Can Android 12 be uninstalled?
Whether your phone was recently upgraded to Android 12 and you don’t like the change, or you’re considering purchasing a new device with the new operating system installed, you might be interested to know if you may or may not go back. Let’s go back to Android 11. Let’s find out!
Android 12 claims to improve the customization, security, and ease of use of your device. Featuring a completely redesigned user interface built around user demands, new privacy features aimed at ensuring user security and control, more intuitive ways to directly access your games and much more.
It’s supposed to be Google most personalized operating system to date, with adaptive color features that can change the user’s experience based on their background and adaptive motion that reacts to its user’s touch.
Even the widgets have been updated and key contacts are now constantly visible on the home screen. Android 12 is supposed to be accessible to even more people, with a more spacious layout, color contrast optimizations, and new features to help people with low vision.
Personally, I found the UI upgrade looks much more vibrant. It seems to respond a lot, not necessarily faster – since Android 11 was already quite fast – but smoother. This seems much easier. Performance levels have been improved by the new operating system and it certainly shows.
Some users, especially those who are a little more change-averse, however, have reported that they don’t like Android 12 and want to know whether or not it’s possible to go back to Android 11.
Can Android 12 users downgrade to Android 11?
If for whatever reason you don’t like Android 12 on your device, you’ll be happy to know that it’s entirely possible to roll back to a stable version of Android 11 – and it’s quite simple to do so. do it.
However, you will need to do some things before you can revert to a stable version of Android 11. First and foremost, make a full backup of your data before continuing. Because this procedure requires a complete device wipe during which you will lose all your data.
To downgrade your current version of Android 12 to an older version, you will need to use ADB or Android Debug Bridge. Installing the unzipped platform tools package on your desktop for easy execution of commands whenever needed.
So let’s go.
How to upgrade from Android 12 to Android 11
Once you have completed the relevant preparation above, it is time to embark on the process of actively reverting your Google Android 12 device to your preferred eleventh version of the operating system.
To make this process as easy as possible for you, here is a step-by-step guide with just five simple steps detailing how to uninstall Android 12 and reinstall Android 11 on your Google Android supported device:
1. Enable OEM unlocking and USB debugging
To get started, make sure Developer Options is enabled on your device. You can do this by going to your device settings. Now go to Settings > About phone and tap “Build number” until you receive a notification confirming that Developer Options is enabled.
Now go to Settings > System > Advanced > Developer Settings to complete the process. Before continuing, you will need to scroll down and enable “OEM Unlock”, which is required for the following steps. Next, scroll down to the “Debugging” section and choose “Allow USB Debugging”.
2. Download factory image
The factory image needs to be downloaded in order to upgrade to Android 12. For your device, you will need to download the correct factory image. It’s basically a fresh start for your smartphone or a snapshot of the current version of Android.
You will need to copy this file to the platform-tools folder and unzip the contents for later use.
3. Boot and unlock the bootloader
This can be accomplished in several ways. Connect your device to your Windows PC and navigate to the platform-tools folder by typing “cmd” into the address bar of your file manager. This will bring up a Command Prompt window in the appropriate location. In the command prompt, type “adb reboot bootloader”.
Since you cannot flash a factory image and downgrade your Android version using the somewhat simpler ADB sideloading technique, you will need to unlock the bootloader for the flashing procedure. However, it is a very simple procedure. Enter “fastboot flashing unlock” into your command line interface.
A rather worrying notification will appear on your screen, warning you that unlocking the bootloader may cause device instability. Choose “Unlock Bootloader” from the physical volume keys and confirm your choice by pressing the Power button. This method will erase your smartphone, so restart it.
In order to re-enable USB debugging for the next step, we will need to bypass the device initialization procedure. Once you have done that, make sure your device is connected to your PC and type “adb reboot bootloader” again.
4. Enter the Flash command
With all your Factory Image files extracted and available in the platform-tools directory. You can now use the “flash-all” command to start the process of downgrading from Android 12 to Android 11, which will take a few minutes. Keep the Command Prompt window open and you will receive a confirmation message once the operation is complete.
5. Restart your phone
You can now unplug and reset your smartphone since you have fully reverted to Android 11 from Android 12. It should now initiate the device setup procedure, allowing you to sign up for your stable version of Android.
Remember, you’ll also lose all the new features that come with Android 12, and this isn’t just a way to make your device look like it used to. If you go through this whole process and then change your mind, this guide basically describes how to upgrade your device to Android 12, provided you’re using the correct factory image.
And check Android 13: All New Features, Release Date & Supported Devices!
Jake McEvoy
Jake is a professional writer, journalist, and lifelong tech fan. It covers KnowYourMobile news and user guides.
