System updates over mobile data?

[Walter Jones]

Hello, I have an S21 FE, and I can't seem to figure out how to download system updates over mobile data. If this is something that is arbitrarily locked down, and I can't change a setting to allow it, that would be a deal breaker for me, and I will have to be more careful next time I buy a phone (as in not get another Samsung).

This is the most expensive phone I have ever bought, and it also seems to be the most locked down. I couldn't even switch to 4G only when in areas where 5G coverage is slow and unreliable. Luckily I found a third party app that allowed me to solve that issue, but it is kind of pathetic that I would have to do such a thing for such a simple setting that has been present on every android phone I've ever used. 

So now I am having another issue of the software being excessively locked down. I have unlimited, unthrottled data, and I don't want to have to be tethered to Wifi for any reason at all. Please help me. 

[Perssy]

I have a S20+ which lost the ability to connect to WiFi 2 weeks ago. I have the same problem as the first poster, I cannot download the latest android update over mobile data and none of the solutions mentioned above work. Samsung have not responded to my requests for assistance.this phone will soon become not worth using.

[Members_Q3zRi6B]

Currently not home, want to update, can't. Enough data to not care, so I want to force this through. Have done so before, can't. This is is unacceptable. It's not just Samsung, it's virtually everyone in the last 15 years, it's been getting worse and is going to get worse. It needs to be stopped.

[Members_0MyLRsp]

Hi I just got the best option if you have a friend or family member who has enough mobile data tell him to make a hotspot and after you connect to his hotspot it will work I just tried and it works ,this is the option that I thought myself because I tried others and none worked

[Johnwa]

Now guys this is upsetting. I solved it by Hotspoting my Samsung with another phone since I don't want to use public WiFi and I'm always in remote places with enough data. Who told Samsung that their customers cannot afford data more less for software updates? It's ridiculous and annoying.

[JordanS]

Just to give some clarity on this situation, some network providers don't allow their customers to download software updates over Mobile Data. This is ultimately their decision, not Samsung's, as they are the ones providing the network service.

[david6557]

Me too

[Spoxed]

Yes and that's a fringe percent of network carriers not allowing software updates over data, comparing to vast percent that dont even think about that as a option.... Why would you ? This update issue now and general situation regarding internet without proper adblock is the reason I immediately root every Samsung I had except this s23fe, wchich i was using to see what is on the other side of the mirror... I expected terrible experience and  ... 3/4 of it came true roughly speaking... Now I dont encourage anybody to root your phones because your manufacturer won't like you at all and Google possibly in the future.. it will always be supported by security issues and privacy and so we , siimple  users ,wont brick our devices day 1 ....

Because it's easier to just prevent something lock it away and demonize anyone that tries to opposed to educating People so we don't Need locking out stuff , preventing access to things, and In My Opinion - lowest tactics -  manufacturing enviroment where hackers are everywhere, and All they want is to steal your data and sell it to everyone, hack your Credit Card wirelessly, read your texts / calls

And since Android 11 security and privacy is the main feature of every single update, yet i guarantee you if hypothetical situation happens and You Lost your device and i would find it it's unlocked in ~1 day - google account or knox ... while iPhones can't be done without replacing hardware - why cant android be that way?

[Spoxed]

So if it's not clear...

I'm not a fan of updates without Wi-Fi and the way (gooogle)Android and Samsung are going

[J_9]

To be able to run updates without needing WIFI,  go to Settings, scroll down & select the  "Software Update" menu.

Inside this menu you'll see two options, the first is "Check For An Update",  the second option is "Auto Download".   

Click on "Auto Download".

Inside the Auto Download menu, you'll see two options, one is "over WIFI" (already the default selection),  the other is "Download Via Mobile".

Select "Download Via Mobile".

After you've changed these settings, if you're not sure if you're up to date, go back to the "Check For Updates" menu, so you can force these downloads immediately since you're behind on them...

I hope this helps!

[Spoxed]

Straight off the bat post update:

My favorite keyboard doesn't work anymore and you know since there is no going back to Android 14 oneUI 6 I am stuck without a keyboard... since nor samsung or google or ms can Design a keyboard that is simple yet have everything and doesn't give eye cancer in the process I refuse any of these products on grounds of... My Keyboard had everything I have zero idea what company made it but it doesn't have fringe percent of those I mentioned before and this is embarrassing to put it gently

soon after first boot I noticed a little more stuttering everywhere not much maybe between 5 to 7% performance drop? Okay we have a lot of AI features here it's understandable... can I use them not and get my 5-7% back? No... is there anything that it enables that you didn't already had available via chatgpt or any other llms? On the example of image editing: Everything we got now .... is in every photo editor as a base function, few can do this even better than Galaxy AI... only functional addition out of AI are the camera - translating features...

skipping my rant on security/privacy please protect me more.... 

One UI 7 I could almost give a pass if not this mess on quick access panel Oh my God Volume bar? Why because there was space and there was nothing to put in there? Another quick access sin: quick pulldown now brings downa cluster-duck of stuff... volume bar as mentioned and Smart View Smart Things and modes ... I honestly don't know why this was determined to be put there literally no one uses Smart View and smart things - since Google Does it Better - if you want to go smart home... the same as you buy a Samsung phone because you need a device to communicate not to turn on your boiler or remotely turn lights off and on... I understand Samsung doing this because Google does it so we must too... even if ours isn't that good we have to offer at least ...