Samsung Galaxy S26 October 2026 Update Reaches Unlocked and AT&T Phones; Verizon, T-Mobile Wait
Samsung released the October 2026 security update for the unlocked US Samsung Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+ and Galaxy S26 Ultra on Thursday, October 8, and the AT&T versions of all three phones got it the same day. The update carries the 2026-10-05 security patch and lists no new features. Galaxy S26 owners on Verizon, T-Mobile and UScellular are still on the September 2026 patch.
- Security patch level: October 2026 (2026-10-05)
- Released: October 8, 2026
- Unlocked US builds: S942U1UES4BZIG (S26), S947U1UES4BZIG (S26+), S948U1UES4BZIG (S26 Ultra)
- AT&T builds: S942USQS4BZIG, S947USQS4BZIG, S948USQS4BZIG
- Still waiting: Verizon, T-Mobile and UScellular models
- New features: none; Samsung's notes list security improvements only
Which US Galaxy S26 models have the October 2026 patch?
The unlocked and AT&T Galaxy S26 models have the October 2026 patch as of October 9; the Verizon, T-Mobile and UScellular models do not. We pulled the latest build for each US variant from Samsung's own firmware release notes, and from Verizon's software update pages for the Verizon models, which Samsung does not list.
| Galaxy S26 model (US) | Latest build | Patch level | Released |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unlocked S26 / S26+ / S26 Ultra | S942U1UES4BZIG / S947U1UES4BZIG / S948U1UES4BZIG | October 2026 | Oct 8 |
| AT&T S26 / S26+ / S26 Ultra | S942USQS4BZIG / S947USQS4BZIG / S948USQS4BZIG | October 2026 | Oct 8 |
| T-Mobile S26 / S26+ / S26 Ultra | S942USQU4BZID / S947USQU4BZID / S948USQU4BZID | September 2026 | Sep 23 |
| Verizon S26 / S26+ / S26 Ultra | S942USQU4BZID / S947USQU4BZID / S948USQU4BZID | September 2026 | Sep 28 |
| UScellular S26 Ultra | S948USQU4BZID | September 2026 | Sep 23 |
The September builds in the bottom rows are the One UI 9 and Android 17 upgrade, which reached US Galaxy S26 phones on T-Mobile first in late September. The October builds are the first security-only release for the Galaxy S26 since that upgrade.
How does this compare with other Samsung flagships?
The Galaxy S26 series is the second Samsung line in the US with the October 2026 patch. The unlocked Galaxy Z Fold8, Z Fold8 Ultra and Z Flip8 got it on October 6, the same day Verizon pushed it to its Fold8 and Flip8 models.
Older flagships are behind. Samsung's notes for the unlocked Galaxy S25, S25 Edge, Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7 show builds released October 6 that still carry the September 2026 patch, and the unlocked Galaxy S24 and S24 Ultra are on September builds from October 1. None of them has an October patch date yet.
What does the Galaxy S26 October 2026 update fix?
Samsung's October 2026 security bulletin covers 45 Android fixes from Google (9 Critical, 33 High and 3 Moderate), 4 High-rated Samsung Semiconductor fixes and 27 Samsung-specific items. Some early reports put the total at 62; Samsung's bulletin lists 76 items across those three groups. The Galaxy S26 release notes themselves only say the phone "is protected with improved security."
The unlocked Galaxy S26 Ultra download is about 531MB, according to reports. Samsung does not publish download sizes in its notes.
How to install the October patch on a Galaxy S26
- Open Settings and tap Software update.
- Tap the option to check for and download updates.
- Install the update when the download finishes.
Updates can take several days to reach every unlocked and AT&T phone. Verizon and T-Mobile owners have no date yet. If the update stalls or the phone misbehaves afterwards, our guide to an Android phone that keeps restarting covers the standard recovery steps. Full specs for the top model are on the Galaxy S26 Ultra spec page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has the Galaxy S26 gotten the October 2026 security update in the US?
Yes, on unlocked and AT&T models. Samsung released the October 2026 patch (2026-10-05) for the unlocked and AT&T Galaxy S26, S26+ and S26 Ultra on October 8, 2026. Verizon, T-Mobile and UScellular models were still on the September 2026 patch as of October 9.
What is the Galaxy S26 Ultra October 2026 build number?
The unlocked US Galaxy S26 Ultra October 2026 build is S948U1UES4BZIG, and the AT&T version is S948USQS4BZIG. The unlocked Galaxy S26 gets S942U1UES4BZIG and the unlocked Galaxy S26+ gets S947U1UES4BZIG.
When will Verizon and T-Mobile Galaxy S26 phones get the October update?
Samsung, Verizon and T-Mobile have not announced a date. As of October 9, 2026, T-Mobile Galaxy S26 models are on September 2026 builds from September 23, and Verizon models are on September 2026 builds from September 28.
Does the Galaxy S26 October 2026 update add new features?
No. Samsung's release notes for the Galaxy S26 October 2026 update list security improvements only. The bulletin behind it covers 45 Android fixes from Google, 4 Samsung Semiconductor fixes and 27 Samsung-specific items.
How do I check for the October update on my Galaxy S26?
Open Settings, tap Software update and check for updates. An unlocked or AT&T Galaxy S26 may take several days to see the October 2026 patch.
