Samsung continues Google updates for Galaxy devices
After a month-long break, Samsung is finally distributing Google Play system updates to Galaxy smartphones again. The update brings important fixes and new functions directly to the devices, but requires patience from users due to the staggered distribution.
End of update break for Galaxy devices
After Samsung confirmed the stop of Google Play updates for Galaxy smartphones in December 2025, the manufacturer is resuming distribution for a wide range of current Galaxy models. Owners of devices from the brand new Galaxy S25 series, the Galaxy S24 series as well as the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy A55 5G are consistently reporting the receipt of new data packages.
These updates are installed in the background via the Google Play Store infrastructure and not as a classic firmware update. They are essential for the security and functionality of the Android operating system because they bring basic system components up to date regardless of the device manufacturer.
Gradual rollout
Distribution will not be resumed simultaneously for all users worldwide, but rather in staggered waves. While some users already have access to the update as of January 2026, other devices will initially remain on older versions such as November or even August 2025. If you have not yet received an automatic notification, you can initiate the process manually. The path leads to the “Updates” submenu in the settings via the “Security and data protection” menu item.
There you can force a check under “Google Play system update”, although it is often necessary to restart the device to complete the installation. How SamMobile reported, the update landed on a Galaxy S23, for example, with a file size of around 90 megabytes. According to the report, the update includes improvements to Android WebView, account management, and Google Wallet. The long standstill caused dissatisfaction among many users, as Google delivers critical module updates via this channel.
Conflict avoidance
The reason for the break of several months was of a technical nature. Samsung had indicated in the past that it would be able to temporarily stop delivery in order to avoid conflicts with new hardware launches and One UI versions developed in parallel. Since the Google Play system updates replace profound components such as the permission controller, network stacks or media codecs, a simultaneous change to Samsung’s own interface can lead to instabilities.
By freezing this update stream, the Koreans wanted to minimize the susceptibility to errors. The community is currently focusing on the next big software leaps. Samsung has been working on One UI 8.5, which is based on Android 16, for a while now. Internal tests had already begun at the end of 2025. The Play System update pipeline, which is now functioning again, ensures that the basic components of the operating system remain up to date and that security gaps in system modules can be closed promptly without having to wait for a major firmware update.
