Since EE doesn't announce anything about the updates and when the updates will be released, so we cannot figure out what's the update may bring to each device in a much easier way as possible. But while taking a deeper look at the firmware build itself, the update includes several improvements, bug fixes and further enhancements to performance. There are new sets of improvements to Wi-Fi calling and 4G network connectivity. It is also equipped with Google's Security patches that will get rid of the Stagefright bug, just like the ones those recently released on Sprint Galaxy S6 SM-G920P and Galaxy S6 edge SM-G925P in the United States.
What are the technical details of the update?
Below is the technical details which can be found in the phone’s Settings>About device once you receive this particular OS update.
EE Galaxy S6 (SM-G920F) 5.1.1 update:
| Device name | GALAXY S6 |
| Model number | SM-G920F |
| Android version | 5.1.1 |
| Baseband version | G920FXXU2BOGF |
| Kernel version | 3.10.61-5447113 |
| Build number | LMY47X.G920FXXU2POGM |
| Advanced user’s info: | |
| AP/PDA | G920FXXU2POGM |
| CSC | G920FEVR2POGN |
| CP/MODEM | G920FXXU2BOGF |
| Build date | 21 July 2015 |
Screenshot:
EE Galaxy S6 edge (SM-G925F) 5.1.1 update:
| Device name | GALAXY S6 Edge |
| Model number | SM-G925I |
| Android version | 5.1.1 |
| Baseband version | G925FXXU2BOGF |
| Kernel version | 3.10.61-5447113 |
| Build number | LMY47X.G925FXXU2POGM |
| Advanced user’s info: | |
| AP/PDA | G925FXXU2POGM |
| CSC | G925FEVR2POGN |
| CP/MODEM | G925FXXU2BOGF |
| Build date | 21 July 2015 |
Again, the two particular build version is exclusively released in the United Kingdom, but for Everything & Everywhere's Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge only.
However, even though if your device is on EE's network or using EE's SIM card but it is the unlocked or SIM-Free version, which technically running on UK's unbranded firmware like "BTU" or "XEU", you cannot get the update either. Your device should run on EE's official firmware which is coded as "EVR" so you can update your device. Also, make sure that your precious phone has not been rooted or runs on modified system images, so you can get the update without any hiccups.
The update is rolled out via Over-The-Air (OTA) update in stages. If you did not receive the notification message yet, you may also manually check the availability of the update using Smart Switch.
How to Update the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge to Official Android 5.1.1 Lollipop
Just follow these guide on how to keep your Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge in a much safer way while performing a software update. I also added some useful insights and why you should follow this procedure.
First and foremost make sure to recharge your Galaxy S6 Edge – While performing a software update on Galaxy S6 Edge it may only take just a couple of minutes but sometimes it may take longer. It will depend on how small or large the update size is, but most cases it also affects the speed of your data connection. Slower WiFi data connection may take longer while a stronger data connection is more speedy. A 40% to 50% battery power percentage is enough, but a fully recharged is way much better. Since we cannot determine how much and what’s the exact time we need to consume when initiating the firmware update so we should make sure our device has still enough battery remaining power to avoid any fatal issues. Have you ever heard or encountered those fellas who ended their devices into soft-bricks? A device was just stuck on Samsung logo or welcome screen and can’t reboot normally, those are what we called soft-bricks. And most probably caused by an inadequate battery power while performing the software update.
Do not forget to back up all of the important data – Even though there are no any data that are going to be deleted right after performing a software update. But what if the software update went wrong, the update unexpectedly fails and then the phone becomes unresponsive and then it forces you to perform a wipe data/factory that basically wipes your phone’s memory storage just to resolve the issue. So you should backup your important files, including contacts, messages, call log, photos, videos, music, and apps. You cannot recover these files if somehow accidentally deleted when the software update goes wrong.
Your Galaxy S6 Edge must still run on the official software version and hasn’t been rooted nor installed with non-official firmware update – Just in case you just need to know that a rooted and a modified Galaxy S6 Edge will not get official software update anymore from Samsung and either to which carrier or network provider it came from. It will not allow users to install the update as it might harm the device once the update has made. So a rooted and modified Galaxy S6 Edge users usually receives this warning message instead, that says: The operating system on your device has been modified in an unauthorized way. Try downloading software updates using Smart Switch on your computer or visit a customer service center.
Update the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge via Firmware Over-The-Air (OTA)
This is the usual method on how to check and to perform an update on Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge to the latest software version. This method is what we called Firmware Update Over-The-Air and so-called as FOTA or simply OTA update. In most often cases, a notification message will directly send to you by your network provider and by Samsung itself, telling you that there is a new update that has now available for download. This approach requires you to prepare a strong WiFi connection, and so it might happen sometimes that one did not receive any software update notification messages; 1) if and when the device is out of range during the software update roll out period, 2) Automatic update has been turned off in the device Settings.However, We can still manually check for the update instead.
Here’s how to do it manually:
- From your Galaxy S6 Edge Home screen tap on Apps.
- Select the Settings gear icon.
- Tap About device.
- Tap Software update.
- Tap Check for an update.
It will then notify you that a new update is available for download. But it also says that “Your device software is up to date“, and there is no software update is yet available for grab. You can simply choose Download and Install now if you do so or else Install later if you want to get the update in later time.
But if ever you might have had received this message while checking software update that says something like “The operating system on your device has been modified in an unauthorised way. Try downloading software updates using Smart Switch on your computer or visit a customer service centre.” This is a warning message that only appears for those devices that have been rooted and installed with modified and unofficial firmware. So to be able to get the Software OTA update again, you must Unroot your Galaxy S6 first and removed any modification that has been installed on it.
Update the Galaxy S6 Edge Thru Samsung Smart Switch
You can use Smart Switch to update your Galaxy S6 Edge software to the latest versions. It can also be used if the Software Over-The-Air update fails for some reason. The Smart Switch is way similar to the before Samsung Kies that had been used on several devices.
Download Smart Switch for PC
You have to choose the one that is specifically built for computer, depends on what you have either a PC or Mac. Once you installed Smart Switch, all you need is a connection between your Samsung Galaxy S6 SM-G925F into the computer using the supplied USB data cable.
1. Run Smart Switch in your computer.
2. Connect the Galaxy S6 Edge into the computer using the supplied USB data cable.
3. Smart Switch will automatically prompt you if the update is available. Just click on the “update” then the “OK” button to begin updating your Galaxy S6 Edge.
If it doesn’t tell you about an update, you may manually navigate through its settings by doing these procedures below.
4. Click on the “More” button at the right top of Smart Switch. You will then presented with options. Choose “Preferences” in the drop-down. You are then presented with two tabs the Backup file and Software Update. The backup file allows you to allocate a certain folder where you want your backup files to be stored. Then on the other hand the Software Update tab is where you can set it to the Latest Software Pre-Download Settings. Just mark the checkbox where it says Latest Software Pre-Download.
5. Select the “Backup” button, to safely kept your important data and files such as contacts, messages, call log, videos, music, photos, application and more. The backup data files will be stored in the documents folder of your computer. This is a very important steps as it wipes out all of it while performing the software update process. All data will permanently be deleted, and it cannot be recover anymore, so ensure to create a backup first before it’s too late than sorry.
6. Click on the “More” button again. Choose “Emergency software recovery and initialization” in the drop-down option.
Choose the “Software Update and Initialization” tab.
Wait for a couple of seconds as it check the current software version of your Galaxy S6 Edge and then check for the latest software update version to initialized. You may then simply follow the on-screen instructions that ask you to click the “OK” or a “Cancel” button.
Once the Software update initialization started you must not interrupt the process like unplugging the data cable connected to the computer nor turning off the device. You must wait until it says “Software update and Initialization are complete”.
Once your Galaxy S6 Edge reboots disconnect it from the computer. Then reconnect it back again.
7. Lastly restore the backup, choose “Restore” button to restore the previously created backup files.
