No software update option? "stuck" on Android 11 - Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra Questions & Answers

I bought my Note 20 Ultra when I still was using my iPhone as my main phone (I'm on AT&T) I switched to the Note last year and never really noticed it has *never* updated at all.
Just bought a Galaxy Tab S8 and realized the Note has not updated since Aug 2021.
I have been trying to figure out how to update the phone for about 2 weeks now, there is no option to check for an update at all. There is however a "Software Update" under the Battery and Device care option in settings.. but pressing it does nothing.
I went to AT&T last week and they are completely stumped. The guy helping me has the exact same phone and he has the update option where it should be and is running the latest Android 12 that AT&T pushed out. He gave me a 1-800 number to call for "advanced" support but i know they will say wipe the phone as their first "fix" and i'd rather not do that yet.
He checked my account, all my settings on their end and in my phone and has no clue whats going on.
Has anyone come across this? any ideas how to force an update?
I did download the Smart switch app for my computer from Samsung to check for an update (read that it can check for updates) and nothing.

12 is worse than 11; many that tried 12 rolled back to 11. Leave it on 11 and be happy.
This N10+ is still running on Pie. It runs like a bat out of hell. Security is not an issue. Current load will be 3 yo in June, still fast, stable with minimal maintenance. Good as it gets.
Rule#1- if the firmware is fast, stable and fulfilling its mission... let it be!!!

Related

First time setup question

So, I picked up a new unlocked 4a from BestBuy today. Before I set it up, I want to know if I should let the phone upgrade to Android 11 or try to keep it on 10? I know there have been some problems with 11. What's the opinion on this?
woody1 said:
So, I picked up a new unlocked 4a from BestBuy today. Before I set it up, I want to know if I should let the phone upgrade to Android 11 or try to keep it on 10? I know there have been some problems with 11. What's the opinion on this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My opinion is to wait for the November or December update and then upgrade to Android 11.
I'm still on Android 10
woody1 said:
So, I picked up a new unlocked 4a from BestBuy today. Before I set it up, I want to know if I should let the phone upgrade to Android 11 or try to keep it on 10? I know there have been some problems with 11. What's the opinion on this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No issues with A11; Oct update smoothed out a few rough edges that weren't that jagged to begin with. Every update brings drama from the fringes. Gotta decide what camp you fall into.
Are there any Android Auto issues with the current version of 11? I think there were some at one point. BTW, I'm upgrading from an OG Pixel XL which is still going strong.
Weird mine came with 11 out of the box.
Limeybastard said:
Weird mine came with 11 out of the box.
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You're in the UK? I think your release date was later than other countries so that's probably why.
WAusJackBauer said:
You're in the UK? I think your release date was later than other countries so that's probably why.
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I'm based in USA although an expat. I bought mine from Best Buy today.
Just my 2 cents. I just got my 4a yesterday and it came with 10, i updated to 11 during setup. I have ZERO issues. I was actually a little worried reading stories about issues, but i don't have a single issue.
tCizler said:
Just my 2 cents. I just got my 4a yesterday and it came with 10, i updated to 11 during setup. I have ZERO issues. I was actually a little worried reading stories about issues, but i don't have a single issue.
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Of course you didn't. For every negative report there are vastly larger numbers of perfectly happy users. Widespread issues draw a huge response over multiple boards that easily stand out from run-of-the-mill grumbling.
DB126 said:
No issues with A11; Oct update smoothed out a few rough edges that weren't that jagged to begin with. Every update brings drama from the fringes. Gotta decide what camp you fall into.
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Click to collapse
Plus if you DO have problems after "use 10 for a bit, install 11" then you'll probably end up factory resetting and doing all your reinstallation, config again.
(I recall from back when i could be bothered fiddling with cyanogenmod that nobody was interested in bug reports if you did a "dirty flash" - you had to do a factory reset first as it cured all sorts of problems. i wonder if google doesn't test stuff properly and you end up in the same situation and that's why factory resetting fixes so many problems).
The devices came with 10/11 based basically of release date in your state/region you live. I for example live in Italy and I bought mine from Google directly. It arrived 8 Oct with already 11 installed and with Oct security patch. No issue here with 11, as the major part of the other people. Let's say that's generally is expected to have some problems when there is a major release come out, as with any other software piece, not only android, but generally a couple of update fix all. And it seems so with Google security patch too.
I've decided to go ahead and update to 11. I assume that the pending update is for the Oct release,, but the notification doesn't show which release it is, only that it's for v11. I don't really want to factory reset before the update. Does anybody think it's a good idea to do a reset first?
woody1 said:
I've decided to go ahead and update to 11. I assume that the pending update is for the Oct release,, but the notification doesn't show which release it is, only that it's for v11. I don't really want to factory reset before the update. Does anybody think it's a good idea to do a reset first?
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Click to collapse
On Android 11 because phone shipped with it .
Should be no need to reset first.
No touch screen issues with Spigen protector.
Android auto works fine with the assistant lagging from time to time. However that could have been due to poor service....
woody1 said:
I've decided to go ahead and update to 11. I assume that the pending update is for the Oct release,, but the notification doesn't show which release it is, only that it's for v11. I don't really want to factory reset before the update. Does anybody think it's a good idea to do a reset first?
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Click to collapse
It's best to factory reset AFTER updating.
Also I'm fairly sure by now every region would have the October security update.
I did the update this afternoon. The update was for the September release, but then there was a 2nd update which brought it up to October. The phone seems to be running well after the updates. It seems a little zippier than before.

Some questions regarding a US version unlocked Note 10

I just received 2 SM-970U1 version Note 10's (BNIB) and banging my head against a wall trying to get these to work properly.
Issue 1 I had with both phones as soon as I started the setup process both phones started throwing errors with app related issues (Google music, Samsung pay, some others) and just looping and looping when trying to finalize setup. Eventually with enough reboots you can get it to finish setup. This was done with T-mobile SIM cards inserted. That unfortunately isn't the end of the crashing and looping of something went wrong, try again. Even if I force stop any apps out pops up and uninstall, or attempt to uninstall it still just errors to the point that the only way to actually get into the phone is force a reboot or I've found if I pull down the drop down menu I can then get into settings. Has anyone experienced this and WTF do I do about it?
Issue 2 this may be a knowledge issue though I thought I had an understanding of unlocked phones. Initial version of Android was 9 security update at I think it was October or November 2019. It installed updates until Android 10 April 2020 and then said that's it no more updates available. And this it where I might be wrong but I thought the unlocked part just meant the phone wasn't tied to a specific carrier but was entitled to all updates available for that model from the carrier being used. If I'm incorrect on that then how the hell does a flagship phone only get 7 months of updates from its release date?!? And where did those initial updates come from? Do I have to manually, with Odin, install any updates that are available?!?
3 After factory resetting 1 of the Note 10's and going through setup without a SIM card it appears to be working without crashing, even with my SIM it seems to be working but again no updates beyond April 2020. Why would a fresh from the box phone not work but factory resetting to what I thought was the exact same configuration work?
Anyone?

New update on Moto g stylus

I just got an update on my motog stylus and haven't heard or seen anything about it. Was wondering if anyone knew about,
RPRS31.Q1-56-9-7 this is the updated version of my phone now. Any word or advise would be GREATLY APPRECIATED!! Is it just the security thing or just moving to Api 31?
My security Update is June 1, 2021.
JYrocks247 said:
I just got an update on my motog stylus and haven't heard or seen anything about it. Was wondering if anyone knew about,
RPRS31.Q1-56-9-7 this is the updated version of my phone now. Any word or advise would be GREATLY APPRECIATED!! Is it just the security thing or just moving to Api 31?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just received the update as well. I'm installing now, going to re-root with magisk after update reboot.
I am currently looking at the a 21.40MB update called, rprs31.q1-56-9-7, that says 0 of 6, and supposedly includes Android security patches from August 1, 2021. I currently have it paused at 0% and is waiting for WiFi, despite having an unlimited data package, because I don't trust that it is what it claims. What network are you on? I am on Metro by TMobile. I googled the update version and first hit back was a verizon.com link, that apparently means this is their update, and if so, why the hell is it trying to force it's was onto my phone. (Backstory about my paranoia and anger, the past 6 weeks of my life have been nearly entirely consumed by phone crap, and 10 devices, including one Chromebook, and 9 phones, 3 of which I purchased brand new during this time, have all been infected with some sort of remote spyware hack, and I cannot get rid of the thing and have yet to be able to use any devices that doesn't quickly show signs it is also infected. It's a ****ing nightmare.) But yeah, I know my phone is hacked, and I have that on mine, and I am not a member of the provider that is claiming to be responsible for the update, so I'm disallowing it. If I were you I would freak the **** out right about now and see if you can remove it. Trust me that you don't want to end up where I'm at. Good luck.

Question How do I update rooted LE2115?

I got the phone just over a month ago and it's on build 11.2.4.4.LE25AA and rooted. The phone, and Google, keep wanting me to update but when I press Download and Install, it downloads 11.2.10.10.LE25AAA but then says "Installation problem." Do I need to unroot it first? I have never had to do this with any other OP phone.
When I first got it I installed android 12 and tried to root using, I assume, a method or image which only worked for 11 and bricked it. Got it restored and back to 11, since I would rather have a rooted phone on 11 than a non-rooted one on 12. Since restoring it was such a pita, I don't want to make the mistake again.
BTW, for anyone using android 12 - Can you disable swiping from the sides of the bottom to activate google assistant? I think google or oneplus promised that in 12. I absolutely hate swiping from the sides of the phone to go back in gesture navigation and want the old method back (which can be done with third party apps if I deactivate the stupid google bottom swipe.) If I can't get this ability, I don't care if I ever update to 12.
I hear ya, this is the most frustrating thing ever. I had a fully OEM phone, until one morning in January, I got an offer to update to 12. The update completely ruined my phone, made it unusable for work. I waited, patiently, until Saturday morning, literally 2.5 months later, when I finally got offered an update. Well, the update didn't fix the issue and in fact, made problems worse. Now my camera didn't work. Desperate, I tried going back to 11, using the insanity of instructions/tutorials on this web site, and ended up with a bricked the phone. After two full days, I've got a working phone again, running OS 11. However, now I cannot receive any updates, without them failing at 25%. I really don't have any solutions for you. OnePlus is straight garbage now. Android is straight garbage. By the time this is over, I might be back in Apple's walled garden. At least over there they make beautiful brick walls that you don't get to escape.
I got mine rooted to A12 without any issues. Unfortunate you guys having issues. I actually like the feature to swipe from the bottom corner to activate Google Assistance but not sure where to turn that off. The AOSP rom I got on my OP 5 has an option to enable/disable this feature. Can't find it on OSS 12 though.

Question Has anyone with an unlocked A53 5G (in the US) received the Android 13 update?

Just as the subject mentions. Curious if it's just me?
Nada. No update. And when I mentioned this on their forum, they deleted the post.
I even tried the thing where you remove the SIM and search for updates then. Didn't make any difference.
Searching with Sammoblie and Frija, only the carrier version(A536U) from Xfinity/Comcast has gotten it in the US.
I don't have it either, what bothers me most is that 13 was released for older A phones including lower priced models already. Is it possible that because this is an enterprise phone (at least in the USA) it requires more time for testing?
pj1980 said:
I don't have it either, what bothers me most is that 13 was released for older A phones including lower priced models already. Is it possible that because this is an enterprise phone (at least in the USA) it requires more time for testing?
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What bothers me was how quickly Samsung deleted my post on their forum after I asked about this.
It's been like 6 weeks since the same phone in other countries was given this. It's quite annoying.
snark.shark said:
What bothers me was how quickly Samsung deleted my post on their forum after I asked about this.
It's been like 6 weeks since the same phone in other countries was given this. It's quite annoying.
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Samsung's discussions has a sticky at the top that updates happen whenever (edit: or at least it did before). And that's definitely how it goes for all their devices.
Even Samsung flagships go through silly stuff for updates and Android versions so its not A53 only.
The A53 unlocked has carrier apps on it so its tied to the carrier testing. Why will US carriers release Android 13 for older devices before newer? No idea but that's how their testing is going. They have some reason.
Really, you will get it when you get it. If you just think it won't show up until the year 2721 then it should be easier for you lol.
Its frustrating I know for unlocked to be dependent on carriers. But, waiting, it will at least probably have less bugs so that's fine enough. A buggy device isn't fun at all.
edit: Also A52 appear to be doing better than the A53 in getting Android 13 and listed as Enterprise. So, I don't think Enterprise has anything to do with it.
edit: The end result appears to be what Samsung's sticky said which is updates happen when they happen.
Samsung promised 4 years of updates for this phone so they have about 3 more years to give us android 13.
tmeader said:
Just as the subject mentions. Curious if it's just me?
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Click to collapse
3 Days ago, my phone suddenly shut itself off, and then stuck itself in a bootloop and would not boot again. It's a Samsung A53 5G (ATT&T) running android 12 one UI version 4.1 at the time. After booting into safe mode and wiping application config data, it still would not come out of safe mode until I factory reset it and connected it to a wifi network.
Finally after all of this BS, I got it to boot normally, but then, as if by magic, my phone was running Android 13 UI Version 5.0!
WTF!?
So I spent an entire day recovering my bank accounts, cashapp, applications, and various accounts, and chalked this pain in the ass up to the game...
And then this morning, it ****in' happened again.
I'm done with Samsung. This phone has been a $500 piece of **** since day 1. It's not even 3 months old yet. Samsung has gone from the most badass manufacturer of android devices, straight to the bottom of the abyss in terms of quality.
The Bloatware they send with these devices now should be unlawful. The amount of YOUR resources they use to track every single thing you do, every place you go, every dollar you spend is unfathomably creepy and discomforting.
Do yourself a favor and get comfortable with 12. because 13 is an even bigger piece of ****, and in my case, it has totally wrecked my phone twice in 3 days now.
Do yourself an even bigger favor, and throw your samsung into the bottom of the ocean and go buy yourself an IPhone. I'm really sad about the way Samsung has turned out. I'm even more sad about the way Android has gone down the drain. And Google has turned into the world's most powerful creepy stalker with Facebook a close 2nd.
I think if people actually new just how intrusive these tech companies have become, they'd stop using them altogether. There needs to be new and better privacy regulations and trackers and spywares and metadata miners and these 'ad targeting' programs and applications should be illegal.
ImMrMyagiLafAtMe said:
3 Days ago, my phone suddenly shut itself off, and then stuck itself in a bootloop and would not boot again. It's a Samsung A53 5G (ATT&T) running android 12 one UI version 4.1 at the time. After booting into safe mode and wiping application config data, it still would not come out of safe mode until I factory reset it and connected it to a wifi network.
Finally after all of this BS, I got it to boot normally, but then, as if by magic, my phone was running Android 13 UI Version 5.0!
WTF!?
So I spent an entire day recovering my bank accounts, cashapp, applications, and various accounts, and chalked this pain in the ass up to the game...
And then this morning, it ****in' happened again.
I'm done with Samsung. This phone has been a $500 piece of **** since day 1. It's not even 3 months old yet. Samsung has gone from the most badass manufacturer of android devices, straight to the bottom of the abyss in terms of quality.
The Bloatware they send with these devices now should be unlawful. The amount of YOUR resources they use to track every single thing you do, every place you go, every dollar you spend is unfathomably creepy and discomforting.
Do yourself a favor and get comfortable with 12. because 13 is an even bigger piece of ****, and in my case, it has totally wrecked my phone twice in 3 days now.
Do yourself an even bigger favor, and throw your samsung into the bottom of the ocean and go buy yourself an IPhone. I'm really sad about the way Samsung has turned out. I'm even more sad about the way Android has gone down the drain. And Google has turned into the world's most powerful creepy stalker with Facebook a close 2nd.
I think if people actually new just how intrusive these tech companies have become, they'd stop using them altogether. There needs to be new and better privacy regulations and trackers and spywares and metadata miners and these 'ad targeting' programs and applications should be illegal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's not the experience of most people. Since you bring up Apple as if that will help you avoid this when it can happen there too: https://myphotoyear.com/ios-16-update-goes-wrong/
Its just a fact of life.
More or less it could be improved or solved by multi-OS versions at the same time (such as dual boot on a computer), slower major OS versions, etc. This is not how Google or Apple thinks though.
To add, you can of course improve loss of data by using system backup and also backing up your stuff separately. Though Android still isn't perfect there.
Of course, if you see an update, avoiding updating for some months might also help though not ideal.
edit: For instance you could have used the Samsung restore which may be presented on first use setup or even manually done in Settings > Accounts and Backups > Restore which will restore much if you used the online backup or backup to sd card. Some apps and data will be missing if apps don't support it, etc. Unfortunately, it seems to only offer one backup at least online so any backup on the account since might have destroyed it.
edit: using that and backing up to sd card includes 10GB of stuff on my phone whereas the online is suggested as 2GB (it backs up files and also eg debug built from source apps). So, if you want the best, it may be what you should do from now on. Then restore it if need be. Still, up to apps to support backup individually. Make sure to run it weekly or something.
Also, I know you're pissed about that. Try not to be pissed with me lol. Thanks.
I'm thinking we're in for weeks, or months, more wait. We haven't even gotten a January Security Update.
Just received the Android 13 (One UI 5.0) update last night on my unlocked phone. Also includes the Jan 2023 security update. Looks like they just made the January cutoff
Hmm I have unlocked a53 on t mobile, I checked for updates today and it said there were none.
I received the update today for Android 13 including dual sim support.
I been checking my A53 unlocked running on Visible every week since Christmas for an update. Today it found the Android 13 UI 5.0 update. downloading it now.
How is the new version? any bugs found?
ok, once my phone updated and rebooted now I am no longer connecting to 5G. I've rebooted a few times and nothing has changed. I'm stuck back on 4G.
tmeader said:
Just received the Android 13 (One UI 5.0) update last night on my unlocked phone. Also includes the Jan 2023 security update. Looks like they just made the January cutoff
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5 days after your post (6 since you got the update), with daily checking, and it's still a No for me.
My A53 arrived this morning and upon turning it on, my device had a lot of firmware updates waiting for me. I just updated to Android 13 not too ago along with January's Security patch.
I happen to live in the US, use T-Mobile, and I'm using the international version with dual SIM support.
snark.shark said:
5 days after your post (6 since you got the update), with daily checking, and it's still a No for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Another 3 days...
Still no Android 13 update.
I may wind up going to the Samsung service location in my area. This is ridiculous.
snark.shark said:
Another 3 days...
Still no Android 13 update.
I may wind up going to the Samsung service location in my area. This is ridiculous.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They do rollouts on top of things.
You could of course use a sim from a different carrier that has the upgrade available and do it that way. Might just get it immediately or still not. Then switch back. That is a possible workaround.
Of course, if you see a signed image for download for Android 13 for your carrier. That might work too even though it still is a wait for it to show up that way.
I don't know if there's any other way here because of the CSC. It would be interesting to know if a Samsung service shop would do it for you. I can't imagine they would.
Received the update today. Seems to run faster.

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