What to Do If Your Android Phone Is No Longer Receiving Security Updates
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There’s a quiet security problem affecting a huge number of Android users right now — and most of them have no idea it’s happening.
More than a billion Android smartphones are now running software versions that no longer receive security patches from Google. That includes anyone still on Android 12 or older who can’t upgrade further. Google officially ended support for Android 12 and 12L as of March 31, 2025, meaning those devices no longer receive security patch backports.
If your phone is a few years old, there’s a real chance you’re in that group. So what does that actually mean for you, and what should you do about it?
Is your Android phone protected?
Certo AntiSpy scans your Android device for spyware, malicious apps, and security vulnerabilities — even when your OS is out of date.
Why Security Updates Matter
Security updates are patches that fix newly discovered vulnerabilities in your phone’s operating system. Hackers and malware developers are constantly looking for weaknesses in software — and when they find one, they try to exploit it before a fix is released.
When your phone receives regular updates, those vulnerabilities get patched quickly. When updates stop, any new weaknesses discovered after that point stay open indefinitely. Your phone doesn’t suddenly become broken, but it does become easier to target over time.
According to Certo’s 2025 Mobile Security Roundup, which analyzed over 580,000 device scans, 15.61% of Android devices were running OS versions no longer receiving security updates.
That’s a meaningful portion of real people carrying around phones that manufacturers have stopped protecting at the OS level.
How to Check If Your Phone Is Still Receiving Updates
Before you do anything else, it’s worth confirming where your phone actually stands.
Step 1: Find your current security patch level
On most Android phones, go to: Settings > About phone > Android security patch level
Fig 1. Checking the security patch level on Android.
On Samsung devices, you may need to go to: Settings > About phone > Software information > Android security patch level
Fig 2. Checking the security patch level on Samsung.
This shows the date of the last security patch your phone received. Google typically releases security patches every month, so if your patch date is more than three to four months old, it could be a sign your device is no longer supported.
Step 2: Check for any available updates
It’s possible your phone has an update sitting there waiting. To check:
- Open Settings
- Tap System (or Software update on Samsung)
- Tap System update or Check for updates
- Install any available update
Fig 3. Installing a software update and enabling auto-download.
If nothing comes up, and your security patch date is many months old, your device has likely reached end-of-life.
How Long Do Manufacturers Support Android Phones?
This varies a lot depending on the brand and the model.
Samsung committed in January 2024 to providing seven years of security updates for its flagship Galaxy smartphones.
However, this applies to security updates only, not guaranteed Android OS upgrades throughout the entire period. Older Samsung models typically received fewer years of support.
Google and Samsung now share the top spot for update longevity in the Android space, with both offering seven years of software support for their latest devices. Google Pixel phones also tend to receive updates on day one, without the delays that come from manufacturers customizing Android for their own software skins.
Most other brands — including Motorola, OnePlus, and others — have historically offered two to four years of updates, though this is improving. Multiple Motorola phones released in 2022, 2023, and 2024 have already lost support, with more reaching end-of-life each year.
The short version: flagship phones from Google and Samsung now get the longest support. Mid-range and budget phones from other manufacturers often stop receiving updates much sooner.
Pro Tip: When buying a new Android phone, check the manufacturer’s update commitment before purchasing. Seven years of security updates is now the benchmark to look for.
What to Do If Your Phone Has Stopped Receiving Updates
If your Android phone is no longer receiving updates, you can’t fix that directly. But there are practical steps you can take to reduce your exposure.
1. Keep all your apps up to date
Even if the OS itself isn’t getting patches, individual apps can still receive security fixes from their developers. High-profile spyware threats have exploited vulnerabilities in popular apps, so keeping everything updated is a meaningful layer of defense.
Open the Google Play Store, tap your profile icon, and select Manage apps & device to see and install any pending updates.
Fig 4. Updating installed apps via Google Play
2. Review your app permissions
Apps accumulate permissions over time — access to your camera, microphone, location, and contacts. It’s worth doing a regular audit.
Go to Settings > Privacy and security > More privacy settings > Permission manager to see which apps have access to what. If something looks unexpected, you can revoke it from here.
Fig 5. Checking Camera permissions in Permission Manager.
3. Only install apps from the Google Play Store
Avoid installing apps from unknown sources. This is good advice for everyone, but it matters even more on an unsupported device. Google Play has safeguards that third-party sources don’t.
Also keep Google Play Protect enabled. Open the Play Store, tap your profile icon, then Play Protect, and make sure it’s turned on. This scans apps on your device for known threats.
Fig 6.Turning on Google Play Protect
4. Be more careful with links and messages
Unsupported devices are more vulnerable to “zero-click” and phishing attacks that exploit OS-level weaknesses. Avoid clicking links in unexpected texts or emails, and don’t open attachments from people you don’t recognize.
Fig 7. An example of a phishing email.
5. Use strong authentication
A strong lock screen PIN or password, combined with biometrics, limits what an attacker can do if they get physical access to your device. Avoid using obvious patterns or simple PINs.
Fig 8. Turning on strong authentication methods.
6. Use a security app
A reputable security app can catch threats that your OS can no longer defend against on its own. Certo AntiSpy for Android scans for spyware and malicious apps, checks your device settings for vulnerabilities, and monitors for data breaches involving your accounts — all for free, with no ads.
Fig 9. Detecting spyware with Certo AntiSpy
Pro Tip: Monitor which apps are using the most battery and data. Go to Settings > Battery and Settings > Network & internet > Data usage. Unexplained activity from an unfamiliar app is worth investigating.
When It’s Time to Think About Upgrading
The steps above can reduce your risk, but they can’t eliminate it. An unsupported device will become increasingly exposed as new vulnerabilities are discovered and go unpatched.
If your phone is more than four or five years old and no longer receiving updates, upgrading is the most reliable long-term solution. Google’s own guidance is clear: if a device cannot move beyond Android 12, it should be replaced.
When you do upgrade, look for:
- A manufacturer offering at least five to seven years of security updates
- A recent Android version (Android 15 or 16 at the time of writing)
- A flagship or upper mid-range model from Google or Samsung for the longest support window
Pro Tip: You don’t have to buy the latest flagship. Even a mid-range Pixel or Samsung Galaxy A-series phone will now come with several years of security support built in.
Wrapping Up
Running an Android phone that’s no longer receiving updates isn’t an emergency, but it is something worth taking seriously. The risks are real, and they grow over time as new vulnerabilities emerge with no patch to fix them.
Start by checking your security patch date, locking down your permissions, and installing a security app if you don’t already have one.
And if your phone is getting on in years, it might be time to plan for an upgrade — not because your current phone will suddenly stop working, but because future-you will be glad you made the switch.
FAQs
Will my phone stop working when updates end?
No — your phone keeps working as normal. The risk is growing vulnerability over time, not immediate failure.
What’s the difference between a security update and an Android version update?
A security update patches specific vulnerabilities without changing how your phone looks or behaves. An Android version update (like moving from Android 14 to 15) is a bigger overhaul that brings new features. Manufacturers often stop offering version updates before they stop security patches.
Could my banking app stop working on an unsupported phone?
Possibly, over time. Some banking apps check the security status of your device before allowing access and may block usage on phones running very outdated software — though this is more of a long-term concern than an immediate one.
My phone is still “supported” but the patch date looks old — why?
Some devices receive quarterly patches rather than monthly ones, even within their support window. Try checking for updates manually — there may be one waiting that hasn’t been pushed automatically yet.
Sophia is a Senior Cybersecurity Writer at Certo, with over five years of experience writing about digital security, privacy, and emerging threats. Drawing on a background in IT and technology, she specializes in translating complex cybersecurity topics into clear, practical guidance that helps everyday users stay protected online.