How to update an old Android phone
Manufacturers stop shipping Android updates after a few years, but the hardware is usually fine. A custom ROM lets you put a newer, still-patched version of Android on an old phone yourself. Here's how it works and what it takes.
First: can the manufacturer still update it?
Check Settings → System → System update first. If it says you're up to date but you're stuck on an old Android version, your phone is end-of-life — the official updates have ended. That's when a custom ROM is the only way to a newer version.
Check your phone is supported
Updating via a custom ROM only works if someone maintains one for your exact model. Search your phone to see every ROM that supports it and which Android version each one runs. If nothing comes up, there's no custom-ROM route for that device — and you can register interest so others see the demand.
What you'll need
- A computer with a USB cable, plus the phone's drivers if on Windows.
- An unlockable bootloader (most phones; some carrier models are locked for good).
adbandfastboot(Android platform-tools).- The ROM build for your device, and usually a custom recovery.
- An hour, and a full backup — flashing wipes the phone.
The steps, in outline
- Back up everything — the process erases your data.
- Enable Developer options, then USB debugging and OEM unlocking.
- Unlock the bootloader with
fastboot. - Flash a custom recovery, or boot the ROM's recommended one.
- Wipe, then install the ROM (and apps package, if you want one).
- Reboot, set up, and check for OTA updates from the ROM.
Exact steps differ per device and ROM, so always follow the official install guide for the build you pick — every ROM listing on CustomDroid links straight to it.
Unsure about a term like bootloader or recovery? See the glossary, or read why install a custom ROM for the bigger picture.