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Contactless Scanning & Updating/Upgrading Android OS on Motorola Zebra TC20/TC51 Android Devices

Daniel Gomez
$organization

Hi Folks --

We just implemented the N-Scan contactless App and, as you may have seen on the forums, Motorola Zebra TCxx Android Devices have lots of scan issues (after a few scans, the scanner will just shut off) if you're running on an old build / OS or the original factory build / OS that came with the device.

Zebra's Knowledgebase does *not* make it easy to figure out how to upgrade or update the device to the latest build, so the team at Arsht put together a guide in the hopes that it saves everyone a few hours cobbling together how to figure out how to upgrade your device.

  1. On the device, check to see if apps such as YouTube, Play Store, Chrome, Drive, etc. are installed or available.  If they *are* then you have a “GMS” build (our TC20 devices were GMS).  If they are not, then you have a “Non-GMS” build (and they were *not* installed on our TC51 device, which was Non-GMS).
  2. On the device, open up Settings > scroll all the way down to the bottom of the menu and select “About phone”
    • Under “Android version” note whether you are on Marshmallow (v6.x), Nougat (v7.x), or Oreo (v8.x)
    • Under “Build number” note the first three sets of digits (e.g. “01-01-49”)
  3. Open the appropriate link below depending on which build you determined is installed on your TCXX Device from Step 1.
  4. On the appropriate Download Page, expand the section corresponding to the “Android version” you noted in Step 2 (Marshmallow / v6.x, Nougat / v7.x, or Oreo v8.x).
  5. Within the appropriate Operating System section, find the section corresponding to the “Build number” you noted in Step 2.  Download the latest LifeGuard Update in that section for the “Build number” version.
    • *Important note: upgrades between base versions is even more difficult and requires installing the Full Image and then the latest LifeGuard update in sequence.  It may also require a factory reset – I haven’t yet been able to test that.
  6. The easiest way to apply the update that we’ve found is by using the Zebra StageNow app.  Happy to walk that through with anyone if they’d like or to record a video of us doing it.  Below is the knowledgebase article for setting up an Incremental OS Update StageNow profile.  Note that you’ll need to permit the app to use port 21 (FTP) in Windows Firewall on all profiles if you have that enabled.

If you have any questions about how to use StageNow, I'd be happy to help out!

Best,

DGomez

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  • $organization

    Hi Folks --

    For our initial foray into contactless scanning with our first live performance, we had upgraded our TC20 devices to the latest LifeGuard version available for Android Nougat (7.x).  We experienced some issues with scans going through slowly and with the N-Scan contactless app locking up on a green / successful screen.

    Tonight, as we're scanning tickets for our second live performance, we went ahead and upgraded to the latest LifeGuard version for the most recent BSP for Android Oreo (8.x), and it so far appears to have solved those issues.  Scanning is quick and we've had no lock-ups or issues with the N-Scan contactless app.

    I now recommend that you upgrade to Android Oreo (8.x; or the latest Android version for your device), which requires installing the base Full image first, then upgrade to the latest LifeGuard update for that BSP.

    DGomez

  • $organization in reply to Daniel Gomez

    Thanks for this! Am I understanding your notes correctly that if I'm already on Oreo (8.x) then I just need the LifeGuard update but that it's not as simple as downloading it onto the device? I'll need to get the StageNow app all set up first?

  • $organization in reply to Madeline Dummerth (Past Member)

    Greetings, Madeline!  That's right -- it looks like future versions may introduce over-the-air updates for Zebra devices, but at the moment, there are only two methods for updating your device as far as I know -- one is to use StageNow; the other is to use the Android command-line utility "adb" to "sideload" the package.  StageNow is *way* easier, in my experience, but both are viable.  Happy to help walk you through it if you'd like!

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  • $organization in reply to Madeline Dummerth (Past Member)

    Greetings, Madeline!  That's right -- it looks like future versions may introduce over-the-air updates for Zebra devices, but at the moment, there are only two methods for updating your device as far as I know -- one is to use StageNow; the other is to use the Android command-line utility "adb" to "sideload" the package.  StageNow is *way* easier, in my experience, but both are viable.  Happy to help walk you through it if you'd like!

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