AndroidAnswers

How do I update apps on my Android phone?

By the AndroidAnswers Editorial Team · Updated

About 4 minutes · Apps & Play Store

Steps written for Android 16 and 17, including Samsung One UI 8 and 9, Google Pixel, and Motorola. Menu names can vary a little by model and carrier.

Illustration of a phone showing a grid of app squares, with a download arrow on one side and a check badge on the other

Open the Google Play Store, tap your profile picture, then Manage apps & device. Under Updates available, tap Update all, or tap Update next to one app. To have apps update on their own, go to Settings → Network preferences → Auto-update apps in the Play Store. Samsung phones also have a few apps that update through the Galaxy Store.

Steps to check

Show steps for:

  1. Open the list of updates in the Play Store

    Open the Google Play Store app. Tap your profile picture (or the circle with your initial) at the top right, then tap Manage apps & device. Under Updates available, tap See details to see which apps have a newer version waiting. If it says your apps are up to date, there is nothing to do.

  2. Update all apps, or just one

    To update everything at once, tap Update all. To update a single app, tap Update next to it. You can keep using your phone while the updates install. Google notes that some updates ask for new permissions, so you may see a message asking you to accept them, and that some updates only finish after you restart the phone.

  3. Turn on automatic updates

    So you don't have to remember, let the Play Store do it for you. In the Play Store, tap your profile picture, then Settings → Network preferences → Auto-update apps. Pick Update over Wi-Fi only if you want to save mobile data, or Update all apps over Wi-Fi or mobile data if you have plenty of data. Don't auto-update apps turns it off.

  4. Choose auto-update for one app

    You can also turn automatic updates on or off for a single app. In the Play Store, tap your profile picture, then Manage apps & device → Manage. Tap the app to open its page, tap the three dots (More) at the top right, and turn Enable auto update on or off.

  5. On Samsung, also check the Galaxy Store

    Samsung says some apps on Galaxy phones come from the Galaxy Store and update separately from the Play Store. Pixel and Motorola phones use the Play Store for app updates, so you can skip this step on those.

    • Samsung Open the Galaxy Store, tap Menu (three lines) at the bottom right, then Updates. Tap Update all, or the circling arrow next to one app. For automatic updates, tap Menu, then the Settings gear, then Auto update apps, and pick a setting. A Samsung account is needed to use the Galaxy Store.

  6. If an update won't start or stays pending

    Check that you are connected to Wi-Fi or have a strong mobile data signal, and that your phone has free storage space (Google says less than 1 GB free can stop installs). Close the Play Store and open it again, then restart your phone. Also make sure the date and time are set automatically in Settings → System → Date & time. Google also says a sign-in error on any account on your phone can stop automatic updates. For more fixes, see Play Store not downloading.

  7. Update the Play Store app itself

    If updates still won't come through, make sure the Play Store is current. In the Play Store, tap your profile picture, then Settings → About → Update Play Store. It either updates or tells you it is already up to date.

Normal vs. not

Usually normal

A handful of app updates every week, and the Play Store doing them overnight or when you are on Wi-Fi. Updates can also install even with auto-update off when Google decides one fixes a serious security problem.

Worth a closer look

Updates that sit on Pending for days, or the Update button doing nothing every time. Work through the fixes above, and check that your phone isn't nearly out of storage.

What people are saying

Common questions

Is it safe to update my apps?
Yes, when the update comes from the Play Store or Galaxy Store. Google says updates bring new features and improve security and stability. Be wary of a website or pop-up telling you to download an update from outside the store.
Will updating apps delete my information?
No. Updating an app keeps your sign-ins, messages, and settings. It only replaces the app with a newer version.
Is updating apps the same as a system update?
No. App updates come from the Play Store. A system update changes Android itself and comes from Settings. See whether to install a system update.
Can I go back to the old version of an app?
Only for some apps that came with your phone. Samsung says you can open Settings → Apps, tap the app, tap the three dots, then Uninstall updates. Apps you downloaded yourself can't be rolled back this way.

Sources we checked

Menu names can differ by phone brand and Android version. See our editorial policy for how we check steps.