Android 101: how to update Android apps

Illustration by William Joel / The Verge

It's always a good idea to keep your apps updated so you have the latest security and bug fixes. You could be missing out on new features.

If you don't have automatic updates enabled, you'll have to manually update your apps from the Play Store. We will show you how to update individual apps and how to enable automatic updates.

Not every device has the same layout. We created this how-to using a device other than the one you're using, so you might have a different experience.

Updating your apps manually

You can update your apps at once from the Play Store. Here is how to do both.

• Head to the Google Play Store and select your profile icon in the top-right corner of the screen.
• Select Manage apps & device, and then choose the Updates available option.
• From here, you’ll see a list of apps that need updating. Select the Update option next to each individual app you wish to update.
• If you want to update all your apps at once, select Update all at the top of the screen.

Turning on automatic updates

Automatic updates will be downloaded in the background. You shouldn't have to check the Play Store for new updates. Follow the steps to turn on automatic updates for your apps.

• Open the Google Play Store and click on your profile icon in the top-right corner of the screen.
• Tap Settings > Network preferences > Auto-update apps.
• From here, you’ll see a few different options. Choose Over Wi-Fi only if you want to download updates when you’re connected to Wi-Fi and not on a mobile network. There’s also the Over any network option, which means downloads will occur over Wi-Fi and mobile data. This option is best if you have an unlimited mobile data plan. Otherwise, app updates could use up a large chunk of your data.
• If you want to disable automatic updates altogether, select Don’t auto-update apps.

Automatic updates can be enabled on individual apps rather than all of them. Here's how.

• Open the Google Play Store and select your profile icon in the top-right corner of the screen.
• Select Manage apps & device, and then tap the Manage tab on top.
• Tap the app you want to enable auto-updates for.
• Select the three dots in the top-right corner of the screen, and then ensure Enable auto updateis checked off. You can also uncheck this box to disable the feature.