You can, however, temporarily deactivate it and continue to use your device. The software update notification will reappear at a later time, or you can search for the update manually within your device to go ahead and get it over with. If you cannot make the notification go away, especially if you did already update the software and are still being bombarded with software update notifications, then there are a few things that you can try. Keep in mind that the possible solutions will depend on which version of a Samsung that you have.
Why Won’t Software Update Notification Go Away on a Samsung?
1. You Haven’t Accepted the Notification
Whenever the software update notification appears on your Samsung device, it can either take up your whole phone screen or show up as a push notification, depending on the Samsung version. If you choose the “Remind Me Later” option, it will cause the notification to go away temporarily, but it will eventually return. If you do not accept the notification, you will continue to receive the notification until the update has been installed. If you keep seeing the notification, it is possible that it is because you simply hit the wrong option and your phone is just reminding you that there is a software update waiting to be installed.
Fix – Tap on the Notification and Click Ok to Get Rid of It
If the software update notification will not leave you alone, try tapping on the notification and pressing “Ok” to make it go away. On your Android homepage screen, place your thumb on the top and scroll down to access your phone’s features as well as any push notifications that you have received. Select the software update notification and tap on “Ok”, and it should go away. If it does not cooperate, it could be because the phone’s software update has not been installed, or because the update was installed and the phone has not recognized the software update’s recent installation. Either way, try this option first to see if it fixes your problem.
2. Software Update Process Has Cache Issues
A cache is a form of temporary storage on your Samsung phone that stores information from websites and apps. Some users do not really pay attention to this storage, but if it becomes too full, it can slow down or time out apps or prevent your phone from recognizing that a software update has been installed. Your Android phone only has so much storage, so your cache is actually a good thing as it allows you to keep your phone and its features cooperating without taking up precious phone storage. If you are certain that your Samsung device successfully updated its software but you keep receiving an update notification, the problem could be the system’s cache. Try to see if clearing the cache partition, which is where your system’s cache is stored, stops the relentless notifications.
Fix – Clear Software Update Cache in Settings
If your Android device is more modern, you will have to go into your cache through your settings and manually delete the cache files for a particular app or program. Sometimes the problem is that the cache is just too full, and other times it could be that the cache file has become corrupted. Keep in mind that these steps are different than when you clear the cache data for an app. The system cache partition on an Android device is where the temporary system files are stored, including your system updates. It is typically a wise practice to clear the system’s cache partition after any successful system update on your Android device. Doing so ensures that the system updates will not try to use outdated data or files, which could be why you are still receiving those annoying system update notifications in the first place. To clear your Android device’s Software Update through your settings, do the following:
- First, turn your Android device off.
- While off, hold down both the Power and Volume Down button at the same time.
- If your touchscreen is not working, use your phone’s volume buttons to navigate the menu page.
- Use your phone’s power button to select the “Wipe Cache Partition” option.
- Allow for the phone to complete the process.
- When finished, a new screen will appear. Choose the “Reboot” option and allow you phone to power back on.
- Resume your normal use.
3. Bug
When device users think of bugs, they normally associate them as something that is encountered when using apps and websites on your phone; however, the device itself can also get a bug, and it happens more frequently than you might think. Depending on the age and version as well as the security of your device, a bug could be the reason that you keep receiving constant notifications about updating your phone’s software. Unfortunately, there is no push notification available to you if your phone does develop a bug. There are, however, things that you can try if you suspect that a bug is the reason for your annoying notifications.
Fix 1 – Restart your Device
Restarting your device is the equivalent of turning something off and then turning it back on again to see if the problem has been corrected. We do this all the time with different forms of technology, and your phone is no exception. Sometimes, especially if a device has not been powered off and then powered back on again in a long time, the system stops cooperating. It can cause a variety of problems, including frozen screens, crashing apps, and constant notifications. To restart your Samsung device, press and hold the power button down. A screen will appear with a few different options that include “Power Off”, “Restart”, and “Emergency Mode”. Select the “Restart” option, which normally appears with a green icon. The phone will then power down and power back on. After it is powered back on, you will need to enter in your passcode or password if you have those features enabled on your device. Allow some time for your phone to catch up. As push notifications begin reappearing, see if the software update notification shows back up. If it does not, then your issue was just that your phone needed to be restarted.
Fix 2 – Force Restart Phone
Force restarting a Samsung phone is not the exact same thing as just restarting it, though it does result in the same ending. Assuming that your device has had a period of time where it was not powered off and then back on, you could find that you are stuck with frozen screens. A force restart allows you to restart the phone when your screen is not responding and you are unable to power down the device using the screen. To force restart a Samsung phone, hold down the power button and the volume down button at the same time for about 7 seconds. The location of these buttons will depend upon the version of your Samsung device. After about 7 seconds, your phone’s screen will go black, meaning it has powered off. The phone will then begin the restarting process. Wait for your phone to power back on, and then enter in your passcode or password to access your phone if you have those features enabled. The phone may need a little time to recognize that it has been restarted and make adjustments. Wait and see if the software update push notification appears. If it does not, then your phone has finally caught up with your software update and you can resume your normal phone use.
Fix 3 – Power Your Device in Safe Mode
Safe Mode is a feature available on Samsung devices that allows you to determine if your problems are the result of a bug. Safe Mode allows you to use your device, but disables certain features, meaning you could potentially identify a problem with an app or feature because Safe Mode prevents certain apps or software problems from appearing. To power your device into Safe Mode, hold down your device’s power button, and then press and hold the power button again until the Safe Mode option appears. Tap on the Safe Mode option and your phone will power down, and then power back on into Safe Mode. While in Safe Mode, see if the notification for a software update is still appearing. If it is not, then the problem could have just been that your phone needed a little boost by switching it over to Safe Mode. While in Safe Mode, you can also check on your system’s updates and available installation options if you go to your phone’s settings and scroll down to “Software Updates” on your settings’ home screen. Tap on this option and see if there is still an update present. If there is, go ahead and install it. Exit Safe Mode by either pressing and holding the power button to restart it or swipe down on the top of your screen to access your notifications panel. Here you will see a notification that informs you that you are using safe mode, and instructions to tap on the notification to exit Safe Mode. Tap on the notification and your phone will restart back into Normal Mode.
Fix 4 – Perform a Factory Reset
Performing a factory reset on your phone should only be used with extreme caution. There are certainly times when a factory reset is necessary, like if you have upgraded to a newer phone and you are giving the old device to someone else. If you are still planning on using the device yourself, a factory reset will remove everything from the device. Understand that performing a factory set is like putting it into a time machine and taking it back to the very first time that you turned the device on, at least in terms of its software. A factory reset on an Android device is going to delete all of your data and return the device’s software back to their original state. This means that you will be left with exactly what you had when you first got the device and your apps and any other data you had stored on your device will be gone. If you are sure that you want to go through with a factory reset, it is important that you back up any critical files or important data before beginning the process. To perform a factory reset on an Android device that is version 5.0 or newer,
- Select “Apps” on your phone.
- Scroll or search for “Settings” and tap on it.
- Choose the “Backup and Reset” option.
- Tap on “Factory Data Reset”.
- Select “Reset Device”.
- Choose “Erase Everything”. The phone will power off and then back on, and take you to the setup walkthrough you first encountered when you originally powered on the device for the first time. To perform a factory reset on an Android device that is an older version than 5.0,
- Select “Settings” on your phone.
- Choose the “General and Backup” option.
- Hit “Reset”.
- Tap on “Factory Data Reset”.
- Select “Reset Device”.
- Choose “Delete All”. Just like with the newer versions, your device will power off and back on, and you will be met with the setup walkthrough you went through when you first got the device. Sometimes the above instructions will not produce a factory reset because a user is unable to access the settings on their phone. If this happening to you, it could be a direct result of malfunctioning software. In this scenario, you would need to perform a factory data reset inside of Android’s Recovery Mode. To perform a factory data reset for your Android device inside Recovery Mode, follow these steps:
- Turn the phone off.
- Press and hold both the power and volume down button at the same time. You will need to hold both of the buttons down until the screen appears.
- The screen will mean that you have entered Recovery Mode. You will see different navigation instructions and will have to use your power button and both volume buttons to navigate and make your selections.
- Use the volume down button to proceed through the menu until you locate the “Recovery Mode” option. Use the power button to select it.
- Your phone will now restart, and should show the iconic Android robot in distress.
- Once restarted, press and hold the phone’s power button. While still holding the power button down, press the volume up button.
- Once the new screen appears, use the volume buttons to locate the “Wipe Data/Factory Reset” option and use the power button to select it.
- Confirm your decision by using the power button to select “Factory Data Reset”.
- The phone will being the process of clearing everything and returning to its factory settings.
- Once finished, use the power button to select the “Reboot System Now” option.
- Your phone will power down and then back on in its normal mode, and take you to your setup wizard.
4. Phone Out of Date
A common issue with phone users is that they think that just because their software is up to date, it means that their phone is also up to date. These two things are not the same thing, and can cause issues for you in regards to receiving notifications about a system update when you should not be getting them. If you phone is out of date, it may not recognize the installation of the updated software and could be the reason you keep seeing these messages. Android will send out updates for your phone’s software, but there are also updates for your Android version. Both the software and your phone’s version need to be updated for everything to run smoothly.
Fix – Update Your Phone
To view which Android version your device is currently operating, follow the steps below:
- Access your phone’s settings by going to the app.
- Scroll down towards the bottom and locate the “About Phone > Android Version” option.
- Select this option and view the information, which will include “Android Version”, “Android Security Update”, and “Build Number”. To obtain the lasted available Android updates, you would need to tap on the “Update Action” option that appears whenever you have opened the notification; however, if you accidently cleared the notification or think you may have missed it, you can use the steps below:
- Access your phone’s settings by going to the app.
- Scroll towards the bottom and locate the “System > System Update” option.
- Select this option to view any update status. If there is an update available, tap on it and then follow the instructions that appear on your screen. Keep in mind that the update schedules for Android devices will vary dependent upon which device you have, the manufacturer of the device, and the mobile carrier that you use. If the phone itself is an older device, then newer Android versions will not necessarily be available for you to install.
5. There’s Malware on Your Device
Malware, or malicious software, is software that is installed on a device that can prevent the phone from functioning as it should. It is estimated by Which? in a recent study that there are more than 1 billion Android users are vulnerable to some form of malware. If your device is older or you are using an outdated version, your chances of malware being present and hackers using that software to obtain your personal data is even more likely. Malware allows hackers to not only obtain your personal information but also to purchase expensive services that will cost you as well as the ability to completely take over your Android device. If your Android device is using anything below version 6.0 then you will not receive any notifications about your device’s security, which also means that you will not receive any updates about patches available to you to prevent malware from functioning on your device. Versions 9.0 and higher for Android users are thought to be better protected from malware software. Though it is not always obvious if your Android has been subjected to malware, there are a few things that you can observe to help you gain an idea including an increase in your device’s data usage, changes on your phone bill, frequently crashing apps, a frequently crashing device, apps on your phone that you did not install, or an overheating device.
Fix – Run an Antimalware Scan
While scary, it is possible to run an antimalware scan on your Android device. To do this, utilize the Google Play Store. Follow the instructions below to run a scan:
- Open the Google Play Store app on your phone.
- Once open, select the three lined icon in the corner of the screen, which is the menu button. It should be located in the top, left corner.
- Locate and select “Google Play Protect”. This will provide you with information regarding the overall status of you Android device as well as the results from the last scan that was performed.
- Tap on the “Scan” button to conduct a scan for malware on your Android device.
- Once you have the results, scan through and see if there are any indicated harmful apps installed on your device or any apps that you know should not be there.
- When you find either a harmful app or an app that should not be present, select the available option to remove the app from your device.
