One of the main flaws of Android has always been its excessive fragmentation: there are really many models of mobile phones, each with a different version from the other. It therefore happens that the operating system is not updated after a few years, quickly finding ourselves with an obsolete smartphone. Theoretically they could always install a Custom Android ROM, but to do so requires unlocking with root and great ability to tinker with Android tools (there is always the risk of permanently damaging the phone!). To limit this fragmentation, in this guide we will show you how to update the basic components of the Android operating system, so you can always keep it up to date without having to update everything or buy a new phone.
How to update the launcher and wallpapers
The first change that we can apply is definitely the launcher, that is the phone module that allows us to view all the apps and to place the folders and widgets on the screens. Among the best launchers we recommend trying what I always recommend is definitely Nova Launcher, which offers all the features of the new Android devices even on smartphones a few years ago, consuming very little in memory and in terms of system resources.
Once installed, simply start it and set it as the default launcher (when requested by the system). Once set as the default launcher we recommend restarting the phone, so that you can turn off the old launcher and leave only Nova in memory.
This launcher is highly customizable, to the point that it is difficult to recognize your phone after tinkering with us! If we also want to add new wallpapers, we can install the Wallpapers app offered by Google, so that we can take advantage of those offered on the new smartphones produced by Google itself.
If we are not satisfied with Nova and want to try other launchers, we recommend you read our guide to the fastest and lightest Android launchers for slow smartphones .
How to update the dialer, address book and SMS
Two other elements that can be easily updated on Android smartphones are the dialer (i.e. the composer to make calls) and the device lock screen. In order to immediately give a modern touch to our smartphone and obtain constant updates, we recommend installing a different Phone app and then also Google Contacts.
With these two apps installed on the phone we will be able to synchronize all our contacts on the Google account and also benefit from the call filtering system offered by Google (which will notify us in case of commercial calls or spam calls).
If instead we want to get a new app to manage SMS, we can install Google Messages, which offers new and innovative graphics for SMS, with the possibility of sending GIFs and stickers with other contacts who use the same app.
If you don't like it, in another article there are the Best SMS Apps for Android and Samsung phones to send and receive messages .
How to update the calendar, the clock and the keyboard
If we also want to update the app that offers the calendar and keyboard that we use on our current smartphone, we can install the Google Calendar and Gboard apps.
With these two apps active on our phone we will have a calendar synchronized with our Google cloud calendar (with appointments, events and reminders) and we will have a new fast and practical keyboard, with which you can always start a Google search, send GIFs and Stickers over to take advantage of fast predictive writing. If we want to try new keyboards for Android, we recommend you read our guide Best keyboards for Android, to change the way you write .
We also want to get a new watch for our phone "> Watch, also offered by Google.
Although apparently it seems a simple app for the time, it will allow you to manage every type of alarm clock in an advanced way, in addition to showing the timer, the stopwatch and the various time zones in the world.
How to update the gallery app and the voice assistance app
Other components that we can update on our old phone are the gallery app (where we can view photos, images and videos) and the app to access voice assistance (which should never be missing on a modern smartphone). As a gallery app we recommend that you use only Google Photos, as it also offers free and unlimited synchronization of all the photos taken on the mobile phone (in addition to synchronizing the folders with images and videos on the device).
For the Google voice assistant, simply keep the Google app updated on our phone, so you can say OK Google or open the app to use all the available voice commands.
If instead we want to try other voice assistants, we recommend you read our in-depth article on the Best voice assistants for Android and iPhone (alternatives to Google and Siri) .
How the Google Play Store and support libraries are updated
Two very important apps to keep our phone up to date are the app store (Google Play Store) and the support libraries for Google services (i.e. Google Play Service and Android System WebView).
In order to update the Google Play Store, simply open its app on our phone, open the side section and go to Settings . Scroll down the page until you find the Play Store Version item, then tap on it (once). If the Play Store is not updated, the download and installation of the latest version will start immediately, without even the user noticing (it does the whole system in the background). Wait about 15 minutes then restart the phone: the next time we start, repeat the steps and check that the word Google Play Store appears is updated .
Together with the Google Play Store, Google Play Services will also be updated, i.e. the support app for all the services offered by Google. Through this app, Google manages to insert new functions on the mobile phone without going through the manufacturer and without updating the system. For example, Google added the find Android feature to almost all Android devices thanks to an update from Google Play Services. Google has also added anti-malware checking functionality on installed applications to make devices safer. Google has also added new APIs for developers to optimize the battery usage of geo-location services and to manage permissions.
Another library to be updated in order to keep the system updated is Android System WebView, which allows you to manage Web pages within other apps and within Google services; by keeping this app always up to date, we will be able to manage Web services faster and safer.
If, on the other hand, we are looking for a new way to download apps on our phone, we recommend you read our guide to Alternatives to Play Store to download Android Apps without Google account .
How to increase security on Android
One of the most obvious shortcomings of not updating our phone concerns security: with the system not updated we will be exposed to threats and viruses, which can exploit the weaknesses of our obsolete system to infect apps and our contacts.
Fortunately, in the latest versions of the Google Play Store there is a good antivirus, called Google Play Protect ; to activate and control it, simply open the Google Play Store, open the side sidebar and tap on Play Protect .
By tapping on the gear icon at the top right, we can activate this antivirus by enabling the items Search for security threats and Improve the detection of malicious apps .
In addition to the integrated antivirus, we can increase security on all Android phones by following the advice described in our guide on How to protect Android from malware and malicious apps, viruses and spies .
Conclusions
Following literally all the advice seen in this guide, actually updating the phone becomes a decidedly superfluous operation (even if it is always better to do it when it is available from our manufacturer!): All the main system apps can be replaced with the offered counterparts by Google or other developers, so that you can have a system always updated even if the manufacturer has stopped supporting the phone.
This is Google's real plan to combat Android fragmentation: update a large part of the operating system and its applications without going through the manufacturers of devices, mobiles or tablets. Thanks to this plan, the older smartphones, of whatever brand they are, including the Chinese ones and those below cost, do not immediately become obsolete as was the case at the beginning of Android.
If we want to get a constant update of the operating system of our Android phone, we will have to turn to Custom ROMs, such as those described in our guides on How to Install CyanogenMod (LineageOS), the best Android ROM, on the mobile phone and the Best Android Custom ROM versions for each smartphone .
