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Is your LG smartphone stuck on the firmware update screen? This tech guide will explain the reasons and some quick fixes to the problem.
LG may not be the most popular smartphone choice of users, but a considerable section of people still love its designs and the smooth interplay between hardware and software. However, users often complain about technical glitches in their LG phones, one of which is a firmware update error.
What happens is that the manufacturer releases frequent firmware updates to fix bugs and improve the phone’s security and performance. But often, the display freezes on the firmware update, and there is no progress whatsoever.
There is no particular reason behind this error except the company’s buggy firmware update release. Basically, your phone will brick down, and you won’t be able to do anything on it.
I will walk you through some quick solutions to the firmware update screen problem in this article. Some of them may require technical assistance. Let’s get started with the easiest ones.
How to Fix Firmware Update Screen Error?
Since there is no activity on the screen, you can’t see what’s happening. It could be just the display that’s showing you the firmware update message while, in the background, things are usually working. Unfortunately, there is no way to find that out.
Here are some quick methods you can try to get your phone back to normal:
1. Perform a Hard Reset
When you can’t get past the on-screen error and the phone is stuck, the least you can do is perform a hard reset. Yes, this will wipe out entire data and personal files from your phone, but it’s one of your best solutions. Remember, you can apply this fix only if you can turn off your phone. Here is what you need to do:
- Power off your LG smartphone.
- Press and hold the Power and Volume down keys simultaneously for a few seconds.
- Release the keys once you have the Android recovery page.
- You need to use the Volume up and down keys to navigate the options and the power key to select.
- Go to Wipe data and factory reset.
- Select Yes to continue.
It may take several minutes. Once the reset finishes, use the volume keys to restart the phone. It will reboot as a fresh one. Set up your phone with your email account and enjoy.
2. Clear Cache Memory
While you are on the recovery page, cleaning the System cache is a good idea. Over time, your phone stores a bunch of website information and app data to speed up the app opening and boot time. But it’s essential to clear the cache from time to time to avoid cluttered phone memory.
- Turn off your phone.
- Press the Power and volume down buttons simultaneously to launch the Android recovery panel.
- Use the volume key to navigate to the Wipe cache partition.
- Hit the Power button and select Yes to continue.
- The phone will take a few minutes to clear the system cache memory. Once it’s done, use the volume keys to scroll to Reboot.
3. Try to Drain the Battery
If you have a secondary phone you can use for emergencies; the best thing is to leave your bricked LG phone as it is. What you have to do is try and drain the battery of your phone.
Once the battery is completely depleted, the display will shut down. Plug it into the power source and wait until it’s completely charged. Try to turn it on.
4. Detach the Battery
Another solution is simply removing the battery. Some smartphones may have a detachable back panel with a removable battery, while others may require professional tools to remove the battery.
All you have to do is expose the battery and unplug it from the main board. If it’s a non-removable battery, be careful with the flex cables connecting it to the main board. Once you have successfully disconnected it, connect it back again. And try to reboot the phone.
Different phones have different ways to remove the battery. In some of them, it may be screwed to the board, which can be easily removed using a screwdriver. In some phones, you will need to undo the back cover. Avoid using sharp metal objects; instead, use a plastic knife.
5. Restart in Safe Mode
If you are still unable to counter the problem, try restarting your phone in safe mode. Your phone can reboot in safe mode without the help of default system programs or third-party applications.
While your phone is in safe mode, you can search for any problematic apps or programs that might be causing the bricking issue. If you think the firmware update screen problem has started after installing a specific app, you can restart your phone in safe mode and remove it safely.
All you have to do is press and hold the Volume down key and the power key once to start the phone. The device will reboot in safe mode. Mind you; you may not be able to use a handful of features in the safe mode. It is only a troubleshooting method that can help eliminate errors and bugs.
6. Flash Your Smartphone with a New Android System
The last option is to download a new operating system. It’s a tricky process, and if you are not familiar with smartphone flashing, I recommend you not do it. You always have the option to take your phone to the nearest service centre.
To flash your phone with a new system, you need to download the operating system on your computer and transfer it to your memory card. After you’ve inserted the memory card in your phone, take the following steps:
- Shut down your phone.
- Press the Volume down and power key together to launch the Android recovery system.
- Use the volume keys and select Install from the SD card.
- Let the device install the updates/OS to your phone.
- Go to Reboot phone and wait for it to restart.
