Home > News > UPDATED: Nokia N97 Firmware Update v20 is here!
UPDATED: Nokia N97 Firmware Update v20 is here!
By Mike Browne on October 27,
 2009 at 00:00,

Nokia N97 firmware v20 updateWe've just been informed that the Nokia N97 Firmware Update v20 is here and has started being piped out to devices around the world.The update promises to solve a whole host of minor bugs and bring with it a new interface design. Join us after the break for details on the Nokia N97 Firmware V20 update...

Just when we thought it would never appear, it seems the Nokia N97 Firmware Update v20 is here and starting to roll out. The first news of the update appeared on the dailymobile.se site which has an ever growing number of comments posted - almost all of them beamingly positive about the upgrade.

UPDATED: We just managed to get onto the site and there seems to be good news and bad news.The good news is that the software contains a number of major improvements:

* Improved touch screen scrolling

* Ovi Maps 3.1 with 3–D maps

* Nokia e-mail, Ovi Contacts, Ovi Store

* Improved memory and battery performance

* Improved image and video stability

Now, the bad news for  those of us in the UK is that the initial batch numbers for this update don't work with UK devices. It looks like I won't be rushing home after all! So, the question is - when will the Nokia N97 Firmware Update v20 truly start to appear in the UK?

There has now been an official posting on the Nokia Software Updater so we're hoping that we'll be able to update our device after all. If anyone in the UK has managed to get the update please let us know in the Comments below.

Tags: firmware update N97 Nokia v20
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  • Enasharples

    Not Yet

    nokia site invites you to put in a code.

    Latest available software for Nokia N97, product code 0587240
    Version: 11.0.021

    is the response

    but phone shows 12.0.026

    there’s a thing {:-{

  • john mortimer

    time to change the code on your phone then, not hard

  • leigh

    I sometimes wonder to myself why i ever bought a Nokia N97 and this just tops it all off! I can understand that developing software isnt an easy task but at the minute it seems alot of phone manufacturers with less experience than nokia are getting there software to work pretty fast. I put my faith in Nokia and know that eventually they will bring out a phone that will be on par if not better with other phones in the smartphone catergory, but how many loyal customers will they have left to purchase this phone that is the question! I am not holding my breath over this firmware update due to the fact that it will not solve issues which are unsolvable i.e the overall layout of the software, the 3rd party apps which are pathetic and the fact that symbian just dont have what it takes to compete with windows…android and osx! i would like to meet the person that okay’d the symbian 5th edition software just so i could put a face to the biggest mistake nokia have ever made and proberbly the reason there smartphone market share has dropped 8%…RANT OVER

  • Stefan

    YES IS HERE!!! :) IS available for my n97 sim free (uk)

  • http://www.s1te.net David

    Nothing here showing up in the device SW updater

  • Simon P

    Got it here !! I’m in the UK, SIM Free N97
    I downloaded the SW update tool from the Nokia UK website and did it via the PC

    Seemed to update fine…..lets see what this baby’s got !

  • Speedbird800

    Simon P what Product code has yoru device got. I\’ve got a Sim Free N97 purchased directly from nokia\’s Flagship store on regents street and I can\’t update

  • Stefan

    Yes you can update via PC not via mobile.
    Kinetic scrolling, gallery seems to be fixed, can zoom in and out without closing down, little bit of free memory added, but….thats it.
    No large keypad on display or skype or something interesting…
    Im glad about better stability in gallery, but….cannot see much differences ……

  • Bilgeboy

    all installed fine, passed over my ms exchange server settings after backup which I thought wouldnt happen. kinetic scrolling is OK, but it isnt enabled when you are inside an email, whick is a bit annoying. it’ll fast scroll OK but slow scrolling is a bit dodgy, but I think this is the touch sensitive screen sensitivity more than anything. doesnt seem to have solved the keylock slider issue ( it still gets confused on first operation ) and is still a littly clunky getting around apps. I have had a couple of call drop outs, but that could have been a the bluetooth as i was in the car at the time. Ive not had this problem before.

    If you we expecting this update to alleviate all your grievences with this phone, you will be dissapointed.

    I am going to go out on a limb and say that it is a lot of things in one small device, and our expectations for these devices to do it all seamlessly is a bit of an ask for the technology.

  • Enasharples

    Still nothing on sim free n97 direct nokia uk

    and john M if you could tell me how to change code i would be a happy peeps

  • Simon P

    My product code is 0570817
    It\’s the RM – 505 EMEA Europe code.

    I agree with the guys above…not huuuuge changes.

    Kinetic scrolling is ok, but nothing to wet your pants over ;-)

    Hopefully it\’ll be more stable, time will tell !

  • Stefan

    It seems to be more stable but really, not much different at all, I was thinking between This nokia and htc touch pro2…. wrong choice, but next time, surrely not going for nokia…
    :( …..

  • Pol

    Hi all,

    Using the nokia software updater but it keeps telling me that my device (RM-505) is up-to-date (showing fw 12.0.024)
    Any advice?

    thanks

  • Robin B

    Pol,
    what is your N97s product code? and what is your O/S on your pc? Vista, XP or 7?

  • Pol

    @ Robin B:

    Product code: 0585162
    OS: XP

  • Robin B

    Is this website actually letting me post????

  • Robin B

    @ Pol
    I asked for your O/S as I know from personal experience that Vista and the Nokia software updater do not always work well together but I\’ve had no problems using NSU on XP so I doupt that is your problem so that just leaves you product code,
    I have a UK sim free N97 and had to wait ages for Nokia UK to release v11 so when v12 was announced I did not want to wait that long again! so I decided to change my product code and now as soon as Nokia release a new firmware I get it :)
    You can change your product code by following my guide I posted about the v12 release
    \"\"I am a UK N97 (Product code 0585162) user and after the long wait for the last firmware update I this time decided to change the phones product code. You can now change the product code useing NSS (Nemesis Service Suite) it takes less than 5 minutes and means you won’t have to wait for Nokia UK to realese firmware 12 or any future update…PLEASE NOTE THIS PROCEDURE WILL INVALIDATE YOUR WARRANTY…

    First go to: http://kuapp.com/2009/07/02/how-to-change-product-code-on-n97-or-nokia-5800.html

    and follow the “How to” guide ( when you install NSS choose the “Vertual USB Device” option.

    IMPORTANT!
    If you have the N97 BLACK change product code to 0570817

    If you have the N97 WHITE change poduct code to 0576350

    PLEASE NOTE YOU DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK!! I AM NOT TELLING YOU TO DO THIS! ONLY THAT THIS IS AN OPTION!!
    THIS WILL ALSO DEBRAND YOUR N97!!\"\"

    or you can wait for the update to be release for your product code..

    I hope this helps, regards, Robin

  • carbon_dew

    I don’t know wat people are complaining about! V20 is the best thing that ever happened to the N97! Ok, it might not be groundbreaking… But the phone works now and it works well!

  • Pol

    Cheers Robin, much appriciated.

  • http://noknok mark

    hello n97 still cant update on orange product code0587691 software version v12.0.026 rm 505 and running vista home nokia updater just says no update avalible freaking me out any one know what problem is thanks

  • http://noknok mark

    hello again just changed my product code on n97 and updated straight away to v 20 many thanks to robin b for info i also found a web page also very helful to change product code was http://www.nokia.nigelcoldwell.co.uk/firmware.htm also you could always change your product code back with this software if you had to take it back for repairs so far v20 nice

  • Biastai

    Hi all,

    Nice one Robin. Mine updated too when I changed the product code. :-)

    Much appreciated!

    With regards to Marks comment, is it okay to change the product code back as soon as you have updated?

    B

  • http://noknok mark

    hello bitasi not yet but if i do ill let you know

  • Robin B

    No problem, glad to help :)

  • Biastai

    I spotted an issue late last night, I can\\\’t connect to my home WIFI!

    It picks up the fact that it is there, but when you try to connect it simply does nothing!

    Any ideas anyone?

    B

    Do like kinetic. :-)

  • Robin B

    First thing to try would be to switch it off and remove the battery for 30 seconds then put it back in, switch it back on and let the phone start up and do what it needs to do and then try connecting to your WIFI again.

  • Biastai

    Trying that now, but annoyingly it does not connect via 3g either. DOH!

  • Kevo

    Will this work on Vodafone UK N97s. Is it worth the risk. I hate the N97 as it is. Too slow etc etc.
    P.S. Anyones else’s buttons and keyboard surround getting tatty. Mine is and I am more disappointed with Nokia. I am a long time user of Nokia’s and this i the worst yet.

  • Robin B

    @ Kevo
    Okay so, yes the above procedure to change the product code will work for any N97 :)
    “is it worth the risk?” that is up to you, as I’ve said, you follow my post AT YOUR OWN RISK.

    …PLEASE NOTE YOU DO IT AT YOUR OWN RISK!! I AM NOT TELLING YOU TO DO THIS! ONLY THAT THIS IS AN OPTION!!
    THIS WILL ALSO DEBRAND YOUR N97 AND WILL INVALIDATE YOUR WARRANTY…

    All I will say is that I have changed the product code on my N97 and installed the latest firmware and have had no problems at all and I am very happy with it :)

    As for the keyboard surround getting tatty, I can’t say I have that problem :s

  • Biastai

    I managed to log on to the network min Uni, but not at home or the 3 network. Bummer, mean mobile internet is of for the forseable.

    The silver surround on 97 is also a bit tatty, but I am heavy on my phones.

  • freewheelin bob

    just got update……………….. get it via pc as device dosnt recognise there is an update…………….. works ok much better than original

  • Robin B

    @ Biastai
    Try checking your connections, go to: menu> settings> connectivity> destinations and see whats listed in “internet”, you may need to reconfigure your access points.

  • http://www.s1te.net David

    Just got the update, nice to see a speed inprovement throughout…
    now its time to sort the apps out in the Ovi store and Nokia will almost be there!

  • jonna2003

    Hi i have the 97 on the 3 network uk bit of a noob when it comes to phones will i be able to use this update for firmware without it messing my 3 software about???if you get me drift bit concerned about it as most people seem to have sim free

  • minhaj

    @ Robin B

    i have n97 on 3 network (pay as you go) and the latest version it shows is v11…i want to update it the latest version v20 but i cant because of 3restriction…anyway iz there any other way i can update my phone rather than the debranding system which will disvalidate my two year international warrenty…i sinceryly dont want to loose the warrenty as i alredy had to sent my phone twice away for repair and both of the time they couldnt repaired it and therefore sent me a new replacement handsets…please HELP, THANK YOU IN ADVANCE,,,

  • http://www.patrickmays.co.uk Patrick

    ahhh what a lovely christmas present – you still suck in my eyes though nokia, I’d loved my n95 8gb so much and you let me down so badly with the n97 – a step in the right direction though :)

  • tropicana_king

    hi

    question about updating to v20

    i already finished downloading the software. but the problem was everytime its installing i always got the failed. always lost the connection of usb..
    my current version is v12.0.026 rm 505 and im going to update it to v20 my o/s is vista.

    can someone help me regarding this matter?
    thanks in advance

  • Aaron

    …I’m down in Australia, on Vodafone, and when I did it OTA it said “Oh, update failed because it is not supported by your service provider”

    So I had a laugh at that and prompty flashed it with JAF.

    BUT

    now I don’t have Vodafone destinations for the internet, at all, after numerous “Settings Wizards” and even the settings sent from the Vodafone website. Now, I don’t really care as Wifi still works, it still makes calls, sends txts and gets picture messages, it just doesn’t have the VF Internet Destination for on the go internet.

    I’m guessing, as Vodafone is fairly trendy in the UK too, that they might make a special Vodafone version, which I will promptly flash again with JAF as its fairly inconvenient not being able to check anything unless theres Wifi nearby