In this guide, we will show you how to capture OTA update URL on your Android device. Once you capture OTA URL – you will be able to download the OTA Update ZIP file and then manually sideload OTA Update to your device.

Steps to Capture Android OTA URL on your Android

There are two different ways to capture OTA URL – one without using a computer; just by using your phone and another using a computer. We shall see both the methods in detail.

Method 1: Capture OTA Update URL using PC

Requirements

• In order to capture the OTA update URL, you must have the OTA update notification on your device.
• Do NOT download or install the OTA update YET. If you do, you won’t be able to capture the update URL.
• Download ADB and install it on your computer.
• Enable USB Debugging on your Android device.

Steps:

1. Connect your Android device to your computer via USB Cable.
2. Go to the folder where ADB is installed on your computer.
3. Open command prompt/power shell window from inside this folder:
   1. Hold down Shift Key + Right Click on empty space inside the folder.
   2. Click on ‘Open command window here’ or ‘Open PowerShell window here’.
4. In the command window/PowerShell window, execute the following command:

   adb logcat > ota_link.txt

   

5. Once you execute the above command, get hold of your device (while it is still connected to your PC via USB cable).
6. Tap on the System Update notification or go to the System Update setting and start downloading the system update.
7. Wait for 15 seconds and then pause/cancel/stop the update.
8. Now, go back to the command prompt or PowerShell window and press the CTRL + C buttons.
9. Go back to the folder where ADB is installed on your computer > Look for a file named ota_link.txt. > Open the same.
10. In the text file, search for keywords such as “ota” or “zip“.

Now you should have the OTA link from the text file.

You can share this OTA link with anyone and they can download the OTA update Zip directly from the manufacturer and install the OTA update manually on their device.

Method 2: Capture OTA Update URL using Mobile (No PC Needed)

1. In your Android device, enable Developer Options by visiting the settings.
   For this, go to Settings > About Phone and look for an option called Build number. In some device, this may be found under a setting called Software information.Once you find that option, keep tapping on the Build number option repeatedly until you see the text You are now a developer.
2. Install the Solid Explorer app on your Android device.
3. Tap on the System Update notification and start downloading the system update.
4. Now, go to the Settings > Developer Options > Tap on ‘Take bug report‘ > Select ‘Interactive report‘.

   

   

5. The Bug Report feature will capture and log everything that is happening on your Android device, including the OTA Update activities and the OTA Update URL.
6. You would be able to see the bug report being captured in the notification shade.
7. Once the bug report is captured completely, simply tap on the same to start sharing it.
8. In the sharing menu, select the Solid Explorer option and save the bug report.
9. In the saved file, search for keywords such as “ota” or “zip” to find the OTA update file link.
10. Done!

Android OTA Update – How it works?

System updates on Android do not happen to all devices at the same time. And if your phone is locked under a carrier, then the system updates might get delayed even further. Even if the device is unlocked, there is no guarantee that you will receive the update on day 1 of its release.

Android manufacturers, including Google, follow a process called staged rollout. In the concept of a staged rollout, the system updates are released to a device in a controlled manner. For example, if Google announces that Pixel 4 is getting an update today, it does not mean that the update will be available for all the devices across the world. More often than not, the update will first be rolled out to one or more handpicked countries. A Pixel 4 user in Canada might get the update while another in the United States will not. Likewise, the update is rolled out to different countries at a different point of time.

Android OTA Update – Frequently Asked Questions

How do I record OTA updates?

Go to the System > System updates and start downloading the latest update. Then, immediately after, go to Settings > Developer options and tap on ‘Take bug report‘ > ‘Interactive report‘. Finally, tap on ‘REPORT‘ to capture OTA update URL of the latest firmware.

What is OTA update in Android?

An OTA Update also called as over-the-air update is the wireless delivery of new software or data to mobile phones and tablets.

What is OTA zip file?

OTA Zip file, short for over-the-air zip file,  is the zip file which carries the updated system files for a particular phone software to update it to a newer version.

How do I delete an OTA update file?

In Android, you do not have to manually delete the OTA update zip files. The OTA Update Zip file are automatically deleted once the update process is completed.

Can I force an Android update?

Yes, you can. Unlike Apple, which releases an update to all of its device at a time, Android devices receive staged updates. Meaning, updates for a device happen in a staged manner. However, you can always check for the latest version of the Android by going to Settings > System Updates > Click on ‘Check for latest update’ button.

How do I check for OTA updates?

you can always check for the latest version of the Android by going to Settings > System Updates > Click on ‘Check for latest update’ button.

Can you manually update Android?

Usually, you will get a notification for OTA update on your device whenever a new update is available for your device. In some cases, if you did not receive the notification but want to install the update manually, you can do so by downloading the OTA Update zip file and flashing it manually via stock recovery.

Can you uninstall an Android Update?

No, you cannot uninstall an Android update. Once the update is installed, there is no way of simply uninstalling the update and go back to the older Android version.

Can you undo an Android update?

No, you cannot undo an Android update. Once the Android update is applied, the core system of the Android is modified irreversibly.

How do I fix Android update errors?

You can follow some of the below steps:

• Wipe the cache of your device from the recovery.
• Wipe the data of your device from the recovery.
• Restarting your device.
• Reset the network settings if network connections issue persist.

How does Android OTA update work?

Android devices are built in a way to be able to recieve OTA update zip files which carry the updated Android system files. Once the OTA update is downloaded, the same is flashed via the inbuilt recovery on the device which inturn updates the system.

Can I downgrade Android?

No, you cannot. Once an Android update has finished installing, there is no way to undo and downgrade to an older Android version.