For some users, the Samsung Galaxy S6 Nougat release date has arrived and today we are sharing some tips to help you prepare for the release of your Galaxy S6 or Galaxy S6 Edge Android 7.0 Nougat update.
We told you that the Galaxy S6 Nougat update release could be coming soon and the update will now be rolled out with the Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge and Galaxy S7 Active Nougat updates.
The Android 7.0 Nougat update for the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge is starting to roll out in Europe. It’s extremely limited but we expect Samsung to ramp up in the coming weeks, including in the United States where T-Mobile has confirmed both updates.
Now that the distribution has started and the release is expected to ramp up in March, we’d like to review some Galaxy S6 Nougat release date tips to help you in preparation for your update’s release and on release day.
Expect a Long, Prolonged Process
Our first piece of advice and we can’t stress it enough, be patient.
Samsung’s launch takes several months to reach every device in every region for every carrier. While your friend in Italy or the UK may get the Galaxy S6 Nougat update in March, you may not get your update until April, May or June.
Also, if you have a non-flagship model like the Galaxy S6 Active, it will likely take longer for your update to become available.
We’ve already seen this on the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Nougat version. Some users got it right off the bat in January. Some took it in February. Most Galaxy S7 users should start seeing Nougat in March and April.
This presentation will take months to complete, and you’ll want to be patient as Samsung and/or your carrier work on testing issues behind the scenes.
Avoid Nougat Leaks and Stick to OTA
As we move towards the release of your update, you may see several Galaxy S6 Nougat updates leaked.
While it may be tempting to flash these files to your phone, you should only do so if you have a solid grasp of the process. Many of you don’t and won’t.
If you’re new to Android or consider yourself a novice, we recommend avoiding leaks as they’ll probably cause more trouble than it’s worth.
You Should Be able to Force OTA (AT&T)
You may not see your Galaxy S6 or Galaxy S6 Edge Nougat update as soon as it goes live. Most carriers take a gradual approach over a few days or weeks.
For example, Vodafone in Australia has randomly selected 10,000 phones to receive the Galaxy S7 Nougat update within days one to three of its launch.
Between days 4 and 13, the carrier randomly selected 10% of the remaining pool. Finally, on day 14, all devices were qualified for Android Nougat.
The process may vary slightly from carrier to carrier, but you can expect your carrier to use something like this.
If you don’t want to wait for the OTA to arrive on your phone, you can force the Galaxy S6 Nougat update to appear.
AT&T Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge users were able to bypass the Nougat OTA. Here’s how it’s done:
We’re assuming this trick will work with the AT&T Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge (at least), so keep that in mind. It may come in handy when the update arrives.
Prepare Your Galaxy S6 for Nougat
Now that the update is live, you’ll want to start preparing your Galaxy S6 for the arrival of Android Nougat. It’s never too early to do some preparatory work.
We have prepared a guide that will talk about the most important things you should do before installing Nougat on your smartphone.
At the very least, you’ll want to make sure your important files are properly backed up before hitting the download button on release day.
You Don’t Have To Install On The First Day
When Android Nougat arrives for your Galaxy S6, your first instinct will be to install it right away. We do not and will not blame you.
While many of you will be installing the day your update arrives, others may want to do a rain check.
Yes, the Galaxy S6 Nougat update offers some exciting features, but there is also the potential for problems. New updates and older devices sometimes don’t mix, and you may want to wait for (short and/or long-term) feedback on Nougat before making your move.
Here are three reasons not to install the Galaxy S6 Nougat update as soon as it comes out:
For a more in-depth look, take a look at our list of reasons to and not install the Galaxy S6 Nougat update.
There Will Be Problems, Be Prepared
Samsung has tested the Galaxy S6 Nougat update for bugs and carrier partners will do the same. And while some issues will be fixed beforehand, Android Nougat issues will go through the cracks.
There is a very high probability that you will encounter an issue with Nougat in the first days or weeks after your device’s launch. It’s impossible to predict what you’ll see, so you’ll want to be as prepared as possible.
Preparing for the update is part of it, having a solid line of potential fixes is another piece of the puzzle.
You’ll want to watch for potential fixes and resources for Galaxy S6 Nougat issues to be ready to face whatever the update will bring you. Fortunately, we got you covered.
We’ve compiled a list of excellent resources and a list of fixes for the most common Galaxy Nougat problems. The list includes fixes for weird battery drain, broken Wi-Fi, broken Bluetooth, and more.
See Downgrade Process
now would be a great time enter downgrade process.
If you install Android Nougat on your Galaxy S6 and you are not satisfied with its performance, you can revert to an older Android version, possibly Marshmallow. (We doubt you’ll want to go back to Lollipop.)
The process takes some time, you will need to root and flash the old firmware, but it is doable. Even novice users should be able to grasp the process.
To get started, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with Samsung ODIN.
Limit Your Expectations
Finally, you’ll want to lower your expectations when it comes to the Galaxy S6 Nougat update.
The Samsung Galaxy S7 Nougat update comes with loads of new features, but the Galaxy S6 Nougat changelog is a bit lighter.
According to Samsung current Galaxy S6 Nougat guideKey features like Always On Display and Video Enhancer are missing.
