How to Update Android Apps: Automatic and Manual Methods
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Updates fix security problems, repair bugs and keep apps working with newer versions of Android. Most people leave updating to Google Play, which is a good default, but it helps to know where the settings are, how to update an app you installed by hand and what to do when an update refuses to finish. This guide covers all three.
Turn on automatic updates in Google Play
- Open the Google Play Store and tap your profile picture.
- Choose Settings, then Network preferences, then Auto-update apps.
- Pick Over Wi-Fi only if you have limited mobile data, or Over any network if you do not.
To control one app, open its page in Play, tap the three dots at the top right and switch Enable auto update on or off. Turning it off for a single app is useful when a recent update made it worse and you want to wait for a fix.
Update apps manually
- Open the Play Store, tap your profile picture and choose Manage apps and device.
- Look for Updates available.
- Tap Update all, or open the list and update the apps you care about first.
Updating manually is a good habit for apps that handle money, messages or passwords, because security fixes arrive in updates.
Check which version you have
Open Settings, Apps, choose the app and scroll to the bottom of its App info page. The version number is shown there. Compare it with the version on the listing so you know whether a newer one is available. If a listing shows a higher version number than yours, you are behind.
Update an app you installed from an APK
Apps installed by hand do not always update by themselves. To update one:
- Find the newer version on the same trusted source you used before.
- Check the file as you would any other download, using our safety checklist.
- Install the new APK over the old one, following the install guide. Your data is kept when both versions are signed by the same developer key.
If Android refuses with an App not installed message, the signatures probably differ. Our troubleshooting guide explains what to do, and our backup guide shows how to protect your data first.
Do not forget system components
Google Play services and Android System WebView update through the Play Store, and Android itself updates through Settings, System, System update. Many phones also receive a separate Google Play system update, usually found in the security or system update settings. These keep the platform patched even when your phone maker is slow to ship a full Android update.
When an update will not finish
| Problem | What to try |
|---|---|
| Update stays on Pending | Check your connection and your auto-update network setting, then restart the phone |
| Download starts then fails | Free up storage, see this guide |
| Play Store itself is stuck | Clear the Play Store cache in Settings, Apps, then try again |
| Error mentions date or time | Turn on automatic date and time in Settings |
| Update made the app worse | Wait for a fix, or turn off auto update for that app |
Frequently asked questions
Do updates use mobile data?
Yes, unless you restrict updates to Wi-Fi. Large game updates can be hundreds of megabytes, so Wi-Fi only is a sensible choice on limited plans.
Should I update immediately?
For security reasons it is usually best to update soon. If an app is critical for work, you can wait a day or two and read reviews first.
Can I go back to an older version?
Android does not offer a simple downgrade. You generally need to uninstall the app and install an older APK from a trusted source, which removes local data unless it is backed up.