If you want to get the most out of your smartphone or tablet, it’s imperative that you keep all of your apps up to date. Generally speaking, you can do this in two ways: by manually updating them individually, or by configuring your phone to proactively check for updates and install them automatically.
No matter which method you prefer, keeping your applications current ensures that your device is as secure and stable as possible. In this article, we'll go over how to automatically and manually update all your apps, and also explain the advantages of each method along the way.
How to Update Android Apps
If you never want to bother with updating apps on your Android device but you still want the benefits of updating them, you can set them to auto-update. Turning this feature on will cause your device to check for updates. This can be a drawback with a phone because while it’s checking in with the Play Store and downloading apps, it will drain your battery a bit. And on both phones and tablets, you’ll also be giving up the ability to decide whether or not you want an update. On the plus side, you won’t have to worry about missing an essential security update.
(Credit: PCMag)To turn on auto-update, open the Google Play app and select your profile from the top right. Then select Settings > Network Preferences > Auto-Update Apps. You’ll have two choices: Over Any Network (this will update apps over Wi-Fi or by using your mobile data) and Over Wi-Fi Only (this will only update them when your device is connected to Wi-Fi).
If you’d rather check for updates on your own, open the Google Play app and select your profile from the top right. Then select Manage Apps & Device > Manage. Apps that have updates will be labeled Update Available. Clicking on the arrow next to each app name will let you see what’s included in the update. You can then select Update All at the top to do them in one batch, or you can go one by one and click Update next to each app.
How to Update iOS Apps
Just as with Android, you can set your apps to auto-update on iOS devices, with the same disadvantages with regard to battery life and the ability to control updates, as well as the same advantage of always being on top of app security. If you do decide you want to set things to happen automatically, you can go to Settings > App Store and then toggle App Updates on.
(Credit: PCMag)To update apps manually, open up the App Store and then select your profile at the top of the screen. You can select Update All to update every app that has an update at once, or you can go one by one. Tapping More on each one will show you what the update entails.
Scroll to see pending updates and release notes. Tap Update next to an app to update only that app, or tap Update All.