Android 16 on Motorola Razr

Android 16 started rolling out to Motorola Razr devices from late January 2026. The flagship 2025 models were first, with 2024 models following shortly after. The 2023 lineup is still in the beta phase for most regions.

This page tracks update status, known issues, and workarounds — updated as new information comes in.


Update status by model

ModelStatusNotes
Razr 60 Ultra (2025)✅ StableRolling out globally.
Razr 60 (2025)✅ StableStable rollout underway
Razr+ / Razr Ultra (2025)✅ StableUS rollout on T-Mobile and Verizon (phased)
Razr 50 Ultra (2024)✅ StableStable — among the first to receive it
Razr 50 (2024)✅ StableStable rollout underway
Razr 40 Ultra (2023)🔶 BetaBeta programme active in some markets
Razr 40 (2023)🔶 BetaBeta programme active in some markets

Rollouts are staggered by region and carrier — being on the list doesn’t mean you’ll receive it immediately.


Rollout and how to get it

Motorola uses phased OTA rollouts, meaning the update arrives on your device within days to weeks of the official launch date for your region.

To check manually: Settings → About phone → System update

If no update appears, your device hasn’t been selected yet in the current wave. Checking repeatedly doesn’t speed it up — the selection is server-side.

Carrier-locked devices (common in the US) receive updates after the carrier approves them, which can add weeks of delay compared to unlocked models.

Can’t wait? Force the update via Motorola Software Fix

If your region hasn’t received the OTA yet, you can install Android 16 manually using Motorola Software Fix (Windows PC tool, x64 only — ARM64 laptops are not supported):

  1. Download and install Motorola Software Fix on a Windows PC
  2. Enable USB debugging: Settings → About phone → tap Build number 7 times → System → Developer options → USB debugging
  3. Connect your phone with the original USB-C cable
  4. Link the device (IMEI or fastboot method)
  5. Android 16 will appear — download and begin installation

Important: An initial warning says your data will be deleted. Mid-process, a second popup appears with two options — one of which lets you update without wiping your data. Choose that option.

Confirmed working on Razr 60 Ultra and Razr 50 in multiple regions where OTA hadn’t arrived yet.


What’s new for Razr users

Android 16 brings several improvements that matter more on a foldable than on a standard phone:

Cover screen improvements

Performance

Geekbench 6 results from Razr Ultra 2025 users show a significant multi-core improvement over Android 15:

The kernel version barely changed, so the gain appears to come from improved thread scheduling rather than new drivers. In practice: multitasking with the cover screen feels noticeably smoother, app switching between heavy apps is snappier, and thermals during sustained load seem slightly better too.

System and connectivity

Motorola Hello UI updates

Android 16 ships with an updated version of Motorola’s Hello UI. Changes include refined quick settings, updated Moto Secure options, and improved adaptive refresh rate handling.

Worth noting: Motorola didn’t follow some of Google’s more controversial Android 16 UI changes. The incoming call screen still uses the familiar vertical swipe to answer or decline (Pixel 9 switched to a horizontal swipe). The dialer keeps large favourite contact tiles rather than replacing them with a small scrollable row. If you’ve used a Pixel on Android 16, the Razr implementation will feel like a cleaner version.


Known issues

These are bugs reported by Razr users after updating to Android 16. The majority of users report no issues — these are specific problems worth knowing about, not reasons to avoid the update. Some may be fixed in subsequent security patches.

YouTube fullscreen broken on the outer screen

What happens: Tapping fullscreen in the YouTube app on the cover display doesn’t work correctly — the video either doesn’t expand or immediately snaps back.

Affected models: Reported on Razr 50 Ultra and Razr 60 Ultra. Likely affects all models with the cover screen.

Workaround: Watch YouTube on the inner screen for now, or use the YouTube website in a browser rather than the app — the browser version handles fullscreen differently and may work. Motorola is aware of the issue; no patch timeline yet.


Android Auto wireless connection requires phone to be unfolded

What happens: After the Android 16 update, wireless Android Auto won’t connect automatically when the phone is folded. Most users find the phone needs to be physically opened (unfolded) to establish the connection. Simply waking the cover screen is not enough. Wired Android Auto is unaffected — if you connect via USB-C cable, folding the phone causes no issues.

Affected models: Confirmed on Razr 50 Ultra, Razr Ultra 2025, and Razr 60 (2025). Both Snapdragon and MediaTek variants affected. Motorola UK has confirmed the issue has been escalated to the technical department. Some users report no issues at all — experience seems to vary by car system and OTA build.

Broader impact: The issue isn’t limited to Android Auto. At least one user reports that wireless connection to a PC also fails when the phone is folded and resumes when unfolded — suggesting the fold state disrupts wireless connections generally, not just Android Auto.

Workaround options:

  1. Unfold the phone when getting in the car and wait for Android Auto to connect — works for most users, though some report this alone is insufficient with certain car systems (BMW iDrive8 specifically)
  2. Clear the Android Auto app cache (Settings → Apps → Android Auto → Storage → Clear cache) before getting in the car — this causes an immediate connection for that session, but needs to be repeated each time. Currently the most consistently reliable workaround
  3. Clean flash via Motorola Software Fix (Windows app) — several users report wireless AA works normally after a full clean flash of Android 16. Requires a PC and resets the device
  4. Fall back to USB-C cable until Motorola issues a fix

Motorola has officially acknowledged this bug. MotoAgents confirmed they are aware and collecting bug reports. To help push a fix: Settings → Ratings & Feedback → Bug Report. No ETA for a patch yet.

Official Motorola Support troubleshooting steps (from Motorola Support, for cases where the above workarounds don’t help):

  1. Update Android Auto — Play Store → profile icon → Manage apps & device → Updates available
  2. Check permissions — Settings → Apps → Android Auto → Permissions: ensure location, storage, and phone are allowed; also check Battery → Background activity is enabled
  3. Restart both devices — fully power off the phone and restart your car’s infotainment system
  4. Clear cache, then data — Settings → Apps → Android Auto → Storage & cache → Clear cache first; if that doesn’t resolve it, Clear storage/data
  5. Try a different USB cable or port (wired connections only)

Cover screen app compatibility

What happens: Some apps that previously worked on the cover screen (Facebook, WhatsApp, X/Twitter) have display issues after the update — content gets cut off or the layout breaks. Some users also report that apps which used the cover screen well on Android 15 no longer do on 16.

A more specific variant: apps are cropped at the top of the cover screen, cutting off content above the camera area. This affects several apps that previously filled the screen correctly.

Workaround: Go to Settings → Display → Cover screen → App settings and toggle the affected app off and back on. If that doesn’t help, clearing the app cache sometimes resolves it.


YouTube Music volume drops when closing the flap

What happens: While playing music via YouTube Music, closing the phone (folding it shut) drops the volume to roughly one third of its current level. Opening the phone again doesn’t restore it automatically — you have to manually adjust the volume each time.

Affected models: Reported on Razr 50 Ultra. Likely a media volume routing issue triggered by the fold event.

Workaround: No confirmed fix yet. As a workaround, set your volume before folding. Clearing the YouTube Music app cache may help in some cases.


Bluetooth audio very quiet in car

What happens: After updating to Android 16, Bluetooth audio volume when connected to a car stereo drops significantly — sometimes to barely audible levels even at max volume.

Affected models: Reported on Razr 60 Ultra. Starts immediately after the update.

Workaround: Check if your car stereo has its own volume level setting separate from the phone (many do). If the stereo volume is fine, try unpairing and re-pairing the Bluetooth connection. No confirmed fix from Motorola yet.


Ghost audio after closing apps

What happens: Audio from an app keeps playing even after the app is closed or all apps are killed. Usually a video or music track that keeps running in the background with no obvious source.

Affected models: Reported on Razr 60 Ultra, but also seen on Pixel 9 Pro — likely an Android 16 platform bug rather than Razr-specific.

Workaround: Pull down the notification shade — there’s usually a media playback notification you can dismiss even if you can’t see the app. If not, a reboot clears it.


Still having issues after updating? Try a clean flash

If you’re experiencing persistent problems after the update that a reboot doesn’t fix, a clean flash often resolves them. Use Lenovo Software Fix (Windows app) to flash Android 16 cleanly rather than as an OTA on top of Android 15. Several users report this eliminates lingering bugs. Note: back up your data first as this resets the device.


FAQ

Will the Razr 40 Ultra (2023) get Android 16? It’s in the beta programme, so yes — but the stable rollout timeline hasn’t been confirmed for all markets. The 2023 models are in Motorola’s third year of OS support.

Will the Razr 40 (2023) get Android 16? Same situation as the 40 Ultra — in beta, stable rollout not yet confirmed for all markets.

What about older models (2022 and earlier)? The original Razr 2022 and Razr+ 2022 are not expected to receive Android 16. They’ve reached the end of Motorola’s OS update support window.

My Razr shows no update — is it broken? No. Phased rollouts mean your device hasn’t been picked yet. Check Settings → About phone → System update periodically. If you’ve been waiting more than 4–6 weeks after the confirmed launch for your region, try resetting your network settings, which occasionally unsticks OTA delivery.

Can I go back to Android 15 if Android 16 causes problems? Not easily. Motorola doesn’t officially support downgrading. If you’re experiencing serious issues, contact Motorola support — in some cases they can help.


Last updated: March 2026. Found a bug that’s not listed here? Let us know.