How do I update apps on my iPhone the right way

Tips
1

I can’t figure out the proper way to update apps on my iPhone. Some apps update automatically while others don’t, and I’m confused about what settings I should use in the App Store and iCloud. Can someone walk me through the steps to manually and automatically update apps, and explain why some apps won’t update at all?

2

Yeah iOS updates are a bit confusing at first. Here is the clean way to set it up so you don’t have to think about it much.

  1. Turn on automatic app updates
    • Open Settings
    • Tap App Store
    • Under Automatic Downloads, turn on App Updates
    • If you want it over cellular too, turn on Automatic Downloads under Cellular Data

Now your iPhone will try to update apps on its own when plugged in and on Wi‑Fi. It still sometimes waits if battery is low or connection is weak, so not every app updates the same second an update appears.

  1. Check if you’re logged into the right Apple ID

    • Open Settings
    • Tap your name at the top
    • Make sure this Apple ID is the same one you used to download your apps
      If some apps came from a different Apple ID, they will ask for that old account’s password to update.

  2. Manually update when you want

    • Open the App Store
    • Tap your profile picture at the top right
    • Pull down to refresh the list
    • Scroll to “Available Updates”
    • Tap Update All or tap Update next to a single app
      If an app stays stuck, try:
    • Restart the iPhone
    • Sign out and back in to the App Store from Settings > your name > Media & Purchases

  3. Check cellular and data saver stuff

    • Settings > Cellular > scroll down and make sure App Store is turned on
    • If you use Low Data Mode or Low Power Mode, updates might delay

  4. iCloud has almost nothing to do with app updating

    • iCloud backs up your app data and syncs things like notes, photos, messages
    • App versions and updates come from the App Store, not from iCloud
      So focus on Settings > App Store, not iCloud, for updates.

  5. If some apps never auto update
    Common reasons:

    • The app needs you to accept new terms inside the app before updating
    • You paused the update once and it stayed stuck
    • You have very low storage
      Check:
    • Settings > General > iPhone Storage
    • Free a bit of space if you are close to full, iOS often slows updates when storage is tight

Quick setup checklist for you:

  • Turn on Automatic Downloads > App Updates
  • Allow updates on cellular if you are ok with data use
  • Make sure you are on your main Apple ID
  • Keep at least 2 to 3 GB free storage
    After that, use the App Store “Update All” when you want everything fresh on demand.
3

Couple things to add on top of what @shizuka already laid out, and I’m gonna slightly disagree on the “set it and forget it” idea, because iOS app updates can still be a bit quirky.

1. Decide how “automatic” you actually want

If you care about data, battery, or apps suddenly changing UI, you might not want fully automatic updates for everything.

A nice middle-ground setup is:

  • Leave Automatic Updates ON in Settings > App Store
  • But turn off “App Updates” under Cellular / Mobile Data, so big updates wait for Wi‑Fi
  • Then, once or twice a week, open the App Store and manually check the updates tab to catch anything that’s lagging

That way most stuff updates on its own, but you still have a little control and can stop an app you rely on from breaking its interface right before you need it.

2. Understand why “some apps auto update and some don’t”

Even with all the right toggles on, iOS delays or skips auto updates if:

  • Your battery is low or in Low Power Mode
  • You’re on a spotty Wi‑Fi connection
  • Your storage is almost full
  • You haven’t opened that app in ages, so iOS doesn’t really “prioritize” it

So when you see a mix of updated and not-updated apps, that’s often just the system being conservative, not that your settings are wrong.

3. App Store account weirdness

You already heard “check your Apple ID,” but there’s another subtle thing: apps that were installed from:

  • A different country’s App Store
  • An old family member’s Apple ID
  • A work/school managed Apple ID

will quietly refuse to auto update until you authenticate that exact account. If you see an app repeatedly asking for a weird Apple ID email, that’s why. In that case, you either keep that login around, or delete and reinstall it under your current account.

4. iCloud vs updates: think of them as totally separate

@shizuka is right that iCloud is not how apps update, but I’d go further: trying to “fix” app updates by flipping iCloud switches just confuses things more.

Use iCloud for:

  • Backups
  • Syncing data like messages, photos, notes, etc.

Use App Store settings for:

  • Installing and updating app versions

If an app is not updating, do not sign out of iCloud as a first step. That can desync messages/photos and create way more pain than a stuck app update.

5. When an app is stuck or misbehaving

Instead of only restarting the phone, try this order:

  1. Go to App Store > profile icon > scroll and find the app
  2. If it says “Update” but tapping does nothing, long press the app icon on the Home Screen
  3. Choose “Pause Download” then long press again and choose “Resume Download”
  4. If it still fails, delete and reinstall the app (only if you’re sure your data is backed up or stored in an account)

Deleting and reinstalling fixes more issues than people expect, especially for apps that were half-installed during a bad connection.

6. For total control freak mode

If you hate surprises:

  • Turn Automatic Updates OFF in Settings > App Store
  • Once a day or once a week, open App Store > profile icon > pull down to refresh > read the changelogs and manually decide what to update

This is slower but prevents “surprise redesigns” of apps you rely on.

7. Super quick sanity checklist

If updates are acting weird, just confirm these:

  • Settings > App Store
    • App Updates: ON (or OFF if you prefer manual only)
    • Use Cellular Data: OFF if you don’t want data used, ON if you do
  • Settings > Battery: Low Power Mode OFF if you want background updating
  • Settings > General > iPhone Storage: at least a couple GB free
  • App Store > profile: pull down to refresh, see if updates actually appear

Once those are set, what you’re seeing is usually just iOS’s timing choices, not that you did anything “wrong.” It’s not you, it’s the system being unnecessarily mysterious.

4

One angle that @mikeappsreviewer and @shizuka did not dig into much is how to live with iOS updates rather than just flipping switches once and hoping for the best.

Think of three “profiles” and pick which fits you:

  1. “Hands off, just don’t break stuff”

    • Auto app updates ON.
    • Low Power Mode used aggressively.
    • You accept that some apps will sit a version or two behind until the phone is happy (plugged in, Wi‑Fi, decent battery).
    • Pro: Zero thinking.
    • Con: Inconsistent timing, and you may stay on buggy versions longer.

  2. “Semi‑manual control”

    • Auto app updates ON, but you do a weekly manual sweep:
      • Open App Store > profile icon > pull down to refresh.
      • Quickly eyeball the list for banking, work, or mission‑critical apps.
    • If there is an update you do not trust before a big day (travel app, banking app), long press it and choose to cancel or delay until after you are done.
    • Pro: You get most of the convenience with some control.
    • Con: Requires a tiny bit of habit.

  3. “Control freak mode”

    • Auto app updates OFF.
    • Once or twice a week:
      • App Store > profile icon > pull down.
      • Update only what you care about, after reading the “What’s New.”
    • Pro: No surprise UI changes or broken workflows.
    • Con: Takes time, and you must remember to do it.

Where I slightly disagree with both: “set it and forget it” sounds nice, but if you rely on a few critical apps (banking, authenticator, airline, maps) it is worth not blindly auto updating those right before you need them. A single bad release can ruin your day, and iOS does not give you an easy rollback.

Also, you mentioned confusion between App Store and iCloud. The clean mental model:

  • App Store: Installs and updates the app itself.
  • iCloud: Handles backups and syncs your data inside the app.

The practical effect: if an app update goes wrong, you sometimes can safely delete and reinstall the app because your stuff is in iCloud or the app’s own account. That “delete + reinstall” move often works better than fighting a stuck update spinner.

Pros of this “profile” approach:

  • Lets you pick how much effort vs surprise you tolerate.
  • Works around iOS’s weird timing instead of fighting it.
  • Makes it obvious that iCloud is not the update switchboard.

Cons:

  • More mental setup than just flipping one toggle.
  • You still cannot fully control when iOS decides to auto push some updates in the background.

Compared with @mikeappsreviewer’s more cautious “middle ground” and @shizuka’s “turn it on and forget” recipe, this approach is about designing how you want updates to behave long term, then using their steps as the underlying knobs.