If you happen to’re utilizing an older Android telephone, Google has a message you in all probability don’t need to hear.
Greater than 40% of Android gadgets worldwide now not obtain important safety updates, leaving over 1 billion telephones uncovered to malware and spyware and adware assaults, in accordance with the corporate.
The issue isn’t a sudden flaw however a sluggish drift. Android adoption knowledge exhibits most customers are nonetheless operating software program variations that Google now not absolutely helps. Whereas current confusion round Google Play system replace dates has raised issues, Google says that the difficulty is beauty.
The true situation is less complicated and extra critical: telephones operating Android 12 or older at the moment are outdoors the safety security web.
Android model lag leaves thousands and thousands uncovered
Google’s newest Android distribution knowledge exhibits that solely about 58% of gadgets run Android 13 or newer, Forbes reported. As of December 2025, Android 16 was put in on simply 7.5% of telephones. Android 15 accounted for 19.3% of gadgets, Android 14 for 17.9%, and Android 13 for 13.9%.
“These 4 Android variations matter as a result of Google now not gives important system-level safety fixes for Android 12 or older,” Forbes reported.
Consequently, greater than 40% of lively Android telephones, representing over 1 billion customers, at the moment are outdoors full OS-level safety, with no clear path to obtain fixes for newly found assaults. Google mentioned older gadgets nonetheless obtain restricted safety by its app safety instruments.
“Google Play Shield, Android’s built-in malware and undesirable software program safety, continues to help gadgets way back to Android 7 to assist maintain customers protected,” a Google spokesperson informed Forbes. The spokesperson added that these gadgets nonetheless profit from up to date malware signatures and real-time scanning.
Samsung help modifications intensify the issue
The safety hole is widening as producers reduce long-term system help. In line with Forbes, Samsung has confirmed that the Galaxy S21, S21 Plus, and S21 Extremely now not obtain Android or safety updates.
Samsung has additionally downgraded the Galaxy S22 collection and Galaxy S21 FE from month-to-month to quarterly updates. Whereas these gadgets are nonetheless supported, the slower replace cadence widens the window of publicity to new vulnerabilities.
Gulf Information defined that, in contrast to Apple, which tightly controls each {hardware} and software program updates, Android is determined by particular person producers to ship patches. “Telephones are sometimes deserted after a number of years, leaving customers uncovered to potential malware and safety exploits,” the publication famous.
Google clarifies Play system replace confusion
In line with Android Authority, some Android customers just lately seen their Google Play system replace rolling again from January 2026 to November 2025. Google addressed the difficulty after stories from Android customers surfaced, explaining that the date discrepancy was beauty quite than a safety regression.
“We’re conscious that some customers are seeing an outdated “Google Play system replace” date. This can be a display-only situation. “It doesn’t have an effect on system efficiency or safety,” a Google spokesperson informed the publication.
Google additionally acknowledged that it’s engaged on a repair to make sure the replace label displays the proper date and emphasised that the difficulty has no impression on system safety.
On the identical time, Forbes reported that telephones unable to run Android 13 or newer now not obtain important system-level safety updates, leaving customers with restricted choices past changing unsupported gadgets. Gulf Information echoed that evaluation, explaining that even newer mid-range telephones with lively software program help supply stronger safety than outdated flagship fashions.
Be taught extra about Google’s February 2026 Android system replace, together with enhancements to system setup, storage buying, and privateness instruments.
