Skip to main content




GLOBAL- On Thursday, last week, we saw the release of Symbian Anna. The new software update for Symbian^3 smartphones. While Nokia released the update to more than 30 countries – covering over 60 per cent of existing Symbian^3 users – on the first day, some of you may still be looking for ways to update your phone. Here’s a variety of ways you can update to Symbian Anna.

If you’ve not yet received the update, there’s no need to worry, it’s coming – very soon. But for those who are impatient and just simply can’t wait for it to arrive, you can be a little more proactive in the update.

Updating to Symbian Anna using Ovi Suite

With Ovi Suite, you can do a variety of tasks. Back-up your contacts, download apps or add music or videos to your phone, as well as update your phone’s software.

First things first, pop over to the Nokia Ovi Suite page and download it to your computer. Attach your phone to the PC using your data cable. As is usual when you attach something new to a PC, the PC will need to install various drivers, which will be done automatically for you. You’ll know when this is complete when a little bubble in the lower right of your screen will tell your Nokia phone is ready to go.

Load up Ovi Suite and wait for it to go through the load-up sequence. It’ll probably look for your connected phone at this point, but shouldn’t take longer then 15 seconds. Once Nokia Ovi Suite has discovered your phone, you’ll notice the welcome screen will show you some content that may be useful to you. Ignore that for the time being and cast your eye to the top of that page, where you’ll see the Update button on the right. Clicking it will take you to the update page. It’s here that your phone will be examined by Ovi Suite and new software will be displayed – if there is any available at the time.

Nokia Ovi Suite on PC.

Note that if your software update doesn’t fully complete for some reason, you can use the ‘reinstall’ command on the software update page to give the stalled update process a kick-start!

Updating to Symbian Anna using the Software Update app

On your Nokia Symbian^3 smartphone, you’ll find that the Software Update app is the easiest way to check for new updates to the phone’s software. Not only the main software, but also for other apps, such as the built in Music player or Nokia Maps, for example. As this method downloads large amount of data straight onto your phone, we’d advise you use this method if you’ve got WiFi access. Otherwise, you could be charged by your operator for the download.

To find the Software Update app, follow these steps: Menu > Applications > SW update. Your phone will then automatically search the update server to see if there’s anything that needs updating on your phone. If it does, you’ll see it appear on the screen – waiting for you mark the tick box next to it and to press the update button on the bottom left of your screen. We’d recommend that you enable your phone to check for software updates automatically for you. That way, you don’t have to keep checking all day for the update. It should inform you when it’s ready for download. You can enable this in the Software Update app settings:

This video shows you where to find the Software Update app on your phone.

Updating to Symbian Anna using NSU

There’s a couple of versions of Nokia Software Updater available. If you’re using a PC and already have NSU installed, you can use that. When it comes to downloading it again, the download site may refer you onto updating the device through the phone itself using the Software Update app. If it’s a Mac you’re using, then the Nokia Beta Lab guys have created NSU for Mac.

Plug a data cable into the micro-USB slot on your phone and the other end into your PC or Mac and load up NSU on your machine. NSU will start to recognise the phone that’s connected and suitably contact the software server to determine if there’s any new versions. If there’s something to update, it’ll show you on screen and you’ll be prompted to press the install button on the bottom of NSU. Otherwise, you’re left with the exit option.

Nokia Software Updater for Mac.

Updating to Symbian Anna using *#0000#

Open up the dialler from the homescreen and type *#0000#. This will show you a Device updates screen. Here you’ve got the current software version number and some other information, too. Press Options, followed by the Check for updates option that pops up. This will contact the Nokia software update server and let you know if there’s a new update to download. If the update is there, you’ll be prompted to accept the download. Otherwise, the message “No updates available” will be shown.

Updating to Symbian Anna on a Nokia N8.

But why should you update? Here’s a short video that gives you a taster of what to expect.

Have you updated to Symbian Anna yet? How did you update your software? Use the comments box below, to let us know.