Skipping updates

Endless

Hello everyone,

I've decided to only update my phone monthly (with the latest monthly patches) and currently I have to go through every update; this takes a lot of time and restarts to update my phone to the latest version. Can I also update straight to the latest version?

This is because I don't always have access to my owner profile. Can someone point me in the right direction here?

Thanks

raccoondad

Endless I've decided to only update my phone monthly

You shouldn't do this

Oggyo

raccoondad You shouldn't do this

Do you mean security-wise (best practices) or technically about how the delta updates work?

I believe the system updater is designed smart enough to pick the needed delta update since the last update or if not available (too many skipped updates) to re-download the full cumulative one.

trashaccount

raccoondad You should substantiate your advice. If he applies the actual OS security patches on time, then it wont matter much. Vanadium and other components get updated on the fly.

phospmph

trashaccount
Please note that most of the GrapheneOS releases contain security patches, not only the one with monthly security updates provided by upstream. For example, the Linux GKI LTS updates contain kernel security patches. One example is the most recent release:
https://grapheneos.org/releases#2025052800

kernel (6.1): update to latest GKI LTS branch revision including update to 6.1.140

Further information:
https://grapheneos.org/features#more-complete-patching

Endless
You can sideload an update by downloading the "Signed update package" for your device in https://grapheneos.org/releases#devices

You can follow the procedure in
https://grapheneos.org/usage#updates-sideloading

Endless

Can I sideload a newer version?

trashaccount

phospmph You're right. I missed those.