App updates don't always happen on their own. Maybe you've turned off automatic updates to save mobile data. Maybe an app keeps showing a notification that an update is available but nothing seems to happen. Or maybe you just noticed an app behaving strangely and want to make sure you're running the latest version.
Whatever the reason, knowing how to manually update apps on Android is a straightforward skill — and it takes less than a minute once you know where to go. This guide covers every method: updating through the Google Play Store, updating individual apps, updating all apps at once, updating apps outside the Play Store, and troubleshooting when updates get stuck or fail.
Why Manually Update Apps?
Most Android phones automatically update apps in the background when connected to Wi-Fi. But manual updates become necessary when:
- Auto-updates are turned off — to save data or battery, many people disable auto-updates
- An update is available but hasn't downloaded yet — the Play Store queues updates and doesn't always install them immediately
- An app has a bug that was fixed in a newer version and you want the fix right now
- You're troubleshooting an app problem — checking for updates is one of the first recommended steps
- You want to update over mobile data — auto-updates are often set to Wi-Fi only, so manual updates let you override this
- An app isn't updating despite notifications — sometimes the Play Store gets stuck and needs a manual push
Method 1: Update a Single App from the Play Store
This is the quickest way to update one specific app you know needs an update.
Steps:
- Open the Google Play Store on your phone.
- Tap your profile picture in the top-right corner.
- Tap "Manage apps & device."
- Tap the "Updates available" section — you'll see a list of all apps with pending updates.
- Find the app you want to update and tap "Update" next to it.
- The update downloads and installs automatically.
Faster alternative — update directly from the app's Play Store page:
- Open the Play Store.
- Tap the search bar and type the name of the app.
- Tap the app in the results.
- If an update is available, you'll see an "Update" button instead of "Open."
- Tap "Update."
This is the fastest approach when you know exactly which app you want to update.
Method 2: Update All Apps at Once
If you want to update everything at once — which is a good habit to do weekly or whenever you're on a good Wi-Fi connection — here's how.
Steps:
- Open the Google Play Store.
- Tap your profile picture in the top-right corner.
- Tap "Manage apps & device."
- You'll see a summary showing how many apps have updates available.
- Tap "Update all" to download and install all pending updates in one go.
- The Play Store queues and installs each update automatically — leave the screen open or come back after a few minutes.
If you want to review what's being updated first:
- On the same "Manage apps & device" screen, tap "See details" under Updates available.
- A list of all apps with pending updates appears with their sizes and what's new.
- Uncheck any apps you don't want to update right now.
- Tap "Update all" to update only the checked ones.
Method 3: Update Apps from Each App's Notification
Some apps send a direct notification when an update is ready. This is the most convenient trigger for manual updates.
- Pull down the notification shade from the top of your screen.
- Look for a notification from Google Play Store or the specific app saying an update is available.
- Tap the notification.
- It opens directly to the app's Play Store page or the Update screen.
- Tap "Update" or "Update all."
Method 4: Update Google Play Store Itself
The Play Store is itself an app and occasionally needs to be updated. If updates aren't showing correctly or the Play Store behaves oddly, updating it often fixes the issue.
How to update the Play Store:
- Open the Google Play Store.
- Tap your profile picture → scroll down and tap "Settings."
- Scroll to the bottom to find "Play Store version."
- Tap it — if an update is available, it will say "Play Store is up to date" or trigger an update download automatically.
- Alternatively: go to Settings → Apps → Google Play Store → three-dot menu → "Update."
The Play Store updates silently in the background most of the time, but manually checking ensures you have the latest version.
Method 5: Update System Apps Through Settings
Some apps — especially pre-installed ones like Phone, Messages, or device health tools — update through your phone's system settings rather than the Play Store.
Check for system app updates:
- Go to Settings → System → System update (or Software update on some phones).
- Tap "Check for updates."
- If a system update is available, follow the prompts to download and install.
System updates often bundle updated versions of core apps along with Android security patches and performance improvements.
Method 6: Manually Install an App Update Using an APK File
Sometimes an app update is available on the developer's website or a trusted third-party source before it appears on the Play Store. Or you may need to sideload an update for an app that isn't available in your country's Play Store. In these cases, you install the update manually using an APK file.
What is an APK?
An APK (Android Package Kit) is the installation file format for Android apps — similar to an .exe on Windows. Downloading and installing an APK directly, outside of the Play Store, is called sideloading.
How to install an APK update manually:
Step 1 — Enable installations from unknown sources:
- Go to Settings → Security (or Settings → Apps → Special app access → Install unknown apps).
- Find your browser (Chrome, Firefox) or file manager.
- Toggle "Allow from this source" on.
Step 2 — Download the APK:
- Go to the developer's official website or a trusted APK source (APKMirror is widely considered the most reputable third-party APK site).
- Download the APK file for the app version you want.
Step 3 — Install the APK:
- Open your Downloads folder (using Files by Google or your phone's file manager).
- Tap the downloaded APK file.
- Tap "Install."
- The app updates to the new version.
Important safety warning: Only download APKs from the official developer's website or highly reputable sources like APKMirror. Downloading APKs from random websites is one of the most common ways Android phones get infected with malware. When in doubt, wait for the update to appear on the Play Store.
How to Enable or Disable Automatic App Updates
If you want to go back to automatic updates (or change when they happen), here's how to configure it:
- Open the Google Play Store.
- Tap your profile picture → "Settings."
- Tap "Network preferences."
- Tap "Auto-update apps."
- Choose your preference:
- "Over any network" — updates automatically over Wi-Fi and mobile data (uses data)
- "Over Wi-Fi only" — updates only when connected to Wi-Fi (recommended for most people)
- "Don't auto-update apps" — all updates are manual
If you choose "Don't auto-update apps," you'll need to manually update through the Play Store regularly to keep your apps current.
How to Update Apps on Specific Android Brands
Samsung Galaxy Phones:
Samsung phones use the Google Play Store for most apps, so the steps above apply. However, Samsung also has its own Galaxy Store for Samsung-exclusive apps.
Update apps from Galaxy Store:
- Open Galaxy Store (the blue star icon in your app drawer).
- Tap the three-line menu → "Updates."
- Tap "Update all" or update individual apps.
Samsung system apps (like Samsung Internet, Bixby, Samsung Pay) often update through Galaxy Store rather than Google Play.
Xiaomi / MIUI Phones:
Xiaomi phones have the GetApps store alongside Google Play for some pre-installed apps.
- Open GetApps (the orange icon).
- Tap "Updates" at the bottom.
- Tap "Update all" for pending updates.
Huawei Phones (Without Google Play):
Huawei phones released after 2019 don't have Google Play due to trade restrictions. They use the AppGallery instead.
- Open AppGallery.
- Tap your profile icon → "My apps."
- Tap "Check for updates."
- Update individual apps or tap "Update all."
Troubleshooting: When App Updates Get Stuck or Fail
Sometimes the Play Store gets stuck downloading or installing an update. Here's how to fix the most common issues:
Clear the Play Store cache:
- Go to Settings → Apps → Google Play Store.
- Tap "Storage."
- Tap "Clear cache."
- Reopen the Play Store and try the update again.
Clear Play Store data (more thorough):
- Same path as above: Settings → Apps → Google Play Store → Storage.
- Tap "Clear storage" (or "Clear data").
- This resets the Play Store to a fresh state — you'll need to sign in again.
- Reopen and try updating.
Restart your phone:
A simple restart clears temporary issues that can cause updates to hang. Power off completely and restart.
Check your internet connection:
Updates require a stable connection. If you're on Wi-Fi, try moving closer to the router or switching to mobile data temporarily to see if the download completes.
Check available storage:
Updates need free space to download and install. If your storage is almost full, the update may fail silently. Free up space (Settings → Storage → Free up space) and try again.
Uninstall and reinstall the app:
If a specific app consistently fails to update, uninstalling it completely and reinstalling the latest version from the Play Store is the most reliable fix.
How to Check if an App is Up to Date
Not sure if an app is already on the latest version? Here's how to check:
- Open the Play Store and search for the app.
- Open the app's page.
- If it shows an "Open" button (not "Update"), you have the latest version.
- Scroll down to the "About this app" section → check the "Updated on" date and version number.
You can also check the app's version directly:
- Go to Settings → Apps → [App name].
- Tap "App details" or scroll to see the version number.
- Compare it to the version listed on the Play Store page.
Why You Should Keep Apps Updated
Beyond fixing bugs, keeping apps updated matters for several important reasons:
- Security patches — outdated apps can have security vulnerabilities that hackers exploit. Updates often include critical security fixes.
- Performance improvements — developers regularly optimize apps to run faster and use less battery.
- New features — updates add new functionality you might find genuinely useful.
- Compatibility — as Android itself updates, older app versions can become incompatible or unstable.
- Bug fixes — crashing, freezing, or broken features are most commonly fixed in updates.
Making it a habit to update apps once a week — or at least enabling Wi-Fi auto-updates — keeps your phone secure, stable, and performing at its best.
Conclusion
Manually updating apps on Android is a simple process that takes under a minute through the Google Play Store. Whether you're updating a single app, refreshing your entire app library, or sideloading an APK update from a trusted source, this guide has covered every method from the simplest to the most advanced.
For day-to-day use, enable Wi-Fi auto-updates and let the Play Store handle updates automatically. For specific situations — a known bug fix, a security patch, or an update that isn't coming through automatically — the manual update steps in this guide give you direct control.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: How do I know if an app needs an update?
The easiest way is to open the Google Play Store, tap your profile picture, and tap "Manage apps & device." Any app with a pending update shows up there with an "Update" button. You can also check the app's Play Store page directly — if it shows an "Update" button instead of "Open," an update is available.
Q2: Is it safe to update apps over mobile data?
Yes, it's safe — but it uses your data allowance. Large app updates can be several hundred megabytes. If you have a limited data plan, stick to Wi-Fi for updates. In the Play Store settings, you can set auto-updates to "Wi-Fi only" but allow manual updates over any connection.
Q3: Why is an app not showing an update even though I know one is available?
Play Store updates roll out in stages — not everyone gets an update at the same time. The developer may have released it to a percentage of users first. Wait a day or two and check again, or download the APK directly from the developer's website if you need the update immediately.
Q4: What happens if I don't update my apps?
Old app versions can have security vulnerabilities, bugs, and compatibility issues with the latest Android updates. While not every update is critical, skipping updates for a long time — especially for apps like your browser, email, and social media — can leave your phone exposed to security risks.
Q5: Can I update apps without a Google account?
If you've sideloaded apps (installed via APK without the Play Store), you can update them by downloading and installing a newer APK. Otherwise, a Google account is required to use the Play Store. Some phone manufacturers have their own app stores (like Huawei's AppGallery or Samsung's Galaxy Store) that work independently of Google.
Q6: How do I stop an app from auto-updating?
To disable auto-updates for a specific app only: open the app's page on the Play Store, tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner, and uncheck "Enable auto update." This stops that specific app from updating automatically while leaving other apps unaffected.
Q7: Why does updating apps sometimes make them slower or worse?
Occasionally, a new app version introduces a bug or changes the interface in a way users don't like. If an update has caused problems, you can uninstall the update through Settings → Apps → [App] → three-dot menu → "Uninstall updates" to revert to the previous version. Report the bug through the app's Play Store page so the developer is aware.
Q8: Does updating apps delete my data?
No. App updates preserve all your data, settings, and login sessions. An update is an upgrade of the app's code — your account information, saved files, and preferences remain intact. The only exception is if you completely uninstall and reinstall the app (rather than updating it), which may reset app data unless it's synced to an account in the cloud.