How to Update HTC Desire to Gingerbread 2.3 Firmware
Finally a great thing announced by the HTC for all of its Desire users and this time it’s not just announcement but HTC unveiled the much awaited Gingerbread 2.3 version for its HTC Desire Handset. Last time we saw an unofficial beta update wherein one can update their HTC Desire with the Gingerbread 2.3 update. But now you no longer need to think twice before updating as now officially HTC unveiled the Gingerbread 2.3 version release. So, in the due course of this article we will not only see on how you can update with the same but also we will see on what are the things you need to watch out for in this all new update in the form of enhancements.
Please note that for a smooth firmware update facilitation, you will have to ensure that you follow every single step which is being listed in this article. Though there is no Over the Air (OTA) update as of now but as soon as this arrives, we will surely update with the same. Since this update is the official update and not the leaked version, it doesn’t want the root access. Just in case if your device is already rooted due to which the warranty is voided, you can now reclaim the warranty just after updating with this version of firmware.
Please note that, you will have to reconfigure the APN settings after updating the firmware to access the data services and the services as all the Internet APN settings will be reset. You will have to contact your Service provider to get more info on the APN Settings. Not to forget also configure the MMS Settings. Also, we hold no responsibility if anything goes wrong which is an unlikely event if anything goes wrong.
Please note that this update is not available as of now for the users of Germany (Deutsch Telekom), North America, South America, South Korea and Japan but since this is the manual update, you can anytime proceed with the instructions to update with the same.
Comments (44)
Friends call him Droid Geek because he tries out different ROM’s everyday and helps droid users experience better features on their devices. Add +Neal Pradeep on Google Plus for more Updates.
Hi,
Can you tell me if I can use the “update HTC Desire to Gingerbread 2.3 Firmware” recently appearing on this site with a HTC Desire HD NextG (Inspire 4G).
Thanks
jeaylove
no its not valid for inspire 4g phone!
I am having some trouble with this HTC Desire HD NextG (AT&T Inspire 4G). The “update HTC Desire to Gingerbread 2.3 Firmware” may help. It is apparently the same phone as the Desire HD. Would you please explain why this update is not valid for my phone.
Thanks
Jeay
that is because the phone model is different!
Unclear if this is for “HTC Desire A8181″ or not.
There are so many “HTC Desire” ‘whatever’ models, and either I’m old, or this is an Asian company (which names different products the same just to puzzle us all).
In my case: Home > Settings > About phone > Phone identity displays under Model number: “HTC Desire A8181″
you can proceed to update with the same!
This looks to me like a version that i have installed I am having with it battery problems (cant last a day), some apps crash, but overall its good.
Gona try this version from your link.
thanks for yuor comment vedran!
im wanting to update to 2.3 but am a little concerned about doin it as im not to good with computers an i dont want ot mess the phone up which is working fine.
yes you can proceed to follow the above instructions!
do you think at some stage they will release the ota one,would be simpler for me?
Hi Neal,
I have just updated my Desire A8183 (frequency 855/2100) to gingerbread 2.3 (previously it was and Australian Telstra phone), all went super smoothly except when I looked at the new phone identity on the phone it says it is a A8181 (900/1900 bandwidth).
Previously I read that a firmware upgrade couldn’t change the frequency so I am a little worried.
I am using in New Zealand with Telcom which works on frequenct 850/2100. The phone is working but I’m not sure if it is just picking up 2100 frequency shared by Telecom NZ and Vodafone or ir I have actually changed the phones frequency or whether the identity has just incorrectly changed without the phones frequency changing?
Does that make sense?
Has anyone else had the same experience?
IT DOESNT AFFECT THE FREQUENCY!
Thanks Neal, So I am clear – you are saying even though my new phone identity is model A8181 (a model with 900 Mhz frequency) the frequency will still be that of the model A8183 (850Mhz) which it was before I upgraded to Android 2.3 using the Kernel Cource Code from HTC development.
Thanks
Philip
Hi,
i already have android 2.2 version on my htc hd2 and phone identity says HTC Desire A8181. Can I install this update on my phone now. Can I ‘Boot from Nand’ in the mgldr options if i download this file and extract and run?
HTC HAVE RELEASED GINGERBREAD IN AN OBTUSE VERSION YOU WILL LOOSE A LOT OF FUNCTIONS LIKE LIVE WALLPAPERS AND SMS/MMS WILL NO LONGER FUNCTION IN CERTAIN AREAS BUT HTC WON’T STATE WHAT AREAS! SO THE OFFICIAL VERSION IS USELESS UNLESS YOU NEVER USE THESE FUNCTIONS! HTC ARE CROOKS THEY WANT YOU TO PURCHASE THE DESIRE S, BUT THE DESIRE S IS INFERIOR TO THE DESIRE A8181 JUST READ THE TEST REVIEWS IN EVERY MOBILE MAGAZINE IT’S A DISGRACE TO GIVE THE MUCH AWARDED DESIRE NAME TO AN INFERIOR PRODUCT IN AN ATTEMPT TO CON US INTO PURCHASING THAT UGLY RUBBISH S AND THEN TO ADD INSULT THEY ISSUE THE WORSE WORKING GINGERBREAD UPDATE! I HAVE BEEN IN COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE CUSTOMER SERVICES MANAGER AT HTC AND THE BEST THEY CAN COME UP WITH IS AN APOLOGY WHICH IS TANTAMOUNT TO ADMITTING THEY HAVE DONE WRONG AND I AM NOW TAKING LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THE CHAIRWOMAN OF HTC WHICH INCLUDES THE FACT THEY CLAIM INTERNAL MEMORY OF 576MB BUT IS IN FACT 151MB AND MESSAGE STORAGE AND NUMEROUS OTHER FUNCTIONS USE THIS MEMORY AND APPS2SD DOES NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY STILL USE INTERNAL MEMORY AND THIS CAN BE SEVERAL MB’S AFTER MOVING! THE ROM IS ALSO SHORT IT’S 412MB NOT 512MB THEY CLAIM ON THE BOX.
IF HTC FIXED THIS AND PRODUCED A MORE POWERFUL BATTERY THE DESIRE A8181 WOULD BE WORTH THE £460 SIM FREE PRICE I PAID IN MARCH 2011, BUT A PHONE COSTING THAT MONEY SHOULD NOT HAVE ONLY 151MB OF MEMORY WHEN
Hi. Nice guide. But the link to download the files doesn’t work anymore.
Link worked just fine for me as at this time (currently downloading).
Hey Guys, Amazing article this is. I could update my HTC Desire A8181 successfully using the steps. Just leave your extra mind and follow the article step by step and you would be able to update it successfully. And yeah, without rooting the device. Thanks Guys! Appreciate it.
The upgrade dis not work on my HTC Desire CDMA, Model number ADR6275 with Android 2.2.
Got an error 130, something about having the wrong ROM version.
What gives?
Frank
Have you rooted the phone? Coz Error 130 MEANS THAT ITS NOT ABLE TO ACCESS THE SYSTEM LEVEL FILES!
Yes, I rerooted the phone back in September, this year. I also S-off’d it at the same time, and ran HTC’s security removal instructions.
When I tried to install HTC’s “official with warning” gingerbread update, in October, I got the same error number.
What now, Neal?
Root the device and thn try to update!
Neal!
Didn’t you read my reply? Please read it again. I already rooted the device! It’s been working fine with Superuser, Rom Manager, and a slew of other root-enabled programs. Get my point? Yes, I AM angry!
Frank
currently on which fw you are on? when everything works as per your mention then what is the issue? Please elaborate!
\fw\ Firmware: Android version 2.2; Baseband version 2.15.00.02.17; Kernel version 2.6.32.21-g3b4b13c htc-kernel@and18-2 #1; Build number 2.12.590.4 CL338776 release keys; Software number 2.12.590.4
The install Error 130 extension is, \Wrong model ID\. I forgot to tell you that.
Trace back to my original reply:
ftokc says:
November 7, 2011 at 12:02 pm
The upgrade dis not work on my HTC Desire CDMA, Model number ADR6275 with Android 2.2.
Got an error 130, something about having the wrong ROM version.
What gives?
Frank
there is a conflict with the model number thats what i can make out from your response! which model you are flashing?
Right! My ‘settings >> About phone >> Model number’ shows ‘ADR6275′; however, HTC Sync shows it as ‘PB99400′.
I don’t know how to correct this. Should I call my carrier (COX Wireless)?
Thanks for everything so far.
Frank
Did you forget me?
what is the issue, please elaborate!
Yes, contact the operator of COX Wireless!
i dont now if is good or bad but i wil try gingerbread
Where is Download file ?
download file is there in the procedure section!
Link to download the Desire Gingerbread 2.3 Package not available. Pls assist! Thx.
we will try to fix the same at the earliest!
My HTC Desire A8181 (Android 2.2, not rooted, 8 mths old) began to reset itself and freeze on the HTC white screen at random. Read about memory problems and decided to try upgrading to Android 2.3. Followed your instructions EXACTLY, but upgrade failed with message ‘ERROR [155]: UNKNOWN ERROR’. Pulled out cable and screen showed green script message:
Bravo PVT3 SHIP S-ON
HBOOT – 0.93.0001
MICROP – 051d
etc, etc
Aug 10 2010, 17:52:10
RUU
I reset phone without doing recovery – all works as before, alas including the freezing.
Any ideas?? (Thanks)
you need to root the phone before applying this update!
I have an HTC Desire A8183, issued through Telstra, Sydney and I’m running a SIM card from Virgin Mobile. I updated the firmware to Android 2.2 and have since had frequent problems with the phone deciding to go into a rolling reboot cycle. I am planning to backup my settings to the MicroSD card and update to Gingerbread 2.3. However, since I would like to clear out all the Telstra apps from the handset, I wonder if rooting the phone first would achieve this? Your earlier advice to Cecilia was to root her phone…. My proposed steps would be Root – Install Gingerbread 2.3 – Reload Virgin APN MMS settings. Will my phone book and apps be stored on the SIM card or MicroSD …or lost?
yes apn settings will be lost, you need to re configure the apn settings!
Hello !
I`ve tryed to update to 2.3 gingerbread and the update stuck at 77% for hours and hours ! After that my HTC Desire died ! Now it won`t power on, not chargeing, the LED is dead when i try to charge it ! I tried with usb, 3 diffrent chargers … etc ! Any ideas? I can recover somehow my phone or is bricked for good ? I tried also removing the battery and use other HTC Desire battery, still the same ! I don`t have warenty because i bought the phone on ebay …. ! Can someone help me shomehow ? Thanks in Advance
is it available in India
its not yet officially
Thnx heeps ay!