If you are still holding onto a Galaxy S21, S21+, or S21 Ultra, it’s officially time to consider an upgrade. Samsung has formally concluded the software lifecycle for this lineup, marking the end of regular updates. While your device will continue to function, the lack of future security patches and system optimizations leaves it increasingly vulnerable to security risks and performance degradation.

Launching in January 2021, the Galaxy S21 series had a solid run, fully delivering on Samsung’s software roadmap. The company honored its commitment to four generations of Android upgrades and five years of security support. The 2021 flagships debuted with Android 11 and received their final major OS overhaul—Android 15 with One UI 7—in the first half of 2025.

As of February 2026, the Galaxy S21 trio has been scrubbed from Samsung’s active update list. This means users should no longer expect monthly security patches or software tweaks. While Samsung may push an emergency fix in the rare event of a critical exploit, such support is no longer guaranteed.

There is one exception: the Galaxy S21 FE. Since this model hit the shelves nearly a year later than the main trio, it remains on the support list. However, it has been downgraded to a quarterly update schedule rather than the previous monthly cycle.

For Galaxy S21 owners, moving to a newer device is now the most logical step to ensure data safety and access to modern features. With newer interfaces like One UI 8 and the upcoming One UI 8.5 promising significant leaps in user experience, the gap between the S21 and current-gen devices is wider than ever.