There is no longer support for Android 12. You will not get security updates if your phone is running this version
For those who are still using Android 12, the news is bad: phones have officially given up on their security fate, and Google has stopped updating this version of the operating system. At the same time that cyberattacks on smartphones have increased to an all-time high, millions of devices that are still in perfect working order now face an uncertain future.
Following the completion of the customary 3.5-year maintenance period, Google has halted updates to Android 12 and 12L, as disclosed by Android Authority. From now on, phones running these versions will no longer receive official updates, leaving them vulnerable to security vulnerabilities that could compromise personal data and device security.
October 2021 saw the release of Android 12, and March 2022 saw the release of Android 12L for tablets and large screens. In March 2025, Google fulfilled its promise by releasing its most recent security bulletins with fixes for these releases, but it also exposed one of Android's most serious vulnerabilities.
Even worse, these versions are still in use on almost 12% of all Android phones. Formerly high-end phones like the Google Pixel 3a, Samsung Galaxy S10, or the whole OnePlus 7 series are among them; their owners will now need to make choices.
To secure these phones, manufacturers will need to manually alter updates. Most businesses lack the resources and motivation to maintain older phones, but brands like Huawei, with their EMUI layer (still based on Android 12), can do this.
With one of these gadgets, you can:
Purchasing a new phone is the safest course of action, but the cost is also the highest.
Install alternate ROMs: Although ROMs such as LineageOS 19.1 can prolong your phone's lifespan, they will nullify the warranty provided by the manufacturer.
Another way to use it is to make it a media player or security camera, which will reduce the risks it faces.
In the end, many fully functional mobile phones become outdated as technology develops. It is obvious to us, the users, that mobile phone support time should be just as crucial to us as its power or cost in this increasingly risky digital world.