can proceed to the recovery process itself:

  • Open iTunes. When performing any operations with firmware, it is advisable to use only the latest version of iTunes, so before starting the procedure, check for updates and install them if necessary.
  • Connect your device to your computer with a cable and wait until iTunes recognizes your device.
  • Open your device's management page in iTunes.
  • While holding down the Shift button on your keyboard (or Alt if you're using a Mac computer), click the Update button in the device management window.
  • In the Explorer window that opens (or Finder if you are using a Mac computer), select the firmware file you downloaded in the previous step.
  • Confirm your intention to install an older version of the iOS operating system.
  • After this, the firmware recovery process will start. You can monitor its progress at the top of the iTunes window.

During the process of installing the firmware into the device, you cannot disconnect it from the computer and it is advisable not to press anything until a white screen with a welcome message appears. It will mean that the process has been completed successfully and the device can be activated.

Google is constantly improving its brainchild, the Android OS, releasing a new version of the software for Nexus devices several times a year. But, as we know, other manufacturers also take this system and remake it for their models, adding their own shell and exclusive functions for their gadgets.

In general, this is good, but, unlike the thoroughly developed original system, which works cleanly and easily, devices from other manufacturers receive one update for all with features such as two windows on the screen (Samsung) or even multi-windows (LG). And updated firmware does not always work as intended, especially on devices with budget configurations. Therefore, there may be a need to return to the old firmware, and I will tell you how to return the previous version of Android after the device has been updated.

Rolling back any firmware or Android update: Video

How to solve the problem

In general, returning an old version of Android is much more difficult than simply updating, because there is no official way to “roll back”: the developers simply do not provide such an option, implying that you will only use the latest version of their software.

You can return the previous version of Android by simply flashing it via a PC using a special application or via Recovery (recovery mode) directly (without the participation of a PC).

The first method is not universal, because the PC program can be individual for each device model, not to mention the manufacturer.

But I will tell you about the second method in more detail.

Execution steps

  1. First, you need to make sure that you have unlocked access to Recovery.
  2. To get into it, you need to turn off the gadget and when you turn it on:
  • For most devices, simultaneously press and hold the “Power” and “Vol –” keys.
  • Samsung – press and hold the “Power” and “Vol +” keys together.
  • Sony Ericsson – hold down the “Power” and “Vol –” and “Camera button” keys
  • LG – hold down the “Power” and “Vol –” keys and the “Operations” touch button for 10 seconds.
  • Huawei – hold “Power” and “Vol –” and “Vol +” at the same time.
  • HTC – press and hold the “Vol –” button, then briefly press and press “Power”.

If the device does not enter recovery mode in this way, then it must be unlocked. And install custom Recovery. This is written in detail in a separate article.

If you can’t find the official firmware for your model, I recommend looking for it among the modified ones on the website in the Download section. Download it to your device.

Working with Recovery

After this the installation will take place.

As you can see, for many this option may be difficult, so in order not to spend a lot of time thinking about how to cancel an update on Android, look at reviews of the new update for your model, read reviews, and only then upgrade the software version with confidence that the device will be updated with the functionality that suits you.

Rollback to the previous version of Android: Video

Despite the fact that updating the firmware on a Lenovo smartphone to version 4.4 KitKat is a step forward in the development of devices, nevertheless, not everyone liked it and there are a number of dissatisfied users who would like to “roll back” to the old firmware. In this article we will try to figure out how realistic it is to return everything to its original state and once again enjoy the high-quality performance of your phone.

Attention! This article is for informational purposes only and everything you do after reading it is at your own peril and risk.

During the firmware update, all information stored in the phone’s internal memory will be lost: photos, videos, contacts, etc.

One of the most popular and affordable smartphones at the moment remains, using its example, we will try to figure out how to return the old Android firmware.

1. Installing drivers for PC

The first thing you need to do is install the firmware drivers on your PC. To do this, connect the phone via a microUSB cable to the computer and install the drivers. After installing the drivers, the phone must be disconnected from the computer.

You can download the driver for Lenovo P780

2. Finding the required firmware for your phone

Depending on your phone model, you need to find an archive with the firmware of interest, download it to your PC and unpack it.

The official firmware of Lenovo P780_ROW_S124_140403 (smartphone with 4GB of internal memory) version Android 4.2.1 can be downloaded . This firmware was the latest after updating to version 4.4 KitKat.

3. Install the SP Flash Tool program

SP Flash Tool allows you to download firmware to your phone (Please note that each smartphone requires its own firmware). As a rule, this program is located in the archive with the downloaded firmware.

4. Phone firmware from computer

  • Turn off the phone
  • Launch the SP Flash Tool program
  • Fill in the Download Agent and Scatter-loading File fields
  • NECESSARILY check the box next to DA DL All With Check Sum
  • After all the settings are installed, you can click Fimware -> Upgrade
  • We connect the switched off phone to the computer using a microUSB cable.
  • With the correct preliminary settings, after connecting the smartphone to the PC, different colored stripes should begin to appear alternately at the bottom of the SP FlashTool, signaling that the firmware is being uploaded to your phone, and eventually a window with a light green circle will appear, indicating the end of the work.

After that, disconnect the phone from the cable and turn it on. Due to the upload of new firmware, the first boot will take much longer than usual, as new parameters are applied and the device is initially configured.

Articles and Lifehacks

All owners of devices based on the “green robot” who constantly or periodically update the software should know how to return the old update to Android.

This will help you “roll back” to a previous, more stable version.

"Rollback" to the old version

To do this, you can reset all settings using a special code, which can only be obtained from official representatives of the manufacturer. Go to their website, find their contacts, get in touch.

You dictate the IMEI of your phone to them, and in response you receive the necessary code. The details of the “rollback” will be explained to you.

You can synchronize with a computer via cable. But first install the drivers on your computer. They can be found either on the official website or on a special disk that came with your phone.

Returning factory firmware


This option is suitable for those who are disappointed in any update versions, realizing that their mobile device can only function normally on the factory firmware version.

The simplest and most effective method is a “hard reset”, or Hard Reset. This will allow you to return the software that the manufacturers installed.

There are two options for how to return the old update to Android: through the settings in the menu of the phone itself and using a “magic” key combination when the firmware “killed” the phone and it doesn’t even turn on.

  1. Through settings.
    • Go to them through the menu, select “About device”, and then “Reset settings”.
    • Sometimes you may need to enter security codes, which should be given to you along with the phone (may be given in the instructions).
    • However, remember that if the firmware changes, then the location and names of the sections also change. You will have to restore your data.
  2. Each type of phone has its own combinations.
    • Therefore, go to specialized forums or seek help in the technical information section, which you can find on the official website of the manufacturer.
    • Often this is a combination: power button (or unlock) + menu + volume down button (in some cases, volume up). Moreover, not just press, but hold.
    • Do not forget that all information on the phone will be destroyed. All memory will be formatted.

The Android operating system is constantly being improved: device manufacturers and Google itself are correcting errors, combating shortcomings, optimizing energy consumption, and adding new features. It would seem that updating to a newer version of the OS is always good. However, all this is far from so rosy: you can often upgrade to an unfinished version and your smartphone or tablet will work much worse than on a stable build. That is why we decided today to talk about how to return the old version of Android after updating.

Unfortunately, neither Google, as the creator of the OS, nor device manufacturers have provided such a function. There is no point in using a full reset to factory settings from the corresponding menu; all your data will simply be deleted, and the operating system version will remain the same. We think that this is clearly not what you want. So what should we do?

Returning the old version of Android using Recovery

First, save all your data. You can use any program, but we recommend Titanium Backup. To use it, you need Root rights, as well as to restore the old version of the OS, so if you don’t have them, get them. Each device has its own unique instructions for obtaining them. Here's exactly what you should do:

We agree, the process is clearly not an easy one and it is worth using it only in one single case, if the device really does not work well with the new version of the OS: it constantly freezes, essential applications do not turn on, etc. In other cases, we recommend simply getting used to the new interface and new features - this is not always a bad thing. Moreover, people adapt to everything quite quickly. So what does it cost you to cope with a smartphone or tablet?! In any case, now you know what to do if you decide to return the old version of Android after updating. If you have any difficulties, we recommend visiting the 4pda forum, where you can find out detailed information on your device.



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