Samsung Galaxy update removes Android recovery menu tools, including sideloading

https://9to5google.com/2026/02/27/samsung-galaxy-update-android-recovery-menu-removed/

113 points · 18 comments · view on lemmy.world

18 Comments

wizzor@sopuli.xyz · 52 pts · 202d (1 reply)

I wish we'd stop using the word side loading.

It's software installation.

Railcar8095@lemmy.world · 14 pts · 202d

They aren't even using the term right here. They refer to OS updates, not apps

Arghblarg@lemmy.ca · 38 pts · 202d

Bloody hell, the faster plain Linux phones become viable, the better.

If Google does what they plan to do this year, my next phone's not going to be Android or iOS, somehow.

db2@lemmy.world · 33 pts · 202d (1 reply)

My phone will still make calls if I don't install bad updates, and my next one doesn't need to be Samsung.

Your move, Samsung.

Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe · 7 pts · 202d

I left Samsung 10 years ago because I got tired of fighting their nonsense.

artyom@piefed.social · 23 pts · 202d

Time for lawsuits. Companies need to learn they can't change the terms after the sale.

zergtoshi@lemmy.world · 14 pts · 202d (5 replies)

There's real Linux mobile phone OS like https://sailfishos.org/ which I will try as soon as my phone gets delivered.
I'm fed up with Android/Google as it is and GrapheneOS (which I'm running now) can't stop me from wanting to have alternatives.

michael_palmer@lemmy.sdf.org · 4 pts · 202d (4 replies)

Wrong URL. The valid one is https://postmarketos.org/

zergtoshi@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 202d (3 replies)

Not really. It's just another attempt at having Linux on mobile phones.
As for a daily driver I have higher hopes for SailfishOS.

From https://postmarketos.org/state/:
"postmarketOS is for Linux enthusiasts. For hackers, tinkerers, technical people [...] When compared to Android or iOS, postmarketOS is run by a tiny community of developers who mostly work on the project in their free time - typically next to a dayjob, school or university. Keep that in mind when asking for help in the issues or chat. This is not a product you paid for and you don't have a support contract with us. People may help you if they have time, but sometimes nobody can help you and you need to figure out problems on your own.".

In contrast the statement about SailfishOS:
"The main design principles of Sailfish OS have always included a seamless user experience combined with unique and clean Scandinavian design.
Apps are a natural part of a mobile UX. With Sailfish OS you can run beautiful gesture-based native apps powered by Qt framework or opt-in to run your favourite Android apps securely executed in an isolated sandbox.".

Whether SailfishOS delivers or postmarketOS is able to provide the better experience, remains to be seen.
For now my money is on SailfishOS - literally!

michael_palmer@lemmy.sdf.org · 1 pts · 201d (2 replies)

Salfish OS isn't compatiable with generic Linux apps. While pmOS can run any Flatpak or Alpine linux app. Even Microsoft failed to support Windows Phone app s ecosystem.

zergtoshi@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 201d (1 reply)

That's a bummer, but being able to run Android apps seamlessly may be even more useful for a mobile phone than being able to run Linux apps.

michael_palmer@lemmy.sdf.org · 1 pts · 197d

Yeah, the is such an OS already. It's called Android.

wasu@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 202d (1 reply)

WTF. In the past I updated my tablet and after that it started to discharge within two days (not a week as it used to). The only way to fix it was to clear cache partition. And now they are removing that option.

MrLuigi002@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 202d

This has happened to me after big updates in both my Galaxy phone and tablet. It seems like OneUI has a one week period of "battery training", and before it completes the battery optimizations do almost nothing. The training gets messed up after major OneUI releases.

I guess clearing cache forces the training to start sooner.

melsaskca@lemmy.ca · 7 pts · 202d (1 reply)

At least with old vehicles you could install the same gasoline regardless of which "gasoline company" you shopped at. Everything is tightened up nowadays, and is getting worse, but you can only do that for so long before the bindings break and an explosion occurs.

Stez827@sh.itjust.works · 6 pts · 202d

Yea kinda but look at apple. There has never been any freedom to do what you want with their phones and people have loved them. While you and I as enthusiasts may move to another platform because of stuff like this most people don't even know about it.

wizzor@sopuli.xyz · 2 pts · 201d

Ah, OS sideloading,

Pherenike@lemmy.ml · 0 pts · 202d

We'll find a way around it, as we always have.