Member Avatar for lewashby

I have an adroid phone, it's a descent phone and it's not that old yet several times here lately I have ran into problems installing or updatinga a few apps because my version of android is not supported. I think I need to upgrade but I've never done this before. It's a verizon wireless HTC android phone. Is there a way to upgrade from within the android app itslef and keep all of my data or would I need to install a new android OS over this one the way I normally do my Linux OS? If it's the second option how do I make sure my verizon account and phone number are still linked to this phone? Thanks.

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by rproffitt

Dani AI

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As described, app updates (Play Store) are different from an Android version upgrade. An app cannot upgrade the OS; system updates normally arrive as carrier/manufacturer OTA (over‑the‑air) packages and—when official—install without removing user data. Replacing the OS manually (custom ROM or flashing stock firmware) is possible, but it is a device‑specific, higher‑risk process and often requires unlocking the bootloader, a custom recovery, and a full backup.

Backup and preparation checklist:

  • Confirm exact model and build (Settings > About phone), and note the current Android version.
  • Back up contacts/calendar via Google sync, photos with Google Photos or copy via USB, and export precious files to a PC.
  • Back up SMS/call history with an app such as SMS Backup & Restore; WhatsApp has its own Google Drive backup.
  • App data: full app-data backups generally require root or specialized tools; without root expect some app data to be lost.
  • Save account credentials and 2FA recovery codes and ensure battery is >50% and a reliable USB cable/PC is available.

If an official OTA exists, use the phone’s Software Update option—this usually preserves data. If no OTA and considering a custom ROM, follow the device‑specific procedure found on developer communities (as suggested): unlock bootloader (this typically triggers a factory reset), install a custom recovery (TWRP), make a full Nandroid backup, then flash the ROM and any required Google packages. Important cautions: unlocking may void warranty, can be blocked on some Verizon/HTC models, and custom ROMs may break carrier features such as VoLTE or Wi‑Fi calling.

On carrier/account linkage: the phone number is tied to the SIM (and carrier records tied to the device IMEI). Keeping the same SIM preserves the number; flashing a ROM does not change the SIM. After any firmware change verify network registration, calling/data, and carrier services. Keeping a copy of the stock firmware or a bootable backup makes it possible to restore the original setup if needed.

Member Avatar for rproffitt

Keeping your data is a discussion on its own. For most, using Android's own sync may be enough. But then you dive deeper into they want more than what sync provides. There is no getting away from you revealing what you meant as well as you researching what sync does, then talking about filling in the gaps.

Your second question about installing a new Android OS shows you may have not done research yet. Unlike our PCs which are somewhat all the same, phones use a variety of CPUs and rarely look the same from the OS standpoint. Also, to install Android OS on a phone is often too much for even someone that has installed Linux. Again, you need to do research on not only how Android is installed (really I wouldn't even do this research first) but to find out if any Android newer version ever was made for your phone.

DEEP BREATHS. STAY CALM. OK where do I go to look for a new ROM? XDA Developers and LineageOS.

Started in December 2016, LineageOS now supports 178 smartphone models and claims to have over 1.7 million installs.

Is your phone on the list? Read https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/

I would have checked further but found only HTC in the top post.

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