System Update - Permitted Networks could be simpler

ProfessorMonks

Hi all

Recently, I was on 4G (limited data plan) and I plugged my phone into charger. Immediately, the phone began downloading and installing an update.
This was not ideal as the phone started getting hot due to the phone charging, downloading an update as well as my continued use of the device. Therefore, I would like to suggest an adjustment in the available settings to allow a system update to be triggered.

Could we look at replacing the current options in lieu of clearer options i.e. WiFi only or Mobile Network only or Any/Both? This would be clear for those (like me) who would like to only update on WiFi connection.
Screenshot of the settings currently: https://ibb.co/mFry32mj

Unmetered option appears to be the closest to WiFi in my suggestion and if that was the intention, maybe it could be renamed WiFi for clarity?

Here's how iOS manages settings: https://ibb.co/S7N4BKtp

I acknowledge that there are currently functions to enforce that updates only happen when battery is above warning level, and/or needs to be charging but I think it is useful to go a bit further and be able to configure the connection type as well.

Thank you

mrket

ProfessorMonks Could we look at replacing the current options in lieu of clearer options i.e. WiFi only or Mobile Network only or Any/Both?

The options which currently exist as shown in your screenshot are far better, you are basically asking to remove "Not roaming" (hopefully this won't happen as I find it useful) and add the option to only use metered connections (why is this useful?).

The term "Unmetered" is used in many places, and it is much more flexible as Android allows you to set specific WiFi networks to "metered" (or not) if required, and by default attempts to detect if a WiFi network is metered automatically.

The way this is handled in iOS seems very bad IMO, depriving you of any choice other than disabling automatic updates completely.

mrket

ProfessorMonks does the OS identify mobile network as unmetered or metered?

As metered, otherwise that option wouldn't be very useful.

ProfessorMonks I am suggesting an additional toggle for the OS to check before initiating an update download. This additional toggle would be to check whether a user accepts updates to be downloaded on WiFi only, or both WiFi and mobile network.

This is what the existing option does. I agree that it would be good to have some sort of confirmation when those conditions aren't met and the user manually presses "Check for updates", but this is not what you were asking for:

ProfessorMonks Could we look at replacing the current options in lieu of clearer options i.e. WiFi only or Mobile Network only or Any/Both?

andrej567

I noticed similar. I have allowed only unmetered. I was on metered. I pressed the "check for updates" and the update started to download immediately. I would expect It would at least ask - you are on metered. really download? it is xx MB.

ProfessorMonks

mrket you are basically asking to remove "Not roaming"

I am suggesting an additional toggle for the OS to check before initiating an update download. This additional toggle would be to check whether a user accepts updates to be downloaded on WiFi only, or both WiFi and mobile network.

mrket The term "Unmetered" is used in many places, and it is much more flexible as Android allows you to set specific WiFi networks to "metered" (or not) if required, and by default attempts to detect if a WiFi network is metered automatically.

I agree, but it did not work for @andrej567 as they'd reported the below:

andrej567 I have allowed only unmetered. I was on metered. I pressed the "check for updates" and the update started to download immediately.

Either way, the existing toggles to do with unmetered and roaming need to be reviewed (does the OS identify mobile network as unmetered or metered?) and clarified. Or an additional toggle should be added specifically checking WiFi only or both WiFi and mobile network. I don't see any downsides or loss of functionality.

mrket The way this is handled in iOS seems very bad IMO, depriving you of any choice other than disabling automatic updates completely.

I don't disagree. I posted the iOS comparison for insight.

ProfessorMonks

Bumping the thread - is it possible for the devs @GrapheneOS to review this area? I understand the intention to keep things as simple as possible with only useful changes made to AOSP but this is a pretty important area which could have unintended consequences for users (i.e. unexpected battery drain due to an update that can't be stopped or out of plan data useage resulting in extra costs especially when travelling).

The potential fix would be possibly enable a toggle for downloading updates via WiFi only or both WiFi and mobile network.