How to Install Official Android 5.1 Lollipop on your Android One Smartphone

By Abhinav Pathak on Mar 25, 2015 11:34 AM

As you all know Google has started rolling out Android 5.1 Lollipop for the Android One Smartphones in India. Micromax Canvas A1 has started to receive its update as has the Spice Dream Uno and in a few weeks the Karbonn Sparkle V will have its update too. If you are like me, and want to see what the latest Android 5.1 Lollipop has to offer without waiting for the OTA update on your phone, you have come to the right place. We have created a video to help you through the update as well.

Instructional Video

Here are the instructions to install Android 5.1 Lollipop on Micromax Canvas A1, you can follow the same steps with other Android One smartphones but remember to download the correct update package. This is an official OTA update, so your warranty remains intact and you will receive future OTA updates from Google as well, moreover no Root required. A big thanks to ghpranav over at XDA-developers for capturing the OTA update links.

We have tested the update on the Canvas A1 and it works great, but you would be doing this at your own risk:

Preparation

Download the correct OTA Update package Zip File Micromax Canvas A1 | Spice Dream Uno | Karbonn Sparkle V
Put this in your SD card, in a New Folder starting with Letter A (Easier to find in Recovery).
Make sure your phone is charged above 60%.
Power off your phone, disconnect any accessories.

Installation

Once your phone has powered down, press both the power and volume-up button together.
Move to the Recovery Mode option using the Volume-up key and then press the Volume-down key.
You will see the Micromax logo followed by Android with "No command" written.
Now, keep the power button pressed and press the Volume-up key once.
Now you are in Recovery Mode, scroll down with the Volume-down key to "Apply update from SD card" and press the power button once its highlighted.
Now, scroll to the folder you placed the OTA update file in with the Volume-down key.
Once highlighted press power, then select the OTA update file and press the Power key again.
Your Android One smartphone will start updating to Android 5.1 Lollipop, then manually reboot from recovery mode option by pressing the Power key on it.
Your phone will reboot, be patient, the first boot will take time.

Achievement

Android 5.1 Lollipop is now installed on your Micromax Canvas A1, Spice Dream Uno or Karbonn Sparkle V.

The time I have spent with the Lollipop update for the Canvas A1, it actually performed quite well. There was no lag in animations, games played well and in general its very responsive. But we need to take a deeper look at what's new in Android 5.1 Lollipop, we will be bringing an update on that as well. Stay tuned for more.