Install Android 2.1 on Your Droid Without Waiting

Why wait for Verizon to officially push the Android 2.1 update to your Droid when you can just download and install it on your own? The Android 2.1 update can be manually installed onto your Droid without voiding any warranties or hacking your phone at all, you’ll simply use the method that Android puts in place for such things. For the instructions and links

First, if you are comfortable with downloading files, renaming files and moving them from one folder to another, this process should be fairly easy for you.  If not, ask a friend to help you with the steps below.  These are taken from AndroidCentral with a few modifications:

  1. Download the update from this link and save the ZIP file to your computer. [Download Here]
  2. Rename the file to “update.zip” if it isn’t already, but be sure you don’t name it “update.zip.zip”.
  3. Plug your Droid into your computer and then pull down the notification bar and Mount your microSD Card so that you can browse the microSD card on your computer, see here for more details.  Put the file in your microSD card, making sure it’s not in any folder, it should be .  You can also pull the card from the phone and you a card reader attached to your computer, but I suggest this method as it’s faster.
  4. With your Droid turned off, hold down the letter “x” on the keyboard and then hold down the power button. You should soon see a triangle with an exclamation point inside.
  5. Press the volume up button and the camera button at the same time. It may take a couple tries.
  6. You should now be in the bootloader. Use the D-pad to choose “update from .zip file” and choose the update. Let things run their course.

At the end of the process let your phone reboot. It might take a little while the first time, but be patient and in the end Android 2.1 will be your reward.

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  • chris

    Just download it to your phone. Use astro file manager. You can move it and rename it. Easy and works great!

  • chris

    Just download it to your phone. Use astro file manager. You can move it and rename it. Easy and works great!

  • Mike

    Does this really work?? Am I going to brick my phone?

  • Mike

    Does this really work?? Am I going to brick my phone?

  • http://www.thesearethedroids.com/members/benjamin/ Benjamin

    @Mike Yes, this is the official update that Verizon is sending out, only it’s no OTA but via download. I have heard no reports of bad installs yet and see no reason this would damage your phone.

    @chris That’s how I’d do it too, but that’s a little more tech savvy than the outlined process, even if it’s shorter.

  • http://www.thesearethedroids.com/members/benjamin/ Benjamin

    @Mike Yes, this is the official update that Verizon is sending out, only it’s no OTA but via download. I have heard no reports of bad installs yet and see no reason this would damage your phone.

    @chris That’s how I’d do it too, but that’s a little more tech savvy than the outlined process, even if it’s shorter.

  • Mike

    It works!!! Yeah!! Thanks a bunch. Doing it with Astro was a breeze, thanks Chris.

  • Mike

    It works!!! Yeah!! Thanks a bunch. Doing it with Astro was a breeze, thanks Chris.

  • Josh

    If I manually install this update will the OTA update still be sent to my phone or will it recognize it and ingore it?

  • Josh

    If I manually install this update will the OTA update still be sent to my phone or will it recognize it and ingore it?

  • http://www.thesearethedroids.com/members/benjamin/ Benjamin

    @Josh It should just ignor it.

  • http://www.thesearethedroids.com/members/benjamin/ Benjamin

    @Josh It should just ignor it.

  • g

    Worked fine for me. No issues.

  • g

    Worked fine for me. No issues.

  • Jason Sexton

    Just finished the 2.1 update. Took a while, 10minutes or so. Rebooted and things appear to be running fine. GPS, Email (touchdown) etc work fine. No phone issues. All the Apps I loaded from Market seem to be functioning fine. So Far So Good.

  • Jason Sexton

    Just finished the 2.1 update. Took a while, 10minutes or so. Rebooted and things appear to be running fine. GPS, Email (touchdown) etc work fine. No phone issues. All the Apps I loaded from Market seem to be functioning fine. So Far So Good.

  • Joe BLacCk

    Just installed 2.1, FREAKING AWESOME! THANK U THANK U THANK U

  • Joe BLacCk

    Just installed 2.1, FREAKING AWESOME! THANK U THANK U THANK U

  • Steven

    Downloaded the update
    Firmware version 2.1-update1
    Anyone know if the OTA version also says update1?

    Still 3 windows. Gallery is nice.
    Haven’t checked out whether I can dial via BT yet.

    Live wallpaper is nice but not a must have for me.

    Dialing via BT,is a must.

    Still no .sig function for email. Not that there was supposed to be,

  • Steven

    Downloaded the update
    Firmware version 2.1-update1
    Anyone know if the OTA version also says update1?

    Still 3 windows. Gallery is nice.
    Haven’t checked out whether I can dial via BT yet.

    Live wallpaper is nice but not a must have for me.

    Dialing via BT,is a must.

    Still no .sig function for email. Not that there was supposed to be,

  • bill

    I followed the install instructions above. Worked perfectly. Very easy. One issue I see though, is that I still only have 3 screens, not 5. Anyone with any thoughts on this? Thanks.

  • bill

    I followed the install instructions above. Worked perfectly. Very easy. One issue I see though, is that I still only have 3 screens, not 5. Anyone with any thoughts on this? Thanks.

  • Dan

    Installed without any issues. Still geeking out with the phone and trying the new updated features.

  • Dan

    Installed without any issues. Still geeking out with the phone and trying the new \ updated features.

  • Steve

    I installed and everything is good but I have 2 issues. I had a shortcut to the gallery on my homepage and when you click it, it says app not installed, so i had to delete it and go into my apps to create a new shortcut (no biggie).

    The second thing is that I have no pinch to zoom on my browser. It does work in the gallery and Google Maps still however.

    I FREEKING LOVE that now i can text someone just by talking!

  • Steve

    I installed and everything is good but I have 2 issues. I had a shortcut to the gallery on my homepage and when you click it, it says app not installed, so i had to delete it and go into my apps to create a new shortcut (no biggie).

    The second thing is that I have no pinch to zoom on my browser. It does work in the gallery and Google Maps still however.

    I FREEKING LOVE that now i can text someone just by talking!

  • derek

    help

  • derek

    help

  • derek

    Mike |follow these instructions carefully and it will work perfectly for you. This is if you are running windows 7 only email me if you have any problems or respond right on this post. I know a lot of people are getting this message in yellow print when they are in the recovery menu-
    E:Can’t open/cache/recovery/command
    –Install from sdcard…
    Finding update package…
    Opening update package..
    Verifying update package…
    E:signature verification failed Installation aborted.
    I have a windows computer and when I originally downloaded the file I renamed it update.zip and when I put it to the root of my sdcard I got this exact same problem. I don’t know if it is just Windows but make sure the update file is just named update. DO NOT change it to update.zip, it would now work when I renamed it. I deleted the update.zip file from my sdcard and computer (just as an extra precaution) downloaded it again from this site but DID NOT rename the file. Leave it named update (I believe Windows recognizes its a zip file already) retry all the steps and BAM!!! 2.1 SICKNESS!!

  • derek

    Mike |follow these instructions carefully and it will work perfectly for you. This is if you are running windows 7 only email me if you have any problems or respond right on this post. I know a lot of people are getting this message in yellow print when they are in the recovery menu-
    E:Can’t open/cache/recovery/command
    –Install from sdcard…
    Finding update package…
    Opening update package..
    Verifying update package…
    E:signature verification failed Installation aborted.
    I have a windows computer and when I originally downloaded the file I renamed it update.zip and when I put it to the root of my sdcard I got this exact same problem. I don’t know if it is just Windows but make sure the update file is just named update. DO NOT change it to update.zip, it would now work when I renamed it. I deleted the update.zip file from my sdcard and computer (just as an extra precaution) downloaded it again from this site but DID NOT rename the file. Leave it named update (I believe Windows recognizes its a zip file already) retry all the steps and BAM!!! 2.1 SICKNESS!!

  • http://www.thesearethedroids.com/members/benjamin/ Benjamin

    In Windows, if the file type is hidden (such that Word docs don’t show .doc etc) then just rename update because the .zip part is there already, just hidden. So if the file after downloading DOESN’T say .zip at the end, don’t add .zip, just rename UPDATE.

  • http://www.thesearethedroids.com/members/benjamin/ Benjamin

    In Windows, if the file type is hidden (such that Word docs don’t show .doc etc) then just rename update because the .zip part is there already, just hidden. So if the file after downloading DOESN’T say .zip at the end, don’t add .zip, just rename UPDATE.

  • BachinPhx

    Not yet convinced that 2.1 is going to be all it’s cracked up to be. I am using GDE as my replacement home screen and have 7 screens. Advantage 2.0.1 I am using Dolphin Browser with multi touch. Advantage 2.0.1 I am using Smart keyboard which is freaking AWESOME and features speech to text recognition so no need for 2.1. Advantage 2.0.1

    Can anyone please tell me why we would need 2.1? Live Wallpapers? Who cares. Going back to 3 screens? I don’t think so. Someone please advise what would be the advantage?

    Thanks!!!

  • BachinPhx

    Not yet convinced that 2.1 is going to be all it’s cracked up to be. I am using GDE as my replacement home screen and have 7 screens. Advantage 2.0.1 I am using Dolphin Browser with multi touch. Advantage 2.0.1 I am using Smart keyboard which is freaking AWESOME and features speech to text recognition so no need for 2.1. Advantage 2.0.1

    Can anyone please tell me why we would need 2.1? Live Wallpapers? Who cares. Going back to 3 screens? I don’t think so. Someone please advise what would be the advantage?

    Thanks!!!

  • roy

    why I can not download the file when I click ‘download here’

    it says the Server Error

    The service you requested is not available yet.
    Please try again in 30 seconds.

    can anyone help with ???????????

  • roy

    why I can not download the file when I click ‘download here’

    it says the Server Error

    The service you requested is not available yet.
    Please try again in 30 seconds.

    can anyone help with ???????????

  • rulitawyn

    will this work with tmobile?

  • rulitawyn

    will this work with tmobile?

  • Blake

    well it downloaded fine..but im not really noticing any differences? i downloaded open so i have 7 home screens, and im allowed to run live wallpaper. google voice and all my navi systems work, but what should i be noticing? should i switch back to the normal home screen and check to see if its working correct?

  • Blake

    well it downloaded fine..but im not really noticing any differences? i downloaded open so i have 7 home screens, and im allowed to run live wallpaper. google voice and all my navi systems work, but what should i be noticing? should i switch back to the normal home screen and check to see if its working correct?

  • yash

    cant download….
    sum error coming saying Error Server Could Not Connect.. ??