Where Is The Android 5.0 Lollipop Update Available? Sprint And Best Buy Are Offering The New Google Software To Select Handsets

After months of waiting following its completion in October, the Android 5.0 Lollipop update is popping up everywhere. Samsung Galaxy S5 and HTC One (M7) users should be receiving the software as of Thursday, while retail store Best Buy is offering it to Galaxy S5 users regardless of whether the update is available on their mobile network.

Samsung Galaxy S5 handsets are just starting to receive the Android 5.0 update from carriers; Verizon sent out its update Monday. But even though the software is available, it can take several days to weeks for all handsets on the network to receive the wireless update.

A Samsung Experience shop rep shared on Reddit that Galaxy S5 users on Sprint, AT&T and Verizon also can go to a Samsung Experience kiosk at various Best Buy locations to get the new software on their devices. Updating through this method has the added bonus of getting Android 5.0 without carrier bloatware. It seems, however, that T-Mobile Galaxy S5 owners cannot take advantage of this offer.

HTC executive Mo Versi announced via Twitter that the HTC One (M7) on Sprint would begin to update to Android 5.0, and that more updates will quickly follow. The rollout comes just days after HTC announced it would not meet its goal of having updates out within 90 days of receiving the Android 5.0 software from Google.

HTC One (M7) should be receiving the Android 5.0.1 software, which includes a number of bug fixes, even though an Android 5.0.2 update has since been sent out to address further issues. Additional details about the update, such as its version number and size, are not yet known, but it is available wirelessly. Users should be prompted to update their devices automatically once the software hits, but they also can access Settings > About > Software Update to see if an update is available.

A recent leak, which confirmed the Thursday update of the HTC One (M7), also indicates that the HTC One (M8) should receive Android 5.0 on Feb. 13, while the LG G3 should receive the new software on Feb. 16.

Meanwhile, Sprint Galaxy S5 users have reported that their handsets are now receiving Android 5.0. The system build or exact system version is called G900PVPU1AOA6, which will need about 898.44MB of internal storage to install. The software includes Sprint-specific enhancements to Android 5.0 such as an update to the voice-over Wi-Fi interface and the removal of the Lumen tool bar.

Sprint Galaxy S5 users also should be prompted to update their devices automatically once the software hits, but they also can access Settings > More > About Device > Software Update to see if an update is available.