How to Uninstall Updates on Your Phone

Edited 1 week ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

UpdatesSmartphoneUninstallSoftware ManagementAndroidiPhonePerformanceDevice ManagementAppsTroubleshooting

In this guide, we will learn how to uninstall updates on your phone. Sometimes, after updating an app or the operating system, you may encounter issues such as bugs, glitches, or reduced functionality. If you encounter any of these problems, you may want to uninstall the update and revert to the previous version.

Table of Contents

• Why uninstall updates?
• Uninstalling updates on Android
• Uninstalling Updates on iOS
• Troubleshooting Common Problems
• Precautions
• Conclusion

Why uninstall updates?

Before we discuss the how-to part, let us first understand why someone would want to uninstall updates:

• Bugged updates: Sometimes updates contain bugs that make the app or system unstable.
• Compatibility issues: New updates may not be compatible with your device's hardware or other software.
• Performance issues: New updates can sometimes slow down your device or consume more resources.
• Preference for the old interface: Some updates bring changes to the interface that you may not like.

Uninstalling updates on Android

Uninstalling updates on Android may vary depending on the device and version of Android you are using. Below, we have explained a general approach:

Steps to uninstall app updates:

1. Open the Settings app on your Android phone.
2. Scroll down and select Apps & notifications or Only apps, depending on your device.
3. Tap the app whose update you want to uninstall.
4. Click on Storage and cache.
5. Tap Clear data or Clear storage. This will reset the app to its factory version, removing all updates.

Note that this method doesn’t work for system apps or apps that don’t allow downgrades.

Alternative method for system apps:

1. Again, open the Settings app.
2. Scroll down and select Apps.
3. Find and tap the system app whose updates you want to uninstall.
4. Tap the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner of the screen.
5. Select Uninstall updates.
6. A confirmation dialog will appear, tap OK to proceed.

This will remove the updates and revert the app to the version that came with the device.

Uninstalling Updates on iOS

Uninstalling updates on iOS isn't as easy as it is on Android. Apple doesn't provide a direct way to uninstall app updates, but there are a few alternative methods:

Steps to reinstall the older app version:

For this you will need access to iTunes on a computer:

1. Open iTunes on your computer.
2. Go to the Library section.
3. Select Apps from the sidebar menu.
4. Find the older version of the app you want to install.
5. Connect your iOS device to your computer using a USB cable.
6. Drag and drop the older version of the app onto your iOS device's icon in iTunes.
7. iTunes will install the older version of the app on your device.

Steps for system update:

1. Currently, there is no direct way to uninstall iOS updates once they are installed.
2. However, you can do a factory reset.
3. Make sure to backup all your important data.
4. Go to Settings > General > Reset.
5. Select Erase All Content and Settings.
6. This will delete all data and restore your device to default settings.

Troubleshooting Common Problems

Uninstalling updates can sometimes cause problems or leave behind residual files. Here are some common problems and their solutions:

Problem 1: App crashes after uninstalling updates

Solution: Reboot your device and check the app’s stability again. If the issue persists, clear the app’s data and cache from the settings.

Issue 2: Residual files are left behind

Solution: Use a file manager app to manually delete leftover files and folders from the previous version of the app.

Problem 3: The app isn’t working as expected

Solution: In some cases, it may be necessary to reinstall the app or update it to the latest version for proper functionality.

Precautions

Before you uninstall updates, you should consider a few important precautions:

• Backup data: Always backup your important data as uninstalling updates can sometimes delete app data.
• Check alternatives: Before uninstalling the update, look for alternative solutions, such as clearing the cache or data.
• Read reviews: If you're uninstalling updates for a particular app, check user reviews to see if other apps are experiencing similar problems.

Conclusion

When you're experiencing issues with the latest versions of apps or the operating system, uninstalling updates can be a simple solution. Although the steps may differ between Android and iOS, knowing how to revert to a previous version can save you from unnecessary hassle and help maintain the smooth operation of your phone. Always remember to take the necessary precautions and back up your data before proceeding.

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