The operating system update situation in the Android space is a bit of a mess. You might have seen some headlines about how new software updates sometimes wreck people's phones or change things in ways that they don't like.
This may lead you to wonder whether you should bother installing Android updates in the first place. Are Android updates necessary to install? Is it okay if you skip them? Find out here.
Do You Really Need to Install Android Updates?
While it's recommended to install Android updates, they are not mandatory unless you're running a very old version. Developers constantly update their apps and games, and with time, they drop support for older Android versions.
So if you avoid installing Android updates for too long, you may eventually find that some of the apps you use on a daily basis are either no longer supported or are not working properly.
Android updates also bring new features, security patches, and bug fixes to ensure your phone keeps running smoothly, so avoiding them can cause problems down the line.
Is It Safe to Install Android Updates as Soon as They're Available?
Yes, installing Android updates as soon as they are available is usually safe. However, this also depends on the manufacturer of your device because Android brands apply their own software skins on top of the operating system for differentiation.
In other words, even if the Android update itself is okay, the manufacturer may not have optimized it well with the new version of their own Android skin. This means there's some uncertainty around whether a new update will introduce bugs, like excessive battery drain or crashing apps.
This problem is unlikely to occur if you have a phone from a reputed brand like the Samsung Galaxy or Google Pixel. However, brands that target the budget and mid-range category are often accused of rolling out updates that are incomplete, don't fix existing bugs, or introduce new bugs.
If you have a phone from such a brand, it's wiser to not install Android updates as soon as available and instead keep an eye on forums and subreddits. Here, you might find people who have the same device as you and who will report any problems with the latest update. If there are some, it's best to skip the update.
Android Updates Are Helpful, but Not Mandatory
As long as you have a phone from a known brand, it's very unlikely that you'll experience any problems after installing new Android updates.
But since there are so many Android brands, such is not a luxury everyone has. Regardless of which brand your phone is from, it's best to back up all your data just in case the update does cause any unexpected problems.
FAQs
Yes, you can skip as many updates as you want to. If you eventually decide to update your phone it will either get the latest version available as a single update or as few smaller packs that will be downloaded and installed one after another.
Is it safe to use a phone without updates? ›
There should be no problems continuing to use your phone even without monthly security patches, some models never receive updates at all. However, you will need to take extra precautions regarding which websites you visit or links you click in emails etc., just the common sense things really.
Can I skip Android updates? ›
While it's possible to disable automatic updates for your phone and apps, it's not generally recommended. Here's a look at the pros and cons of using auto-updates. Your phone is more secure. With regular updates, your phone benefits from the latest security and privacy updates without any action needed from you.
Do you really need Android updates? ›
Keep your software and security up to date. It's important to keep your Android phone updated with the latest Android software for several reasons. You might be most excited about the new features, but regular updates also fix bugs and compatibility issues to optimize performance.
What happens if I don't update my Android phone? ›
Battery life could be impacted
So, not installing all software updates on your phone can impact the battery life in the long run and you could also lose certain new camera features. So, next time, when your phone receives a software update, install it immediately without any delay.
How long can a phone go without updates? ›
At the time of writing, Google promises Android updates for its Pixel phones for at least three years. For flagship Samsung Galaxy phones, the software update guarantee is for four years, and for the latest Fairphone 5, it's five years. Pixel phones are covered for three years of software updates.
What to do if you don't want to update your phone? ›
2> Disable Automatic Updates: * Go to Settings > Software Update (or System Updates). * Look for options related to automatic updates and turn them off.
What are the disadvantages of updating Android? ›
What could go wrong
- Nuisances. On many manufacturers' devices, alerts about new updates appear in the notification drawer and remain stuck there. ...
- Eating up phone space. ...
- Post-update bugs. ...
- Loss of data or functionality. ...
- Vulnerabilities. ...
- Bugs. ...
- Compatibility. ...
- Use only official sources.
Get the latest Android updates available for you
- Open your device's Settings app.
- Tap System. Software update.
- You'll find your update status. Follow any steps on the screen.
Software updates not only bring new features but also include important security patches. These patches protect your smartphone from malicious software and vulnerabilities that could jeopardize your data and privacy.
Delaying the latest software update puts phone users at greater risk of personal information being hacked. Once a new OS software update is available, installing it on a device should never occur any later than a few days to a week after release, say cybersecurity experts.
What are the risks of not updating your phone? ›
Without updates, your phone will no longer receive fixes for newly discovered vulnerabilities. Over time, hackers may figure out ways to exploit older unpatched software. So your phone is more at risk of malware, hackers, etc.
Will my phone slow down if I don't update it? ›
Your phone's operating system is outdated
Operating system updates often provide fixes for issues or bugs that might be slowing down your phone, as well as improve the phone's processing functions to get it working faster. FYI, putting off device updates can also shorten the life of your phone.
Can you use a phone that no longer gets updates? ›
Without updates, your phone will no longer receive fixes for newly discovered vulnerabilities. Over time, hackers may figure out ways to exploit older unpatched software. So your phone is more at risk of malware, hackers, etc. compared to phones still receiving updates.
Is it necessary to update my phone? ›
New features gained through updates improve the phone's stability and usability. However, the most important reason to update your phone is that this practice can constantly enhance your phone's security features and help keep you safe from cybercriminals and viruses.
Is it OK not to update phone software? ›
There are basically two reasons for updating. One is to add or improve features. The other is to fix security issues. If you don't update you won't get the improvements or new features, but your phone will still work as it always did.
Is it safe to use an unsupported iPhone? ›
Not having a fully up-to-date iOS version means that your iPhone could be compromised by simply browsing to a hacked or malicious site, or even when you view a malicious email with embedded rich Web content.
