Samsung October 2026 Security Update Reaches Verizon Galaxy Z Fold8, Fold8 Ultra and Z Flip8 First
Verizon began pushing Samsung's October 2026 security update to the US Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8, Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra and Galaxy Z Flip8 on Tuesday, October 6, making Samsung's newest foldables the first Galaxy phones on Verizon with the October patch. The update carries security fixes only, and every other Verizon Galaxy flagship is still on the September 2026 patch.
- Security patch level: October 2026
- Release date: October 6, 2026, on Verizon
- Eligible phones so far: Galaxy Z Fold8, Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Flip8 (Verizon models)
- Builds: F971USQS3AZIL (Fold8), F976USQS3AZIL (Fold8 Ultra), F776USQS3AZIL (Flip8)
- New features: none listed; Verizon describes it as the latest Android security patches
Which Verizon Galaxy phones have the October 2026 patch?
Only the three 2026 foldables have Samsung's October 2026 patch on Verizon as of Thursday, October 8. We checked Verizon's software update page for each of these Galaxy flagships, and the table below shows the latest build Verizon lists for each one.
| Phone (Verizon) | Latest build | Patch level | Released |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxy Z Fold8 | F971USQS3AZIL | October 2026 | Oct 6 |
| Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra | F976USQS3AZIL | October 2026 | Oct 6 |
| Galaxy Z Flip8 | F776USQS3AZIL | October 2026 | Oct 6 |
| Galaxy S26, S26+, S26 Ultra | S942USQU4BZID, S947USQU4BZID, S948USQU4BZID | September 2026 | Sep 28 |
| Galaxy S25, S25+, S25 Ultra, S25 Edge, S25 FE | S931USQUCDZIF, S936USQUCDZIF, S938USQUCDZIF, S937USQU9DZIF, S731USQU9CZIF | September 2026 | Oct 5 |
| Galaxy Z Fold7, Z Flip7 | F966USQUCCZIH, F766USQUCCZIH | September 2026 | Oct 2 |
| Galaxy S24, S24 Ultra | S921USQS6DZI1, S928USQS6DZI1 | September 2026 | Oct 1 |
The early-October builds for the Galaxy S25 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold7 are not security releases. Verizon's notes describe both as the Android 17 and One UI 9.0 upgrade, which ships with the September patch. Neither Samsung nor Verizon has said when those phones get the October patch; the Galaxy S26 series, which got One UI 9 in the US in September, is also still waiting.
Verizon is the only US listing we could confirm. Samsung has not published a T-Mobile, AT&T or unlocked schedule for the October 2026 update.
What does Samsung's October 2026 patch fix?
Samsung's October 2026 Security Maintenance Release applies 45 Android vulnerability fixes from Google: 9 rated Critical, 33 High and 3 Moderate. It also adds four High-rated fixes for Samsung Semiconductor components and 27 Samsung-specific items, none of which Samsung rates Critical.
The Samsung-specific list includes a use-after-free flaw in the WSM service that could let a local attacker run code with system privileges, and out-of-bounds write bugs in Samsung's text-to-speech and video extractor libraries. Every Samsung item described in the October bulletin is marked as privately disclosed, and Samsung does not flag any of them as exploited in the wild. That makes this a routine monthly patch, like September's Galaxy A57 release that opened last month's cycle.
Google Pixel owners got the matching fixes earlier this week. The Pixel October 2026 update arrived on October 6 with patch level 2026-10-05.
What changed since the September builds?
The Galaxy Z Fold8 has had three Verizon updates in four weeks. September 15 brought the September patch, and September 22 added a performance-only build (F971USQU3AZI8) with no new patch. October's F971USQS3AZIL is the first to change the patch level since mid-September. The Galaxy Z Flip8 followed the same September 15, September 22 and October 6 sequence. None of the three updates added features.
How to install the October update on a Galaxy Z Fold8 or Z Flip8
Verizon sends the update over the air, and its support page puts the download at 6 to 10 minutes plus another 6 to 10 minutes to install.
- Connect to Wi-Fi and charge the phone fully, as Verizon recommends.
- Open Settings and tap Software update, then Download and install. Verizon's own instructions label the path Settings > System updates > Check for system updates.
- Tap Download now, then Install update. The phone restarts to finish.
If no update appears, Verizon may not have reached your phone yet. Galaxy Z Fold8 owners curious about the soft feel near the screen edges can read Samsung's explanation of the Fold8's flexible screen corners.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Samsung phones have the October 2026 security update in the US?
As of October 8, 2026, Verizon lists the October 2026 patch only for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8, Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra and Galaxy Z Flip8, all released on October 6. The Galaxy S26, S25, S24, Z Fold7 and Z Flip7 lines on Verizon are still on the September 2026 patch.
What is the Galaxy Z Fold8 October 2026 build number?
On Verizon, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 October 2026 update is build F971USQS3AZIL. The Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra gets F976USQS3AZIL and the Galaxy Z Flip8 gets F776USQS3AZIL. All three were released on October 6, 2026.
Does the Samsung October 2026 update add new features?
No. Verizon describes the October 2026 update for the Galaxy Z Fold8, Fold8 Ultra and Z Flip8 as the latest Android security patches, with no new features or changes listed.
How many vulnerabilities does Samsung's October 2026 patch fix?
Samsung's October 2026 Security Maintenance Release applies 45 Android fixes from Google, 9 of them Critical, plus four Samsung Semiconductor fixes and 27 Samsung-specific items. Samsung does not mark any of its own October items as exploited in the wild.
When will the Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S25 get the October 2026 patch?
Samsung and Verizon have not given a date. As of October 8, 2026, Verizon's Galaxy S26 series is on the September 2026 patch from September 28, and the latest Galaxy S25 series build, released October 5, also carries the September 2026 patch.
