When Does the Galaxy S20 Stop Getting Updates? (2026 answer)

Updated

Short answer: it already has. Samsung took the Galaxy S20, S20+ and S20 Ultra off its security-update list in April 2025, after the March 2025 patch. The Galaxy S20 FE (and S20 FE 5G) followed in November 2025, after the October 2025 patch. None of the four models is on Samsung's update list today, and the last major version they'll ever get is Android 13 with One UI 5.1. The phones still work, but new security holes won't be fixed.

The facts (checked 17 October 2026)

S20, S20+, S20 UltraS20 FE, S20 FE 5G
In stores6 March 2020, with Android 10 / One UI 22 October 2020, with Android 10
Major Android upgrades3 (Android 11, 12, 13)3 (Android 11, 12, 13)
Last major versionAndroid 13 / One UI 5.1 (from February 2023)Android 13 / One UI 5.1
Moved to quarterly updatesApril 2024On the quarterly list in 2025
Last regular security patchMarch 2025October 2025
Dropped from Samsung's listApril 2025November 2025
On Samsung's update list today?NoNo

Samsung's official security update scope page lists which phones still get monthly or quarterly patches. On 17 October 2026 the oldest Galaxy S phones on it are the Galaxy S22 series and the Galaxy S21 FE 5G (both quarterly). No S20 model appears anywhere on the page.

What the S20 got

  • Three major Android upgrades. All S20 models launched with Android 10 and got Android 11, 12 and 13. Samsung's newsroom confirmed that One UI 5.1 (Android 13) went to the whole S20 series, including the S20 FE and S20 FE 5G, starting in February 2023. There was no Android 14 / One UI 6 for any of them.
  • About five years of security patches. The S20, S20+ and S20 Ultra moved from monthly to quarterly patches in April 2024 and dropped off the list in April 2025, five years after launch (Android Central, SamMobile). The S20 FE got its October 2025 patch, turned five that same month and was removed in November 2025 (9to5Google, SamMobile).

Could it still get an update?

Rarely, and don't count on it. In August 2025, months after support ended, Samsung pushed the July 2025 security patch to the S20, S20+ and S20 Ultra on Verizon in the US (Android Police). That was a one-off for one carrier, not a return to regular updates. SamMobile also notes that a final patch can still trickle out in markets that were behind. If you have an S20, check Settings → Software update → Download and install once, then assume that's it.

What happens when updates stop?

  • New security holes stay open. Each month Google and Samsung fix new flaws in Android. An S20 no longer gets those fixes, so the list of known, unpatched problems keeps growing.
  • Banking and payment apps are the main worry. The phone is still fine for calls, photos and music. But for banking, payments, DigiD, work email or a child's main phone, an unpatched phone is a bigger risk every month.
  • Apps drift away over time. Play Store app updates keep coming for a while, but apps eventually raise their minimum Android version. That happens app by app, not on a set date.

For a phone that's a year behind on the same path, read Is the Galaxy S21 still supported? (regular updates ended in early 2026) or Is the Galaxy S21 FE still supported?.

What should you do?

  1. Install whatever update is offered, one last time: Settings → Software update → Download and install.
  2. Move sensitive stuff off it. Use a supported phone for banking, payments and work. Don't sideload apps on the S20.
  3. Keep it as a second device if you like. A media player, camera, smart-home remote or offline music phone is a sensible retirement job.
  4. Don't buy one in 2026. No S20 model gets regular updates any more, so a cheap one is only cheap because it's out of support.

What to buy instead (refurbished is fine)

If you're replacing an S20, a refurbished or used phone with a long update promise is a much better deal than a newer phone that's almost out of support. These promises come from the makers themselves:

PhoneUpdate promiseStatus today
Galaxy S234 generations of OS upgrades and 5 years of security updates (Samsung, February 2023)On Samsung's monthly list; now getting One UI 9 (Android 17)
Galaxy S247 generations of OS upgrades and 7 years of security updates (Samsung, January 2024)On Samsung's monthly list
Pixel 87 years of OS upgrades, security updates and Feature Drops, "into 2030" (Google, October 2023)Supported

By our own maths, five years from the S23's 2023 launch points to security updates until about early 2028, and seven years from the S24's January 2024 launch points to about 2031. Samsung doesn't print end dates on its security page, so treat those as estimates, not guarantees. Avoid the Galaxy S22 as an S20 replacement: it's already on quarterly updates and expected to lose support around February 2027.

Buying a used replacement?

A cheap used phone can still be a bad deal if it's locked to someone else's account, reported stolen, carrier-locked or close to its own end-of-support date. Our own guide, Safe to Buy Used? The Second-Hand Phone & Gadget Checklist, walks you through every check before you pay. It's a paid PDF we make ourselves; checking a model on our device list stays free.

Our guide to which used or refurbished phone to buy in 2026 ranks the Galaxy S24, recent Pixels and iPhones by years of updates left.

Looking for a replacement with years of updates left? Compare prices for Galaxy S23 at bol.com, Galaxy S24 at bol.com or Pixel 8 at bol.com (search results; check the seller, condition and warranty before you buy).

Affiliate disclosure: bol.com links are affiliate links; we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. See our disclosure.

Sources

Always check Samsung's official list for the latest status. Update timing can vary by region and carrier.

Get the weekly heads-up

A short weekly email about gadgets that are losing updates or cloud service. Free, and you can unsubscribe anytime.

Subscribe for free (opens in a new tab)