How to Set Up Automatic App Updates on iPhone and Android
Keeping apps updated protects your security and brings new features. Turn on auto-updates so it happens on its own.
Turn on automatic updates on iPhone
~22sQuick Tip
Updates download in the background, usually while your phone is charging overnight. You will not notice the process happening.
Turn on automatic updates on Android
~15sCheck for updates manually
~25sQuick Tip
Checking manually once a week is a good habit, even with auto-updates on — some updates require your attention or a restart.
What to do if an update causes a problem
~21sYou Did It!
You've completed: How to Set Up Automatic App Updates on iPhone and Android
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App updates are released regularly by developers to fix security vulnerabilities, correct bugs, and add new features. Staying current with updates is one of the simplest and most effective things you can do to keep your phone secure and running properly. When apps are not updated, they may have known security holes that hackers can exploit — especially in apps you use for banking, email, or shopping.
The good news is that both iPhone and Android allow you to turn on automatic updates, so apps update on their own — typically overnight while your phone is charging and connected to Wi-Fi. Once this is set up, you do not need to remember to update anything manually.
On iPhone, automatic app updates are controlled through the App Store settings. Go to Settings, scroll down and tap "App Store," and look for the "App Updates" toggle under the "Automatic Downloads" section. Turn this on. When new updates are available, they will download and install while your phone is connected to Wi-Fi and charging, without any action needed from you.
On Android, the setting is inside the Google Play Store. Open the Play Store app and tap your profile picture in the top right corner. Tap "Settings," then tap "Network preferences," and then "Auto-update apps." You will see three options: over any network, over Wi-Fi only, or don't auto-update. Choose "Over Wi-Fi only" — this updates your apps automatically when connected to Wi-Fi without using your cellular data.
Even with auto-updates turned on, you can always check for updates manually. On iPhone, open the App Store and tap your profile picture in the top right — scroll down to see available updates. On Android, open the Play Store, tap your profile picture, and tap "Manage apps and device" to see a list of apps with available updates.
What should you do if an update causes a problem? Most app developers release a fix quickly, often within a few days. In the meantime, you can use the app as-is or look for a workaround. If an update breaks something critical, you can report the issue to the developer through the App Store or Play Store by scrolling to the reviews section and tapping "Report a problem."
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