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Flashing a phone: what does it mean?

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david88700 Posted messages 711 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   -  
brucine Posted messages 25005 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   -
Hello, I just want a little information. I saw in a magazine that you can flash a phone. What does that mean? I think it's to change or update to a more recent version of Android. If so, how can we do it? If I flash the phone, will we be able to do updates afterwards?

Thank you in advance.

1 answer

  1.
    bazfile Posted messages 58514 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   20 278
     
    Hello,
    Android updates are no longer offered on certain phones because they are too old or do not support the new versions of Android. By rooting a phone, you install a version of Android that is not intended for your smartphone; these versions are sometimes modified, which brings all the security risks that it entails. Also, no, Android updates will not happen; it will be up to you to repeat the operation with another version; only the applications will be updated.
    Rooting (flashing) a phone is not without risk; sometimes the phone won't boot anymore or major bugs appear.

    bazfile
    Moderator/Security Contributor.
    A hello, an answer, a thank you are always appreciated.
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    1. brucine Posted messages 25005 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   4 181
       
      Hello,

      Finally yes and no.

      My car, although recent, but equipped with an archaic version of Android, for instance, prohibits me from using any application when the handbrake is released, except for this type of manipulation, and from adding any third-party Android application (still within the same archaic version) in the same context: here, the manipulation did not change the version, but allowed for modifying what was not modifiable.

      It's the same for smartphones, where a whole bunch of "custom ROMs" (uncle, why are you coughing) are often more willingly aimed at providing other options than at changing the version.

      But even when it doesn't involve sites and/or individuals specialized in this kind of hack, we indeed run great risks for not much, with potentially a phone that will never start again and in an irreversible manner.
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