How to update apps on your Android device manually or automatically

It's common for tech and app developers to periodically release updates for devices and apps as they gradually improve their software. Android devices are no exception to this, but what most people don't know is that you can control the frequency of updates on your Android device.

There are two ways you can update apps on your Android mobile device: automatically and manually. Here's how to customize how apps are updated on your device.

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How to automatically update apps on your Android

1. Open the Google Play Store on your Android device.

2. Tap the three horizontal lines in the upper-left corner of your screen.

3. Tap "Settings."

How to update apps on Android Chrissy Montelli/Business Insider

4. Tap "Auto-update apps."

5. A pop-up window will appear, asking what your preference is for the updates. Select your preference by tapping on it. When you are done, tap "Done."

How to update apps on Android Chrissy Montelli/Business Insider

How to manually update apps on your Android

1. Open the Google Play Store on your Android device .

2. Tap the three horizontal lines in the upper-left corner of your screen.

3. Tap "My apps & games."

4. To proceed with all pending updates, tap "Update all" under the "Updates" tab. To manually update each app individually, tap on the app you want to update.

How to update apps on Android Chrissy Montelli/Business Insider

5. If you are updating an individual app manually, after tapping on the app itself, tap the three vertical dots in the upper-right corner of the screen. Apps that are set to auto-update will have a green box with a checkmark next to "Enable auto update." (If the app is not set to auto-update, the box will be white or gray, with no checkmark.) You can change this setting by tapping on the box.