How To Fix Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Software Update Cannot Be Completed

The #Samsung #Galaxy #Note9 is a premium Android smartphone released last year which is currently the best of the series. This device has a 6.4 inch Super AMOLED Infinity Display which works great with touch input as well as with a stylus. It uses a dual 12 MP rear camera system which takes excellent quality photos and videos while under the hood is a Snapdragon 845 processor combined with 8 GB of RAM. Although this is a solid performing device there are instances when certain issues can occur which we will be addressing today. In this latest installment of our troubleshooting series  we will tackle the Galaxy Note 9 software update cannot be completed issue.

If you own a Samsung Galaxy Note 9 or any other Android device for that matter then feel free to contact us using this form. We will be more than happy to assist you with any concern that you may have with your device. This is a free service we are offering with no strings attached. We however ask that when you do contact us try to be as detailed as possible so that an accurate assessment can be made and the correct solution can be given.   

How To Fix Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Software Update Cannot Be Completed

Problem: Hello. Just purchased a brand new  unopened unlocked Note 9. Phone has att software. ( I thought unlocked phones weren’t branded.) 2 trips to att, 2 phone calls to att, 2 phone calls to samsung, one trip to a samsung certified service center and still can’t upgrade the software. The upgrade starts then after a short while says update cannot be completed. From what I can tell, there are several software upgrades to the note 9 through att. Trying to get the latest firmware that att web site says is available. Current installed firmware is from 2018. Any thoughts about this issue?

Solution: If this is an unlocked AT&T phone then one of the best ways to get the latest software update is to use an active AT&T SIM card on the device. This will allow the phone access to the AT&T update servers. In case you already have the AT&T SIM on the device but it is still not getting any update then perform the troubleshooting steps listed below.

Manually downloading the update via Firmware Over the Air ( FOTA)

Your phone must be connected to a Wi-Fi network to download the update.

• Make sure your device is fully charged and connected to Wi-Fi.
• From the device home screen, swipe down from the Notification bar and tap the Settings icon.
• Scroll to and tap Software update, then Check for updates.
• Follow the on-screen prompts to download and install the update.
• The device automatically restarts once the new software successfully installs.

If the above steps fails then try to clear out as much storage space as possible on your phone. Some of the steps you can do to  make sure your phone has sufficient space are as follows

• Clear internal storage cached data.
• Delete large applications, files (videos, pictures), or consider alternatives to deleting files.
• Free up Google Photos device storage
• Transfer files to a computer or MicroSD Card

Perform a soft reset

The first troubleshooting step that you will need to do is a soft reset. This will refresh the phone software and usually fixes minor software glitches.

• Press and hold the Power and Volume down key for up to 45 seconds.
• Wait as the device restarts.

Try to manually update your phone again.

Update your phone using Smart Switch

Another method to update your phone is with the aid of a computer program called Smart Switch.

• Go to Samsung’s Smart Switch website and download Smart Switch for Windows or macOS.
• Install and open Smart Switch on your computer and connect your phone via its USB cable.
• If you haven’t plugged in to your computer before, tap Allow on the pop-up on your phone to give it access.
• After a few moments, your phone will be recognized by Smart Switch and you’ll see several options on the main screen for backing up and restoring. You do not need to backup or restore your phone to initiate an update.
• A software check is performed when you plug in, and Smart Switch will list your current software details. If there is a software update available for your phone, you’ll be notified on the main screen.
• If available, Click Update to install the latest software. It will download first to your computer, then sideload to your phone.

In case the issue still occurs even after performing the steps listed above then proceed with the following.

Wipe the cache partition of the phone

Your phone will store cached data of apps in a dedicated partition in its internal storage. This data helps apps open faster making for a better mobile experience. There are however instances when this cached data can become corrupted and can cause issues with the device. To check if this is what’s causing the problem you should wipe the cache partition of the phone.

• Turn off the phone.
• Press and hold the Volume Up key and the Home key, then press and hold the Power key.
• When the device logo screen displays, release only the Power key.
• When the Android logo displays, release all keys (‘Installing system update’ will show for about 30 – 60 seconds before showing the Android system recovery menu options).
• Press the Volume down key several times key to highlight ‘wipe cache partition’.
• Press the Power key to select.
• Press the Volume down key to highlight ‘yes’ and press the Power key to select.
• When the wipe cache partition is complete, ‘Reboot system now’ is highlighted.
• Press the Power key to restart the device.

Perform a factory reset

This will revert the phone back to its original factory condition. Make sure to backup your phone data before doing this step.

• Make sure that the phone is off.
• Press and hold the Volume Up key and the Home key, then press and hold the Power key.
• When the device logo screen displays, release only the Power key
• When the Android logo displays, release all keys (‘Installing system update’ will show for about 30 – 60 seconds before showing the Android system recovery menu options).
• Press the Volume down key several times key to highlight ‘wipe data / factory reset.’
• Press Power button to select.
• Press the Volume down key until ‘Yes — delete all user data’ is highlighted.
• Press Power button to select and start the master reset.
• When the master reset is complete, ‘Reboot system now’ is highlighted.
• Press the Power key to restart the device.

Once the reset is complete try to update your phone again either with the FOTA method or with the help of Smart Switch.

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