Android App Update 2022: How to Disable Automatic Updates

Sophie Webster, Tech Times 16 March 2022, 10:03 pm

All apps that you've downloaded from the Google Play Store on your Android phone are automatically updated, and that is done by default.

If you would rather review the updates and if you want to give the updates permission first, you can choose to disable automatic updates.

Why Automatic Updates Happen

Before you disable the automatic update feature, it is important that you know why it is automatically enabled by default in Google Play Store.

Whether it is for the phone or the app, software updates are important so that you get the latest security updates and your phone and app are not vulnerable to any hacks or virus, according to How to Geek.

Automatic updates are there to make sure that your apps are always up to date with the latest bug fixes and security patches.

If you are going to disable the automatic updates on your apps, it is important to make sure that you are still manually updating them. Outdated software is vulnerable to bugs.

Also Read: Google App Crashes on Several Android Users Likely Due to Update Bug - How to Fix

Disable Automatic App Updates in Google Play Store

If you wish you disable the automatic updates for all apps, you first need to open the Google Play Store on your Android phone or tablet. Next, tap on your profile icon in the top right.

Next, from the menu, select Settings. Click the Network Preferences section and choose Auto-update apps. Now, select "Don't Auto-update Apps" from the menu and click on "Done."

As soon as you've saved it, you are all set. Apps and games will not be automatically updated on your phone.

Disable the Automatic App Updates for Individual Apps

If there are some apps that you do not want to automatically update, you can disable the option per app. First, open the Google Play Store and go to the app that you do not want to automatically update, according to Life Wire.

Click on the three-dot menu icon that you see in the top right. Now choose "Enable Auto Update." Once you've click on that option, you can repeat the process on the other apps and games that you do not want to automatically update.

It is a great idea to let the apps update on its own, but there may be some cases wherein that is not the best. Thankfully, you can easily control what goes on in the Google Play Store.

How to Update Google Apps Manually

First, open the Google Play Store on your Android phone or tablet. Click on the three horizontal lines in the upper-left corner of the screen. Click on "My Apps & Games."

To proceed with all of the pending updates, click on "Update all" under the "Update" option. To update each app individually, just click on the app that you want to update, according to Business Insider.

If you are updating each app manually, after tapping on the app itself, click the three vertical dots in the upper-right corner of the screen. Apps that are set to automatically update will have a green box with a checkmark next to the option labeled "Enable auto update.

However, if the app is not set to automatically update, the box will be white or gray and you won't see a checkmark. You can change this by clicking on the box.

In 2016, Google Maps released an Android app update that added that Wi-Fi only option.

Earlier this year, Google Chrome app on Android phones also released an update.