Introducing instant help and updates through PIN messaging or BlackBerry Messenger. Add us on your Address Book So you got a new BlackBerry or you are simply tired of your old operating system on the device and want to want to upgrade it? If you have never done this before, there are a few things you need to know. The first thing is that there are two different types of OS that you can install: one is the official OS, released by a carrier, and the other one is a leaked OS, meaning that it has not been approved by the carriers to be installed. You can install an official OS using Desktop Manager, but usually it will not let you install a leaked OS unless you do some tweaking. This is something RIM implemented with the latest updates to the Desktop Manager.
These instructions are for Windows users. For BES users, your IT needs to issue an activation code unless you can generate one yourself or have Desktop Manager set up with the BES option, it will do it the next time your run DM.
- You should know that if you decide to install a leaked OS, you’re doing it at your own risk.
- Always do a backup of your Settings and Contacts using Desktop Manager and 3rd-party apps. Use BBSAK, you will see me mention this app a few times.
Software that you will need to download:
- Desktop Manager – http://na.blackberry.com/eng/services/desktop/ at his link you can download for windows and Mac. What does Desktop Manager do, you may ask. It lets you load your OS to the BB, add applications, back up your data, custom settings and contacts, sync music, switch devices and more. When setting up DM, choose the option for personal account, not the one which associates it with your work email, unless you have access to changing settings on BES. BES is the BlackBerry Enterprise Server, which is mostly used by companies to deliver company emails and settings to your BlackBerry.
- BlackBerry Swish Army Knife (BBSAK): this application is for both novice and advanced users, but make sure you don’t go around clicking random buttons, you could really do some damage to the BlackBerry. With this application you can install or back up third-party applications, or launch the Application Loader to install your OS.
Remember to always back up your data before doing this. On DM, select Backup and Restore.
- If you have a password on you BlackBerry, you will need to type that in before it lets you do anything.
Official OS install: To load an official OS, all you need is to download and install the Desktop Manager. It will detect the official OS if it is issued by your carrier. When you connect your BlackBerry via USB, it will prompt you to install the new OS. Simply follow the wizard and select the applications you want to install. Once this is done, you just have to click “Next” until the process is finished. Never unplug the BlackBerry while the device is upgrading. That would render it useless. If you do, there are ways to get it working again, but it’s troublesome.
Official OS from other Carriers and Leaked OS:
Why is DM not detecting the update after installing on PC? You can install the OS issue by other carriers or a leaked OS, but with the latest DM, RIM has blocked that feature. So even if you have installed the OS update, DM will not detect it. Sometimes, it will give you the option to install older versions of the OS.
Fixes:
- Delete the vendor.xml file found at this location on most Windows PC machines: C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Research In Motion\AppLoader (Auto delete vendor.xml? Right-click and Save this link as a File.. Delete Vendor File Batch File)
- A quick fix can be disconnecting your Internet so that DM is not communication with the Web. This will force DM to look for the update on your PC.
- If the above fix is not working, then you need to launch App Loader by itself. And you need to close DM completely because sometimes it will stay running in background and will prevent App Loader from detecting the update as well. You can find App Loader in the same location mentioned above.
- Another tool that will help you with OS installs is BBSAK. If you don’t feel like going through all the steps above, simply download this application. It has a quick, one-click way to launch the standalone App Loader. Make sure that your BlackBerry shows it is connected to BBSAK. If it does not show it is connected, that probably means that DM is still running is background and is preventing you from connecting to it, or vice-versa. Like I said before, this tool has many useful features, but it has some advanced features that could wipe your device completely. STAY AWAY from these features if you don’t know what they are or what you are doing.
Once you have launched the App Loader, it should detect the OS update. You then simply select the applications and features you wish to install and follow the wizard until you are done with the upgrade.
I NUKED MY BERRY: something went wrong with the upgrade. Simply follow the steps mentioned above if, for any reason, the App Loader is not detecting your BlackBerry. Take out the battery and connect the BlackBerry via USB. Launch App Loader and wait for it to detect the BlackBerry. Sometimes it will display your PIN or say the device is unknown. This will allow you to get to the step in which you choose what apps and settings you want to install on your BlackBerry. Carefully place the battery back in the BlackBerry without unplugging it from the USB port.
Tutorial from RIM on How to upgrade OS >>
Liked the way the screen shots show how to upgrade the OS, it becomes easier for new blackberry users.
Zee bro… U still need to instruct on how to go ahead updating my blackberry…
error 507 – reload software .. wat to do
new bb9708 bought today ???
Connect the BlackBerry to PC and start AppLoader.exe job, it will re-install the Software
Hi bro….
I appreciate u helpin peoplÉs not aware of these technical issues ….
Hope u hav a solution for me as well
I hav got a blackberry torch which is locked on orange network can u guide me how to unlock it
done tat already it said done .. restarting nd now stuck on starting screen wid white bar gone till half …
oh yeah done
its not working at al mate started after software installation finished which i downloaded ffrom ur site then the desktop screen was al white and icons coming in a weird way jus white nd black screen then it gave some error and restarted again .. how can i go back or make phone work properly .. ??
It happens only if your handset is T-mobile
Follow the steps mentioned at end of the article – http://www.bbin.in/en/2010/12/leaked-os-6-0-0-380/
bbsak says application package cannot be opened on windows 7 n e solution???
It should, did you restart after installation? If it still doesnt work, Run BBSAK in compatibility mode, Right-click>Properties>Compatibility>Windows XP
thanks a lot for ur help doing it will post after al done ..
Very helpful. Never knew installing an OS could be so easy! Thanx everyone! it helped alot!
you have given how to install the leak os in windows but how should we do in apple
Use BlackBerry Desktop Software for Mac to update your OS but if OS is not released by your carrier you cant update on Mac. On PC you have to delete vendor.xml file to update any carrier OS, on Mac nothing of that sort.
Hey I have a Blackberry 9700 White (Unlocked) Was Locked to Tmobile, Im having trouble Installing os6 on my device, I have downloaded and installed 0s6 after i disconnect pc from internet. Go to dm at the top devices then “UPDATE MY DEVICE” No Updates found. Then i click on view other versions i see os 6 i check the box and install i get message
“This BlackBerry® Device Software upgrade includes new features and significant enhancements to the BlackBerry® solution and, as such, is only available to users with an active BlackBerry subscription. To learn more about BlackBerry® service, please visit http://www.blackberry.com/service.”
Also i have deleted the vendor.xml file and tryed using apploader but apploader is not finding the os6.
PLEASE HELP ME
Hello Niraj!
Go to Control panel / Add or remove programs and check whether BlackBerry OS6 for 9700 is correctly installed on your PC. If yes, try re-installing. Let me know what happens then.
Hey,
Whenever i update my Blackberry to the OS 6 and restore my previous FULL backup and restart the phone, There is an additional Blue line coming on the bar right above the icons so basically there are two blue lines and in the Universal Search it says Indexing! Without the restoring the phone works fine but then there is no BB MAPS icon. Any ideas on what to do? Is there a certain limit till which i can restore?
Thanks.
Weird about double blue lines, if possible share the screenshot.
Try Resending Service Books as BB Maps might need OS6 maps Service book. If problem persist delete service books from BlackBerry Desktop Software or bring back the BB Maps if you know a way to then use advanced (Backup/Restore) and choose all field to restore except the Service Book.
BB Maps icon availability reads from service books
mate my installation process has been stopped in between and it is saying that this is not compatible with ur device what shall i do??? i m screwed
Tried deleting vendor.xml file?
went totallly well wit me…
NIT dgp…WB. india
can bold 9000 is upgradeable with OS 6 ?
No. Bold 9000 won’t see OS6 ever
wic BB have the longest ever battery backup ? 9700?
9780 then 9700
i have bold 9000 it has 1500mah battery same sa 9700 but battery getting drain so fast is thr any solution ?
No. Just keep the unused apps closed. refer – http://us.blackberry.com/support/blackberry101/tips/saving.jsp
as far as ur concer how is the battery of bold 9000? n is there anyway to increase my apps memry ???
Hi, I’ve successfully updated the OS on my BB 9700 and it seems to be running fine. But the problem is that i am not able to restore all my contacts that i’ve saved on my PC before upgrading the OS. It is only restoring 71 out of 484 contacts. Any ideas why it is not letting me restore the remaining contacts?
Many thanks in advance
its taken alot of time to download
It works perfect on my mobile…….
thanx bro for the gudelines
everytime i am trying to update getting error tried through app loader as well .. and bbsak not loading app loader so wat shud i do next error comes while connecting to boot rom after some time .. i am trying to update the latest version on my 9780 rest previous version i have which u guys uploaded before so wat to do ??
What’s the message? And be sure you delete ‘vendor.xml’ in App loader folder before beginning
yeah i deleted the vendor thingy like i did before as well .. and then also no internet disabled that as well .. everything goes cool it gets stuk on connecting to boot rom then phone reboots like before and it gives error could not connect to device make sure usb hub is not used nd all that crap ..
Is your connected pc normally detecting the BlackBerry phone?
yup it is
Ok. Try this way…
Open App Loader, Restart you phone and hit next till it connects to JVM(first loading screen) within the RED light flash. This may solve your problem. Remember, your phone shouldn’t turn ON. Try to connect JVM before RED light goes.
receiving a message: uncaught exception:java.lang.nullpointer exception whenever im trying to open my bbm messenger…i can neither uninstall or install my bbm
Please also suggest how do i check if i have a back up of my bbm contacts or not?
If you did a backup you will have or had your email sync with bbm. Well for the BBM issue, just install the latest official over. Search for bbm on BBin
Hi guys! i just got a bb9300 today and it has already started giving me a headache.
i wish to use the internet using WiFi without any data plan and its is showing Unable to connect to the internet. it shows i connected to my WiFi network but i am unable to access through the browser. i guess it is OS 5. Do i need to update it to OS 6 with software for Airtel or is there any other problem.
your help would be appreciated.
well upgrading to OS6 is always a good choice. anyhow you problem isn’t the OS though, you have to change browser options to work on wifi. just change Airtel internet option to Hotspot & enjoy
Thanks for your reply.
the wifi on the screen is gray and not white and i m not getting a green check box for connected wifi. it just shows that my wifi is connected (on).
I had already made the default browser configuration to Hotspot.Still no Wifi On my phone.
Still no Wifi internet On my phone. Do i need to get BES activated for surfing internet throuugh wifi on bb9300?
Try connecting to different wifi network once
hi.i’m using blackberry bold 9650(sprint).i got it from USA. i wanted to know that if i change its software version or i update the software ,will it get locked? if it will,would i be able to get it unlocked again? please reply me asap.
hello herman. youre free to go! once unlock, nothing can lock it back again
thanks shahriyar, tell me one more thing, how to keep BB safe from moisture?
having any screen problems?
bb8900 wen upgrading to the version on ur site is giving error as “This BlackBerry® Device Software upgrade includes new features and significant enhancements to the BlackBerry® solution and, as such, is only available to users with an active BlackBerry subscription. To learn more about BlackBerry® service, please visit http://www.blackberry.com/service.”
how can you upgrade OS from our site? :/ … you need to download the latest OS and follow installation instructions
Hi, im using a bold 2 9700 handset in india, but the handset is a cracked handset from Indosat…will i be able to upgrade my os? if yes how?..my current service provider is loop mobile…do help…thanks!
hey mate … just one question bbsak not detecting my bold 9780 running 6.0.0.600
restarted pc twice, did a battery pull, no password on device, running bbsak with administrative rights, device detected by bb desktop manager but neither by bbsak nor by bb master control program
try connecting to different USB hub
The following modules could not be loaded because their digital signatures were invalid.
net_rim_bb_qm_peer_lib.cod
error at the end of any os installation ..
uninstalled desktop manager installed aagain
fresh installation of windows as well
laptop changed as well
memory card of fone formatted as well
no backup retored to fone
Do a wipe install from BBSAK app
net_rim_bb_qm_peer_lib.cod file is BBM, just reinstall BBM after update
i am on airtel with bis399 plan. since today morning i am just receiving incoming bbm’s no outgoing tick comes to every message when i send – no delivered or read ..
not with one contact with all contacts .. rest all services working fine ..
what should i do tried deleting service books and reinstalling still the issue is the same what should i do ..i use a torch
how can i upgrade my bb 8520 curve which uses OS4 to anything above…
the current version is 4.6.1.314
download the latest os5 version here – http://bbin.in/en/blackberry-os-page/
have been trying to activate whatsapp on my second bb 8520 curve using OS5, everytime i try to active i get the following msg :
unexpected error : java.lang.runtime exception; pushmodalscreeen called by a non-event thread
can anyone tell me what this is and how to get past
what does this remark mean?
unexpected error : java.lang.runtime exception; pushmodalscreeen called by a non-event thread
this comes up when i try to activate whatsapp on my curve 8520 using os v5.0.0.1036 pf 5.2.0.104
am using vodafone india
which version can i upgrade to for curve 8520 os v5.0.0.1036 pf 5.2.0.104
My blackberry desktop manager is not detecting the model of my blackberry bold 9900. It says unrecorgnized model. And when I try to launch the application loader on my system after installing the OS, it says apploader not found. Please what do I do?
Sure you have latest desktop manager?
When ever I listen songs from my bb 8520 ny msg or mail comes music player get stop and I need to start that again is there any prob to my BB Please help.
Yes on 8520 it won’t start automatically, if profile set at vibration or silent mode the music wont stop. OS6 is not available on 8520
What is the use of OS6?