Samsung is facing issues with a recent update for older Galaxy devices, including the Galaxy S10 and Note 10 series, which is reportedly causing some devices to become non-functional. Users have reported that after installing the latest update, their devices enter a bootloop, preventing them from turning on properly. This issue has been widely shared on social media, especially in a detailed Reddit post, and has affected several models such as the Galaxy S10 series (S10, S10+, S10e, S10 Lite, S10 5G) and the Galaxy Note 10 series (Note 10, Note 10+, Note 10 5G). Other models like the Galaxy M51 and Galaxy A90 have also been impacted.
The problem seems to be linked to a faulty Samsung SmartThings Framework update, rather than a full system update. Since the affected devices cannot fully boot, users are unable to roll back the update through the usual software methods. The only immediate solution to restore functionality is to perform a factory reset through Android's recovery mode.
To initiate the factory reset on a Galaxy S10, users must turn off the device, press and hold the Bixby and volume up buttons, and then press the power button until the Samsung logo appears. For the Note 10, users can press and hold the volume up and power buttons. Once in recovery mode, users should select the “Wipe data/factory reset” option using the volume buttons and confirm the action with the power button. After completing the reset, the phone will be operational again, but all personal data will be lost.
Samsung has since pulled the problematic update from its rollout. However, if users still have functioning devices, it is advised to disable automatic updates through the Galaxy Store and back up any important data to prevent data loss in case of future issues.