Check the Security Update on your Android smartphone

Google has started issuing monthly updates for Android devices, with the search engine giant pushing out the updates directly to its Nexus devices (Nexus 5, 6, 5X, and 6P) and its OEMs pushing out the updates to its own devices. Security updates protect the device from software vulnerabilities and loopholes within the OS that can allow remote hackers to gain access to Android smartphones and tablets. While Nexus owners get the security updates quickly, other Android device owners may wait weeks or months before receiving the latest security update.

Even if you don’t have a Nexus device in Android, however, this doesn’t mean that you won’t get security updates in a timely manner. At the same time, however, it’s good to check the security update on your Android smartphone to make sure your update is within an acceptable timeframe. Here’s how you can check the security update on your Android smartphone:

• First, go to your phone settings. You can do this on a Nexus device or a Samsung device by pulling down your notification window, then selecting the “wheel” icon at the top right of the window.
• Next, scroll down to device settings and select “about phone.”
• In your phone information, you should see a section that says “Android security patch level,” then a date. Nexus 5, 6, 5X, and 6P owners, when you check the security update on your Android smartphone, you’ll find that the latest patch for December has been issued (should say “December 1, 2015” underneath the Android Security Patch Level designation).

In the future, you can always perform the above steps to check the security update on your Android smartphone to see if you have the latest or are waiting for the latest. Samsung devices will have the “about phone” section in system settings (if you don’t see an about phone section, look for system settings; it should be there).

Has this tutorial helped you learn how to check the security update on your Android smartphone? If so, feel free to let us know in the comments below.