Now that Android 7 Nougat is available it is easily downloaded and installed. However, not all Android devices support it. Generally speaking, the newer your phone, the more likely it is to either already have it installed or can install it now.
What phones support Android 7?
If you have a Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, Huawei P9 or Honor 8, there is a good chance you have the latest version already installed. It is also pre-loaded on the Google Pixel and Pixel XL. It is also available on the e LG G5, Moto Z and Moto Z Force, Moto G4 and Moto G4 Plus phones as well as Sony's Xperia X and Xperia X Compact.
Backing up your phone before installing Android 7
Before embarking on installing Android 7, it is always a good idea to back up your device. While Nougat is a stable operating system, if anything goes wrong, you will have something to fall back on. To do this go to Settings, then tap Backup & reset to ensure both Backup my data and Automatic restore are ticked.
It is also vitally important that any photos you have taken are also backed up. To do this, connect your phone via a USB cable to your computer (PC/Mac) and open up a folder window and look for a folder named DCIM. Then copy the content to your computer's hard drive.
Update check
Once this is done, you can start the update process. For a lot of devices, Nougat will be pushed to them over the air, this means you should see a notification of availability. That said, you can also manually check by going to the Settings page, scrolling down until you see the option About Phone.
Tap on that and choose System Updates or Software updates. You'll see your update status. Follow any on-screen steps.
Force an update
Another way of getting Android 7 is by opting into the Android Beta program. The beta for 7.1.2 is gradually rolling out to the following enrolled devices: Pixel, Pixel XL, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus Player, and Pixel C. Most vendors are still in the process of deploying Android 7.0, so don't expect to see 7.1.1 or 7.1.2 anytime soon.
To get an update to the latest version of Android, go to the Android Beta program portal on your Nexus or Pixel C devices, sign into your Google account that is linked to the device, choose the device you want to enrol in the program and then follow the instructions to accept and download the code.
Downloading Android 7
Once you have manually checked if an update is available or you have received a notification, the new operating system can be downloaded and installed. Before installing, make sure you are connected to Wi-Fi and has enough battery power to complete things. It is recommended that the device is plugged into a charger. Once downloaded and installed your device should be ready to use.
