For Galaxy S25 and more: Samsung is distributing Play Services updates again
After a break of several months, Samsung has resumed distributing Play Services updates for its Galaxy smartphones and tablets.
Samsung's Galaxy smartphones are once again receiving Play Services updates.
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With the start of the distribution of the One UI 8 update for Galaxy smartphones and tablets, Samsung had suspended Google Play Services updates. For months, devices had not received updates via Play Services, which, in addition to new features, also patch security vulnerabilities. Now, the first devices are receiving relatively current Play Services versions again.
(Image:Â Dirk Knop / heise medien)
Not only users on Reddit (via Android Authority) report that Samsung has resumed distributing Play Services updates. A Galaxy S24 from the heise online editorial team also received an update today. This means the S24 has jumped from the September 2025 version of Play System Services to January 2026.
According to several Reddit posts, Samsung seems to have released distribution for many models: In addition to the Galaxy S24, current versions of Play Services are landing on the Galaxy S24 FE, the Galaxy S25 series, the Galaxy A55 5G, and the Galaxy Z Fold 7.
According to Samsung, the suspension of Play Services updates, which come directly from Google, was intentional. The manufacturer told heise online in December 2025: "When introducing new devices or major One UI updates, Samsung exclusively ships software that the company has verified. Samsung has temporarily suspended the distribution of Google updates to avoid potential issues." At the time, Samsung said it intended to resume Google-side updates from January. January has now apparently become February.
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Android: Updates via multiple channels
Android smartphones, including those with Samsung's One UI interface, receive software updates through several channels: In addition to the larger Android system updates, which are released once or twice a year, they also receive security updates, which are now distributed approximately quarterly. They also receive monthly updates via Google Play Services. While the respective smartphone manufacturers provide the first two types of updates, Play Services come from Google.
This allows the Android developer to partially supply certain system components with updates and new features, among other things, through a modular operating system design. System updates also serve to close security vulnerabilities and fix errors for specific components, explains Google. Through Play Services updates, Google has introduced, for example, enhanced anti-theft protection, Instant Hotspot, and improvements to Quick Share and Google Wallet.
The next pause in Play Services updates is likely not far off. Samsung is already preparing the update to One UI 8.5, which will be released with the Galaxy S26. Devices currently on the market are expected to receive the update from the end of March 2026.
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