El Bluetooth it is a standard feature on Android phones, but the version will vary depending on the phone. Many people are in doubt whether they can update the Bluetooth connectivity on their Android or not. We will cover everything in this post. If you're wondering how to update Bluetooth on your Android device, we'll give you the keys you need to know. Since, in principle, updating the Bluetooth version is not only a matter of software, or drivers, but also of hardware.
What version of Bluetooth do I have?
La bluetooth connection on Android devices it is beneficial in several ways. It is still used in a lot of scenarios (such as connecting a wearable to the phone or connecting in the vehicle), and that is why it is not absent from any Android device. Every year new versions of this accessibility are released, improving its functionality, despite the fact that it seemed that BT could become obsolete with the arrival of other new technologies. Let's determine what version of the connection we have on our phone.
Although it is not the same for all mobile devices, depending on the brand and model (it may vary depending on the implemented UI), there is a common method for all of them so that you can find out the version of Bluetooth you have by following these easy steps:
- Go to Google Play.
- Search for AIDA64.
- Install this app on your Android mobile device to get data from the hardware.
- Once installed, run the app.
- On the interface that appears, choose the System option.
- From there it will offer you basic system information. Look in the Bluetooth Version list, and it will tell you which one you have.
Specifications
One of the easiest ways to know if our phone has Bluetooth is examine the specifications that appear on the website of the manufacturer of our device model. To do this, we will simply have to search for the name of our mobile and its specifications, in order to see what version of Bluetooth it has in that list.
We can find this information on the manufacturer's website, but there are also many other websites where the device data is given. With a simple web search, we can find this information. Another alternative to this if you do not have a connection at that time, is to look in the specifications of the manual or the box where your mobile device came, if you have it at hand.
BT / BLE Checker
Some will be familiar with BT / BLE Checker, which is an Android app that tells us precisely what Bluetooth features are supported by our device. It is an app that will evaluate our smartphone and disclose what Bluetooth functions are available. All of them will appear on the screen. Because it is an operating system tool. Users can use the app to measure Bluetooth and BT/BLE Checker to identify the mobile operating system version.
Depending on the analysis results, we will receive a list of features that are supported by the mobile device. However, we will understand without any doubt what function is in the device for your use.
La MAC address of the mobile phone, as well as the Bluetooth profiles and capabilities supported by the mobile phone, are provided by the application. The functionality of these variables is not described in the application or how they work. The only thing we can know about the application is whether the mobile phone supports them or not. The BT/BLE Checker app can be downloaded for free from the Google Play store. It may crash on occasion, but it shouldn't if you use it correctly.
Update my mobile's Bluetooth
The Bluetooth of my Android is updated regularly with the OTA updates that the operating system receives, although that will not change the version you have, but simply patches or improvements for existing drivers or controllers for Bluetooth will be downloaded. The Bluetooth controllers they update themselves, therefore, it is a situation in which we do not intervene. We need to determine if our phone has the proper operating system or is accessible to an operating system update and when it will be available for this model.
Of course, not all Android mobile devices support OTA updates, so it is likely that in cases where this possibility does not exist, you will have to choose to install a new ROM manually, something that should only be done if you have the necessary knowledge and know the possible risks that this implies, being able to leave the mobile with affected functionalities, or unusable.
We can only check if an android update is available for us in this case. If an update is available, our Bluetooth driver will also update automatically. If there is an update available to us, we will not have to do anything other than install it. You can see if an update is available for your system by following these steps:
- Open the Settings of the Android device.
- Go to the System section.
- Then, look in said System Update section (it may be or appear differently depending on the version and model, and in some cases it is even in the Phone Information section).
- Click on Check for updates or Check for updates.
- If there are, they will be displayed on the screen and if not, it will tell you that it is updated to the latest version available.
- If there are, it will allow you to download and install the updates immediately.
- Accept and wait for them to complete.
- Then, when the phone reboots, look at the installation information or summary to see if the update included updates regarding Bluetooth.
In the event that Bluetooth is not updated on Android, it will not be possible update bluetooth firmware. This is a significant drawback in this regard, which affects users of operating systems with mobile devices that have already stopped receiving updates from the manufacturer, for example. When Google or the manufacturer releases an intermediate update, it is common for the Bluetooth driver to be updated at the same time, allowing users to update the Bluetooth of their devices. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, so many users will not be able to update the Bluetooth of their devices if they are more than two years old in some companies.
Update Bluetooth version (hardware)
Although updates to Bluetooth drivers or firmware may affect the way BT hardware works, such as functionality, performance, patching vulnerabilities, etc., Bluetooth technology version cannot be updated. Thus, the question on this subject is answered.
And it is totally logical, since updating the Bluetooth version would imply changing some other chip, as is the case with the SoC, since the network adapter for this wireless technology is usually integrated into it. And since there is only one SoC compatible with your phone's motherboard, it would be impossible to change for another one with a newer version of Bluetooth. So, to update the version of Bluetooth technology, it is best to switch mobile device.