Holiday Gift Guide »

HOW TO: Manually update your Nexus One to Android 2.3.3

By: , IntoMobile
Thursday, February 24th, 2011 at 4:48 PM
Nexus-One-Gingerbread-update (1)

Sick of waiting for your Nexus One to get the OTA update to Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread? It’s your lucky day, as you can now manually install the update to your phone without anymore waiting!

1. Download the Nexus One update from this link here.

2. Rename the file to update.zip (If your OS hides file extensions by default, rename the file to update to avoid it being renamed to update.zip.zip)

3. Connect your Nexus One to your computer and transfer the file to the root of the microSD card (inside no folders)

4. Power down the Nexus One. Now reboot it by holding the Power and Volume Down at the same time.

5. You should now see a screen with Androids on skateboards. Using the Volume keys, navigate to Recovery and press Power.

6. The recovery screen will only show a triangle with an exclamation point in it. To get to the recovery menu press Power and Volume Up at the same time. (It can be a bit tricky sometimes, so keep trying if it doesn’t work the first time)

7. Using the trackball, scroll down and select “Apply sdcard:update.zip.” to start the update.

8. Once the update has completed, reboot your Nexus One.

You’ve successfully updated to Android 2.3.3. Have fun!

[Via: XDA, pic]

About The Author

Blake Stimac

Blake was born in Beaumont, Texas, about 100 miles away from Houston. Even as a youngster, technology came to him very naturally, tinkering with anything he could. His passion of technology grew with mobile phones when he dreamed that the capabilities of phones would eventually make one's life much easier. Since then it's been his mission to advocate the push of mobile technology to anyone who will listen.

  • Mike

    Works Great Thanks!!!

  • Dave

    Trackball light no longer works on Nexus One after updating to 2.3.3

    • Skyline

      agree, same issue here.

  • Aff

    thx although no screen off animation?

    • Aff

      nvm wrong settings

    • Jimbob

      go to settings, display, animation and click some animations vola, screen animation!

  • sleepbug

    – Install from sdcard…
    Finding update package…
    Verifying update package…
    E: failed to verify whole-file signature
    E: signature verification failed
    Installation aborted.

    DOES NOT WORK.

  • http://www.facebook.com/ashup2 AsHu Roxx

    its official update or customized

  • http://twitter.com/mikedroid Michael Angelo

    assert failed: getprop(“ro.bootloader”) ==”0.35.2017″

    • Guest

      I got this too. I had to get a bootloader. the post in the middle of this page is the one I used: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=965287&page=92

      Use the same update procedure to install this, then after the reboot go through the Gingerbread update again. Worked fine for me after that. I don’t know why I had the problem, I have never installed a bootloader myself.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1655751138 Kyle Cassity

    anybody confirm if full release or just pre release,

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1655751138 Kyle Cassity

    f-it im just going to wait for the ota, rest assured it will be more comforting knowing the phone will be in working order.

  • [email protected]

    works nicely, thanks.
    is this official or customized?

  • mrbill

    If you are getting this error (assert failed: getprop(“ro.bootloader”) ==”0.35.2017″) then follow the instructions below.

    1.Remove or rename the file you named “update.zip” on your SD card in the article above.

    2. Download this file: http://android.clients.google.com/packages/ota/passion/d6096cac5e9f.signed-hboot-0.35.0017.zip

    3. Repeat steps 2 through 7 from the original article above except rename the file you just downloaded in step
    2 to “update zip” and the proceed. (once you install it your phone will reboot once or
    twice. When it’s done go on to step 4.)

    4. Remove the file you down loaded in step 2 above from your SD card.

    5. Follow the instructions in the original article above again.

    6. Enjoy your Gingerbread!

  • Lucius Fox

    Works GREAT!!!! Thx

  • Maninfire

    what the fuck is that ????

    install from sdcard
    finding update package…..
    opening update package…….
    verfying update package…….
    installing update……….
    assert failed : get group === ” 0.35.2017
    getgroup ( ” ro.bootloader ” ) == 0.35.0017
    e: errpr in /sd card/ update.zip (status 7 )
    installation aborted

  • Pbrngtn

    Install from sdcard…
    Finding update package…
    Verifying update package…
    E: failed to verify whole-file signature
    E: signature verification failed
    Installation aborted.
    same issue,

  • http://twitter.com/henryjake jake

    Thanks for the d/l done and is working as aspected. Their is only ONE NEXUS

  • Jason

    i tried this on my rooted handset and i couldn’t get the triangle with exclamation point icon upon reboot. will this work on rooted devices? thanks! :)

  • Anonymous

    If you’re getting this error (assert failed: getprop(“ro.bootloader”) ==”0.35.2017″)
    then please follow the steps below.

    1. Remove the file you named “update.zip” in step 1 of the article above from your Nexus One.

    2. Download the HBOOT update file from here – http://android.clients.google.com/packages/ota/passion/d6096cac5e9f.signed-hboot-0.35.0017.zip

    3. Follow steps 2 through 7 in the article above except be sure to rename the file you just downloaded
    “update.zip” NOT THE FILE IN THE ARTICLE

    4. Once you are done, Repeat all of the steps in the original article above again and enjoy you Gingerbread!
    (After you install the update your phone will reboot 2 or 3 times and then your done)

  • http://twitter.com/cinval cinval

    I’m getting the same error as Sleepbug:

    Install from sdcard…
    Finding update package…
    Verifying update package…
    E: failed to verify whole-file signature
    E: signature verification failed
    Installation aborted.

    Have downloaded twice on a good connection with the same result :(

    Pity, guess I’ll have to wait, but its odd that it worked for a number of the commenters.
    Mine is a virgin Nexus One.

    Mvh

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/AdAuto-Ri/100000531664052 AdAuto Ri

    yee installed bootloader and it work. is this the official release

  • http://twitter.com/RockDoggy RockDoggy

    Any reason to believe this won’t work on an AT&T Nexus One? Just curious, I’d rather have some confirmation before I go to the trouble.

  • Anonymous

    Maninfire,

    Follow my instructions above and you should be good to go!

  • http://twitter.com/mikedroid Michael Angelo

    seems this is the missing instruction! great doing it already!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1613591715 Andreas Hejndorf

    – Install from sdcard…
    Finding update package…
    Verifying update package…
    E: failed to verify whole-file signature
    E: signature verification failed
    Installation aborted.

    What should I do if I get this error? I really want to get my Nexus One updated. My phone is not rooted and have a locked bootloader.

    Any help would be great :)

  • J Touche

    still doesn’t work.

  • http://twitter.com/duykham SAM

    For those who failed in updating:

    We need to update the Hboot first (the hboot version should be 0.35.0017 )

    You can download it here: http://goo.gl/6hEAC

    I had the same issue, I think the reason is: we DID manually update our N1 to FRG83G, so we missed the Hboot update. (it would be done automatically if we waited for the OTA from Google).

    Anw, the issue has gone now, now I’m tasting Gingerbread on my N1.

    Cheers!

    P/S: we update the hboot by the same way (change name to update.zip, place it in /sdcard, reboot….)

  • http://twitter.com/duykham SAM

    For those who failed in updating:

    We need to update the Hboot first (the hboot version should be 0.35.0017 )

    You can download it here: http://goo.gl/6hEAC

    I had the same issue, I think the reason is: we DID manually update our N1 to FRG83G, so we missed the Hboot update. (it would be done automatically if we waited for the OTA from Google).

    Anw, the issue has gone now, now I’m tasting Gingerbread on my N1.

    Cheers!

    P/S: we update the hboot by the same way (change name to update.zip, place it in /sdcard, reboot….)

  • Shumes

    It work perfectly into my Nexus One, this is the 3G 850Mhz (like AT&T network)
    The only app did’t work again, even after reinstaling it was Swype
    also the notification ligh is not working propertly
    but everything else is nice and smooth

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Seth-Wolfe/100002084633706 Seth Wolfe

    I just followed the original instructions and had no errors. Mine is a stock Nexus One.

    –Install from sdcard…
    Finding update package…
    Opening update package…
    Verifying Update package…
    Installing update…
    Verifying current system….
    Removing unneeded files…
    Patching system files…
    Patching boot image…
    Unpacking new files…
    Unpacking new recovery…
    Symlinks and permissions…

    Phone rebooted twice showing the android unpacking box and I was good to go. Trackball light works for me.

  • Devin

    Worked, thanks!

  • http://www.facebook.com/dentalicious Adam Clark Dent

    AT&T Nexus One worked great! I’m very happy.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1613591715 Andreas Hejndorf

    Worked after Root and Nexus One stock rom installed. Then i could install it.
    If anyone’s interested I can make a guide on how to install when verification fails! :)

    • Depers1

      Would be great !

    • Lasse

      please do

    • Zeeshan

      Hi,

      I am trying to upgrade my Nexus one but it gives me error.

      I need you to help me if you can help me how to root it?

      Thanks…

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=744214902 Imran Ahmad

      I want to upgrade my new nexus one that comes with 2.2 Froyo.
      I want to upgrade to latest version Gingerbread.
      Whenever i try to update through update.zip process, same error shows that you mentioned.
      Tried to sort out through Hboot as mentioned, but same error.
      Kindly help me out.
      Thanks in advance
      i.ahmad1 [at] yahoo dot com

  • 1×29

    Swype rarely still works for me after any update and the same happened here.

    As has become the norm i just uninstalled Swype and ran the installer again.

    Works fine for me now.

    Everything else went smoothly.

    Thanks for the link.

  • http://twitter.com/kaitoedter Kai Tödter

    Worked smoothly, thanx!

  • Nick

    I have froyo 2.2.1 and can’t update the system. I have the same error popping up

    – Install from sdcard…
    Finding update package…
    Verifying update package…
    E: failed to verify whole-file signature
    E: signature verification failed
    Installation aborted.

    I tried also updating the Hboot as mentioned below and still no success. are there intermediary updates I need to install before applying this update?

    Help would be greatly appreciated.

    Thank you

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1613591715 Andreas Hejndorf

      Have you bought your phone through Vodafone? If you have i can tell you how to make it work, but it requires root.

      • Dominic Lalonde

        Hello Andreas,

        Can you tell us how you did please

        thanks

      • Dominic Lalonde

        i finally did it with the update passimg.zip before installing the 2.3.3 update

      • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=587037061 Brendon Hannah

        Due mine is through voda . can you help?

        • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1613591715 Andreas Hejndorf

          See my comment, it’s the newest on the page :)

  • Razaa Rashid

    Its says that failed to verify file signature

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1613591715 Andreas Hejndorf

    Okay, here you are, whose getting the verification fail:
    1. Install “Superoneclick” on your computer and root your phone. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=803682
    2. Install “Rom Manager from Android Market”
    3. Flash “Clockwork Mod” from “Rom Manager”.
    3. Download the 2.2.2 ROM here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=927935
    4. Install the 2.2.2 ROM with the “Clockwork Mod”. The zip file should be renamed update.zip. Then follow step 4-8 above and then you have Android 2.2.2 on your Nexus One.
    5. Follow the guide on top of the page, it should work now :)

    • Filipebessa93

       my phone won’t reboot after this… it keeps on showing the colour things… HELP please!!!

  • dimfisch

    Is there no way to solve this verification fail issue without rooting the phone?

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1613591715 Andreas Hejndorf

      I’m sorry there’s not :)
      But you can always unroot the phone again after installind the new ROM. It’s as easy as rooting, you just click another button in “Superoneclick”.

      • dimfisch

        I’ve got Android 2.2 FRF91 on my N1. Are you sure it’s all going to work, and is there no easier way? Thanks!

        • dimfisch

          FYI I was able to simply upgrade to FRG33 using passimg.zip in the bootloader and from there I immediately got the 2.3.4 update OTA.
          Easy + no rooting :)

  • Anonymous

    Hello
    I try to go from 2.1 to 2.3. But ewery time I get
    E:No Signatur (Error 391 files)
    and
    E:Verification failed

    Installation aborted

    How can I make a good installation?

    • Anonymous

      I make a try too upgrade from 2.1 to 2.2 and got only  E: No signatur (Error 8 files
      But still not work.
      Please give me a hint to a side where its work !

    • Anonymous

      I can see now, thatr i newer get the triangle! It still a colored cross, the same as with the boot, when I come into Flash from SD card.
      How to get the triangle?

  • Sabeehumer

    My Nexus One power button is spolied.  How do I go about applying the update then?

  • Ashar Hemant

    can u please give me updated firmware ?

  • SP

    Can you please help me to upgrade my Google Nexus one handset from Android 2.3.1 to 2.3.4? Here is what I have in my phone.

    Android Version: 2.3.1
    Baseband Version: 32.50.00.32U_5.12.00.08
    Kernel Version: 2.6.35.7-59410-gba07db7 android-build@apa26:disqus#1
    Build Number: MicroMod v.20 (AOSP GINGERBREAD 2.3.1)

    I brought this phone from USA. I am using from India.

    Network: Vodafone.

    Any help would be appreciated.

    Thanks
    SP

  • Eyeskiller_s4s

    I can see now, that i newer get the triangle! It still a colored cross, the same as with the boot, when I come into Flash from SD card.
    How to get the triangle?

  • Asdf

    You posted that I need to upgrade to 2.2.2 but when I ran it a cross with colours flying in is the only thing happening nothing else its been going for that for a lot of times. Help Please~!

  • Qais Dude

    Everything goes fine but installation aborts… Help me out brother…