Pixel 6 Support Ends This Month. What to Do With an Old Phone

By Google's own count, the five-year update window for the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro closes this month: Google counts support from the month a model first went on sale in its US store, and both went on sale in October 2021. Apple's iOS 27, released September 14, 2026, still starts at the iPhone 11, so the iPhone XS, XS Max and XR, left off since iOS 26, have been getting iOS 18 security fixes instead. Either way, find which update track your exact model is on, then decide whether to keep it, limit it or replace it.

Key takeaways

Google counts Pixel support from the month a model first went on sale in the US Google Store: 5 years for the Pixel 6 through 7a and the Pixel Fold, 7 years for the Pixel 8 and later.
Samsung states seven years of security updates for the Galaxy S24 series (January 2024) and the Galaxy S26 series, with timing that may vary by model and market; its security bulletin page lists monthly releases but no end dates.
Apple's security page states no support period, but Apple's UK compliance statement for the iPhone 15 Pro Max sets a minimum of 5 years from its first supply date, September 22, 2023, and Apple still shipped iOS 18.7.10 for the iPhone XS, XS Max and XR on August 17, 2026.
UK rules require makers to publish minimum security update periods, and EU rules require any OS updates a maker issues to be free for every unit until at least 5 years after a model's last unit is placed on the market; neither binds a US sale.
Before selling, recycling or handing a phone down, back it up and erase it from Settings; Apple and Google both say the reset removes your data.

What it means for you

Older iPhone owners: check Apple's iOS 27 list, then the Apple section on security-only releases.
Pixel owners: find your model in the table below; by Google's five-year count, the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro end this month and the Pixel 6a and 7 run into 2027.
Samsung owners: the seven-year promise is stated for the S24 and S26 series; for other models, check Samsung's page for your exact model.
Budget Android owners: the Google and Samsung commitments below don't name low-cost models, so look up the manufacturer's published period for your model number.
Parents, sellers and recyclers: the checklist covers erasing, and the FAQ covers recycling.

How long each maker backs phones

Google Pixel: counted from the first sale

Google's Pixel update policy page says Pixel 8 and later phones get 7 years of OS and security updates, counted from when the device first became available on the Google Store in the US. It puts the Pixel 6, 6 Pro, 6a, 7, 7 Pro, 7a and Pixel Fold in a 5-year group, and says the Pixel 5a and earlier no longer receive Android version or security updates.

Google's separate availability page lists each model's first month in the US store. Adding the update length to that month gives the table below. Google does not print these end months, so treat them as a calculation; Google may count to a specific day within the month.

Model	First available (US)	Update length	Calculated end month
Pixel 6, 6 Pro	October 2021	5 years	October 2026
Pixel 6a	July 2022	5 years	July 2027
Pixel 7, 7 Pro	October 2022	5 years	October 2027
Pixel 7a	May 2023	5 years	May 2028
Pixel Fold	June 2023	5 years	June 2028
Pixel 8, 8 Pro	October 2023	7 years	October 2030
Pixel 8a	May 2024	7 years	May 2031
Pixel 9	August 2024	7 years	August 2031

Samsung: seven years for recent flagships

Samsung's January 18, 2024 announcement for the Galaxy S24 series cites seven generations of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates, with a footnote that timing and availability may vary by device model and market. Samsung's Galaxy S26 page repeats the commitment, counted from the series' initial global launch date. It adds that timing may vary by model, network provider and market. Neither page extends the promise to older Galaxy models or to the A-series.

Samsung's security updates page publishes monthly bulletins covering "major flagship models" and says delivery may vary by region and model. It does not say how many years each device is covered.

Apple: per-model minimums and a visible pattern

Apple's security releases page states that Apple doesn't disclose, discuss or confirm security issues until an investigation has occurred, and it does not state a support period. As of its September 28, 2026 listing, older branches kept receiving fixes in 2026: iOS 18.7.10 on August 17 for the iPhone XS, XS Max and XR; iOS 16.7.16 on May 11 for the iPhone 8, 8 Plus and X; and iOS 15.8.8 on May 11 for the iPhone 6s, 7 and first-generation SE.

Apple's iOS page lists the models that can run iOS 27, from the iPhone 11 and second-generation iPhone SE upward, and Apple's September 14, 2026 announcement confirms the release date. That floor is not new: Apple's June 2025 iOS 26 announcement already limited iOS 26 to the iPhone 11 and later. A model off the list can still get patches for a while, but Apple's security page does not say how long.

The closest thing to a written commitment is model by model. Apple's UK compliance statement for the iPhone 15 Pro Max (model A3106), signed April 29, 2024, lists software "17 and later", a first supply date of September 22, 2023, and a support period of a minimum of 5 years from that date, which works out to at least September 2028. The statement covers that model only.

What UK and EU rules changed

The UK's product security regime has applied since April 29, 2024 to manufacturers, importers and distributors of connectable products sold to UK consumers. GOV.UK lists publishing information on minimum security update periods among the requirements (Apple's iPhone statement above is one). The rule requires the period to be published; it does not set its length.

In the EU, Regulation (EU) 2023/1670 applies from June 20, 2025, as the European Commission's announcement notes. From the date the last unit of a model is placed on the market until at least 5 years later, a maker that issues security, corrective or feature updates for the model's operating system must make them available free for every unit of that model. The same rules set battery endurance of at least 800 charge cycles at 80% capacity and spare-part delivery within 5 to 10 working days.

Neither rule binds a US sale. For US buyers they are benchmarks: what a maker has put in writing for the same hardware elsewhere.

What happens when patches stop

CISA's guidance on keeping devices updated says attackers can exploit flaws in outdated operating systems and apps to spread malware or steal data. It adds that if a developer no longer issues security updates for your OS or app, you should consider finding a replacement. The risk grows over time: each flaw disclosed after the last patch stays open on that phone.

A child's hand-me-down phone browses, messages and installs apps like any other, so an unpatched one carries the same exposure. If an unsupported phone stays in use anyway, for example as a spare, moving banking, email and password apps to a supported device limits what an attack on it could reach.

The makers and regulators cited here publish no dates for when banking or messaging apps drop older OS versions. Check the app's own listing or help page for your phone's OS version.

Frequently asked questions

Do the UK and EU rules cover a phone I bought in the US?

Not directly. The UK regime governs products supplied to UK consumers, and the EU regulation applies to products placed on the EU market. A US model may carry a different commitment, so rely on the maker's page for your exact model number.

Do the EU rules cover tablets and basic phones too?

Yes. Article 1 of Regulation (EU) 2023/1670 covers smartphones, other mobile phones, cordless phones and slate tablets, and its operating system update requirement appears in the sections for smartphones, other mobile phones and slate tablets. It excludes phones and tablets with a main display the user can roll up, and smartphones for high-security communication.

Does the newest iOS mean my iPhone gets every new feature?

No. Apple's Apple Intelligence page for the 27.0 releases lists iPhone 16 models or later, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, and the iPhone Air. An iPhone 11 can run iOS 27 without those features.

Do I need my password to reset a phone?

Usually, so keep the credentials handy. Google says to know the password for the Google Account on the phone and its screen lock, and to wait 24 hours after resetting the account password. Apple says erasing turns off Find My and Activation Lock, and that you might need your Apple Account and password if Find My is on.

Can I throw an old phone in the household trash?

No. EPA says lithium-ion batteries and devices containing them should not go in household garbage or recycling bins. EPA points to Call2Recycle, Earth911 and Greener Gadgets for donation and recycling options, and says to check for facilities in your state or community.

A checklist for this week

Check the status. On Pixel, open Settings, then About phone, then Android version to see the security update date, and System, then Software updates for status, per Google's version-check page. On iPhone, open Settings, General, Software Update, per Apple's update guide.
Look up your model. Compare it with the table above, the iOS 27 list or the maker's published period, and note the end month.
Back up. Apple says to back up before updating or erasing, and Google says a factory reset erases all data, so make sure it's in your Google Account first.
Erase before it leaves your hands. On iPhone, sign out and choose Erase All Content and Settings, following Apple's sell or trade-in steps, and erase the eSIM profile when asked. On Android, follow Google's factory reset steps; the phone should be at 70% charge or more.
Trade in, donate or recycle. Use the programs EPA lists in its electronics donation and recycling guidance, and delete personal information first.