So you have one of the lovely Android smartphones such as the Samsung Galaxy S8 or maybe even a Google Pixel. That’s great. There are many great Android-based smartphones out there. But do you know how to update your apps to gain access to the latest features of your apps and the latest bug fixes to prevent those annoying crashes?
Today let’s look at how to update Android apps on your Android smartphone so you can make sure you always have the latest and greatest versions of all your Android apps.
Why Update Your Apps?
If you are wondering why you should bother updating your apps, here is your answer. Developers are constantly tweaking and improving their apps and I’m pretty sure you want all the latest features in the apps you use, especially if you’ve paid for them. On top of that, developers consistently patch their apps to fix bugs and update their compatibility with new releases of Android.
If you don’t update your apps, you could find that they will start giving you problems or may not work at all without the latest update.
Update Android Apps Automatically
This is by far the easiest method for updating your apps, but you must be careful. Using this method could use more data and even take up more space on your smartphone as the apps increase in size.
1. Open the Play Store.
2. Tap Menu (Three lines).
3. Tap on Settings.
4. Tap Auto-update apps.
5. Select how you want Google to auto update your apps. I prefer the update apps on Wi-Fi only option to avoid data charges.
Update Android Apps Manually
Using this method gives you full control over when, where, and which apps get updated on your smartphone. The downside is you must do it yourself and, if you don’t, you could end up with an app that doesn’t work right or even causes problems for your smartphone.
1. Open the Play Store.
2. Tap Menu (Three lines).
3. Tap on My apps & games.
4. Apps with updates will be listed.
5. Select the app you want to update and tap Update or select Update all to update all your apps.
Manual or Automatic?
I’ve now shown you how to manually update and setup automatic updates. But which should you use? Personally, I use automatic updates that ensures all my updates run whenever I’m on Wi-Fi. This avoids data charges but keeps me up to date. However, you may want more control over how your device is updated and what is run with or without your permission. There’s nothing wrong with that at all.
If you want more control over what does and doesn’t get updated on your device, I suggest you use manual updates. This will allow you to control what you update and it will allow you to run the updates when it is most convenient for you, and not when the Play Store decides the time is right.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, the choice is up to you. That’s what Android is all about, anyway. However, I strongly suggest that you keep your apps up to date so you have access to all the latest features and bug fixes on your favorite apps whenever you need them.
Do you use automatic or manual updates? Sound off in the comments below and tell me how you handle updates on your Android smartphone.
