Updating from base version of android 10 to latest android 14 version(Samsung X Cover 7)

[Marlboro_Red]

Hello. A few years ago I have purchased a samsung xcover 7(I got it at 160usd, factory sealed) and only recently have I begun to try to switch to it as my EDC phone as my older phone from 2016 has begun to break down.

 

Thus the question of whether to update it comes to mind as whenever I open it I keep getting notified to update my phone.

 

The android currently on the phone is the very first version of android 10, it's build number being "up1a.231005.007.g556bxxu1axa1".

 

I am unsure whether to update as the new android versions will only restrict pirated or "unofficial" apps more and more, potentially having preinstalled surveillance apps to check what files you have on your phone and who you have messaged.

 

Another reason which I know for sure of is that, android 14 completely removes 32bit functionality which my phone kind of supports although not fully.

 

Besides all of these, I am not sure that there is an archive of android build versions which are native to xcover 7s. So if I update it, the last chance of it being archived somewhere might be missed.

 

What do you guys think about all of this?

[Marlboro_Red]

Whoops! I confused the version of android my current phone uses with the version of android which the new phone uses instead of the version it's asking to update to.

[DKT27]

@Marlboro_Red: Just one thing. You probably don't need to be concerned about 32-bit apps. From my understanding most apps these days are 64-bit I think.

[DLord]

@Marlboro_Red You are already on Android 14 so go ahead and apply any available updates.

 

Also here you can find the archive you are looking for:

https://www.sammobile.com/samsung/galaxy-xcover-7/firmware/

[Marlboro_Red]

12 hours ago, DLord said:

@Marlboro_Red You are already on Android 14 so go ahead and apply any available updates.

 

Also here you can find the archive you are looking for:

https://www.sammobile.com/samsung/galaxy-xcover-7/firmware/

I believe that my "g556bxxu1axa1" build is missing from that list.

[Marlboro_Red]

23 hours ago, DKT27 said:

@Marlboro_Red: Just one thing. You probably don't need to be concerned about 32-bit apps. From my understanding most apps these days are 64-bit I think.

Not being able to run 32bit apps natively is not a BIG problem as there are workarounds, even if they are annoying to set up.

 

The HUGE problems are progressively not being able to install "unofficial" apps, surveillance being preemptively used on your phone to see your files and communications and my specific android build for my phone not being in any archive despite being the very first build native to the phone sent right from the factory.

[Kalju]

@Marlboro_Red 
Where do you get such things and such data that you are talking about here? Of course, update and of course you can also use applications not from Google Play. And you should be able to update to Android 16 and One UI 8.5 without any problems. And you don't have to look for suitable packages anywhere, your phone will find them itself, downloads and install also. You have only restart Your device after it has been installed.
And if someone is spying on you, it's your country's special service and they're doing it regardless of your phone brand and operating system.

Edited June 23 by Kalju

[UberGeek]

On 6/23/2026 at 1:27 AM, Marlboro_Red said:

I am unsure whether to update as the new android versions will only restrict pirated or "unofficial" apps more and more, potentially having preinstalled surveillance apps to check what files you have on your phone and who you have messaged.

Personally, the one & only one reason that would stop me from updating is . . . IF any update would prevent rooting my device. As per Android news most device manufacturers have decided to rollout updates that would disable unlocking of the bootloader . . . I already experienced this on my S25 Galaxy when updating from One UI 8 to One UI 8.5.

 

In your case, you might want to do your research on the new update available to your particular hardware . . . IF rooting your device is of any importance to you. Other than that, there are insignificant consequences to updating your phone software.

[Marlboro_Red]

19 hours ago, UberGeek said:

Personally, the one & only one reason that would stop me from updating is . . . IF any update would prevent rooting my device. As per Android news most device manufacturers have decided to rollout updates that would disable unlocking of the bootloader . . . I already experienced this on my S25 Galaxy when updating from One UI 8 to One UI 8.5.

 

In your case, you might want to do your research on the new update available to your particular hardware . . . IF rooting your device is of any importance to you. Other than that, there are insignificant consequences to updating your phone software.

weeeelllll my x cover 7 phone would update to android 16 so one ui 8.5 so it would stop me from rooting it which sucks since I intend to use this phone for years, especially since it's durable.

 

so, what do if I would want to update it as much as I can or atleast not get a daily reminder to update my phone?

[UberGeek]

On my own Samsung device, have used native settings to halt auto downloads permanently:-

Settings >> Software update >> Auto download >> Never

For insurance, have also implemented a third-party solution by installing AdGuard . . . in the right hands, its firewalling capabilities can be utilized for finer-grained control over internet access across all apps (including system apps.)

[Marlboro_Red]

On 6/24/2026 at 1:54 AM, Kalju said:

@Marlboro_Red 
Where do you get such things and such data that you are talking about here? Of course, update and of course you can also use applications not from Google Play. And you should be able to update to Android 16 and One UI 8.5 without any problems. And you don't have to look for suitable packages anywhere, your phone will find them itself, downloads and install also. You have only restart Your device after it has been installed.
And if someone is spying on you, it's your country's special service and they're doing it regardless of your phone brand and operating system.

you are misinformed, one ui 8 disables any unlocking of the bootloader which I would rather not be locked away, especially for a phone of this quality.

 

The other issue you're speaking of is that I am simply worrying about the worsening situation of privacy and thinking that older software might be spared of newer installmnts which might just preemptively check your files for politically not correct things.

16 hours ago, UberGeek said:

On my own Samsung device, have used native settings to halt auto downloads permanently:-

Settings >> Software update >> Auto download >> Never

For insurance, have also implemented a third-party solution by installing AdGuard . . . in the right hands, its firewalling capabilities can be utilized for finer-grained control over internet access across all apps (including system apps.)

issue is, on my phone the update already downloaded itself when i first opened it. I am wondering how to disable it. Maybe a factory reset?

[UberGeek]

While One UI 8 & One UI 8.5 do disable unlocking the bootloader . . . there's still the following option to enable unlocking of the bootloader (conditions apply):-

 

https://xdaforums.com/t/s25-series-userdata_aio-odin-flashable-ui-7-0-8-0-8-5-support-keeps-oem-unlock-installs-twrp-root-use-on-stock-firmware-unlocked-bootloaders.4754121/

 

The above link is applicable specifically to the Samsung Galaxy S25 Series . . . you'll need to research for your own particular device.

Edited June 27 by UberGeek

[Marlboro_Red]

19 hours ago, UberGeek said:

While One UI 8 & One UI 8.5 do disable unlocking the bootloader . . . there's still the following option to enable unlocking of the bootloader (conditions apply):-

 

https://xdaforums.com/t/s25-series-userdata_aio-odin-flashable-ui-7-0-8-0-8-5-support-keeps-oem-unlock-installs-twrp-root-use-on-stock-firmware-unlocked-bootloaders.4754121/

 

The above link is applicable specifically to the Samsung Galaxy S25 Series . . . you'll need to research for your own particular device.

interesting stuff, so some bypasses exist, I don't think there's any for my phone though.

[Marlboro_Red]

On 6/27/2026 at 7:31 AM, UberGeek said:

While One UI 8 & One UI 8.5 do disable unlocking the bootloader . . . there's still the following option to enable unlocking of the bootloader (conditions apply):-

 

https://xdaforums.com/t/s25-series-userdata_aio-odin-flashable-ui-7-0-8-0-8-5-support-keeps-oem-unlock-installs-twrp-root-use-on-stock-firmware-unlocked-bootloaders.4754121/

 

The above link is applicable specifically to the Samsung Galaxy S25 Series . . . you'll need to research for your own particular device.

I say, until the foreseeable future, I would be interested in not being reminded of updating my xcover 7 phone. 

 

It's a daily overlay notification which is very annoying and it makes me delay the download indefinitely.

[UberGeek]

Strange, I'm not seeing that notification . . . maybe the article at the following link might be of help:-

 

https://learnprotips.com/how-to-remove-software-update-notification-samsung/