How to Check & Update Android Operating System
Updating your Android phone operating system is an important part of keeping your mobile device secure. Hackers often exploit operating system security flaws to infect phones with malware and steal information and login credentials from unpatched devices. Keeping your Android operating system updated along with the apps installed on your phone is the easiest way to protect your phone and all the information on it. All devices, routers, hardware, software, and apps should be updated with the latest security updates to keep them from being hacked.
Some of the biggest malware attacks in recent history were launched against devices that had already been issued security fixes but had not been updated by the device owners. The WannaCry malware attack of 2017 crippled over 200,000 computers worldwide by exploiting a Windows operating system security flaw. Had the computers been updated with the latest security patches – which were free- they would have not been vulnerable to the malware attack. Device manufacturers often push updates to operating systems to add new features, but many of the updates are bundled with critical security updates too.
Recently, Google released information on a security flaw, CVE-2020-0096, which patched an exploit call Strandhogg 2.0. The Android operating system vulnerability allows hackers to completely take over an Android phone
How do I know what version of Android I have?
How to check your Android OS Version
Checking your Android version is fairly simple. You do have to have access to the device and be able to unlock it. You can see your device’s Android version number and security update level in your phone’s “Settings” app. If you have automatic updates turned on, then you may already have the latest version of Android running on your device. If you don’t have automatic updates or have your phone set to only update when connected to WiFi (like I do) then you will get notifications when an Android update is available to download and install.
How do I know what version of Android I have? Samsung S7
- Unlock your phone and tap Apps
- Locate and tap the Settings icon
- Scroll down to the bottom of the menu and tap System updates
- Your phone will show a big checkmark in a green circle if it is up to date
If still want to make sure your phone is up-to-date tap check for system updates you sound will pause for a few seconds while it checks for future system updates and again show you a confirmation screen if it has the latest security patches
Next, tap OK to exit the screen to exit
How do I know what version of Android I have? Moto Droid Z3
- Unlock your phone
- Locate and tap the Settings icon
- Tap the System Icon
- Tap About phone
- Tap Android version
The phone will display your Android operating system version. Tap it again to display more information including version number and the date it was installed.
How do I check my Android OS version?
If you want to check your Android operating system update history, you have to visit your system settings.
- Unlock your phone and tap apps
- Locate and tap settings icon
- Scroll down to the bottom of the menu and tap System updates
- Your Android operating system update will be displayed
How do you check when your phone was last updated?
Follow the steps above to check your operating system version number. Your screen will display when the last two Android operating system updates installed. The dates of the update as well as the update version numbers will also be listed here.
How do I upgrade my version of Android?
Updating your Android operating should be done while your phone is fully charged and connected to Wi-Fi.
- Unlock your phone
- Connect to WiFi
- Tap the Settings icon
- Select System updates
- Available operating system updates will be listed here. If an update is available, an Update button will appear.
- Tap it to begin the update
- If no update button is shows, then tap Check for system updates
- Follow the directions to install the update now is it is available for the phone.
- You phone should be rebooted when finished.
