How to upgrade Android 9 to 10?

Android is a popular mobile operating system developed by Google. It has gone through many major version updates over the years, bringing new features and improvements. Android 9, also known as Pie, was released in 2018. The latest version is Android 10, which was first launched in 2019.

Upgrading from Android 9 to Android 10 provides a number of benefits for users. Android 10 introduces a new system-wide dark mode, improved privacy controls, and enhanced Digital Wellbeing tools. It also brings performance improvements, extended support for foldable screens, new gestures, and updated accessibility features.

Overall, upgrading provides an improved user experience and allows access to the latest features and security updates. This guide will walk through the steps to upgrade an Android 9 device to Android 10.

Pre-Upgrade Preparation

Before upgrading to Android 10 from Android 9, it is important to prepare your device by taking a few key steps. According to T-Mobile, the main things to do are back up data, check for app compatibility, and charge the phone battery.

First, be sure to back up any important data on your phone, such as photos, videos, contacts, and text messages. You can back up to the cloud using your Google account or to a computer using a USB cable. This ensures you won’t lose anything valuable during the upgrade process.

Next, check that the apps you use most are compatible with Android 10. Some older apps may not work properly after upgrading. Visit the developer’s website or app store listing to confirm compatibility. You may need to update some apps before upgrading your OS.

Finally, make sure your phone’s battery is fully charged before starting. The upgrade process can take awhile to complete, so you’ll want ample battery life. Plug your phone in if the battery is low. Once your data is backed up, apps are checked, and battery is charged, you’ll be ready to upgrade to Android 10.

Checking System Compatibility

Before installing Android 10, it’s crucial to confirm that your phone model and specifications are compatible with the latest software version. Google outlines the core hardware and system requirements that devices must meet to support Android 10.

First, verify that your phone model is listed among the devices eligible for the Android 10 update. You can check the manufacturer’s website or forums to find compatibility information for your specific device. Many popular flagship phones from Samsung, LG, Motorola, Nokia, and other brands released in 2018 or later should be eligible.

Next, your phone’s hardware must meet the minimum requirements as defined in Google’s Android 10 Compatibility Definition document. Key requirements include:

  • 64-bit CPU (Snapdragon 835 or equivalent).
  • At least 3GB RAM.
  • 32GB internal storage.

Your phone’s software must be running Android 9 before beginning the update to Android 10. Devices still on older versions like Android 8 will need to first upgrade to Android 9.

Checking these details in advance protects against attempting to install Android 10 on incompatible devices, which could lead to functionality issues. Confirm your phone meets the criteria above to ensure a smooth upgrade experience.

Downloading the Android 10 Update

Before downloading the Android 10 update, it is important to connect your phone to a stable WiFi network. Downloading over mobile data is not recommended as the file size can be quite large (1-2GB). Follow these steps to download the update:

1. Go to Settings > System > Advanced > System Update

2. Make sure your phone is connected to a WiFi network. You can check this by looking for the WiFi icon in the status bar.

3. Tap on ‘Check for updates’ and wait for your phone to scan for the latest available updates.

4. Once the Android 10 update shows up, tap on ‘Download’. The download will now commence in the background.

It is recommended to keep your phone plugged in during the entire download process. Do not restart the phone while the download is in progress.

Once the download is complete, you will receive a notification asking you to schedule the installation.

Installing the Update

Once you have successfully downloaded the Android 10 update file on your device, you are ready to install it. Here are the steps to follow:

Wait for the download to fully complete. Do not interrupt or cancel the download process. The file size can range from 1-3 GB depending on your device model.

After the download is finished, you will get a notification prompt to install the update. Tap on this notification to begin the installation process.

Follow all the on-screen prompts carefully during installation. You may need to agree to terms of service or select certain options.

Allow sufficient time for the installation to fully complete. This can take 20-30 minutes typically, but may take longer depending on your device. Do not use or restart your device during this time.

Once installation is fully finished, your device will reboot and you will be running the brand new Android 10 update!

Completing the Upgrade

Once the Android 10 update package is fully downloaded and installed, your phone will automatically reboot into the new Android 10 operating system. This process usually takes 5-10 minutes, so be patient and let the upgrade fully complete.

After your phone finishes rebooting and you unlock it for the first time after the update, you may see a notification indicating the system is “optimizing apps and data.” This is normal and allows Android 10 to optimize your apps for the new OS. Let this process complete before heavily using your phone.

Next, review your apps and settings to make sure everything transitioned properly to Android 10. Open your main apps and check that content and login information is still intact. Also verify app functionality and performance. If you notice any apps misbehaving, try restarting your phone.

Additionally, review Android 10’s settings menu to familiarize yourself with new options. For example, you can now control app permissions more granularly in Settings > Apps & notifications > Advanced > App permissions. Take time to explore new privacy, security, accessibility and other settings.

At this point, your phone should be fully upgraded and running the new Android 10 operating system. You can now start enjoying all the great features and enhancements that come with this major Android release.

New Features in Android 10

Android 10 introduces several new features and enhancements over previous versions. Some of the most notable upgrades include:

Dark Mode

One of the most anticipated additions in Android 10 is an official system-wide dark mode. This switches the system UI and stock apps to a darker color theme. Many find this easier on the eyes and helpful for using devices at night. Users can toggle dark mode on or off via a quick settings menu. Third-party apps can also implement dark mode support.

Sources: https://www.android.com/android-10/, https://www.androidauthority.com/android-10-features-944275/

Focus Mode

Focus mode allows users to pause distracting apps when they need to concentrate. This disables notifications and turns off app access for selected apps. Users can configure focus mode to automatically turn on at certain times or locations. The Quick Settings menu includes a focus mode toggle.

Enhanced Privacy

Android 10 expands privacy controls over app data access and permissions. Users can only grant location access to apps actively in use rather than keeping permissions indefinitely. The OS provides more transparency into what data apps collect. There are also stricter limitations on background data collection by apps.

Gesture Navigation

Android 10 replaces the traditional 3-button home/back/recents navigation with a new gesture system. Users can now swipe up from the bottom to go home, swipe up and hold to see recent apps, and swipe in from the edges for back gestures. This enables a fuller screen experience without on-screen or capacitive buttons.

Troubleshooting Issues

Upgrading to a new version of Android can sometimes cause apps and features to stop working properly. Here are some troubleshooting tips for common issues after upgrading to Android 10:

Fix App Crashes or Issues

If some apps crash or have problems after upgrading, first try updating the apps in the Play Store to see if new compatible versions are available. You can also try clearing the cache and data for the troubled apps by going to Settings > Apps & notifications > See all apps, selecting the app, and tapping Storage & cache > Clear storage/Clear cache.

For apps that still don’t work, check if the developer offers support and has identified any compatibility issues with Android 10. You may need to wait for them to update the app with fixes. As a last resort, you can uninstall then reinstall the problematic apps.

Troubleshoot Connectivity, Sound and Other Issues

According to the AVG article, common problems like connectivity issues, trouble with sound, battery drain or slow performance can often be fixed by restarting your device. If the problems persist, try these steps:

  • Check if a system update is available and install it.
  • Reset app preferences in Settings > Apps & notifications > See all apps > Reset app preferences.
  • Perform a factory reset on your device if nothing else works, which will erase all data and restore default settings.

Tips for Adjusting

After upgrading to Android 10, take some time to customize settings and preferences to your liking. Here are some tips for adjusting to the new OS:

In Display settings, you can enable Dark Theme for a sleek, battery-saving dark mode across the system UI and compatible apps (DigitalTrends). Dark Theme helps improve visibility at night.

In the same section, play around with font styles, icon shapes, icon colors, and the overall color scheme to make Android 10 feel more personal (DigitalTrends).

Dive into Digital Wellbeing settings to take control of your screen time. Use Focus Mode to pause distracting apps when you need to concentrate or Wind Down to transition away from your phone before bed.

Android 10 makes notifications more user-friendly. In Sound settings, enable Gentle Notifications to automatically lower notification volume when you’re using the phone so you aren’t startled.

Take advantage of upgraded privacy controls in Settings. Limit apps’ location access and toggle off access to Body Sensors to prevent misuse of sensitive information.

Enable Gestures in System settings to ditch navigation buttons and swipe to navigate instead. The gestures may feel unfamiliar at first but make more screen space usable over time.

Overall, get familiar with the Settings menu and tweak Android 10 to align with your preferences and style. With some customization, you’ll adjust to the new OS in no time.

Conclusion

Upgrading from Android 9 to Android 10 is a straightforward process for most users. The key steps are checking your device’s compatibility, backing up your data, downloading the update file, installing it through your device settings, and then allowing time for the upgrade to fully complete.

Android 10 provides a variety of new features and enhancements over Android 9, including improved privacy controls, a system-wide dark mode, enhanced digital wellbeing tools, Live Caption for media, smarter notifications, and more refined gesture navigation. While it may take some time to adjust to the changes, Android 10 represents a solid upgrade over Android 9 with many benefits for users.

With some preparation and patience, most users should find the upgrade process smooth and worthwhile. Enjoy exploring all that Android 10 has to offer!

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