How to Disable Automatic App Updates on Your Phone

Edited 1 week ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

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Phones are an integral part of our daily lives, and app updates happen frequently in the digital world. Automatic updates are a convenient feature that ensures your apps are always up to date with the latest features and security patches. However, they can also happen at the most inconvenient times, draining your mobile data and battery life. Maybe you're traveling abroad and want to avoid data charges, or perhaps you're on a limited data plan. Whatever the reason, knowing how to disable automatic app updates can save you a lot of hassle. In this article, we'll explain the steps needed to disable automatic updates on both Android and iOS devices in a detailed, easy-to-understand way.

Understanding automatic app updates

Before we begin with the steps, it is essential to understand why phones update apps automatically. Many app developers frequently release updates to improve performance, enhance security, and introduce new features. By default, most phones are set to update apps automatically to keep everything running smoothly without user intervention. This is undoubtedly useful but may not suit everyone's needs.

Disabling automatic updates on an Android device

Let's start by discussing how you can disable automatic app updates on an Android device. The Google Play Store controls app updates, and from there, you can easily manage your update preferences.

Step by step guide for Android:

1. Open the Google Play Store on your Android device.
2. Tap your profile icon in the top right corner of the screen. This will open a dropdown menu.
3. Select Settings from the dropdown menu. This will open the Settings page.
4. In Settings, find Network preferences and tap on it.
5. Under Network preferences, you'll see an option called Auto-update apps. Tap on it.
6. You will be presented with several options:
   • On any network: This option allows apps to update using Wi-Fi or mobile data.
   • Only on Wi-Fi: This means apps will only update when you're connected to a Wi-Fi network.
   • Don't update apps automatically: This disables automatic updates completely.
7. Select 'Don't automatically update apps' and then tap 'Done' to confirm your choice.

By selecting this option, you are preventing apps from updating themselves without your permission. Please remember to manually check for updates occasionally to ensure your apps are working correctly and safely.

Disabling updates for specific apps on Android:

There may be situations where you want to disable automatic updates for certain apps while allowing others to update automatically. Here's how you can do that:

1. Open Google Play Store.
2. Tap the search box and type the name of the app you want to manage.
3. When you find the app, open its app page in the Play Store.
4. At the top right, you will see a three-dot menu. Tap on it.
5. In the dropdown menu, you will see the option Enable Auto Updates with a checkbox next to it.
6. If the box is checked, uncheck it to disable automatic updates for that particular app.

Disabling automatic updates for specific apps gives more control over which apps get updated over time and can preserve data for apps that are important but are updated infrequently.

Disabling automatic updates on an iOS device

Now, let's move on to iOS devices. If you're using an iPhone or iPad, app updates are managed by the App Store. Managing these settings may be slightly different than Android.

Step-by-step guide for iOS:

1. Open the Settings app on your iOS device.
2. Scroll down and tap App Store.
3. Under the section titled Automatic Downloads, you'll find App Updates.
4. There is a toggle switch next to App Updates. If you want to turn off automatic updates, slide this switch to the off position.

By turning off this setting, your apps will no longer update automatically. Remember, just like Android, you'll need to check for updates periodically to make sure your apps are secure and up to date with the latest features.

To download app updates manually on iOS:

If you've turned off automatic updates, you may be wondering how to manually update your apps on an iOS device. Here's how you can do it:

1. Open the App Store on your device.
2. Tap your profile icon in the top right corner of the screen.
3. Scroll down to see the list of apps pending for updates. This will show all the apps that have updates available.
4. You can update apps individually by tapping Update next to each app, or update all apps at once by tapping Update All.

Updating apps manually gives you more control over your apps and ensures you get updates when you want them, not when your phone decides.

Advantages and disadvantages of automatic app updates

While automatic updates offer many benefits, they also come with some disadvantages. Let's take a look at both sides of the coin:

Benefit:

• Convenience: With automatic updates, you don't have to remember to update your apps manually. Your phone does it for you without any extra effort.
• Security: Developers frequently update apps to fix security vulnerabilities. Automatic updates ensure that your apps have the latest security fixes, keeping your device secure.
• New features: Automatic updates bring new features and improvements to your apps without your involvement.

Shortcoming:

• Data usage: If your phone updates apps not only via Wi-Fi but also via mobile data, this can lead to higher data usage, especially if you have limited data.
• Battery consumption: Updating apps consumes power, and can drain your device's battery faster, especially if many apps are updating at once.
• Unexpected changes: Automatic updates can change the way your app works, and bring new features that you won’t like and that could impact your user experience.
• Space usage: Apps can grow larger with updates, and consume more storage space on your device than you might realize.

Conclusion

The decision of whether to disable automatic app updates or not depends largely on your personal preferences and needs. Some users appreciate the convenience and security offered by automatic updates, while others prefer to control when their apps update to save data and battery life.

By following the steps mentioned above, you can efficiently manage your update settings on both Android and iOS devices. Remember, it's also important to check your apps periodically and update them manually to ensure you benefit from the latest features and security enhancements. The decision is yours, and knowing how to control your device gives you more flexibility in managing your digital life.

In the ever-evolving world of apps and software, understanding how to manage your device's settings is crucial to optimizing performance and ensuring security. Whether you choose to keep automatic updates enabled or turn them off, staying informed and proactive about your app updates will help you get the most out of your smartphone.

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