A Complete Guide to Updating Android Apps from Google Play Store

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Update automatically or manually to the newest version of an app with our easy guide

Written by Darlene Antonelli, MA

Last Updated: February 27, 2024 Fact Checked

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Updating Apps in the Google Play Store

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Setting Automatic Updates

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Video

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Q&A

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Tips

This wikiHow article teaches you how to install app updates on your Android device by updating the apps that have new versions available, or by turning on automatic updates.

Quick Steps

Open the Google Play Store app.
Tap your profile icon.
Tap Manage apps & device.
Tap Update all.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Updating Apps in the Google Play Store

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1
Open the Google Play Store app
. Tap the app icon that looks like a Play icon in red, yellow, green, and blue colors.
- Do this if you want to update your apps manually. This works if your apps aren't updating automatically.
It's in the upper-right corner of the screen.

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It's under the "Play Points" section.
4
Tap Update all. It's under the "Updates Available" header next to a 2x2 grid icon.
- This will say "All apps up to date" if there are no updates available.
- Tap See details if you want to see more information about which apps have an update or if you want to update each app individually.^{[1]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Setting Automatic Updates

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Open the Google Play Store app
. Tap the app icon that looks like a Play icon in red, yellow, green, and blue colors.
It's in the upper-right corner of the screen.
Tap
Settings. It's near the bottom of the menu next to an icon of a gear.
It's the second option on the menu and tapping it will expand the menu.
Another window with more options will appear.
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Select how to update the apps. Tap to choose an option and it will fill to indicate that it is selected.
- Tap Over any network to automatically update using your mobile data connection, which could incur data charges from your mobile carrier.
- Tap Over Wi-Fi only to allow automatic updates only when your device is connected to a Wi-Fi network.
- To stop automatic app updates altogether, tap Don't auto-update apps.
This saves and applies your changes as the window closes.^{[2]
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Community Q&A

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Question

My apps won't update at all. I have WiFi and it's set to auto update but it doesn't and I can't download what I want to download. Any suggestions?

Community Answer

Go to the app store, go the page of the app you wish to update, click "update".

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Question

What happens if you don't update your apps?

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Community Answer

In most cases, the apps won't work as intended. Many updates usually include bug patches, fixes for security flaws and so on. It will leave your phone vulnerable and is risky. Failing to/avoiding updating is not recommended unless you know what you are doing with phone security.

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Tips

Some other apps, including apps in Beta, don't update automatically or reliably. In this case, you can simply update them manually.

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If an updated app acts buggy, you sadly don't have the option to revert the update in the Google Play Store. You can, however, get an APK of the older version to use temporarily.

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