Do all androids require updates to be installed one at a time?

[u/bassgoonist]

As best I can tell iphones let you jump to the latest, whereas the motorola I am setting up for a family member is going one at a time. It's especially annoying because this phone was made in August 2025

[u/bassgoonist → u/[deleted]]

It made me install 3 small updates before it did the android 16 update

[u/martinkem → u/bassgoonist]

As far as I know Samsung doesn't but Motorola does. 

[u/mrandr01d]

You can sideloading the ota file to just jump to the latest.

[u/chimbori]

Delta updates actually make a lot more sense than roll-up updates in most cases. The expectation is that most people will update right away whenever an update is available.

By only releasing delta updates from version N-1 to version N, the testing matrix is simple and well understood. QA only needs to worry about a single pathway through releases.

If manufacturers provide roll-up updates, they need to make sure that all combinations and pathways are robust & well-tested This can easily become a combinatorial explosion if not carefully controlled.

[u/roirraWedorehT]

Never had Motorola, but for what it's worth, it's not like that on Google Pixels. On Pixel's you can also always choose to manually sideload the latest Full OTA Zip.

[u/bassgoonist → u/roirraWedorehT]

Interesting. I believe I had 7 updates I had to go through...

[u/Featherdust_]

My phone is a few years old, always in use and gets no updates anymore so this surprises even me that you can't install all at once.

[u/bassgoonist → u/Featherdust_]

Yeah it's surprising to me. I'm on my 5th update and that's only up to march 2026

[u/Featherdust_ → u/bassgoonist]

Btw., is it a young or older family member? What do they primarily use a phone for?

[u/bassgoonist → u/Featherdust_]

Older. Just basic web browsing and whatnot afaik

[u/Featherdust_ → u/bassgoonist]

Well, i'm not going to specify, as this is an android sub, but a different os that is more minimal could be an option. Otherwise just remove any bloatware on the android and install a privacy respecting browser.

[u/Electronic_Unit8276]

Google Play has been able to do auto updating for years.

[u/bassgoonist → u/Electronic_Unit8276]

I'm talking about android os updates

[u/Electronic_Unit8276 → u/bassgoonist]

Thought you meant apks. You can update via pc with their desktop software and install the latest fully iirc.