If your phone has looked or behaved a little differently this year, you are not imagining it. Google released a new version of Android, called Android 16, in June 2025, and phone makers have been sending it out to devices ever since.
You do not need to understand everything about it. But a few of the changes are actually useful day to day, and knowing what version you have makes it easier to follow instructions (including ours) that mention specific settings.
This guide explains what Android 16 actually changes, how to check which version your phone has right now, and how to update safely, without falling for a fake “update” scam along the way.
Plain talk: version number
A version number, like Android 14, 15 or 16, tells you how new your phone’s software is. A higher number means a newer version, usually with more features and better security. It has nothing to do with how old your physical phone is.
What is Android 16?
Android 16 is the current version of the Android operating system, the software that runs most non Apple phones and tablets. Google builds Android and releases a major new version most years. Android 16 is simply this year’s version, following Android 15.
Plain talk: operating system
An operating system is the main software that runs your whole device and lets every app work. On a phone, it is either Android (used by Samsung, Google Pixel, Motorola and others) or Apple’s iOS (used only on iPhones).
Android 16 started arriving on Google’s own Pixel phones on June 10, 2025. Samsung’s newest folding phones, the Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7, launched with Android 16 already installed in July 2025, running inside Samsung’s own interface, called One UI 8. Other Samsung phones, along with brands like Motorola, OnePlus and Oppo, are receiving Android 16 gradually through the rest of 2025 and into next year, as each company finishes testing it for their models.
How do I check which Android version I have?
Open Settings, then look for About phone, then Android version. The exact wording can vary slightly by brand, but the path is close to the same on every phone.
- Open the Settings app (the gear icon).
- Scroll to the bottom and tap About phone (on some phones, About device or About tablet).
- Tap Android version.
- You will see a number, such as 14, 15 or 16, along with a security update date and a build number.
| Phone brand | Where to look |
|---|---|
| Google Pixel | Settings, About phone, Android version |
| Samsung | Settings, About phone, Software information, Android version |
| Motorola, OnePlus, others | Settings, About phone (wording may vary slightly) |
If you see 16, you already have it. If you see a lower number, your phone has not received it yet, which is completely normal and explained below.
What’s actually new in Android 16
Most of Android 16’s changes happen behind the scenes, but a handful are worth knowing about because you will notice them.
- Calmer notifications. Android 16 added a notification cooldown, which quietens repeated alerts from the same chatty app for up to two minutes, instead of letting your phone buzz over and over.
- Clearer ongoing updates. A new notification style called Live Updates shows things like a food delivery or a ride on the way in a single, tidy notification that updates itself, rather than sending you a new alert every few minutes.
- A battery health screen. On supported phones, Android 16 can show a battery health percentage and how many charge cycles your battery has been through, which helps you know if it is time to think about a new phone or battery.
- Better hearing aid support. Android 16 improves support for Bluetooth hearing aids, including taking phone calls directly through compatible hearing aids and adjusting ambient volume separately from call volume.
- Extra security hardening. Google tightened several technical protections that make it harder for a malicious app to trick another app into handing over information, without any change to what you see or tap.
- Easier photo searching. When you are choosing a photo to attach to a text or email, the picker screen in Android 16 lets you search by typing a word, like “beach” or “birthday”, instead of scrolling through hundreds of photos by hand.
Try this
To see if your phone shows battery health, go to Settings, then Battery, and look for Battery health or Battery information. Not every phone has this yet, since it depends on your device maker turning it on.
None of these changes require you to do anything. They simply happen once your phone is updated.
How do I update to Android 16 safely?
Update only through your phone’s own Settings app, never through a link in a text, email or pop up. Here is the safe way to do it.
- Connect your phone to Wi-Fi.
- Plug your phone in to charge, or make sure the battery is well above half full.
- Open Settings.
- Tap System, then System update or Software update (on Samsung, this is usually Software update near the top of Settings).
- Tap Check for updates, and if one is available, tap Download and install.
- Follow the on screen instructions. Your phone may restart once or twice.
Give it 20 to 40 minutes, and avoid using the phone heavily while it installs.
Most phones can also be set to install updates automatically overnight. Look for a setting called Automatic system updates or Update at night near the software update screen, and turn it on if you would rather not think about it again.
Plain talk: security patch
A security patch is a small fix that closes a hole hackers or scammers could use to get into your phone. Android updates, including Android 16, bundle these in regularly. Installing them is one of the simplest ways to keep your phone, your photos and your banking apps safer.
Safety tip
A real Android update never asks you to click a link in a text message, call a phone number, enter your bank details, or pay a fee. If you get a message like that, it is a scam pretending to be an update, the same trick covered in our guide on tech support pop up scams. Delete it and check for updates yourself, inside Settings.
Say this
If someone calls or messages claiming your phone needs an urgent update and asks you to act right now, you can simply say: “I don’t take software updates over the phone or by text. I’ll check my own settings.” Then hang up or stop replying.
Do I need to update right away?
No. There is no deadline, and Android 16 is not required to keep using your phone normally. That said, it is worth updating within a few weeks of your phone offering it to you, mainly because updates often carry security fixes, the same kind of protection covered in our guide to finding a lost or stolen Android phone.
If your phone has not offered Android 16 yet, there is nothing wrong with it. Samsung, Motorola and other brands test each version carefully on their own phones before releasing it, which can take months after Google’s own release. Samsung’s version of this update is called One UI 8, and it is worth reading our guide to Samsung’s Easy Mode if you find any phone menu confusing, since simplifying your home screen works the same way no matter which Android version you are on.
It also helps to know that not every phone will ever receive Android 16. Very old phones, generally more than five to seven years old depending on the brand and model, stop receiving new Android versions altogether, even though they may still work fine for calls and texts. If your phone’s software update screen says it is already on the latest version available for your model, that is likely why, and it is not something you did wrong.
A quick word on spam and unwanted apps
New Android versions are also a reasonable time to review what is installed on your phone and turn off notifications from apps you no longer use. If robocalls or spam texts are more of a daily nuisance than software updates, our guide on stopping spam calls on Android walks through the built in blocking tools step by step.
And if you would rather have a family member walk you through checking your version or updating safely, that is a perfectly good use of a phone call. There is no rush, and no reason to feel behind if your phone is still catching up to Android 16.
Where to go from here
Checking your Android version and updating safely is just one part of getting comfortable with your phone. Your Android Phone, Plainly Explained walks through settings, security and everyday features like this one in plain language, with large print steps for Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel phones.
