How to Stop Apps from Updating Automatically on an iPhone

App updates are an important aspect of improving the way that your iPhone works, since apps are not perfect when they are initially released. New features might get added, or problematic bugs might be discovered after the app has been available for some time.

The features and fixes are included as parts of updates that the app developers release.

You can simplify the process of updating your apps by electing to install these updates automatically. However, if you do not want your iPhone to automatically install app updates as they become available, then this is a setting that you can turn off. Our guide below will show you how to find this setting on your iPhone in iOS 8.

Disable Automatic App Updates in iOS 8

The steps in this article were performed using an iPhone 6 Plus, in iOS 8. These steps will work for other devices using iOS 8 as well. If you aren’t sure which version of iOS is installed on your device, you can click here to learn how to check.

Quick Steps

  1. Touch the Settings icon.
  2. Scroll down and touch the iTunes & App Store button.
  3. Touch the button to the right of Updates to turn it off. Automatic updates are turned off when there is no green shading around the button.

Steps with Pictures

Step 1: Tap the Settings icon.

touch the settings icon

Step 2: Scroll down and select the iTunes & App Store option.

open the itunes and app store menu

Step 3: Touch the button to the right of Updates in the Automatic Downloads section. You will know that automatic updates have been disabled when there is no longer any green shading around the button, as in the image below.

turn off the updates option

Now that you know how to stop apps from updating automatically on your iPhone, you can use this ability to control the app version that you have installed on your device.

If you are turning off automatic app updates in an effort to conserve battery, then you should also consider turning off the background app refresh option as well. You can also read here to learn how to check which apps on your device are using the most battery life.

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