Samsung A36
Android 15
UI 7.0

Seems to be stuck in a repeating software (OS) update. The phone came
with UI 7.0 and Android 15. Brand new phone. This was the first day it
was powered up, and went through the SIM card activation.

Later a notification said there was a software update which, I guess,
means an OS update. It updated to UI 8.0 and Android 16. However, when
I finally got back to the Home screen, a notification says "finishing
previous update ...". Eventually that goes away after many minutes, but
soon I get another notification about a software update, and the whole
update begins anew: "Your phone has been updated ...", "Software update
- Your phone has been updated - OK", tap on OK, get notified of an
software update, tap OK, shows percentage downloaded, and then
percentage verified, restarts the phone, and after getting back to the
Home screen a notification shows "finishing previous update ...", and
the whole process repeats again.

It's been a few minutes of not seeing the "Software update", so maybe it finally stablized. I think it went through 3 restarts, but I was busy
and probably lost count. How many times does the phone cycle through
this update process before it finally completes?

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.2
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 19.01.26 04:57, VanguardLH wrote:

Samsung A36
Android 15
UI 7.0

Seems to be stuck in a repeating software (OS) update. The phone came
with UI 7.0 and Android 15. Brand new phone. This was the first day it
was powered up, and went through the SIM card activation.

Later a notification said there was a software update which, I guess,
means an OS update. It updated to UI 8.0 and Android 16. However, when
I finally got back to the Home screen, a notification says "finishing previous update ...". Eventually that goes away after many minutes, but
soon I get another notification about a software update, and the whole
update begins anew: "Your phone has been updated ...", "Software update
- Your phone has been updated - OK", tap on OK, get notified of an
software update, tap OK, shows percentage downloaded, and then
percentage verified, restarts the phone, and after getting back to the
Home screen a notification shows "finishing previous update ...", and
the whole process repeats again.

It's been a few minutes of not seeing the "Software update", so maybe it finally stablized. I think it went through 3 restarts, but I was busy
and probably lost count. How many times does the phone cycle through
this update process before it finally completes?

Once.

--
"Ave! Morituri te salutant!"

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.2
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 19.01.26 08:05, J”rg Lorenz wrote:

On 19.01.26 04:57, VanguardLH wrote:

It's been a few minutes of not seeing the "Software update", so maybe it
finally stablized. I think it went through 3 restarts, but I was busy
and probably lost count. How many times does the phone cycle through
this update process before it finally completes?

Once.

Android is not Windows. The kernel is Linux.


--
"Ave! Morituri te salutant!"

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.2
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

VanguardLH <V@nguard.lh> wrote:

Samsung A36
Android 15
UI 7.0

Seems to be stuck in a repeating software (OS) update. The phone came
with UI 7.0 and Android 15. Brand new phone. This was the first day it
was powered up, and went through the SIM card activation.

Later a notification said there was a software update which, I guess,
means an OS update. It updated to UI 8.0 and Android 16. However, when
I finally got back to the Home screen, a notification says "finishing previous update ...". Eventually that goes away after many minutes, but
soon I get another notification about a software update, and the whole
update begins anew: "Your phone has been updated ...", "Software update
- Your phone has been updated - OK", tap on OK, get notified of an
software update, tap OK, shows percentage downloaded, and then
percentage verified, restarts the phone, and after getting back to the
Home screen a notification shows "finishing previous update ...", and
the whole process repeats again.

It's been a few minutes of not seeing the "Software update", so maybe it finally stablized. I think it went through 3 restarts, but I was busy
and probably lost count. How many times does the phone cycle through
this update process before it finally completes?

There probably was a backlog of 'Software update's (which is indeed a system/OS update, not an app update or a 'Google Play system' update).

If the 'Brand new phone' came with Android 15, it was out-of-date when
you got it (I got my Android 16 update for my Samsung Galaxy A56 in
early October). So it probably did an update to Android 16 and then one
or more security updates. IIRC, security updates are not/not_always
cumulative.

Bottom line: Since we don't know which updates were offered/installed, there's no way of knowing whether the updating of your phone was normal
or not.

N.B. Before allowing the 'Software update's, I always make a (long) screenshot of the 'Software update' screen and after the update a
screenshot of the (Settings) 'Software information' screen. So I have a
record of before and after.

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.2
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> wrote:

VanguardLH <V@nguard.lh> wrote:

Samsung A36
Android 15
UI 7.0

Seems to be stuck in a repeating software (OS) update. The phone came
with UI 7.0 and Android 15. Brand new phone. This was the first day it
was powered up, and went through the SIM card activation.

Later a notification said there was a software update which, I guess,
means an OS update. It updated to UI 8.0 and Android 16. However, when
I finally got back to the Home screen, a notification says "finishing
previous update ...". Eventually that goes away after many minutes, but
soon I get another notification about a software update, and the whole
update begins anew: "Your phone has been updated ...", "Software update
- Your phone has been updated - OK", tap on OK, get notified of an
software update, tap OK, shows percentage downloaded, and then
percentage verified, restarts the phone, and after getting back to the
Home screen a notification shows "finishing previous update ...", and
the whole process repeats again.

It's been a few minutes of not seeing the "Software update", so maybe it
finally stablized. I think it went through 3 restarts, but I was busy
and probably lost count. How many times does the phone cycle through
this update process before it finally completes?

There probably was a backlog of 'Software update's (which is indeed a system/OS update, not an app update or a 'Google Play system' update).

If the 'Brand new phone' came with Android 15, it was out-of-date when
you got it (I got my Android 16 update for my Samsung Galaxy A56 in
early October). So it probably did an update to Android 16 and then one
or more security updates. IIRC, security updates are not/not_always cumulative.

Android 16 was *released* in June 2025.

Samsung Galaxy A36 was released in March 2025 -- way to close to the
Android 16 release date.

Obviously phones sitting in boxes in storage aren't going to get
updated. Takes time to deploy a new OS to in-stock phones.

Bottom line: Since we don't know which updates were offered/installed, there's no way of knowing whether the updating of your phone was normal
or not.

N.B. Before allowing the 'Software update's, I always make a (long) screenshot of the 'Software update' screen and after the update a
screenshot of the (Settings) 'Software information' screen. So I have a record of before and after.

Alas, the notification only said "Software update". When I tapped on
the notification, the expanded bubble gave no additional information.
One could've been for Android 15 to 16, the other for UI 7 to 8, but
don't know what the 3rd would be for other than some sync or cleanup
task.

I got concerned when there were 3 "Software updates", and 3 phone
restarts. I figured one would be for Android 15 to 16, and maybe the
second for UI 7 to UI 8, but a bit wary what the 3rd restart was for,
like maybe one of the other updates got interrupted.

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.2
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

VanguardLH <V@nguard.lh> wrote:

Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> wrote:

VanguardLH <V@nguard.lh> wrote:

Samsung A36
Android 15
UI 7.0

Seems to be stuck in a repeating software (OS) update. The phone came
with UI 7.0 and Android 15. Brand new phone. This was the first day it >> was powered up, and went through the SIM card activation.

Later a notification said there was a software update which, I guess,
means an OS update. It updated to UI 8.0 and Android 16. However, when >> I finally got back to the Home screen, a notification says "finishing
previous update ...". Eventually that goes away after many minutes, but >> soon I get another notification about a software update, and the whole
update begins anew: "Your phone has been updated ...", "Software update
- Your phone has been updated - OK", tap on OK, get notified of an
software update, tap OK, shows percentage downloaded, and then
percentage verified, restarts the phone, and after getting back to the
Home screen a notification shows "finishing previous update ...", and
the whole process repeats again.

It's been a few minutes of not seeing the "Software update", so maybe it >> finally stablized. I think it went through 3 restarts, but I was busy
and probably lost count. How many times does the phone cycle through
this update process before it finally completes?

There probably was a backlog of 'Software update's (which is indeed a system/OS update, not an app update or a 'Google Play system' update).

If the 'Brand new phone' came with Android 15, it was out-of-date when you got it (I got my Android 16 update for my Samsung Galaxy A56 in
early October). So it probably did an update to Android 16 and then one
or more security updates. IIRC, security updates are not/not_always cumulative.

Android 16 was *released* in June 2025.

Samsung Galaxy A36 was released in March 2025 -- way to close to the
Android 16 release date.

Obviously phones sitting in boxes in storage aren't going to get
updated. Takes time to deploy a new OS to in-stock phones.

Yes, that's what I meant with 'out-of-date'. Not blaming anybody.

BTW, release time - of the phone versus the Android version - is not
what matters, but when *your* phone was *manufactured*. If your phone
was manufactured a reasonable time after June 2025, it should have
Android 16.

Bottom line: Since we don't know which updates were offered/installed, there's no way of knowing whether the updating of your phone was normal
or not.

N.B. Before allowing the 'Software update's, I always make a (long) screenshot of the 'Software update' screen and after the update a screenshot of the (Settings) 'Software information' screen. So I have a record of before and after.

Alas, the notification only said "Software update". When I tapped on
the notification, the expanded bubble gave no additional information.

I don't mean the notification or the bubble, but the full (and long)
screen you get after that. That about two (or more) screen-lengths
'page' says something like

"Software update

Almost done! Restart your
phone to finish the update.

<details about this update>

Learn more at:
<link to release info>

<more info>

Update information
* One UI version: ...
* Android version: ...
* Version: <related to your model>
* Size: ...
* Security patch level: <month> <day, <year>
...
(Schedule restart)
(Restart now)"

The 'Update information' clearly indicates which update is what and
can be traced back to the <link to release info> webpage.

One could've been for Android 15 to 16, the other for UI 7 to 8, but
don't know what the 3rd would be for other than some sync or cleanup
task.

I got concerned when there were 3 "Software updates", and 3 phone
restarts. I figured one would be for Android 15 to 16, and maybe the
second for UI 7 to UI 8, but a bit wary what the 3rd restart was for,
like maybe one of the other updates got interrupted.

On my A56, the update from Android 15 to 16 and from One UI 7 to 8 was
one and the same update.

Bottom line: Next time you see

"(Schedule restart)
(Restart now)"

at the bottom of your screen, make a (long) screenshot, before one of
these buttons.

BTW, perhaps from this URL for my phone, you can construct the URL of
the release info page for your phone:

<https://doc.samsungmobile.com/SM-A566B/EUX/doc.html>

"SM-A566B" is (part of) the 'Model name' on the 'About phone' page.

For me, that says

"Model name SM-A566B/DS"

so apparently they only use the part before the slash. I don't know how
to determine the correct 'EUX' part, perhaps you can just pretend your
phone is also 'EUX'.

If you can't get it to work, then post your 'Model name' line and I
will try.

N.B. I have found not (read: searched for) a page where you can search
on phone model name. Just using <https://doc.samsungmobile.com/> gives 'Forbidden' (403).

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.2
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 2026-01-20 20:08, Frank Slootweg wrote:

VanguardLH <V@nguard.lh> wrote:

Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> wrote:

...

Android 16 was *released* in June 2025.

Samsung Galaxy A36 was released in March 2025 -- way to close to the
Android 16 release date.

Obviously phones sitting in boxes in storage aren't going to get
updated. Takes time to deploy a new OS to in-stock phones.

Yes, that's what I meant with 'out-of-date'. Not blaming anybody.

BTW, release time - of the phone versus the Android version - is not
what matters, but when *your* phone was *manufactured*. If your phone
was manufactured a reasonable time after June 2025, it should have
Android 16.

That should be "designed". I have seen phones sold with Android versions
one or two year old. Samsung.

...

--
Cheers, Carlos.
ES??, EU??;

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.2
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Carlos E.R. <robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:

On 2026-01-20 20:08, Frank Slootweg wrote:

VanguardLH <V@nguard.lh> wrote:

Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> wrote:

...

Android 16 was *released* in June 2025.

Samsung Galaxy A36 was released in March 2025 -- way to close to the
Android 16 release date.

Obviously phones sitting in boxes in storage aren't going to get
updated. Takes time to deploy a new OS to in-stock phones.

Yes, that's what I meant with 'out-of-date'. Not blaming anybody.

BTW, release time - of the phone versus the Android version - is not what matters, but when *your* phone was *manufactured*. If your phone
was manufactured a reasonable time after June 2025, it should have
Android 16.

That should be "designed". I have seen phones sold with Android versions
one or two year old. Samsung.

No, it should be "manufactured". It's quite possible that an already
designed phone gets a new Android version during it's lifetime, i.e.
multiple manufacturing batches, often at multiple manufacturing
locations [1].

Note that I said it *should* have Android 16. Should, not must, as, as
you say, this preferred practice is not always followed.

BTW, it's the same with Windows PCs. When you get them, the Windows
version is often out-of-date, i.e. Windows 11 24H2 instead of 25H2 and
missing a number of monthly updates.

[1] We had two Samsung Galaxy A51 phones, which were bought at the same
time, but manufactured at different locations/countries. Their firmware
was slightly different.

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.2
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 1/21/2026 6:19 AM, Frank Slootweg wrote:

BTW, it's the same with Windows PCs. When you get them, the Windows
version is often out-of-date, i.e. Windows 11 24H2 instead of 25H2

Yup. That's exactly what happened with this new W11 Sneeze brand laptop.
Kinda scared me though since it took a few days. One of my past W11 toys refused to update and was stuck on 23H2. And another somehow lost its
product key. My Android stuff has certainly given me less grief over the years...

and missing a number of monthly updates.

This thing seems to get security updates most every day. Just checked
and got another one. Heck, I haven't had one on my phone in over a
year... 8-O



--- PyGate Linux v1.5.2
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

AJL <noemail@none.com> wrote:

On 1/21/2026 6:19 AM, Frank Slootweg wrote:

BTW, it's the same with Windows PCs. When you get them, the Windows
version is often out-of-date, i.e. Windows 11 24H2 instead of 25H2

Yup. That's exactly what happened with this new W11 Sneeze brand laptop. Kinda scared me though since it took a few days. One of my past W11 toys refused to update and was stuck on 23H2. And another somehow lost its
product key. My Android stuff has certainly given me less grief over the years...

and missing a number of monthly updates.

This thing seems to get security updates most every day. Just checked
and got another one. Heck, I haven't had one on my phone in over a
year... 8-O

I'm sure they are Microsoft Defender updates [1], i.e. anti-virus
updates. Of course these are also about 'security' for your system, but
they're not the normal monthly 'Security Update's. Anyway, your 'Update history' will tell you what was installed when.

[1] 'Security Intelligence Update for Microsoft Defender Antivirus -
KB2267602 (Version 1.443.NNN.0) - Current Channel (Broad)'

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.2
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 1/21/2026 9:32 AM, Frank Slootweg wrote:

AJL <noemail@none.com> wrote:

This thing seems to get security updates most every day. Just
checked and got another one. Heck, I haven't had one on my phone in
over a year... 8-O

I'm sure they are Microsoft Defender updates [1], i.e. anti-virus
updates. Of course these are also about 'security' for your system,
but they're not the normal monthly 'Security Update's. Anyway, your
'Update history' will tell you what was installed when.

[1] 'Security Intelligence Update for Microsoft Defender Antivirus - KB2267602 (Version 1.443.NNN.0) - Current Channel (Broad)'

Guess we're in sync then. This is a cut and paste from Settings of the
one that just arrived during my last post after I pushed the "Check for updates' button:

"Security Intelligence Update for Microsoft Defender Antivirus -
KB2267602 (Version 1.443.781.0) - Current Channel (Broad)"

Look familiar... :)


--- PyGate Linux v1.5.2
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)