How to Force Your BlackBerry PlayBook to Update OS via Desktop Software

April 20, 2011 | By | 21 Comments

Since we heard RIM started rolling out an OS update (1.0.1.1796) to some PlayBook owners, I’ve been patiently waiting for it. Sadly it hasn’t come. So I started playing around with the BlackBerry Desktop Software to see if by fluke I could get the update, with no success. So then I proceeded to do a full backup of my PlayBook (which took around 8 minutes — 1GB in size), and then found the Update button in the menu. As I expected I got the No Update Available message. I then decided to reboot my PlayBook by pressing the Power Off app then Restart (while it was connected via USB). Once the device loaded up, it prompted for me to an OS update, and bam! I now have 1.0.1.1796 installed on my PlayBook. Just a warning the OS update seems to take about 30-40 minutes. Make sure you do a full system backup before starting.

So just to recap here is how you force an OS update on your BlackBerry PlayBook:

  • Open BlackBerry Desktop Software on your PC
  • Do full backup on your tablet
  • Go to Device > Update
  • You will get a message “No Update Available”
  • Press ok, leave your PlayBook connected via USB
  • Press the Power Off app then select Restart
  • Once the PlayBook boots up, you will be prompted to do the update

Just a note, after doing the OS update via Desktop Software you can restore your data. Make sure you follow the entire setup process, before doing the restore.

Happy updating and post a comment below if this works for you…

Filed in: BlackBerry, Exclusives, Guides, PlayBook Tablet | Tags: , , , , , , ,

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