On September 8, 2020, Android 11 was released with various new and improved features which make a good argument for you to update your previous Android OS with the new version 11.
Here we have for you, some of the features of Android version 11:
- You get the Biometric authentication capabilities that will protect your device more securely.
- The apps are made more user-friendly with the restrictions put on their repeatable permission requests.
- The microphone, camera, and location services could be given temporary permissions.
- The apps can connect to an available secure Wifi Hotspot and run authentication automatically.
- The Camera Support is expanded.
- Individual apps have a chat bubble that can be turned on and off.
Along with them, you get most of the cool features of the Android 10 like:
- You get the ability to automatically caption media playing using the Live Caption feature on your device.
- You can use Smart Reply to streamline communication by suggesting responses and recommending actions.
- You get the Sound Amplifier which you can use to fine-tune the audio settings so that you can hear more clearly.
- You get the cool Dark Theme so that your eyes and battery are both rested. It is being preferred by most people these days over the standard Android look.
- You get a Focus Mode which is designed specifically to help users stay focused on the tasks they are doing without getting distracted. You can pause apps temporarily so that you are not distracted.
- The parents can now set digital ground rules using the Family Link and keep track of their child's online activities. Restrictions can be set on screen-time and the content and management of apps for your family.
You are probably aware of all the above features if you have bought an Android phone recently, and if you have not, then these features might just swipe the floor and make you update to the new OS on your phone or tablet.
Check Your Current Android Version And Update
Before you are to upgrade to a newer OS, you need to first find out the latest Android version that can run on your machine. If you have a very old device then the newer OS might not even be supported on your phone.
The method of obtaining an Android OS download might also vary with the type of device and its age. If you are using Google devices, you will get notifications for updates immediately and the newer phones are quicker to receive updates.
There are some preliminary steps that need to be taken before performing the actual update; here we have mentioned all the necessary steps.
Check Your Android Version
Only your type of device could specify the exact steps needed to perform a version check. So, first, you need to get to the About Phone information found on the device's Settings. You can also find the model number here and make sure that you note it down before you start updating.
- Find the System category as you scroll down in Settings.
- Then click on About Device in the System Settings section.
- Here you can scroll down and look for the Android version, which would mean the version of Android that is running on your phone currently.
There are a few things that you need to keep in mind before updating your device manually.
Back up your data - The data on your phone should be backed up regularly. You might update it just before a system upgrade because you can never be sure of what might happen and it's better to be safe and not to take chances with your important data. You can use any of the various backup apps available online.
Verify your available space - You need to make sure that there is enough space in the phone for the update, if not, free up some things on the phone so that there is enough space.
Updating the OS - The upgrade could be initiated directly from the over-the-air (OTA) notification that you might have received about the update, or you could also move to Check for Updates in Settings and begin the update from there.
What to Expect in Android 12
Yes, version 11 has quite extraordinary technical advancements but Google does not plan to sit still, the new Android OS is also about to be released (the beta version already released).
Here are some of the new features that will be available in Android 12:
- We will get an On Device Search, with AppSearch.
- Easy Wifi sharing through QR code.
- You will get the complete One-hand mode in the new OS.
- The feature of App Hibernation, where you can archive the apps you don't use presently but don't want to delete.
These are just a few of the many features of Android 12 that the users are expecting.
Conclusion
You should always update your phone with the new Android version that is released so that you get the new improvements to the functionality and the performance of the new OS versions. But if your device does not support it, it might just be the right time to change it.
