Android is deceiving you: Is the system really up to date?
If Android indicates that it’s up to date, you should double-check. There are hidden system updates that hardly anyone is aware of.
Mobile phone software updates: Some find them annoying and deliberately delay installing them, while others regularly check whether new updates are available.
Anyone who wants to stay up to date should pay close attention: Android not only has the usual system updates but also a second, lesser-known type: Google Play system updates. These are released every month, independent of the system-wide Android updates.
Not all system updates are created equal.
So, if your Android device tells you it’s “up to date”, that’s often only part of the truth – the Google Play system update is often out of date and needs to be installed manually.
These additional updates are largely ignored. Google doesn’t notify users when a new Play system update is available – instead, they install themselves upon device restart. The problem is, very few people restart their devices regularly. As a result, many smartphones and tablets run for months with outdated Play system components.
While many users are completely unaware of the existence of Play system updates, others are confused by two separate update menus in the Android settings.
Previously, on Pixel smartphones, only Android system updates were available under “Settings > System > Software updates”, while Play system updates were hidden under “Settings > Security & Privacy”.
With Android 16, Google has at least combined both system update types into a single menu, which now seems more intuitive. However, depending on the manufacturer, the option may be found in entirely different areas of the settings.
Why are there two different system updates?
General Android system updates are provided by the respective smartphone manufacturers, which often happen significantly later, sometimes several months after Google’s official rollout date, depending on the company.
In 2019, as part of “Project Mainline,” Google outsourced parts of the Android system to deliver updates faster and independently of smartphone manufacturers. Through Play system updates, Google can thus provide new features and security improvements more quickly – without being hampered by manufacturers’ update cycles. It therefore seems all the more unusual that Google doesn’t notify users more actively about new Play system updates.
0 Response to "Android is deceiving you: Is the system really up to date?"
Post a Comment