After months of being stuck on outdated Google Play system updates, Samsung Galaxy users are starting to see movement. Reports are coming in across multiple device ranges that the January 2026 update is now rolling out.
Google Play system updates are easy to overlook because they don’t announce themselves like a major Android release. But they matter. Since Android 10, Google has used this channel to push security fixes and feature improvements silently, without requiring a full software update. Falling behind on these isn’t ideal, even if it isn’t catastrophic.
Samsung devices had been stuck on the September 2025 update for months, with some models even sitting on July 2025. That’s a notable gap, and Samsung did acknowledge the issue earlier this year, pointing to the rollout of new devices and major One UI updates as the reason for the hold.
The January 2026 update appears to be landing across a wide portion of Samsung’s lineup, including Galaxy S25 and S24 models, as well as various Galaxy A series devices. It is not limited to flagship hardware, which is a good sign.
How to Check on Your Device
Go to Settings, then About Phone, then Software Information, and tap Google Play System Update. If nothing shows up immediately, wait a few hours and check again. Once the download finishes, a restart is required to complete the installation.
The hope now is that this momentum holds, especially with One UI 8.5 potentially on the horizon. Samsung’s previous explanation suggests another pause is possible when that arrives.
