How To Block System Updates On Your Android Phone

Dhir Acharya - Jul 29, 2019

Updating your phone’s operating system is important, but it may hurt your hardware if your Android phone is too old. So what can you do to prevent this?

The importance of system updates

Updating your phone’s operating system is important though it may take a while to get used to tweaks, which is a learning curve varying in length for different users, depending on how often you interact with your phone and how quick a learner you are when it comes to new workflows and concepts.

Updating your device is not about new features only, but more importantly about fixing a bug or patching up vulnerabilities to secure your data. So, whatever you do, you should always update your phone, at all costs.

It's-important-to-update-your-operating-system-1 — It's important to update your operating system

For example, with the upcoming Android Q, Google is offering almost 50 new privacy and security features. The tech giant suggested that Android settings will include a new front-and-center Privacy section where users can set control over which services and apps can access their data. In addition, there will be a new Permission option allowing users to choose when and how their data, as well as other elements, are shared with third-party apps and Google.

Furthermore, with Android Q, manufacturers can roll out over-the-air updates in order to fix problems they detect with the OS’ 14 modules.

The biggest problem with system updates though

But-if-your-phone-is-too-old-it-may-hurt-the-hardware-2 — But if your phone is too old, it may hurt the hardware

However, some phones are too old it can’t handle the new updates and may scramble after getting updated. In addition, a new update on an old device can hurt the hardware, which directly affects the phone’s performance and user experience.

So, if you don’t want to hurt your phone’s hardware, you can choose to hold off on all device updates.

How to block Android system updates

There are three options for blocking updates on your Android phone.

Go to Settings where you’ll find Software Update. Here, view through to see if there is any setting that you can uncheck to stop automatic update downloads.
To ensure your phone will not download and install updates without consent, head to Settings > About phone > Software Information, find then tap on Build Number till you see that you have enabled Developer mode. Now go back to the primary Settings display and scroll down, then tap on the new Developer options section. After that, search for "Automatic system updates" and ensure that it's disabled.
You can buy and sideload an app called Package Disabler Pro, which you will use to disable the Software Update feature on your phone.