Most Android users let automatic updates handle everything — and most of the time that works fine. But sometimes you need to update apps manually. Maybe an auto-update failed silently. Maybe you want to update one specific app right now without waiting. Maybe your automatic updates are off to save data, or you're running a specific app version and need to step up carefully. Whatever the reason, manually updating Android apps is quick, easy, and gives you complete control over what gets updated and when. This guide covers every method for every scenario.
Updating apps on Android keeps your phone secure, fixes bugs, brings new features, and improves performance. Apps that haven't been updated in months can become slow, crash more often, or lose compatibility with newer Android versions. Manual updates put you in the driver's seat — you decide what updates, when it updates, and whether you want to check what changed before accepting an update. Here's everything you need to know.
30s
Time it takes to manually update a single app via Play Store
5min
Time to manually update all apps on your phone at once
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Different ways to manually update apps on Android
Why Update Apps Manually Instead of Automatically?
Automatic updates are convenient but they come with trade-offs. They can update apps in the background while you're using your phone, consuming data without warning. They sometimes update apps to versions that break features you rely on — with no chance to read the changelog first. They occasionally fail silently, leaving apps stuck on old versions without any notification. Manual updating solves all of these problems. You choose what to update, read the release notes first, and confirm the update yourself. The best approach for most people is a hybrid: let auto-updates handle routine security patches, but check manually once a week to make sure everything went through — and to catch any updates that require your attention. This guide gives you everything you need for both approaches.
Most common — easiestMethod 1: Update All Apps via Play Store
Open Play Store → tap your profile → Manage apps → Update all. Updates every installed app in one tap. The go-to method for most people.
Update one specific appMethod 2: Update a Single App via Play Store
Search the specific app in Play Store → tap Update. Best when you only want to update one app and check the changelog before doing so.
Update from app itselfMethod 3: In-App Update Prompt
Many apps check for updates when you open them and prompt you to update. Tap Update in the prompt and it handles everything automatically.
For sideloaded appsMethod 4: Manual APK Update
For apps not from Play Store — download the new APK from the official source and install it over the existing version. Safe way to update sideloaded apps.
Method 1 — Update All Apps at Once via Google Play Store
The Play Store's "Update all" button is the single most efficient way to manually update everything on your phone. It checks every installed app against the latest versions available in the Play Store and downloads and installs all updates simultaneously. You can start it and put your phone down — updates happen in the background, even while you use other apps. This is the method to use at the start of every week as part of a regular update habit. It takes under five minutes for most phones and ensures nothing is left behind on an old version.
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Open the Google Play Store app
Find the Play Store app on your home screen or app drawer — it has a colourful triangle icon. Tap to open it. Make sure you're connected to Wi-Fi before updating to avoid using mobile data for large app downloads.
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In the top-right corner of the Play Store home screen, tap your Google account profile picture or avatar. A dropdown menu will appear with several options including Manage apps, Payments, and Settings.
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Tap "Manage apps and device"
From the dropdown, tap "Manage apps and device." This opens the app management screen which shows your installed apps, available updates, and storage usage. You'll see a summary card at the top showing how many updates are available.
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Tap "Updates available" to see what's pending
On the Manage screen, under the "Updates available" section, tap it to see the full list of apps with pending updates. Each app shows its current version, new version, size of the update, and when it was last updated. You can read what changed by tapping the update description arrow.
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Tap "Update all" to update everything at once
Tap the green "Update all" button at the top of the updates list. Play Store will begin downloading and installing all available updates simultaneously. You can see the progress for each app in the list. Don't worry about using your phone during this process — updates install in the background.
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Wait for all updates to complete
Each app shows "Updating..." then "Updated" as updates complete. The time depends on the number of updates, their file sizes, and your internet speed. Once all show "Updated," your phone is fully current. Some apps may need to be restarted to apply changes — they'll prompt you if so.
Method 2 — Update a Single Specific App
Sometimes you only want to update one specific app — either because you've heard about a specific bug fix, because an app is misbehaving and an update might fix it, or because you want to check the changelog before updating. The Play Store makes this easy — you can find any app and update it individually in under 30 seconds. This method also lets you read exactly what changed in the update before you apply it — which is valuable when you want to know if a new version removes features you use or changes the interface significantly.
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Option A — Search for the app in Play Store
Open the Play Store and use the search bar at the top to find the specific app you want to update. Type the app name and tap the search result to open the app's Play Store page.
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Option B — Find it in Manage apps list
Alternatively, go to Play Store → Profile picture → Manage apps and device → Updates available. Find the specific app in the list. Tap the "Update" button next to that individual app — only that one app will update, everything else stays unchanged.
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Read "What's new" before updating (optional but smart)
On the app's Play Store page, scroll down to the "What's new" section to see the release notes for the latest version. Most developers list bug fixes, new features, and changes here. If you see something concerning — like "removed the feature you use" — you can choose to delay the update.
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Tap "Update" and wait for it to complete
Tap the green "Update" button. The button changes to a progress bar showing the download and installation progress. When complete it changes to "Open." The app has been updated — tap Open to launch the newly updated version.
Update an App Directly From Its Play Store Page
The fastest way to update one specific app: open the app on your phone, then look for "Rate this app" or a Play Store link inside it. Or simply hold the app icon in your app drawer → tap "App info" → scroll down and tap the Play Store link if visible. Alternatively, long-press the app icon → tap the Play Store icon shortcut that appears on some launchers — this takes you directly to that app's Play Store page.
Method 3 — Updating Apps via In-App Update Prompts
Many popular apps — WhatsApp, Telegram, Chrome, Zoom, and hundreds of others — have built-in update checkers that run when you open the app. If a new version is available, they show a prompt inside the app itself asking you to update. Tapping "Update" in this prompt typically takes you to the Play Store or downloads the update directly without you having to search for anything. This is the most passive manual update method — the app tells you when it needs updating and takes you directly to the solution. The downside is that some apps are slow to show these prompts, so relying solely on in-app notifications can leave you running old versions for weeks.
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Open the app that's showing an update notification
When you open an app and see a banner, dialog, or popup saying "A new version is available" or "Update now for better performance" — this is the in-app update prompt. It appears automatically when the app detects a newer version is available.
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Tap "Update" or "Update Now"
Tap the Update button in the prompt. Depending on how the app is built, this either: opens the Play Store directly to that app's page (tap Update there), or triggers a "flexible update" that downloads and installs in the background while you continue using the app, or starts an "immediate update" that closes the app, updates it, then reopens it automatically.
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For "Later" options — don't delay too long
Most in-app update prompts offer a "Later" or "Not now" option. It's fine to dismiss it temporarily if you're in the middle of something important. But don't keep dismissing — especially for security-sensitive apps like banking, email, or messaging apps where updates often contain critical security patches.
Update your apps right now — takes 2 minutes
Open Google Play Store. Tap your profile picture in the top-right. Tap "Manage apps and device." Tap "Updates available." Tap "Update all." Put your phone down and let it run. That's it — your apps are updating as you read this. Make it a weekly Sunday habit and you'll never have to worry about outdated apps again.
