From time to time, Android phones receive system updates that can install automatically when the phone is idle - often during the night. While these are important for security and performance, they can cause temporary disruptions such as:
- Your phone restarting unexpectedly and being unavailable for use during reboot
- Your notification settings are affected - though a rare occurrence, this is something to be aware of especially if you want to receive notifications when you are on-call.
You can follow the steps below to disable auto-updates on your phone to avoid your notification settings from potentially being affected by your phone’s system updates.
Note: this is simply a recommendation and not a requirement. If you decide to disable automatic system updates, please be aware that it will be important for you to manually manage and install system updates for your phone to keep it secure and functioning properly.
How to Disable Automatic Updates on Android
The exact steps may vary slightly depending on your phone brand (i.e. Samsung, Google Pixel), but generally:
- Open your phone’s Settings app
- Scroll down and tap on System
- Tap on Software Update
- Tap on the gear icon
- Look for Update overnight or Auto download & install and toggle it OFF
- Confirm if prompted
REMINDER: Check Your Notifications After ANY SYSTEM Updates
Whether you update your phone manually or leave automatic updates enabled, make sure to take a moment after any system update to quickly check your notification settings. This helps ensure your notifications are still set up properly so you won’t miss any important messages. See: Setting Up Notifications