The fastest way to update a single app
Open Google Play Store on your Android phone — it's the app with the colorful triangle icon. Tap the profile icon in the top right corner, then tap Manage apps and device. You'll see two tabs: Manage and Updates available. Tap the Updates available tab to see which apps have new versions waiting.
Find the app you want to update in the list and tap the Update button next to it. The app will download and install automatically. You don't need to do anything else — when it's done, the button will change to Open. Some apps will ask you to restart them or log back in after the update finishes.
If you only see one or two apps in the Updates available tab, that means most of your apps are already current. Android checks for updates automatically in the background, so you won't fall far behind even if you don't check manually.
Key Takeaways
- The Updates available tab in Google Play Store shows you every app that has a new version waiting, all in one place.
- Tapping Update next to an app downloads and installs the new version without you having to restart your phone.
- You can update all your apps at once by tapping Update all, or update them one at a time as you notice them.
- Android automatically checks for updates in the background, so apps won't stay outdated for long even if you never manually check.
- Some apps need you to restart them or log back in after an update, but most pick up where they left off.
How to update all your apps at once
If you have several apps waiting for updates, you can update them all together instead of one by one. Go to Google Play Store, tap your profile icon, then Manage apps and device, and tap the Updates available tab. At the top right, you'll see Update all. Tap it, and every app with a pending update will start downloading and installing.
Your phone will handle the downloads in the background while you use other apps. Depending on how many apps need updating and how fast your internet is, the whole process might take anywhere from a few minutes to half an hour. You can check progress by going back to the Updates available tab — it will show you which apps are still updating.
If your phone is running low on storage space, some updates might fail. If that happens, delete files or apps you don't need, then tap Update all again. Android will try the failed updates first.
Turning on automatic updates
You can set Android to update your apps automatically without you having to do anything. Open Google Play Store, tap your profile icon, then Settings. Scroll down and tap Network preferences, then Auto-update apps. You'll see three choices: Don't auto-update apps, Auto-update apps over any network, or Auto-update apps only over Wi-Fi.
If you choose Auto-update apps over any network, your phone will download and install updates using either Wi-Fi or your mobile data. If you choose Auto-update apps only over Wi-Fi, updates will only happen when you're connected to Wi-Fi. This saves mobile data if you have a limited plan. Most people pick the Wi-Fi option to avoid using up their monthly data allowance.
Even with automatic updates turned on, you can still manually update any app right away by going to the Updates available tab. Automatic updates just mean you won't have to remember to do it yourself.
What to do if an update won't install
Sometimes an app update fails to install. The most common reason is that your phone doesn't have enough free storage space. Check how much space you have left by going to Settings > Storage. If you're using more than 90 percent of your phone's storage, delete photos, videos, or apps you don't use anymore, then try the update again.
If storage isn't the problem, try closing Google Play Store completely and opening it again. Tap and hold the Google Play Store icon, then tap App info > Force stop. Wait a few seconds, then open Google Play Store again and try the update. This clears out any temporary files that might be causing the problem.
If the update still won't install, restart your phone. Turn it off completely, wait 10 seconds, then turn it back on. This resets your phone's memory and often fixes update problems. After restarting, go back to the Updates available tab and try again.
Understanding what happens during an update
When you update an app, you're downloading a new version that usually includes bug fixes, new features, or security improvements. The update process doesn't erase your saved data, login information, or settings inside the app — those stay exactly as they were. You'll pick up right where you left off.
Some apps will ask you to restart them after an update. You can either close the app and reopen it, or just wait — most apps will restart themselves the next time you use them. A few apps might ask you to log in again as a security measure, but this is rare.
Updates usually take just a few seconds to a few minutes, depending on the app's size and your internet speed. Larger apps like games or video players might take longer. You can use your phone normally while an update is installing in the background.
Checking which version of an app you have
If you want to know what version of an app is currently installed, open Google Play Store and search for the app by name. Tap the app's listing, and scroll down to find About this app. Near the bottom, you'll see Current version followed by a number like 5.2.1 or 12.0. That's the version you have right now.
You can compare this to the version number shown in the Updates available tab to see if a newer one is waiting. If the version numbers are the same, your app is fully updated. If the number in Updates available is higher, an update is ready to install.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will updating an app delete my data or settings?
No. Updates preserve everything inside the app — your saved games, login information, preferences, and any files you've created. The update only replaces the app's code, not your personal data. You'll open the app after updating and find everything exactly as you left it.
Can I use my phone while an app is updating?
Yes. Updates download and install in the background, so you can use other apps, make calls, send messages, or browse the web while an update is happening. You only can't use the specific app that's currently updating until it finishes.
What if I don't want to update a particular app?
You don't have to update any app. Just don't tap the Update button next to it. However, older versions of apps sometimes have security problems, so updates are usually worth installing. If an app is causing problems after an update, you can uninstall it and reinstall the previous version from Google Play Store.
Why does my phone keep asking me to update apps?
Your phone is reminding you because updates are waiting. If you have automatic updates turned off, these notifications will keep appearing until you update the apps or turn on automatic updates. If you want the reminders to stop, either update the apps or go to Settings > Notifications and turn off notifications from Google Play Store.
Do I need Wi-Fi to update apps?
No, but it's faster and won't use your mobile data. You can update apps over mobile data if you need to, but if you have a limited data plan, it's better to wait for Wi-Fi. You can set your phone to only auto-update over Wi-Fi in the Network preferences section of Google Play Store settings.