The latest Android security update – dated January 1st, 2021 – is now hitting select Galaxy Note 9 (SM-N960F) and Galaxy Fold (SM-N900F) models. Owners of the international variants of these flagships started encountering the new security patch within the last 24 hours. This development comes exactly a week after the January 2021 security update was first spotted in the wild.
As for the newly emerged firmware updates, the one targeting the Galaxy Note 9 is identified by version number N960FXXS7FUA1, whereas the patch intended for Samsung's first-ever foldable smartphone is designated as release F900FXXS4CTL1. Besides security improvements, no other changes or additions are shipped as part of this over-the-air software upgrade.
How long until the newest security patch hits your smartphone?
Samsung already detailed the specifics of the January 2021 security update developed for its Android smartphones and tablets last week. As per usual, the newly started rollouts are meant to be gradual, meaning they'll take some time to be completed. At least in the Galaxy Note 9's case; the January 2021 security update for the Galaxy Fold is already available for download in most of Europe. Presumably, because that particular smartphone sold in minuscule volumes, so its software patches don't pose an infrastructural risk to carriers if they're pushed out all at once.
Either way, you can try triggering a manual installation by going to your device's Settings > Software update menu, and selecting the Download and install option on the following interface. If that fails, there's always the option of downloading a compatible system image from our firmware archives and flashing it to your smartphone by yourself. So long as you know what you're doing, that is.
