How do I allow a system update over wifi only?

[AC Question]

how do i only allow sysem update over wifi

How do I only allow a system update when on wifi

 

[fincx]

You may need to turn off the auto update, we when you need to update, turn it on when is connecting wifi.

 

[smvim]

If

Really? That's your solution? To manually turn off mobile data whenever a system update forces itself? No, unacceptable. He asked how to set it to never download system updates on mobile data. There has to be a setting somewhere. My phone just used 1 gig of my mobile data to download the latest update, not cool. It was connected to wifi when I accepted and it sat on the desk the entire time.

If your mobile device was connected to WiFi network when you initiated the upgrade and it then bounced back to mobile data it you sounds more like there's a problem with your WiFi. Check your router setup, check its coverage, and confirm your broadband connection (cable or DSL) is active. While it is more practical to do what B. Diddy suggested (simply disable mobile data), since you're obviously not willing to do even that then you do need to make sure your WiFi is actually usable.

 

[anon(8287587)]

There's no way to permanently tell Android to only download updates via wifi - it always has to be done manually. (The immediate answer to "there has to be a way to ..." is "why?" - there doesn't have to be any way to do anything.)

That's a complete cop-out. When scmooot says 'there has to be a setting somewhere', I think (s)he is coming from the same place as me in expressing disbelief that someone has made the idiotic decision to not allow real-world users to determine whether or not they want to use their data allowance to be gobbled up on system updates.

My phone burned through my entire month's 500GB allowance in just 4 minutes today, without so much as a by-your-leave. For Android to presume everyone is on an all-you-can-eat data tariff proves the supreme arrogance of ivory-tower decisionmakers, and I'm OK to be angry about that on my own and others' behalves (edited by moderator)

 

[dpham00]

That's a complete cop-out. When scmooot says 'there has to be a setting somewhere', I think (s)he is coming from the same place as me in expressing disbelief that someone has made the idiotic decision to not allow real-world users to determine whether or not they want to use their data allowance to be gobbled up on system updates.

My phone burned through my entire month's 500GB allowance in just 4 minutes today, without so much as a by-your-leave. For Android to presume everyone is on an all-you-can-eat data tariff proves the supreme arrogance of ivory-tower decisionmakers, and I'm OK to be angry about that on my own and others' behalves (edited by moderator)

500GB data plan? That's pretty insane. To use 500GB in 4 minutes would mean 15x Google fiber gigabit speeds.

 

[smvim]

...
My phone burned through my entire month's 500GB allowance in just 4 minutes today, ...

Wow, that's 125GB per minute or 2.1GB per second, which works out to be roughly a 17,000Mbps cellular connection. Even if on less-than-optimal days the bandwidth is only one-third of that, I wanna move there.

 

[dpham00]

Wow, that's 125GB per minute or 2.1GB per second, which works out to be roughly a 17,000Mbps cellular connection. Even if on less-than-optimal days the bandwidth is only one-third of that, I wanna move there.

Yeah it is impressive. To put it in more understandable terms, that's enough for 3,000 simultaneous HD Netflix streams

 

[Richard Bowell]

Re: how do i only allow sysem update over wifi

I'm in the equally annoying but reverse situation to you guys. My LG5 will only allow Android Software Updates via WiFi. I don't have home WiFi! I have loads of mobile data though.

My LG5 would allow YOU GUYS though to change settings to resolve your issues. The LG5 has loads of settings available to update apps by WiFi only, to update apps manually or automatically. BUT annoyingly Android System Updates have to be done on WiFi. Oh, and yes these big ASUs that my data plan can handle can be done manually or be set to automatic.

I have to go to a coffee shop and hope that the slow WiFi there will handle my Android Software Update - when it would be quicker if I could do it via my mobile data.

More absurdly, I can use my phone at home to update Android Software on my Tablet via WiFi from my phone but not use the same mobile data for my phone.

I've tried various YouTube suggestions to resolve my issue. It might be that it's my mobile data provider that stops it rather than my LG5. They don't like people using mobile data for large downloads because it will slow the Network if many people do it.

 

[mcollins5813]

The setting is under Google Play. From the menu select settings. You'll find an option for App Updates. Just select to update over Wi-Fi only. Don't be dismayed by bullies.

 

[psco2017]

Same thing just happened to me. One gig for phone updates. Was never given an option for WiFi even though the wifi was connected the whole time.

The provider should see this and exempt us from being charged.

To make sure wifi is used for downloads: Settings,Google,Data Mgmt, Wifi only.

 

[Rukbat]

That's a complete cop-out. When scmooot says 'there has to be a setting somewhere', I think (s)he is coming from the same place as me in expressing disbelief that someone has made the idiotic decision to not allow real-world users to determine whether or not they want to use their data allowance to be gobbled up on system updates.

Google (and some manufacturers and carriers) make some decisions some of us consider idiotic. For example, when adding a new contact, the default is "Device", and most people, not knowing any better, don't change it their Google account - so when something goes wrong with their phone, they find that none of their contacts has been backed up to Google Contacts. (And if you have a few hundred contacts, getting all those numbers and adding the contacts one by one can take a long time out of your life.)

 

[dbut64]

I have an S8. Under software update in settings, you can set "Download Updates Automatically".
Under this it has the details and it says download software updates automatically when connected to a wifi network.

 

[Susan FitzHugh]

My data was all used up even though I had turned off mobile data. It seems that in Android's term and conditions is says "Google may update any Google app or any app that you have downloaded from Google Play to its newest version, irrespective of any update settings that you may have selected within the Google Play app or your Device, if Google determines that the update will fix a critical security vulnerability related to the app." which meant that it automatically turned on my mobile data and used up my monthly allowance when I was out of wifi range. Surely there's a way round this??

 

[hawkeyefxr]

Wow, that's 125GB per minute or 2.1GB per second, which works out to be roughly a 17,000Mbps cellular connection. Even if on less-than-optimal days the bandwidth is only one-third of that, I wanna move there.

I have just had this happen to me, it knocked a big dent it my 1gig of data allowance. It was more about me being in control of what goes on on MY phone.

Anyway been been really looking into this and yes you need to set auto updaters to WiFi one in the Play Store as described earlier on this thread
I also went in to the settings>about Phone>Software Updates>system updates, tapped the three dots at the top right of the screen and chose settings. There three heading there, two have been set to Auto Updates to WiFi only. The middle one is when you want to install the system up dates, mine was set 03.00 in the morning (no wonder i never saw it being updates till i looked at my data?) I have now set this to 07.00 which will be about when i first look at my phone.
I don't know if this works as yet as i have not had another update but finger crossed it will.
You may well have done all this already but i have not seen it on the above posts.

 

[magslynn]

I had to do a live chat to figure this out. To turn on the developer mode in an android (I have an LG G6):
Settings>System>About Phone>Software Info
Find the Build Number and tap on it 7 times. It should tell you that you are now a developer.
Go back to System and find the new Developer Options tab. Click on it and scroll until you find the Automatic System Updates toggle. Set it to the off mode.
And just remember that you now have to manually check for and start system updates.
Hope this helps someone.

 

[Aura1]

Simply turn OFF Data and turn ON WiFi - I have gotten from OS Nougat 7.1 to OS Oreo 8.0 on WiFi Only and also with the Google Android Apps transfer from old phone to the new phone also on WiFi Only, so, Yea.

 

[William Grunzweig]

Just que up google play app, then correct your setting to wifi update only. Done

 

[Rukbat]

I do have a ... well, not a solution, but a suggestion. There's a feedback mechanism in Settings. (Just search feedback when you get there.) Ask if they can add a switch to updates to update by mobile data only, by wifi only or by either. Feedback goes to the software people, so the requests will end up in the right hands, and if there are enough of them, we might just see a change in a future patch.

 

[Geoff_123]

In Android 9 Pie, go to Play store, go to settings, app. download preferences, & click 'over wifi only.' Done!

 

[poffandi]

I had the same problem. 3.54 GB in 19 mins according to my service provider. Apparently I was present in an alternate dimension when this happened because on earth this is a physical impossibility.

You cannot choose wifi only for system updates, only app updates. I called Google and they verified this and that Google will use whatever connection it can to update, wifi or data, it doesn't matter. It doesn't explain why it used an apparent 24.84 mbps to do it (again, this is not possible even on LTE), and I'm very upset with Google. Time to switch to Apple?

I would submit feedback to Google, but let's be honest, it would make zero difference. Google is big enough they don't need to listen to me or even a thousand people with this complaint.

 

[lorraineg57]

I don't understand this at all. I have Bixby routines set so that my mobile data is actually OFF when I'm in wifi. Not that wifi is PREFERRED, that mobile is actually OFF. So I get a notice to update system on my Note10. Hit ok bc well, the mobile data IS turned off. and it downloaded over mobile anyway bc I just got a notice for my data usage. How the heck is that even possible? Look at my phone and my mobile data is now on, while I am in my wifi zone at home...how? Data saver is also on btw. I also have the update via wifi only option checked in the google store since people here are recommending that even though I don't think it has anything to do with system updates.
Oh...AND I have auto download over wifi selected under software update in settings.