How to fix the “couldn’t update” Error on Galaxy S25 Ultra

Samsung just rolled out a new update for the Galaxy S25 Ultra, but a lot of folks are running into trouble when trying to install it. If that sounds like you, you’re in good company. Some users are getting a “Couldn’t update” message even after restarting their phones a bunch of times or trying to use Smart Switch. Others are dealing with slow downloads, installation fails, or random crashes. Don’t worry though, there are a few things you can try before needing to reach out to customer service or use Smart Switch.

How to fix the “couldn’t update” issue when installing an update on Galaxy S25 Ultra?

If you’re getting the error “Couldn’t update. Try updating using Smart Switch on your computer or contact Customer Service” while trying to update your Samsung Galaxy S25, don’t stress. You can sort this out pretty easily by trying out a few steps:

Check Storage Space – Make sure you have enough free space by uninstalling apps you don’t use and clearing out cached files.

Restart Your Device – Sometimes, all you need is a quick restart to fix temporary glitches in the system.

Check Your Internet Connection – Try switching to a stable Wi-Fi network or use your mobile data if needed.

Use Safe Mode – Start your phone in Safe Mode to see if any third-party apps are causing issues.

Update via Smart Switch – Download Samsung Smart Switch on your computer, plug in your device with a USB cable, and update it that way.

Reset All Settings – Head to Settings > General Management > Reset > Reset All Settings to resolve any hidden conflicts.

1. Check Your Internet Connection

Before getting into more complicated fixes, let’s make sure your internet connection is solid. If your Wi-Fi or mobile data is weak or acting up, that could mess with the update. Here’s how you can improve your connection:

Switch Wi-Fi networks: If you think your current network is slow, try connecting to a different one.
Restart your router: Just turn it off for a minute then power it back on. This gives it a fresh start.
Use mobile data if you need to: If Wi-Fi isn’t cutting it, try downloading the update via a strong mobile data connection. Just make sure you’ve got enough data to finish the download.
Turn on Airplane Mode and then turn it off: This quick trick may fix some network glitches.

2. Free Up Storage Space

One common reason why updates fail is that there isn’t enough storage on your device. If your phone is running low on space, the update might get stuck.

Here’s how to check and clear some space:

Delete unused apps:
1. Head into Settings and find Apps.
2. Tap the Filter icon at the top right.
3. Pick Size under Sort by and hit OK.
4. Select an app you don’t need anymore and choose Uninstall.
Clear cache files:
1. Go to Settings > Apps.
2. Choose an app and tap Storage.
3. Hit Clear Cache.
Move media files to an SD card or cloud: If your phone can use an SD card, transfer large files like photos and videos there. You can also upload them to cloud services like Google Drive or Samsung Cloud.
Delete old update files: Sometimes, failed updates leave behind files that take up space. Go to Settings > Storage > Other files and get rid of any unnecessary update files.

3. Restart Your Device

If your storage looks good, minor glitches in the system might be the problem. A quick restart could refresh things and clear up temporary errors.

Restart your Galaxy S25 Ultra:

Press and hold the Power and Volume Down buttons at the same time until the power menu pops up.
Tap Restart and wait for your device to reboot.
Let it sit for about five minutes before trying the update again.

If you’re still having trouble, look into resetting your network settings. This can help with hidden connectivity issues that might be messing with the update.

Reset Network Settings:

Open Settings and go to General Management.
Tap Reset > Reset Network Settings.
Confirm and reboot your phone before trying the update again.

4. Close and Reopen the Settings App

Sometimes, just a little hiccup in the Settings app itself can stop the update from going through. Simply close the app and open it again:

Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to see your Recent Apps.
Find Settings and swipe it up or hit Close all.
Open Settings again and try the update.

5. Update in Safe Mode

Third-party apps can clash with system updates. By running your phone in Safe Mode, you disable those apps and can see if they are what’s causing the issue.

How to get into Safe Mode:

Press and hold the Power button.
Long-press the Power Off option until Safe Mode shows up.
Tap Safe Mode, and your phone will restart in Safe Mode.
Try installing the update again.

If it works in Safe Mode, a third-party app might be the issue. Restart your phone normally and think about uninstalling any recently added apps.

6. Reset All Settings

If you’re still stuck, resetting all settings could help. This won’t erase your personal data but will bring system settings back to factory defaults.

To reset all settings:

Open Settings and scroll down to General Management.
Tap Reset > Reset All Settings.
Confirm and restart your device.

This can help clear up system conflicts without losing your apps or files.

7. Manually Update Using Smart Switch

If nothing else works, you can manually install the update using Samsung Smart Switch. This is a solid way to update your phone through your computer.

Here’s how to do it with Smart Switch:

Download and install Smart Switch from Samsung’s website (it’s available for both Windows and Mac).
Connect your Galaxy S25 Ultra to your computer using a USB cable.
Launch Smart Switch and wait for it to recognize your device.
If there’s an update available, click on Update and follow the prompts on the screen.

This method is handy when over-the-air updates just aren’t working.

8. Perform a Factory Reset (Last Resort)

If you’ve tried everything and it’s still not working, a factory reset might be necessary. Be careful: This will wipe everything from your device, so make sure to back up your important files first.

How to do a factory reset:

Open Settings and go to General Management.
Tap Reset > Factory Data Reset.
Confirm the action and wait for your device to reset.
Once everything is reset, set up your phone and try the update again.

Conclusion

Dealing with update problems on your Galaxy S25 Ultra can be super annoying, but these steps should help you sort things out. From checking your network to using Smart Switch manually, there are plenty of options to make the update process smoother. If you’ve tried all these steps and nothing’s worked, it’s best to get in touch with Samsung customer service for extra help.

Hopefully, one of these suggestions works for you and you can get that update installed. Have you faced any update issues with your Galaxy S25 Ultra? Let us know in the comments which method did the trick!