How to Update iPhone Apps: Manual, Automatic and Stuck Updates

What to Do When Apps Get Stuck

• Pause and resume: Tap the frozen app icon on your home screen to pause the download, then tap it again to restart it.
• Check your connection: Switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data to make sure your internet connection is working.
• Turn off Low Power Mode: Low Power Mode can block background downloads. Go to Settings > Battery and turn off Low Power Mode.
• Restart your iPhone: Turn your phone off and back on again to clear temporary system glitches.
• Delete and reinstall the app: Press and hold the stuck app icon, tap Remove App, delete it, and then download it fresh from the App Store.

Your favourite app suddenly crashes, a banking app in the UAE says “Please update to continue”, or a new feature everyone talks about is nowhere on your screen. In most cases the fix is the same: update the app. Updates bring security patches, bug fixes, new features and compatibility with the latest iOS, and skipping them is one of the most common reasons apps misbehave.

This guide shows how to update iPhone apps one by one, how to update all apps at once, how to turn on automatic updates, and how to solve the errors that stop updates from working.

How to Update iPhone Apps: The Quick Answer

1. Open the App Store.
2. Tap your profile picture in the top right corner.
3. Scroll down to the list of pending updates.
4. Tap Update next to an app, or tap Update All at the top.

If you do not see the update list right away, pull down on the screen to refresh it. When an update finishes, the button changes to Open.

How to Update One App on iPhone

If you only need one app, for example your bank or a delivery app, you do not need to update everything.

1. Open the App Store and tap Search at the bottom.
2. Type the name of the app and open its page.
3. If an update is waiting, you will see Update instead of Open. Tap it.
4. Wait until the button changes to Open.

While you are on the app page, scroll to What’s New. It tells you what changed in the latest version, including security fixes and new features, so you know what to expect.

How to Update All Apps on iPhone at Once

1. Open the App Store and tap your profile picture.
2. Pull down to refresh the list of available updates.
3. Tap Update All.

Your iPhone downloads the apps one after another. Keep it on WiFi and plugged in when you have many updates, because large apps such as games and video editors can be several hundred MB each.

How to Turn On Automatic App Updates

Automatic updates save you from thinking about this again.

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Apps, then tap App Store. On older versions of iOS, tap App Store directly in Settings.
3. Under Automatic Downloads, turn on App Updates.

Now your iPhone installs updates in the background when it is connected to WiFi and has enough battery. You can also decide what happens on mobile data. In the same menu, look for the Cellular Data or Mobile Data options and choose whether apps may download over mobile data and whether iOS should ask before large downloads.

In the UAE, where many people use e& or du data on the move, it is safer to keep large app updates limited to WiFi so they do not use your data allowance.

How to Turn Off Automatic Updates

If you prefer to control updates yourself, for example when an app update once broke a feature you use, turn App Updates off in the same menu. You can then update apps manually from the App Store whenever you choose.

How to Update an App That Will Not Update

Sometimes the Update button is there but nothing happens, or the download freezes at “Waiting”. Work through these fixes in order.

1. Check your internet connection. Open a website in Safari to confirm WiFi or mobile data is working. Switch between WiFi and mobile data to test.
2. Pause and restart the download. Tap the app icon on the Home Screen while it shows “Waiting” or the progress ring. Tap it again to resume. You can also press and hold the icon and choose Pause Download, then Resume Download.
3. Check your storage. Updates need free space to download and install. If your iPhone is nearly full, learn how to check your iPhone storage and free at least a few GB.
4. Restart your iPhone. A restart clears many small faults in the App Store and download system.
5. Update iOS. Some apps need a newer version of iOS. Go to Settings > General > Software Update and install any available update.
6. Turn off Low Power Mode and Low Data Mode. Both can delay downloads and background updates.
7. Turn off your VPN. A VPN can block or slow App Store connections.
8. Check the date and time. Go to Settings > General > Date & Time and turn on Set Automatically. A wrong date can stop the App Store from connecting.
9. Sign out of the App Store and sign in again. Go to Settings > your name > Media & Purchases > Sign Out, then sign in again.
10. Delete and reinstall the app. If one app still refuses, delete it and download it again from the App Store. Back up any data first, because some apps store data only on the phone.

Why Some Apps Say They Cannot Be Updated

“This App Requires a Newer iOS Version”

The developer has raised the minimum iOS version, and your iPhone is too old to run the new version. Update iOS if you can. If your iPhone cannot install the newest iOS any more, the App Store may offer the last compatible version of the app when you tap Download.

The App Is Not Available in Your Country or Region

Apps are released by country, and your Apple Account is linked to a region. If an app you need is not available in the UAE App Store, the developer has not released it there. Do not change your account region without first understanding how it affects your subscriptions and payment method, and check with the developer.

There Is a Payment or Account Problem

An unpaid balance or a payment method that has expired can stop downloads, even free ones. Open Settings > your name > Payment and Shipping, or follow any message in the App Store to fix it.

Screen Time Blocks Installing or Updating Apps

If Screen Time restrictions are on, updates may be blocked. Check Settings > Screen Time > Content and Privacy Restrictions > iTunes and App Store Purchases. Family or company restrictions can also apply.

The App Was Removed From the App Store

If a developer removes an app, you cannot update it. Your existing copy may keep working for a while, but it will stop getting security fixes, so look for an alternative.

Should You Update Apps Before or After Updating iOS?

Update iOS first when your iPhone has an iOS update waiting. New iOS versions sometimes change how apps work, and developers release app updates that match them. After the iOS update finishes, open the App Store and install every available app update. If you do the reverse, the apps you just updated may again need an update a day later.

Are App Updates Safe? What About Battery and Data?

App updates are safe and recommended, because they contain security fixes that protect your data. Updates use some battery and data while they download, so it is best to run them on WiFi while your iPhone charges, for example overnight.

If your battery drains faster after an update, restart the phone and wait a day, because iOS reindexes data after big updates. Battery health is a separate topic, and although the guide is for tablets, the principles are the same in our post on how to check iPad battery health.

Update Apps on Other Devices Too

If you use an iPad or a laptop next to your iPhone, keep them updated together. Apps you buy or download on one Apple device can usually be installed on the others with the same Apple Account. On a laptop, follow how to download apps on laptop. If an iPad freezes while an app is updating, you can force restart your iPad and try again.

Before and After a Big Update or Phone Change

Two situations make updating more important. First, when you switch phones, follow how to transfer data between iPhones and then update every app on the new phone. Second, if an app update goes wrong and you lose data, your best protection is a recent backup. Learn how to restore iPhone from backup so you can recover quickly.

Managing Apps on Rented iPhones and iPads for Teams

In the UAE, businesses regularly use rented iPhones and iPads for exhibitions, roadshows, ticket scanning, lead capture and customer surveys. A single outdated app can stop a whole event team, because scanners and check in apps often need the newest version to work with the event system.

If you rent devices, treat app updates as part of your checklist. Install the event apps at least two days before the event, run all updates on the office WiFi, open each app once to confirm it loads, and turn off automatic updates during the event itself so nothing changes on the day.

If your team needs tablets for on site work, you can rent iPad Pro Dubai devices for the duration of the event, and if your staff also need laptops for reporting, read about renting laptops for business. Contact our rental team with your dates, device numbers and the apps you use, and we will confirm the models available.

Frequently Asked Questions About Updating iPhone Apps

How do I update apps on my iPhone?

Open the App Store, tap your profile picture in the top right corner, scroll to the available updates and tap Update next to an app or Update All. Pull down to refresh the list if it does not show.

How do I update all apps on the iPhone at once?

Open the App Store, tap your profile picture, refresh the page by pulling down and tap Update All. Use WiFi and keep the iPhone plugged in, because many updates can be large.

How do I turn on automatic app updates on iPhone?

Go to Settings, tap Apps, tap App Store and turn on App Updates under Automatic Downloads. On older iOS versions, tap App Store directly in Settings. Updates then install automatically over WiFi.

How do I force an app to update on my iPhone?

To force an app to update, open the App Store, tap your profile picture and refresh the available updates by pulling down. Find the app and tap Update. If the update will not start, check your internet connection, available storage and iOS version, then restart your iPhone and try again.

What should I do if an iPhone app is stuck updating?

If an app is stuck on Waiting or the progress circle does not move, tap its icon to pause and resume the download. If that does not work, check your Wi-Fi, free up storage, restart the iPhone and try again. You can also delete and reinstall the app if the problem affects only one application.

Why are my iPhone apps not updating automatically?

Automatic updates may be disabled, delayed by a poor connection or affected by Low Data Mode, low storage or other device restrictions. Check Settings > Apps > App Store and make sure App Updates is enabled. Keeping your iPhone connected to Wi-Fi and power can also help pending updates install.

Can I update iPhone apps without the App Store?

For apps installed through Apple’s standard iPhone system, updates are normally handled through the App Store, either manually or automatically. You cannot generally update an App Store app using a separate website or downloaded update file. Apps installed through alternative distribution methods may follow different update procedures depending on the developer and region.

Why is my iPhone app stuck on Waiting?

It is usually queued behind other downloads or blocked by a connection or storage issue. Tap the app icon to pause and resume, restart the iPhone, check that you have free storage and try a different WiFi network.