Fake Android Update Screen

An "Installing system update" screen for Android phones and tablets. Open it on the phone, go full screen and hand it back.

Update time minutesStart at % Never finishes

Tip: double-click the screen to go full screen. The toolbar and mouse pointer are hidden in full screen. Esc exits.

Choose a system

What this screen shows

A blue background with a white Android robot, the words "Installing system update", a percentage and a progress bar underneath. Real Android update screens vary between phone makers, so any reasonable version is believable.

How to set it up on a phone

Open this page in the phone's browser and hold the phone upright.
Enter the update time and a Start at percentage.
Tap Fullscreen. The address bar and navigation buttons hide.
To exit, swipe from the top or bottom edge of the screen and tap back, or use the back gesture.

Tips for phones

Turn off notifications or switch on Do Not Disturb first. A message banner sliding over an "update" ends the prank immediately.
The screen will still lock on its usual timer. Increase the screen timeout if you want the update to stay visible.
Use a friend's phone only with them present. Do not go through anything else on the device.

Nothing is installed and the phone's real updates are unaffected. Those are found in Settings under System or Software update.

Fake Android update FAQ

How do I exit the fake Android update?

Swipe in from the top or bottom edge to show the system buttons and tap back, or close the browser tab.

Does it work on iPhone?

The page opens on an iPhone, but iPhone browsers do not allow a web page to go fully full screen, and the Android style would look out of place there.

Does it change anything on the phone?

No. It is an animation in the browser and cannot install or change anything.

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