How to Update Apps on Android Easily and Efficiently

Updating apps on Android is a straightforward process, ensuring you have the latest features and security patches. This guide will walk you through both manual and automatic update methods to help you stay up to date.

Manual Updates

For those who prefer a hands-on approach, manual updates can be done through the Google Play Store app. Follow these steps to update your desired apps:

Open the Google Play Store app on your device. Tap on your profile image, located in the upper-right corner of the screen. Tap on the My apps games option. Scroll to the top of the screen and tap the UPDATES tab. Locate the app you wish to update and tap the UPDATE button next to it. If you want to update all available apps, tap UPDATE ALL at the top of the screen.

If prompted, agree to any app requests for permissions or to any updated terms and conditions.

Automatic Updates

For a hassle-free experience, consider letting your device update apps automatically. Follow these steps to enable automatic updates:

Open the Google Play Store app on your device. Tap on your profile image, located in the upper-right corner of the screen. Tap on the Settings option, which is near the bottom of the menu. Scroll to the top of the menu and tap on Auto-update apps. Select your preference for updating apps: To automatically update apps using your mobile data connection, tap on the option that allows it. Note that this could incur data charges from your mobile carrier. To only update apps when connected to a Wi-Fi network, tap on the option that allows updates over Wi-Fi. To disable automatic app updates altogether, tap on the option to disable it.

By setting up automatic updates, you ensure your apps stay current without the need for manual intervention.

How Updates Work on Android

When you download a new version of an app, the entire app is replaced. Unlike some systems, Android does not selectively update only the changed parts. When you upgrade, the app is essentially downloading a new version that completely replaces the old one.

Despite this, your information, such as your name "Fred" or any other settings, persists because:

Android has a special class called UserPreferences that retains information from previous versions of the app. Older versions of your app may still use this data. Data can be written to "permanent storage", which is not necessarily app-specific and is not deleted when the app is uninstalled or updated. This can lead to storage inefficiencies, especially in larger apps where only a fraction of the data is updated.

This behavior might seem inefficient, especially since Apple's ecosystem does not exhibit the same issue, where only updated parts of the app are replaced. In Android, it's an all-or-nothing approach for app updates.