The October 2026 Samsung security update is rolling out now, and it patches dozens of flaws, including nine that Google rates critical. Whether your Galaxy phone gets it depends on one list: Samsung’s own schedule of which phones still receive security updates. We went through that list so you can see where your phone stands in a minute.
The short version
Samsung’s October security update fixes 45 Android flaws listed by Google, nine of them critical, plus Samsung’s own fixes. Phones on Samsung’s support list get it monthly or every three months; phones that have dropped off get nothing.
- Samsung published its October 2026 security bulletin on Oct. 6, and it covers devices running Android 14 through 17.
- Google’s part of the update lists 9 critical, 33 high and 3 moderate flaws, and Samsung adds 27 fixes of its own plus 4 for its chips.
- The Galaxy S23 to S26 families and recent foldables get monthly updates, while most A series phones, such as the A16 and A36, get them every three months.
- Popular older models including the Galaxy S21, S21 Ultra, A13, A23, A32 and A52 are no longer on Samsung’s update list.
- To check your phone, open Settings, then About phone, then Software information, and look at the Android security patch level.
What is in the October Samsung security update?
The update, labeled SMR Oct-2026 Release 1, bundles Google’s monthly Android fixes with Samsung’s own. According to Samsung’s security bulletin, Google’s share includes 9 critical, 33 high and 3 moderate issues. Samsung adds 27 fixes for its own software, which it calls SVE items, plus 4 high-severity fixes for parts made by Samsung Semiconductor. Samsung is holding back details on some of its fixes for now, which is normal while phones are still being patched.
The bulletin does not say any of these flaws are being used in attacks right now. That is good news, but it is also not a reason to wait. Once a fix is public, people who build attacks can study it too.
In plain terms: a phone with a recent patch level is much harder to break into through a bad link, a booby-trapped file or a malicious app. A phone that stopped getting patches stays open to every flaw found after its last update, and that list grows every month.
Which Samsung phones still get security updates?
Samsung sorts its phones into tiers on its security update schedule. Here is what we found when we checked it on Oct. 11, 2026.
Monthly updates
- Galaxy S series: S23, S23+, S23 Ultra and S23 FE; the S24 family including the S24 FE; the S25 family including the S25 Edge and S25 FE; the S26 family including the S26 FE.
- Foldables: Galaxy Z Fold5, Fold6, Fold7, Fold8, Fold8 Ultra and Fold Special Edition; Z Flip5, Flip6, Flip7, Flip7 FE and Flip8; and the Z TriFold.
- Enterprise models: Galaxy A54 5G, A55 5G, A56 5G and A57 5G, plus the XCover7 and XCover7 Pro.
Every three months
- Older flagships: Galaxy S22, S22+, S22 Ultra and S21 FE 5G; Z Fold4 and Z Flip4.
- Galaxy A series: A04 and A04e through A08; A14 through A18 (including 5G models); A24 through A27 5G; A33 5G through A37 5G; the A53 5G; and the A73 5G.
- Also covered: many Galaxy M and F phones, the Galaxy Tab S8 through Tab S11 lines, the Tab A9 and A11 tablets, and recent Galaxy Watch models.
Phones that no longer get updates
These popular models are not on either list, which means Samsung no longer schedules security updates for them:
- Galaxy S21, S21+ and S21 Ultra (the S21 FE 5G is still covered)
- Galaxy Note20 and Note20 Ultra
- Galaxy A03, A13, A23, A32 and A52 (including the A52s)
- Galaxy Z Fold3 and Z Flip3
Samsung’s page does not show a date for when the list was last changed, so check it again before you make a buying decision.
How to check your Samsung security update and install it
- Open Settings, tap About phone, then Software information. Look at Android security patch level. If it says October 2026, you are current.
- To update, go to Settings, then Software update, then Download and install.
- Connect to Wi-Fi and charge to at least half before you install. The phone will restart.
- If nothing shows up, check again in a few days. Samsung rolls updates out by model, country and carrier, so the same phone can get it on different days in different places.
What to do if your phone dropped off the list
Your phone will keep working, but it will not get new security fixes. Until you replace it, lower the risk:
- Keep your apps updated from the Play Store, especially your browser, banking apps and WhatsApp.
- Do not install apps from links or files sent in chats, and turn off installs from unknown sources.
- Move banking and payments to a supported phone if you have one in the house.
- Learn the warning signs in our guide on how to tell if your phone is hacked.
If it is time to replace it, start with our breakdown of whether to upgrade your phone this year and the best phones under $300. A phone on a monthly or quarterly list today will stay protected longer than an older flagship that has already dropped off.
Check your patch level today. If it is more than three months old and your phone is on the list, install the update tonight.
