It may be tempting to install Android 11 as soon as it arrives, but Galaxy S20 users still have some steps to take before upgrading from Android 10 to Android 11 and the company’s new One UI 3.0.
The beta is over and Samsung is finally rolling out the stable version of Android 11 and One UI 3.0 to the Galaxy S20 series in various regions around the world.
Now that the Galaxy S20 Android 11 update has rolled out across the globe, those of you who own flagship models should start preparing for the upgrade to the new operating system.
Galaxy S20 Android 11 update is a big upgrade. It brings a host of changes including UI tweaks, camera improvements, more customization options and much more.
Android 11 and One UI 3.0 have gone through an extensive beta process, but some Galaxy S20 users are encountering bugs and performance issues after migrating to the operating system.
It’s hard to predict exactly how Android 11 will run on your phone, so you’ll want to do some prep work before starting the installation process. If you do the work in advance, you should be able to avoid serious problems.
If you haven’t been prompted to install the Android 11 update yet, this is a great time to spend about 30 minutes preparing yourself and your device for migration.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps we typically take before installing new Android software on our Galaxy devices. It will come in handy while you wait for your Android 11 update.
Back up your files
Data loss issues are rare, but you’ll still want to make sure all your important data is backed up before installing Android 11 on your phone.
You can use Samsung’s Smart Switch To do this, the application or company Samsung Cloud solution to automatically backup your data. You can also use it to manually backup important files you have stored on your phone.
To access Samsung Cloud, go to your device’s Settings and go to Accounts & backup. If you do not have a Samsung account, you must create one to use this service.
There are also loads of solid third-party apps if you want to avoid using Samsung products. Super Backup and Restore still one of our favorites, but there are many other options.
Get to Know Android 11
If you haven’t followed suit yet, it’s time to start familiarizing yourself with the changes in Samsung’s version of Android 11.
Android 11/One UI 3.0 looks and feels different from Android 10/One UI 2.x, so you’ll want to get comfortable with these differences before installing the software. This way, you won’t get kicked out.
First of all, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with all of Google’s changes in Android 11. To do this, the company Android 11 step by step. It highlights the differences between Android 11 and Android 10.
You’ll also want to learn about the biggest changes Samsung has made to the One UI. To do this, take a look at our guide or Samsung’s official statement.
Free Up Space for Android 11
The Android 11 update requires some space on the internal storage of your Galaxy S20. If you’re running out or not running out of space, use this time to clear your phone’s storage.
If you’ve owned your Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+, or Galaxy S20 Ultra since launch, your internal storage is probably full of files you no longer need.
Before installing Android 11, take a look at your storage (internal and even external if needed) and get rid of the space-occupying items.
You can use your phone’s Device Care function in Settings to narrow the list of items to delete.
Review Feedback
While you wait for your Android 11 update to arrive, be sure to review the feedback from Galaxy S20 users who have upgraded to the stable version of the software.
Samsung’s release of Android 11 will take weeks to complete, and some of you may not get Android 11 until early or later 2021. Waiting can be frustrating, but use this time wisely.
Check out Android 11 feedback from early adopters and gain insight into the software’s improvements, bugs, and performance issues.
There are plenty of places to find feedback on Android 11, but here are a few of our favourites: XDA Forums and Galaxy S20 Reddit.
It may be tempting to install new software on the first day, but you should only do so if you are confident when the download prompt appears.
If you’re not too confident when the prompt appears, it might be a good idea to wait for long-term Android 11 feedback before proceeding with the installation.
Find Fixes for Android 11 Issues
Android 11 and One UI 3.0 have gone through a long beta process, but the issues surprisingly made their way into the official release.
Galaxy S20 users are reporting bugs and performance issues, and we expect the list of issues to grow as the release expands to other parts of the world.
You can’t predict the problems you’ll encounter after migrating your phone to the new operating system, so you’ll want to have a list of fixes handy.
We have compiled a list of fixes for common Galaxy S20 problems. We’ve also posted a guide that shows you how to fix Galaxy S20 battery life issues. It will come in handy if you start noticing that the battery is starting to drain strangely after upgrading to Android 11.
You should also find Samsung Support on Twitter and bookmark Samsung’s support page and/or Samsung’s Discussion forums. They can help.
Download Application Updates
Make sure to update your apps before downloading Android 11.
Samsung has updated many of its apps with Android 11 and One UI 3.0 support. Third-party developers will also update their apps with Android 11 support.
These updates bring new features and will help these apps maintain their performance on Android 11.
After upgrading from Android 10 to Android 11, apps not optimized for Android 11 may not work properly.
Control with IT
If you’re using your Galaxy S20 for work, it might be wise to talk to your IT team (if applicable) before installing the Android 11 update.
Enterprise issues are extremely common after major Android releases, and we’ve already seen a few complaints about Android 11.
Talking to your IT department can provide you with important feedback on Samsung’s software. If there are no clear instructions where you work, be sure to contact IT before installing the software.
If you don’t have an IT department, it might be a good idea to talk to your colleagues using Android 11 and get feedback on its performance before you act.
Have your login information at hand
After installing Android 11, you are likely to sign out of some of your apps and services. This is a potential headache if you haven’t had to log into them in a while.
You will obviously need your login information to log back into these apps and services. If you haven’t had to log in for a while, you may have forgotten the information. This can be problematic if you rely on your phone’s software for school or work.
While it may seem tedious, we recommend that you monitor all your important login information to make sure everything is OK before upgrading to Android 11.
If you don’t, you may find that you’re wasting time tracking and/or resetting your login information.
Charge Your Galaxy S20
Make sure to keep your phone charged when Android 11 starts rolling out for your region/or carrier. That way, you can install the update as soon as it arrives, if that’s what you want to do.
Most Galaxy Android software updates require you to have 20 percent battery charge to complete the installation process.
We recommend keeping the battery charge at 50 percent for Android 11, as it’s a huge upgrade and may take some time to complete.
We also recommend having a charger nearby. That way, if your phone doesn’t have enough charge, you can plug it in to start the Android 11 upgrade process.
Decide How to Install Android 11
Galaxy S20 Android 11 rollout is slow. If you’re feeling impatient, you might want to download the update right now.
If you don’t want to wait for the over-the-air (OTA) update, you can manually install the Android 11 update on your phone right now.
If you are interested in manually installing Android 11, you should be familiar with the process by now. If the process is too complex for your skill set, wait for the update to reach OTA.