If you own an older Samsung Galaxy device like the Galaxy S10 or Galaxy Note 10, you might want to hold off on installing the latest software update. Reports are surfacing online, particularly on Reddit, of users experiencing bricked devices after applying the update. This issue, while unfortunate, is not entirely surprising, as even with Samsung’s improved device support in recent years, software updates can sometimes lead to unexpected problems.
The issue primarily affects users with Galaxy S10 series (S10, S10 Plus, S10e, S10 Lite, S10 5G) or Galaxy Note 10 series (Note 10, Note 10 Plus, Note 10 5G) devices. After updating, these users found their devices stuck in a boot loop, effectively rendering them unusable. While less widespread, similar problems are also reported with the Galaxy M51 and Galaxy A90.
Investigations point to a faulty Samsung SmartThings Framework update, rather than the full system update, as the culprit. This means that even if you’re familiar with rolling back software, you can’t do it in this case because the device won’t boot up properly. The only solution currently available is a factory reset through Android recovery mode.
If you find yourself in this situation, here’s how to perform a factory reset on your Galaxy S10 or Note 10:
Galaxy S10:
1. Power off your device completely.
2. Press and hold the Bixby and volume up buttons.
3. While holding those buttons, press the power button and hold it until the Samsung logo appears.
4. Release all buttons, and your phone should enter recovery mode.
Galaxy Note 10:
1. Press and hold the volume up and power buttons.
2. Your device will enter recovery mode.
In Recovery Mode:
1. Use the volume buttons to navigate to “Wipe data/factory reset” from the menu.
2. Use the power button to confirm.
3. Once the reset is complete, go back to the previous screen.
4. Select “Reboot system now.”
While this solution will get your device working again, it will unfortunately delete all your data. It’s crucial to remember that Samsung has likely pulled this update, meaning it’s unavailable for download. If you haven’t yet updated, it’s best to avoid it for now. As a precaution, consider disabling automatic updates to prevent similar situations in the future. Hopefully, Samsung will soon release a fix for this problem, hopefully without causing another one!
