Check your phone’s installed security patch level in Settings, look for an available system update, then verify the support policy for your exact model with its manufacturer or carrier. The Settings date tells you what patch is installed; it does not, by itself, tell you whether the phone is still supported.
Where to find your Android security patch level
- Open Settings > About phone > Android version. On some phones, the Android version details may be nested or labelled differently.
- Note the Android security update date or level and the Google Play system update date or level. These are separate status values, as Android Help explains.
- While you are in About phone, record the exact model name and model number. They help you find the support policy that applies to your device.
The security patch level describes the security update the phone reports as installed. The Google Play system update is a separate status, so do not treat its date as a substitute for the Android security patch level.
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How to check for an available system update
- Open Settings > System > Software Update and follow the status or on-screen instructions. Menu names and locations vary by manufacturer; Samsung, Motorola and other brands may use different wording.
- If an update is offered, follow the phone’s instructions to download and install it. Then return to the Android version screen to check the reported security patch level.
A manual check tells you whether an update is available to your phone at that moment. It does not establish the model’s full support period.
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How to confirm whether your exact phone is still supported
Use the manufacturer’s official update or support policy for your exact model and, where relevant, variant or region. For a carrier-sold device, check with the carrier as well. Google directs owners of non-Pixel Android phones to their manufacturer or carrier for update information.
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Compare the policy’s stated end date or support duration with the date the model first became available—not simply the date you bought your particular handset. Policies can count support from a model’s initial availability, and the start date may be defined for a particular market.
Google Pixel support periods
Google’s published policy, as presented on its support page in 2026, says Pixel 8 and later receive seven years of OS and security updates from the device’s first availability on the Google Store in the US. The page lists Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 family devices and Pixel Fold for five years from that same first-availability point. It lists Pixel 5a and earlier models as no longer receiving Android version or security updates. Check Google’s live Pixel update policy for the exact model list and current terms.
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These periods apply to the Pixel models named in Google’s policy; they should not be applied to other Android brands.
Other Android brands
Look up the exact model on its manufacturer’s support site or contact the carrier that supplied it. For example, a Samsung update notice for the Galaxy A06 variant SM-A065M identifies Android 16 and a security patch level of 2026-07-05. That dated notice is specific to that model and variant; it does not establish the schedule or patch level for other Samsung phones or regions. See Samsung’s notice for SM-A065M.
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- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
Does “no update available” mean your phone is no longer supported?
No. It only means the check did not find an update available to install at that time. For Pixel phones, Google says updates roll out gradually, can depend on the carrier and device, and may take a few weeks to reach a device. That is a Pixel-specific example; other manufacturers determine their own rollout schedules.
Likewise, a patch date that is not from the current month does not prove that support has ended. Check the exact model’s published policy and rollout information before drawing that conclusion. The Android September 2026 Security Bulletin points readers to Android’s guidance for checking a device’s security patch level; it is not a support-status list for individual manufacturers’ phones.
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- NIGHTS, CAPTURED CLEARLY: From gigs to city lights, record and capture moments after dark with clarity using Nightography so your photos and videos stay crisp and clear on your Samsung Galaxy
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What information to have when contacting support
- The exact model name and model number from About phone.
- Your region and, if applicable, carrier or carrier variant.
- The Android security update date or level shown in Settings.
- The result and date of your last manual software-update check.
Those details help support staff identify the relevant model policy and determine whether an update is pending for your device.
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