Manually installing OTA updates can help you update your Android phone to the latest software instantly. In this post, you will learn how to install OTA Updates on Android devices using ADB Sideload and Stock Recovery.
Latest and regular software updates are an integral part of every Android device, irrespective of its manufacturer. On Android, updating to the latest software version could be easily done Over-the-Air, which is more commonly referred to as “OTA Updates“. The whole process is completely automated and the least amount of effort is required on the user’s end to get through it. Especially when it comes to the phones that support seamless updates. Users need not even reboot their phone, as the update is installed to the alternate partition in the background.
However, an OTA update isn’t always available for all the devices at once. There are several factors including the region, mobile carrier, etc that impact the rollout and thus, a delay can be expected. Also, it is often that a manufacturer may perform a staged rollout, which means the update will reach a small percentage of devices initially and then slowly be available for the rest.
But we, as users, can be impatient when it comes to trying out the new software that would fix the existing bugs or bring in some exciting new features. It’s likely that users who have already received the update, tend to capture the OTA update zip and share it with others on forums and social groups. In such a case, if you have the OTA package (update.zip), then you can manually upgrade your phone to the latest software instantly. The instructions below will help you install Android OTA Updates manually using ADB Sideload and stock recovery.
Sideloading OTA updates do not require an unlocked bootloader. And unlike Factory Image/Firmware, sideloading or manually installing OTA updates via stock recovery doesn’t wipe the data stored on your device. Your data stays intact.
Despite that, we strongly recommend that you take a full backup of all your data stored on your phone including the internal storage to safeguard from any data loss situation.
Take a note that you will first need the OTA update zip package for your device before you follow the steps. You can find these zips either on forums like XDA or request a fellow mate to capture the OTA update package using our tutorial. Also, these methods require your phone’s software to be completely unmodified/stock. It will fail if your phone is rooted via Magisk/SuperSU, has TWRP recovery installed, or any other modifications of this kind.
Once you have the OTA package, you can proceed to the instructions below and use one of the listed methods to manually install the OTA update on your Android device.
Install OTA Update using Stock Recovery (Apply update from SD card)
The first method to manually install Android OTA Updates is by storing the OTA zip package on your phone’s internal/external storage. And then using the ‘Apply update from SD card’ option in stock recovery to install the OTA update. It is best for users who do not have access to a PC.
- Download the OTA zip package for your Android phone
- Connect your phone to the PC using the USB cable
- Next, transfer the OTA zip package to the root of your phone’s internal/external storage.
- By ‘Root’, we mean outside all the folders inside the storage
- Once copied, disconnect the phone and power it off completely.
- Boot your phone into the recovery mode using the physical buttons combination or by entering the following ADB command:
adb reboot recovery - In the recovery, select the ‘Apply update from SD card‘ option.
- Use the Volume keys to highlight the OTA update package
- Finally, press the Power button to confirm and install the OTA update on your Android device.
- After the update is installed, select ‘Reboot system now’.
Install OTA Update using ADB Sideload (Apply update from ADB)
Sometimes, the phone might not detect the storage or the OTA package itself. In such cases, you can use the ADB Sideload command to manually install OTA update on your Android device. In order to install OTA using Apply update from ADB option, you must first setup ADB and Fastboot tools on your PC.
- Download OTA zip package for your Android device
- Copy the downloaded package to the folder where the ADB and Fastboot binaries are present
- Hold the SHIFT key on the keyboard and right-click on an empty space inside the same folder
- Select ‘Open PowerShell window here’ from the menu
- Connect your phone to the PC using the USB cable
- Now enter the following command to boot your Android device into stock recovery:
adb reboot recovery
- Select ‘Apply update from ADB‘.
- Now, enter the following command to manually install the OTA update on your Android device using ADB Sideload:
adb sideload ota.zip
- Make sure to replace “ota.zip” with the actual filename of the OTA update package.
- Once the installation is complete, select ‘Reboot system now‘ in stock recovery.
Your device will boot into the updated firmware. You can use this method on almost every Android device. Required that you have the correct OTA update zip for your phone.
So this was our guide on how to manually install OTA updates on Android using ADB Sideload and Stock Recovery. If you face any errors while updating your phone using these methods, let us know by commenting below.
while installing process (cannot read ‘ota.zip’) massage appear to window powershell
Hi Ganesh. Please state the device name, model number, the exact firmware it is on, and the firmware you are trying to install. Also, from where did you get the OTA package?
Just downloaded the pie update for Verizon and used the sideloading method via sd card. Worked great, easy to install and phone is now ahead of the curve compared to those who wait for Verizon. Thanks
Glad to know Robert! Enjoy your updated device now.
Please I need your help I just bought a bootlooped essential phone and I’ve tried to sideload via ADB and Fastboot but I keep getting error message the bootloader is locked and I can access the developer mode cause the phone doesn’t boot past the essential phone logo.
Hi Azeez, I know you must have tried it already, but did you factory reset from the stock recovery? Just to confirm.
Also, from where did you grab the OTA package for your PH-1? And, what exact error did it show when you tried sideloading it through stock recovery?
I side loaded Pie also, would like to know if future updates will still come to my phone OTA?
Hi Robin. If you sideloaded the stable update, then yes, you will get further OTA updates.
trying to sideload my note 9 through verizon
I keep trying to sideload using adb and i keep getting this error
PS C:\adb> adb sideload N960USQU1ARL1-to-U1CSAA-UP
loading: ‘N960USQU1ARL1-to-U1CSAA-UP’
* cannot read ‘N960USQU1ARL1-to-U1CSAA-UP’ *
PS C:\adb>
Hi Adam. You forgot to add the file extension at the end of the filename. It is important when operating with command-line.
So, the exact command would be: adb sideload N960USQU1ARL1-to-U1CSAA-UP.zip
See? The “.zip” added to the end?
what is the actual filename of the OTA update package?
Hi Kell. The package name is normally a mix of numbers and alphabets assigned directly by the manufacturer.
The full OTA packages provided by the manufacturers (Like Asus, Google, Essential, etc), on the other hand have specific naming conventions.
I tried to sideload the update but it doesn’t work
It keeps saying “system can’t find the file” even though I copied exactly the file name
Hi Graham. I’d need some more info to help you further. Let me know the device name, model number, the current firmware installed on it, and the firmware you are trying to install.
> sideloading or manually installing OTA updates via stock recovery doesn’t wipe the data stored on your device. Your data stays intact.”
Well this is not true. Last time when I used this method it did wipeout my hard drive and I lost all the images.
Hi Gyandeep. Just think of it this way: The OTA you receive and install on the phone automatically via the Settings, it is the same as a manual OTA update. The package is the same. So, if it doesn’t wipe your phone when updating automatically, then it shouldn’t wipe when doing it manually.
Of course, in some situations, like with certain beta releases, the OEM makes a mandatory wipe when moving from Stable to the Beta release. The same happens when Google pushes out Dev Preview. The first Dev Preview build installed via OTA will wipe the phone (At least in case of Google Pixel devices).
I can understand if it happens and the data is lost. So, I have updated the article with a precaution.
Hi guys
Just a quick question.
I am updating my Zenfone 3 ZE552KL to Oreo Android….
Not sure why but the firmware on the phone is old
(despite tried to look for updates, it never came back with result and never updated–so doing it manually…)
and it has aborted the upgrade saying the next possible update is the WW13.20.10.152 ..which I have downloaded from the Asus site and this update is currently working…
Can I ask that, is it necessary to download each individual updates one after the next one till get to the one delivers the Android Oreo…or can any of the skipped?…
Thank you
Hi Steve. That depends on what kind of OTA package you downloaded – Full OTA or Incremental. In the case of incremental, you can’t skip. But with the full OTA, you can go from any firmware.
If you can share a screenshot of ‘Settings’ > ‘About phone’, I’d try to provide the full OTA package, which can be installed over any previous version (firmware). I am specifically looking for the ‘build number’ section in there.
R16NW.G950USQU5CSA4 :build number
Firmware :Sg950usqu5csa4
This is mine got galaxy s8 Verizon. Can you help. Me out too please?
Hi Derek. Thanks for the info. Can you please tell exactly what you want to do on your phone? It’ll give me a better chance to further assist you.
Thanks for this! I did the SD stock recovery update on my T-Mobile S9plus a few weeks ago, but now that T-mobile is rolling out the official OTA will I receive it or am I doomed to firmware sideloads forever?
Hi Andrew. You will receive regular OTA updates, don’t worry about them. I believe you installed the stable update using this method, right?
Trying to update my essentials phone and when I type in adb reboot recovery into the command prompt it says the term adb is not recognized as the name of the closet function script file or operable program. Heck spellingof the name or if the path was included verify path is correct
Hi Corey. Did you make sure that you installed ADB on the PC and launched the command-line (CMD or PowerShell) inside the folder where ADB was installed?
Hey Dhananjay.
I´m trying to install the OTA update with the ADB method and I was having some issues in order for my computer to recognize the device that I´m trying to update. I was able to fix that and now there´s an established connection between the computer and the cellphone.
Now I´m able to boot up the device on the shell directly to recovery mode but once I´m on recovery I lose all connection between the computer and the device so I´m not able to use the option “Apply the update from ADB”.
Would you mind giving me some advise or maybe pointing what I´m doing wrong, please?
Regards 😉
Hi Alex, from what I can understand, this seems to be a driver issue. If I got it right, the connection is lost right when you enable the ‘Apply update from ADB’ option while the phone is connected to the PC?
hi i have a problem , my pc can read the phone from command adb devices but when i put command adb sideload the status is “cannot read”
Hi zoldyck, was your phone in stock recovery mode when you ran the adb sideload command?
My nokia 6 during update to the July security update has been stuck at the no command during booting. I have wiped data and factory reset, yet the no command still appears.
Hi Bernard, so you are not able to boot into the OS at all?