How to download Android updates over data plan?

[Emig5m]

Can't believe this is still a issue. I have unlimited unlimited unlimited unlimited unlimited unlimited unlimited data on ATT so filesize isn't an issue. How do you get your phone updates to download over data? My DSL is only 5mbit (fastest available in my area, slow as snails) and my cell data is 70mbit.....HUUUUUUGE difference in speed hence the reason I want to be able to download phone updates over cell data. I normally go through 100+GBs a month on my data plan so a measly 500-700mb file is of zero concern. I'm 100% unlimited on data. How do I download updates over data?

 

[mustang7757]

I have unlocked Note 20U on Att , just turn wifi off and check if a update available by tapping software update in settings.

 

[L0n3N1nja]

Sounds like an ATT issue, Verizon updates have been over the air since before 4G LTE and still are and they don't count against data usage.

I didn't even know this problem existed.

Looks like Mustang replied at the same time as me, try his advice.

 

[me just saying]

I don't think you can update major updates via data plans, only security updates.

if you are also wanting to update apps via your data plan, go to the google play store app settings and change to download from any network.

 

[Emig5m]

Apps download over data but I can't get major OS updates to download no matter what I try. What Mustang said to do it just prompts to to download when wi-fi is available. I'm going to call att tomorrow and demand halving my bill for the month since I can't use my unlimited data that I pay for and have to rely on wi-fi to download a update. What the hell should the connection care what's downloaded on it? It's just 1s and 0s to the connection....

 

[Emig5m]

I don't think you can update major updates via data plans, only security updates.

And that makes sense, how? It would be like your Ford could drive on any road but toll roads and if you wanted to drive on a toll road you would have to use a different car. Doesn't make sense.

 

[uvarules]

If it's any consolation same here on VZ unlocked this time around on the S21 Ultra. Had the VZ S20 Plus locked and updates were all allowed OTA. Now Google Play updates are fine OTA but OS updates are only allowed via Wi-Fi on the S21. No biggie but slightly inconvenient....

 

[me just saying]

And that makes sense, how? It would be like your Ford could drive on any road but toll roads and if you wanted to drive on a toll road you would have to use a different car. Doesn't make sense.

it is a file size issue. No different than limitations on email attachments. In the past, att did not allow ota updates for major upgrades. That could have changed. att has their own online community, you can ask there.

 

[Gary02468]

And that makes sense, how? It would be like your Ford could drive on any road but toll roads and if you wanted to drive on a toll road you would have to use a different car. Doesn't make sense.

Sorry, I don't follow this analogy. The car brand is like the phone brand, right? And the toll road is like the mobile data network. So how would switching to a different phone brand help you get the desired update over the "toll road"?

It's more like saying that trucks carrying more than a certain weight are excluded from some roads.

it is a file size issue. No different than limitations on email attachments.

If it were no different than email-attachment limits, the problem could be solved by breaking the data into separate smaller files. In fact, file size has nothing to do with it--if you go to SamMobile on your phone, you can download a much larger version of the firmware-update file, and it works fine over the mobile network.

Some carriers would prefer not to congest their network with lots of customers downloading bulky data at the same time. When it's the carrier who's sending the data, they have an easy way to prevent that congestion by requiring a different route for it.

 

[me just saying]

Sorry, I don't follow this analogy. The car brand is like the phone brand, right? And the toll road is like the mobile data network. So how would switching to a different phone brand help you get the desired update over the "toll road"?

It's more like saying that trucks carrying more than a certain weight are excluded from some roads.


If it were no different than email-attachment limits, the problem could be solved by breaking the data into separate smaller files. In fact, file size has nothing to do with it--if you go to SamMobile on your phone, you can download a much larger version of the firmware-update file, and it works fine over the mobile network.

Some carriers would prefer not to congest their network with lots of customers downloading bulky data at the same time. When it's the carrier who's sending the data, they have an easy way to prevent that congestion by requiring a different route for it.

splitting up the file would be ridicules. and I was talking about official updates from the official source which, imo, the op was asking about. I was not going to go into unofficial downloads and other larger file downloads since it had absolutely nothing to do with the question.

 

[anon(19759)]

Some carriers would prefer not to congest their network with lots of customers downloading bulky data at the same time. When it's the carrier who's sending the data, they have an easy way to prevent that congestion by requiring a different route for it.

Excellent point!

 

[Emig5m]

You people don't make any sense what so ever. How can it be a filesize issue when my cell data connection while at home is 70mbit on a unlimited line? Think mcfly, think. ?????? With that train of thinking my cell data is still MUCH more suitable for large file transfers 70mbit vs 5mbit DSL. I've literally downloaded entire games on steam 20+GB (Gigabyte) with my cell phone tethered to my pc (I get 30GB of tether per month, possible throttle on congested networks when not tethered at.... ready... 100GB!) But I've never even been throttled over 100GB because I live in a low congestion area. So filesize is in no way shape or form an issue here when I can download 100+GB no problem. Let's at least use our brain and make some sense and come up with an actual logical explanation. A digital file is a digital file. It doesn't care what type of connection it's transfered over. A 56k dialup could do it, just the issue is the time it would take which why I want to download updates at 70mbit on my unlimited cell data rather than a whimpering 5mbit line. Hope this much makes sense to you. ??????

 

[me just saying]

You people don't make any sense what so ever. How can it be a filesize issue when my cell data connection while at home is 70mbit on a unlimited line? Think mcfly, think. ������ With that train of thinking my cell data is still MUCH more suitable for large file transfers 70mbit vs 5mbit DSL. I've literally downloaded entire games on steam 20+GB (Gigabyte) with my cell phone tethered to my pc (I get 30GB of tether per month, possible throttle on congested networks when not tethered at.... ready... 100GB!) But I've never even been throttled over 100GB because I live in a low congestion area. So filesize is in no way shape or form an issue here when I can download 100+GB no problem. Let's at least use our brain and make some sense and come up with an actual logical explanation. A digital file is a digital file. It doesn't care what type of connection it's transfered over. A 56k dialup could do it, just the issue is the time it would take which why I want to download updates at 70mbit on my unlimited cell data rather than a whimpering 5mbit line. Hope this much makes sense to you. ������

It is you that don't understand, It is NOT about just you but thousands in your area who might be downloading the same update at the same time which could affect the cell traffic. When you download from a third party site, then it could be only you so it would not cause a traffic jam.

Now if you happen to have an att hotspot for your home internet, then that is a different story and you should have mentioned it in your original post.

 

[mustang7757]

Apps download over data but I can't get major OS updates to download no matter what I try. What Mustang said to do it just prompts to to download when wi-fi is available. I'm going to call att tomorrow and demand halving my bill for the month since I can't use my unlimited data that I pay for and have to rely on wi-fi to download a update. What the hell should the connection care what's downloaded on it? It's just 1s and 0s to the connection....

You have a update at the moment and it won't download over data ? The reason I believe back.in the day most people didn't have unlimited data and didn't want people to eat away at it , but ill check my phone next time a update comes but I have unlocked which might allow it versus a carrier version.

 

[Emig5m]

When everyone is streaming video or music these days you really think a phone update is going to hamper the network? Like I said in the past, all the rave for 5G and what good is all the bandwidth in the universe if you can't even use it... 5G, 10G, 30G, and so on....what good is all that bandwidth if you can't use it........? What was the point of even going past 3G.........?

 

[Emig5m]

You have a update at the moment and it won't download over data ? The reason I believe back.in the day most people didn't have unlimited data and didn't want people to eat away at it , but ill check my phone next time a update comes but I have unlocked which might allow it versus a carrier version.

My phone is unlocked. I don't see what the point was to ever surpass 3G speeds if the network can't handle it. ?????? 3G is surely enough to post on social media and read web articles. What was the point in 4G and now 5G.....? You can't tell a difference for light use between 3G and 5G which everyone seems to imply cell data is only useful for so why come out with faster tech if you can't put it to use? Doesn't make sense. Update the system to be able to handle 3G before moving on to faster tech... that would make sense.

 

[mustang7757]

My phone is unlocked. I don't see what the point was to ever surpass 3G speeds if the network can't handle it. ������ 3G is surely enough to post on social media and read web articles. What was the point in 4G and now 5G.....? You can't tell a difference for light use between 3G and 5G which everyone seems to imply cell data is only useful for so why come out with faster tech if you can't put it to use? Doesn't make sense. Update the system to be able to handle 3G before moving on to faster tech... that would make sense.

4g lte been very good but like anything else the tech moves forward and 5g is where it's all going , it's just the beginning but we not going stay same 3g /4g forever . We at the early stages of it and supposedly going be not just fast speeds but more people can connect to it without overcrowding.

 

[Emig5m]

For example, my top tier ATT unlimited plan comes free HBO max streaming.... you really think downloading a monthly update uses more bandwidth than HD video streaming think again...

 

[Emig5m]

4g lte been very good but like anything else the tech moves forward and 5g is where it's all going , it's just the beginning but we not going stay same 3g /4g forever . We at the early stages of it and supposedly going be not just fast speeds but more people can connect to it without overcrowding.

It's so fast and advanced that they have to block you from downloading updates that don't even use as much bandwidth as other normal everyday stuff does when you're paying top dollar for it plus a unlimited data plan. Got it....lol. Well I've successfully lost more IQ levels today...lol.

 

[mustang7757]

It's so fast and advanced that they have to block you from downloading updates that don't even use as much bandwidth as other normal everyday stuff does when you're paying top dollar for it plus a unlimited data plan. Got it....lol. Well I've successfully lost more IQ levels today...lol.

Like I mentioned when I get next update I'll let you know if I can over data , if not there probably not much we can do .