In a notable development, LG confirmed its exit from the mobile phone market in 2021, promising existing users that it would continue providing software updates for eligible devices for a three-year duration. The company is now approaching the final phase of this commitment, as it prepares to deactivate its servers responsible for distributing smartphone updates. Following this shutdown, LG smartphones will be unable to receive new Android OS updates, nor will users be able to reinstall default applications that may have been deleted during setup.
LG Handset Owners Have Two Months to Update Phones
A recent notification on the LG Electronics support website indicates that the company will cease its smartphone update services in the next two months. The servers for LG Electronics Mobile Phone Software Upgrade (FOTA), Update Centre, and LG Bridge will be officially turned off on June 30 at 12 am KST (8:30 pm IST).
Post this date, LG mobile devices will be unable to download or install any future Android updates. This termination includes all software upgrade services, encompassing those offered at Service Centres.
Moreover, LG has announced it will discontinue its app-based update services. Users will no longer have the option to download default applications that were erased during initialization. “All personal information gathered for these services will be promptly deleted upon the conclusion of the services,” LG stated, while assuring that any retained personal data will comply with applicable legal, regulatory, and internal company standards.
For users with LG devices that require pending updates, it is crucial to complete those updates as soon as possible. LG smartphone users may face significant gaps in features, as their devices will lag nearly three generations behind the forthcoming Android 15. This also raises concerns about security vulnerabilities, leaving the devices more susceptible to malware attacks.
This announcement comes nearly four years after LG’s departure from the smartphone sector. The company initially disclosed its decision to exit the market in April 2021, indicating a strategic shift towards areas such as electric vehicle components, smart home technologies, robotics, artificial intelligence, and business-to-business solutions.
The mobile division had been experiencing financial losses for an extended period, but LG assured its customers at the time of its exit that it would continue to provide three years of Android updates for all premium devices released in 2019 or later.
