Roll back to previous Android version after updating. Recovering data on Android after a factory reset. Life after hard reset

Each operating system needs to be improved in order to: increase its performance and ease of use, correct shortcomings and errors.

Which is easy to do with updates. For the Android operating system, this can be done by updating its version, and this operation is called flashing.

What kind of problems appear after updating Android?

By and large, not scary at all. Very rarely, after modification, several shortcuts disappear from the desktop, and the programs themselves are the owners of these icons. Because they have long been outdated, there are many updates or replacements for these programs in the Play Store.

Along with flashing, new useful but uninteresting programs are installed that cannot be removed.

The worst thing is if you install the operating system not through settings and updates. This self-installed version of Android will be unofficial software, and all warranties for servicing your device will be lost.

How to return to the old version of Android after updating?

It may happen that you want to return the old version of Android if you do not like the update made. But such a possibility, without harm to personal data and already installed applications you like, does not exist.

Still, it’s better to get used to Android after the update. Install new applications, shortcuts on your desktop, and you will like the updated operating system.

The stubborn desire to return the old version of Android after the update does not leave, then this can be done.

Firstly, before returning to the old version of Android, you need to rewrite all personal data from the phone’s internal memory:

• contacts, phone numbers – to the SIM card;
• photos, music, text files, SMS messages, emails - to a separate memory card.

Secondly, you will need to perform a factory reset. There are two options.

Reset to menu:

The operation is different for different types and models of devices:

• on Android phones version 2.3 -
  Settings > Privacy >
• on Android phones version 4 –
  Settings > Device storage > Factory reset
  or Settings > Built-in memory > Factory reset.
• on Android tablets version 4 –
  Settings > Backup & reset > Reset settings.

Hard reset to return to the old version of Android:

You need to enter the “Android system recovery” () menu. First you need to turn off the device, and then use the key combination, which differs for different manufacturers.

• For most phones and tablets, simultaneously press and hold the power and volume down buttons.
• Samsung – simultaneously press and hold the power and volume up buttons.
• Sony Ericsson - simultaneously press and hold the power, volume down and camera buttons.
• LG – simultaneously press and hold for more than 10 seconds the buttons: power, volume down, home screen (home). Release the power button after the LG logo appears, and hold the rest until the recovery screen appears.
• Huawei – simultaneously press and hold the buttons: power, volume down, volume up.
• HTC – press and hold the volume down button, then briefly press the power button. When the recovery menu appears on the screen, release the Volume Down key. Find the “Clear storage” item, select it by pressing the power button and confirm the action with the volume down button.

In the “Android system recovery” menu, remember the key assignments: highlight – move through the menu; select – select a menu item. Move to the line “wipe data / factory reset” and select this item. Next, in the new menu, go down to the action confirmation sub-item and select it.

In both reset options, a reboot will occur, and your device will turn on with factory settings - with applications and the old version of Android preinstalled by the manufacturer.

Surely you have heard about the Android operating system, unless you yourself are the owner of a device running this shell. This platform has appealed to a good portion of gadget owners and is the most common OS among mobile devices. Since 2009, when the first version of the “robot” was released, the developers have not stopped improving and modifying their brainchild. New versions and updates are released regularly. But do you always need to update your device and how to return the old version of Android after updating? We will talk about this in this publication.

Why are updates needed?

First of all, for the proper operation of the system. Developers optimize performance, improve the interface, correct lags, because it is almost impossible to release a perfect system right away, and minor faults will only be noticeable during its active use. In most cases, you can find out about the availability of an update using a regular message that appears in the notification line. You can upgrade by going to the update center, downloading and installing the new version.

Why might gadget owners be unhappy with the update?

In most cases, after the update procedure, the device should work faster, and all shortcomings should become a thing of the past. All that users can complain about are some changes in the interface or, for example, the disappearance of shortcuts from the desktop (accordingly, the applications themselves disappear). This happens because the installed programs are already outdated and simply do not correspond to the new firmware.

New versions of applications or their analogues can still be found on the Play Market, and trying to return the previous version of the OS due to the loss of old applications is a rather stupid idea. What else can irritate owners in the new firmware version is the appearance of some programs that cannot be removed. For example, these could be new services from Google. And then all users begin to think about whether it is possible to return the old version of Android. But most of all those who want to return to the old firmware are among those who tried to reflash their device on their own. Here, a huge variety of problems may appear, to the point that your gadget may turn into a “brick,” that is, stop showing signs of life altogether.

So before performing such manipulations, make sure that you have enough knowledge and experience, and best of all, contact a professional. Reflash the device only in extreme cases, when you cannot do without it, because such a procedure completely voids your warranty. But you can still return the previous version.

How to return to the old version of Android after updating?

First, come to terms with the fact that standard system resources do not provide a system rollback option, such as in the Windows OS. Accordingly, when you return to the old version, all installed programs and personal files will be deleted. Therefore, immediately before the procedure for returning the old version, make backup copies of all important documents, files, phone numbers, and so on. Be prepared to say goodbye to user settings, saved accounts or applications, they will be erased, everything except the built-in ones.

Next, you will have to perform a factory reset yourself. How to do this depends only on your version of the operating system, but most often this item is found if you go to “Settings” and “Recovery and reset”. This parameter can also be found in “Confidentiality”. In any case, finding a factory reset will be easy. Next, you will need to perform a series of actions that are a little more complicated, that is, enter recovery. And how to return the old version of Android using it - read on.

Login to recovery

"Recovery" is a special boot mode on Android, with which you can reset settings or flash the system. If you buy gadgets in trusted certified stores and with an already installed OS, then they should have the stock “recovery” mode. How to enter recovery depends only on your device model. The most common combination is the power button and the volume down key.

For example, if you don’t know how to return the old version of Android to Lenovo, then this combination will work for most of their devices. I would like to note that before entering recovery, you need to turn off the phone. If you are looking for how to return the old version of Android Sony Xperia, then you need to press three buttons: those that we have already named, and the camera button. You can easily find more detailed instructions for various models on the World Wide Web. But what to do after entering boot mode?

How to return the old version of Android after updating through recovery mode?

You can navigate the menu using the " key" highlight", and to select a specific item you need to press "select". There is no need to be afraid of this mode; if you understand it well, it becomes clear that there is nothing complicated. Now look for the line with " wipe data / and select it. A new menu will open in which you will have to confirm the action. Afterwards, wait for the reboot and the OS will return to factory settings.

Charge your smartphone

What is worth noting first of all is that before starting this procedure you need to charge the device well. It doesn’t matter how long it takes to roll back the system and how long the gadget will reboot after that.

If during such manipulations in the “recovery” mode the device does not have enough charge and it cannot fully complete its task, then, most likely, problems with its further use cannot be avoided.

The same applies to flashing your phone yourself. For some users, certain system functions disappeared or did not work, even the touchpad became inoperable. In some cases, the firmware did not install at all and it was simply impossible to enter the OS. But even then recovery helped again. If you cannot enter this mode or it simply does not exist, there are a number of simple utilities for flashing this mode directly through the operating system. Sometimes you may need a PC for this task.

We told you about how to return the old version of Android after updating. Treat your gadget with care and it will serve you for a long time.

A factory reset removes all data from your phone's internal storage. These are photos, videos, music, applications - everything that was recorded while using the mobile device. In this case, the SD card will remain untouched: the files on it will be saved after a hard reset.

So, without thinking twice and considering that this is the fastest way to solve all the problems, you reset the phone. Is there life after a factory reset? Is it possible to recover data on your phone after you have done .

Recovering photos and videos after a hard reset

1. I have a Samsung Galaxy Duos. I forgot my lock PIN code and had to reset my phone to factory settings. Lost photos, videos, contacts and much more. Can I return them? I tried various mobile applications, but it didn’t work.
2. . Apparently, they reset the settings - although the phone was password protected with a graphic key. After redeeming the phone, we discovered that the comrades who had stolen the flash drive had, of course, thrown it away. There are no backups. Mostly everything was in the phone's memory. How to recover photos and videos? Is this even real? In complete despair.
3. I did a factory reset on my Samsung Galaxy J5. After that it became like new. I would like to know how to recover photos, videos, music. All these applications were in the phone's memory.
4. I accidentally deleted files on my phone using wipe reset. Please tell me how can I restore them? Phone model Alcatel One Touch Idol2 6037K. Built-in memory. The battery is not removable.
5. Please tell me, is it possible to return a photo if we took pictures and the photos were not saved, they were just in the “camera”. The child forgot the password on the phone and simply took it and reset the settings through the hardware buttons. Can we return the photo?

Answer. Yes, you can, but the likelihood of recovery depends on your persistence and the time that has passed since resetting Android. You can use the recovery method described above (by creating an image of the internal memory).

To search for photos in a connected disk image, you can use any software, even free software, like or (enable the deep scanning option). How to use them, watch in this video:

How to recover phone numbers after a factory reset

1. If you did not set up before the hard reset, this guide will help you recover deleted contacts and phone numbers after the reset.
2. If contact synchronization has been enabled (for example, via Gmail), connect your Google account and wait for the contact list to synchronize.
3. Check if there is a VCF file on the memory card or internal memory of your phone.

How to restore applications

After resetting the settings, Instagram and another program are not installed. What should I do to install applications?

Answer. , as a rule, does not cause difficulties.

Some Android apps require a later version of the OS on your phone. After a hard reset, you roll back the Android version to the one that was installed by the supplier. Therefore, for good measure, you need to download the latest firmware updates to your phone. This can be done through the settings.

To reinstall all applications, just connect the user's Google account. The applications will be downloaded and installed on your phone automatically - in their latest version.

What to do if your phone doesn’t work after a hard reset

1. I have an HTC One V phone and after resetting the phone stopped working. The screen turns on, the HTC logo appears and nothing else happens. What to do?
2. Clicked on reset to factory settings. Now the phone says Secure Fail: Recovery and a yellow triangle. inside there is a black exclamation mark and again neither here nor there. The phone has not turned on for quite some time, what should I do?

Answer.

Method 1. Reset the settings again - deleting all data from the internal memory of the phone.

Since you do not have access to the Android OS, you can do a hard reset using the hardware buttons. For this:

1. Remove the battery and put it back into the phone
2. Press and hold the Volume Up button
3. In addition to this, press and hold the Power button

After which you will go into recovery mode to factory settings.

Note. The method of performing a hard reset is different on many Android devices. For details, see your smartphone's manual.

Method 2. If a repeated hard reset does not help, install an alternative - unofficial - firmware. We recommend looking for instructions on the 4pda.ru forum.

After resetting the settings, access to the account is lost

1. I lost my phone. When they returned it, I realized that they tried to reset the settings, but could not, because the Google Account interfered. How can I log into my phone now, given that I don’t remember either my password or login?
2. I accidentally reset my phone and thereby lost my Google account. I tried to restore it, but it popped up: there is not enough evidence. What should I do?

Answer. The problem can be solved quite simply. You need to go to this Google page and answer the questions. If the account belonged to you and you had recovery data (for example, a backup Email or phone), you will be able to restore access and “link” the account to your mobile device again.

Recovering file names

I had a problem with my phone: if someone called while I was using it, a message would appear that the Phone app had stopped. I asked on the forum and they said that I needed to reset my phone. After the reset, the problem was solved, but the music, it turns out, was in the phone’s memory. Is it possible to restore it or at least find out what kind of music it was?

Answer. You will not be able to restore the music. Find out file names - yes, but only if they are saved in the file table. To do this, use the recovery method from internal memory, which we described in this guide. This procedure is quite complicated and time-consuming.

Phone memory is full

My tablet with Android v4.0.3 was automatically reset to factory settings. After that I can’t load the application, it says: internal memory is full, free up some space. But the memory is clear. What should I do?

Answer. Although a Hard Reset deletes user data, it does not completely clear the phone's memory - unless you select the appropriate option in the menu.

Try manually deleting the files. The most convenient way to do this is through the Storage Analyzer utility for Android.

Internet does not work when setting up the phone

1. I forgot the unlock password for my Samsung Galaxy A3 2016. After resetting to factory settings and after the greeting, only the search for a Wi-Fi connection is activated, the “Next” button does not function. What to do?
2. I recently did a factory reset. Everything was fine, I turned on the phone, selected a language, connected to the Internet, then the “connection check” download began. This download is already on the second day, I don’t know what to do.

Answer.

1. Try setting up your phone via a different wifi network (the problem may be with the wifi router).

2. Enable USB debugging on your phone 3. Download and install custom Android firmware for your device (a rather unsafe method, suitable only for experienced users!)

After the reset, the notes on the phone were deleted

I restored the factory settings on Android, but forgot to transfer phone notes to another phone. What to do in this case? Is it possible to somehow recover text notes?

Answer. If you previously stored text notes in the standard Google notepad application, recovery is unlikely: after a hard reset, all application settings are deleted.

However, if you set up synchronization with Samsung Cloud, you can easily restore your notes in the Samsung Notes app by resynchronizing them with your account.

Answers to other questions

Please ask any questions about recovery after a Hard reset via the feedback form. We kindly request: formulate the question in detail and preferably without errors.

I was doing encryption and there was a glitch. There was nothing left to do but press the "reset" button. But before the reset I had a bunch of photos, there were photos of my parents, travels, etc. I really need these photos, I’m already hysterical and don’t know how to continue living when your whole life was on your smartphone.

I accidentally turned my Android back to factory settings, i.e. I reset it, so all the photos were deleted, can I restore them using the application and which one?

Answer. After performing a factory reset, all data in the internal memory of your phone was deleted, including photos. There are two ways to solve your problem.

1. Look for photos on your memory card, on the Internet (if you kept backups there).
2. To recover data in internal memory, we recommend a simple program. You can download it on Google Play..

My friend caught a blocking virus on his Microlab phone. Naturally, no one wanted to pay hackers to unlock it. I reset his phone completely and now the language selection screen appears and then search for Wi-Fi. It doesn't go any further. I inserted the SIM cards, but it still won’t let me continue. What happened to him now and how to fix it?

Answer. This means that the problem is precisely that the phone cannot connect to the wifi network. Find an open access network and try to connect. If it still doesn’t work, change the firmware to custom one.

The glass on the phone (Samsung A5) was replaced and the phone was reset, photos and videos disappeared. Is it possible to restore and how? I tried it through your program - it didn’t work.

Answer. Curious to know what recovery programs you used. The question also arises: where did you look for the deleted data - in the internal memory or on the SD card. As written above, a factory reset erases the internal memory, so you will need utilities like DiskDigger for Android. Another recovery method is by creating a snapshot of the internal memory and further searching for files on it.

Android 5.1 Lenovo A2010. I wanted to update, but I clicked on the factory settings and all the necessary photos and videos disappeared. I downloaded it, but it’s impossible to open it, i.e. doesn't look up on the phone. What should I do to recover deleted photos and videos?

Answer. Really. Tenorshare Data Recovery can only be launched from a computer. It’s not a fact that with its help you will be able to return data after a hard reset (that is, resetting to factory settings). You need a way to recover from internal memory. See the answers above where we answered a similar question.

I did a hard reset on my lg D724 phone, having previously synchronized everything. But I missed the most important thing - notes from the notepad application. The wife had a lot of important information in her notebook. Tell me, please, how can I restore this?

Answer. Try it. We haven't tested it, but the developers claim that MobiSaver can recover notes. However, it is important to note that after a hard reset, the internal memory is erased, and not all applications can work with it. So, to be honest, there is very little chance of getting your text notes back after a reset.

I have a Samsung galaxy s7 edge. The problem is that when I entered the camera, it gave me the following notification “Camera error warning”, after which every time I enter the camera the phone gives me this error. I reset the phone to factory settings, but it didn’t help... clearing the cache in the camera settings and I reset its data, but all my efforts were even, nothing helped. I went to the service center and they said that they did not have the equipment to disassemble and see what was wrong with the phone, and in return they could send it to Moscow for repair, but it will take weeks or more I don’t need it. Is it possible that if I roll back the phone to the previous version of the OS, that is, 6.0, since I have 7.0. Or just reflash the phone. Tell me, will this help? If not, then help and tell me a couple of ways to correct this error.

Answer. Go in and check if the camera is working. This will help identify whether additional applications you installed or along with the firmware are affecting the camera.

You may be using custom firmware - if so, we advise you to find alternative versions or update your phone to the official firmware.

If resetting to factory settings really didn’t help, you need to contact a Samsung service center or, as you mentioned, send it to Moscow for repair.

My phone has been reset to factory settings, how can I recover data from my phone? I tried it through applications from Google Play, almost all of them require root. What is it and how to get it?

Answer. Root access (or superuser rights) gives recovery programs access to the Android file system and full control, including deleting and overwriting files. Although, in fact, recovery programs only need access in read mode.

Even if you find an application that does not require root, the likelihood of recovery will be extremely small. Try installing the KingoRoot application (root installation in a few steps) and DiskDigger for Android, it should work.

After resetting the Prestigio NK3, the system writes that the SD card is not supported and suggests formatting. The reset was carried out with the card removed. There is a lot of necessary data there, is there a solution?

Answer. Most likely, the hard reset did not in any way affect the safety of the data on the memory card. If you removed the memory card while other files were being written to it from the phone, the SD card's file table may have become corrupted. You need to connect it to your computer or laptop via a card reader and check for reading errors using a standard Windows utility. If the errors are corrected, the SD card should open on the phone. If not, Recuva or DiskDigger with Dig Deep mode should find all the files.

My wife did a hard reset on her Samsung Grand 2 Duo phone without making a backup copy. Photos and music are not so important, all phone contacts were lost and application data from the Play Market could not be recovered. In all applications, everything had to start over. Please tell me, is it possible to somehow restore this?

Answer. The likelihood of recovering user data from applications depends on each application individually. So, if user data was stored on an SD card, then you can restore the data. Otherwise, after a hard reset, you need to scan the internal memory in an attempt to find each individual application file (the probability of doing this is quite small).

Phone contacts can be imported from a SIM card - of course, if you took care of a backup copy of your contacts in advance. Check to see if your contacts have been synced with your Google account and the Contacts service assigned to it.

Every year, Google releases a new version of its own operating system for mobile devices – Android. It is the most widespread and is ahead of its direct competitor from Apple – the iOS system. Its popularity among users is due to the greater freedom of action that this shell provides and the many settings that are not available to fans of Apple devices. But sometimes situations arise when it becomes necessary to roll back to an older firmware version. This is especially true in cases where the user initially did not uncheck the automatic system update settings item. But not everyone knows how to return the old firmware to Android.

Need for updates

Before we talk about how to return the old firmware to Android, it is worth mentioning why Google releases periodic updates. This includes not only global changes in the form of a completely new version of the OS, but also various patches or patches.

Their main purpose is:

• correcting identified bugs in the system;
• reduction in energy consumption (Android becomes less energy-intensive with each new update, which allows you to get longer battery life without increasing battery capacity);
• resolving hardware problems (this includes camera, sound, multimedia capabilities).

But not every user enjoys innovations. Some people dream of returning to the old firmware version after the next update.

This may be due to a disruption in the stable operation of the device, especially if a new version of the system is released that has not been fully tested on all supported devices. Innovations may also include additions in the form of services that cannot be removed.

It should be immediately noted that when deciding how to return the old firmware on Android, you must take into account that, unlike, for example, Windows, a smartphone or tablet does not have a default rollback function. Therefore, when returning to a previous version of the OS, you should be prepared to lose all data.

How to return old firmware on Android using a factory reset

The easiest way to “undo” the received system update is to roll back to factory settings. After carrying out these manipulations, the user receives a phone whose internal contents will be similar to the one he recently purchased.

To roll back using this method, you need to go to the desired menu item:

Getting the old firmware version via Hard Reset

The second way to roll back to an earlier firmware version is to use the standard Recovery menu. To gain access to these settings, hidden from the inexperienced user, you need to press a certain key combination.

The most common method is to simultaneously press the power button and the volume key (up or down). Some devices use triple clicking with the addition of a Camera button.

After entering Recovery mode you need:

After this, the device will reboot, as a result of which the user will receive a “new phone out of the box.”

Reflashing the device

Another way to return the old version on Android is to flash your smartphone. To do this, the first thing you need to do is download the required version of the software. This can be done on specialized forums. After downloading, you need to transfer the archive to a memory card, since it is from it that the firmware process will be carried out.

It happens that smartphone users are often dissatisfied with the new version of the operating system for various reasons. Many people are interested in whether it is possible to roll back Android updates by returning the previous version of the system. Any restoration to a previous version means installing the operating system from scratch, in which all files are completely deleted. Let's look at how to roll back the Android version.

Preventing unscheduled updates

To avoid automatic updates on Android, you need to disable the auto-updates function in the settings. Because once the installation procedure starts, it will be impossible to stop it.

To adjust the settings, do the following:

The described algorithm was created using Android 4.4 as an example. These steps will protect you from unexpected downloads of updates, so you don’t have to rack your brains over restoring the original firmware.

A special program will serve as an intermediary in this operation. A common product is Titanium Backup. The utility can work with root rights. Obtaining them is necessary to open access to system documents and archives.

As a result, a Titanium Backup folder will be created on the flash drive, which will contain many files. We advise you to copy the contents to your computer to avoid data loss.

The Odin program helps you remove the firmware on Android and return the old one. Let's say you don't have a backup copy. Then you will have to search the Internet for documents with the desired operating system. The optimal place is the 4PDA site, intended for those who are planning to restore old software. There are many firmwares for smartphones and tablets.

Refund via Titanium Backup

Thus, this program allows you to save copies of data from gadgets and helps to roll back the firmware on Android. Therefore, its use makes it possible to easily downgrade the Android version without searching for files and data.

To roll back the Android update to the factory firmware, just use the smartphone settings.