How to Prevent Apps from Updating on Android and iOS

As technology evolves, apps are constantly updated to improve functionality, fix bugs, and enhance user experience. However, there may be times when you want to prevent your apps from updating automatically. In this guide, we'll walk you through the steps to disable auto-updates for both Android and iOS devices. While this feature might come in handy when you're on a tight budget or prefer to manually check for updates, it is recommended to enable automatic updates to ensure you have the latest features and security patches.

Android

To stop apps from updating automatically, you can follow these steps:

1. Disable Auto-Updates on Google Play Store

Open the Google Play Store on your Android device. Go to your profile picture in the upper-right corner. Select Settings. Navigate to Network preferences. Find the option for Auto-update apps and tap it. Select Don’t auto-update apps.

Optional: If you also want to manually disable auto-updates for system apps like Calendar, Clock, or Calculator, go to your phone's Settings > Apps or Application Manager. Look for the specific app under System apps, and then select Force stop and Clear data. However, keep in mind that these actions might not be properly supported or might affect the functionality of the app.

iPhone

To prevent automatic updates on an iPhone, follow these steps:

1. Disable Automatic Software Updates

Go to Settings on your iPhone. Navigate to General. Scroll down to find Software Update. Select Automatic Downloads. Uncheck the switch for Automatically check for updates.

Note: Disabling automatic updates for the app store allows you to download and install app updates manually through the App Store, so you don't miss out on important updates and security fixes.

2. Disable Automatic App Updates

Go to Settings. Navigate to General. Select App Store. Scroll down to the Automatic Downloads section and tap it. Uncheck the switch for Update Apps.

Additionally, you can control how apps download over cellular data and manage downloads from other devices.

Laptop and Desktop

If you are using a laptop or desktop computer, you can also control app updates through your system settings. Here's how:

1. Pause Update Cycle on Android Tablets or PCs with Android

To pause the update cycle on an Android tablet or a laptop running Android, go to Settings > System > System updates and uncheck the option for Automatically download and install system updates.

Final Thoughts

While disabling auto-updates can give you more control over your device, it is generally recommended to keep them enabled. This ensures that you have the latest features, bug fixes, and security patches without having to manually check for updates every time an app developer releases a new version.

If you anticipate that you might need to prevent a specific app from updating, you can manually disable updates for that app using the appropriate settings in the App Store or Google Play App.