When a new version of Android is released, many people’s phones will notify them that it’s time for a software update. No doubt, many people have to do it but don’t want to do it.
Software updates can be a hassle. Some phones will run silently and tell you to restart when done, while others will take forever and appear to be unusable while everything is going on. Masu. I think the latter is a big reason why people aren’t excited about the idea of an update.
Either way, there are three great reasons why you should click the button to download and install updates: security, functionality, and compatibility.
safety
Regardless of brand or operating system, cell phone software is full of flaws and security vulnerabilities that can be exploited. All software is and always will be like this.
Almost all of these problems never surface and no one knows they exist. largely all. There’s been a lot of talk about mobile software security being big business, and it’s pretty common to hear about hacks and exploits that circumvent the security built into your phone’s software.
There are many people looking for it. unpleasant people. These are the kind of people who are interested in your work and know how to profit from it. Whenever there is a profit, many people try to participate in it.
You probably won’t get hacked unless you do things you shouldn’t, like clicking random links or trying to use cracked apps from dangerous sources. But updating your phone will invalidate many of the ways people currently do things, and you’ll be spending your time finding new ways to do things instead of exploiting unsuspecting people.
Remember, your phone is connected to the network. That means it’s connected to billions of other phones. When you protect yourself, you also protect others.
functionality
Every major version of your phone’s software adds new features, and you won’t be able to use them unless you accept them.
Some of these features probably seem silly. There are other things you might want, so updating will give you both good and bad points. However, no one says you have to use something stupid.
More importantly, each updated version improves functionality in other ways as well. Remember how I reminded you that your phone’s software is full of flaws? Many of these flaws also affect how your phone works. Updates mostly fix bugs and glitches in your phone. Even if it’s something that drives you crazy.
Additionally, bugs are also fixed. Things like battery safety issues and connectivity issues are often hidden in version updates. Even if you aren’t interested in the new features you read about, you’ll really want something like this.
Many people think that updating software slows down your phone, and that may be true. There are limits to what you can do with your phone, and if you try to force it to do more than that, it may lag or slow down. Hopefully, the company that manufactured your phone understands that some of these new features for users should not be included in older or lower-end phones. It’s always better not to get something new than to ruin something that has worked before.
compatibility
Updates often provide changes required by your network provider, and they are important. A mobile phone is of little use if it cannot connect to the outside world.
However, both Android and iOS tie third-party app functionality to the version of the operating system you’re using, making accepting updates more important than you might think.
Each platform version of Android introduces a new set of APIs (application programming interfaces) that allow apps to interact with the phone’s OS and hardware. Most of these APIs do not change from version to version, but we often see new APIs or changes that obsolete previous versions.
Usually Google does a good job of maintaining backwards compatibility so it doesn’t break anytime soon, but sometimes it doesn’t. If an update fails, existing apps may stop working, the app itself may not be able to update, or new apps may not be able to be installed.
Google is trying to stop this with something called Google Play Services, but with changes to the Play Store becoming a reality due to antitrust concerns, it’s anyone’s guess how this will work in the future. I don’t even know.
Your best bet is to accept software updates for your phone when they become available.
Ultimately, only you can decide whether to install updates. It’s your phone and no one else can tell you what to do with it. There may be good reasons to keep one or two versions back.
However, for most people, installing updates is a good idea. It’s the best way to stay safe, stay compatible, and enjoy new features without buying anything new.