Question:

What are the steps to perform a manual upgrade of the Android operating system on Zebra TC26 scanners without a LifeGuard subscription? I have some devices running on Android 11 and I want to update them to Android 13. The official guides on the Zebra website seem to require a paid contract or subscription. Is there any alternative way to do this?

Answer:

How to manually upgrade Android on Zebra TC26 scanners without LifeGuard

Zebra TC26 scanners are rugged devices that run on Android operating system and are used for various business purposes. They come with a feature called LifeGuard, which is a software security solution that provides regular updates and patches for the Android OS. However, LifeGuard requires a paid subscription or contract with Zebra, and not all users may have access to it.

If you have some Zebra TC26 scanners that are running on Android 11 and you want to update them to Android 13, you may wonder if there is a way to do it manually without LifeGuard. The answer is yes, but it is not recommended by Zebra and it may void your warranty or cause some issues with your devices. Therefore, you should proceed with caution and at your own risk.

The steps to manually upgrade Android on Zebra TC26 scanners without LifeGuard are as follows:

1. Download the Android 13 firmware package for Zebra TC26 from a reliable source. You can try searching online for the file name `TC26N0K-13-00-00-NG-00-A.zip` or a similar one. Make sure the file is compatible with your device model and region.

2. Copy the firmware package to the root directory of an SD card and insert it into your device.

3. Power off your device and then press and hold the Power and Scan buttons simultaneously until you see the Recovery Mode screen.

4. Use the Volume buttons to navigate to the option `Apply update from SD card` and press the Power button to select it.

5. Use the Volume buttons to navigate to the firmware package file and press the Power button to select it.

6. Wait for the update process to complete. It may take several minutes and your device may reboot several times.

7. Once the update is done, you should see the message `Install from SD card complete` on the screen. Press the Power button to reboot your device normally.

8. Check the Android version on your device by going to Settings > About phone > Software information. It should show Android 13.

Congratulations, you have successfully upgraded Android on your Zebra TC26 scanner without LifeGuard. However, you should be aware that this method may not include all the security patches and features that LifeGuard provides. You may also encounter some compatibility or performance issues with some apps or functions on your device. Therefore, it is advisable to use LifeGuard if possible, or contact Zebra support for assistance.