How to Turn Off and On Automatic App Updates on iPhone SE

This guide shows you how to control automatic app updates on your iPhone SE, whether you want to stop apps from updating in the background to save data and battery, or re-enable them for the convenience of always having the latest features and security fixes. You can manage this setting directly from the Settings app—no computer or extra software is needed.

What You’ll Need

• Your iPhone SE (any generation) with iOS 12 or later.
• Your device passcode or Face ID/Touch ID, if you have one enabled.
• An active internet connection (Wi-Fi or cellular) to see the changes take effect.

Step-by-Step

1. Open the Settings app. Tap the gray gear icon on your home screen or in your App Library. It’s usually on the first page.
2. Scroll down and tap “App Store.� This is in the second group of settings, below “Notifications� and above “Wallet & Apple Pay.�
3. Look for the “Automatic Downloads� section. It’s about halfway down the screen, below “Cellular Data� and above “In-App Purchases.�
4. Toggle “App Updates� to the off position. The switch will turn from green to gray. This stops all automatic app updates on your iPhone SE, regardless of whether you’re on Wi-Fi or cellular.
5. To turn automatic updates back on, simply tap the same switch again. It will turn green, and your iPhone will resume downloading updates automatically when connected to Wi-Fi (or cellular, if you’ve allowed it in the “Cellular Data� section below).
6. Optional: Adjust cellular data settings. If you want automatic updates to work over cellular, scroll down to the “Cellular Data� section and enable “Automatic Updates.� Otherwise, updates will only download over Wi-Fi when the main toggle is on.

That’s it. The change is immediate—no restart required. You’ll still be able to update apps manually by opening the App Store, tapping your profile icon, and tapping “Update All� or the individual “Update� button next to each app.

Common Mistakes

• Turning off the wrong toggle. The “App Updatesâ€� toggle is under “Automatic Downloads.â€� Don’t confuse it with “App Downloadsâ€� (which controls whether new apps you buy on other devices download to this iPhone) or “In-App Contentâ€� (which manages updates for content inside apps).
• Expecting updates to stop immediately. If an update is already downloading or installing, it will finish. The toggle only prevents future updates from starting.
• Thinking the toggle affects app downloads. It doesn’t. You’ll still see new apps you download appear on your home screen. The toggle only affects updates to already-installed apps.
• Forgetting that updates can still happen manually. If you tap “Update Allâ€� in the App Store, it will update apps even with the automatic toggle off. That’s expected behavior.

Tips

• Save cellular data. If you have a limited data plan, keep automatic updates off and update manually over Wi-Fi. This prevents large updates from eating your monthly allowance.
• Extend battery life. Automatic updates can wake your phone and use battery. Turning them off can help, especially on older iPhone SE models.
• Keep apps current for security. If you turn updates off, make it a habit to check the App Store weekly. Many updates include important security patches.
• Use “Offload Unused Appsâ€� instead. If your concern is storage, not data, consider enabling “Offload Unused Appsâ€� in Settings > App Store. This removes apps you don’t use but keeps their data, and it’s separate from automatic updates.
• Schedule manual updates. Set a reminder for the first of each month to open the App Store and tap “Update All.â€� This keeps your apps fresh without relying on automatic downloads.

Troubleshooting

• Updates still happen after turning off. First, check that you toggled the correct switch (App Updates, not App Downloads). If it’s off but updates still occur, it might be because you’re using an app that has its own update mechanism (like a web browser or game that downloads content in-app). Also, check if you have a VPN or proxy that might be triggering updates. Restart your iPhone and try again.
• The toggle is grayed out. This usually happens if you have restrictions enabled. Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > iTunes & App Store Purchases. If “Installing Appsâ€� or “Deleting Appsâ€� is set to “Don’t Allow,â€� you’ll need to change it to “Allowâ€� before you can modify automatic update settings.
• Updates are not downloading even when the toggle is on. Make sure you’re connected to Wi-Fi (or have cellular data enabled for updates). Check that your iPhone has enough storage space. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage to see available space. Also, ensure your iPhone is plugged in and connected to Wi-Fi, as iOS sometimes waits for those conditions to save battery.
• The App Store shows no updates, but you know there are some. Pull down on the Updates page in the App Store to refresh. If that doesn’t work, sign out of the App Store (Settings > App Store > Apple ID > Sign Out) and sign back in. This often refreshes the update list.
• After turning updates back on, nothing happens. iOS checks for updates periodically, not instantly. Wait a few hours or overnight. If nothing appears, restart your iPhone. You can also force a check by opening the App Store and pulling down to refresh—that will show available updates, and they’ll then download automatically if the toggle is on.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will turning off automatic updates also stop app downloads from other devices?

No. The “App Updates� toggle only affects updates to existing apps. To stop new app downloads from syncing to your iPhone, you’d need to turn off “App Downloads� in the same section.

Can I set automatic updates to work only on Wi-Fi?

Yes. By default, automatic updates only download over Wi-Fi. To change that, go to Settings > App Store > Cellular Data and enable “Automatic Updates.� If you keep that off, updates will only happen when you’re connected to Wi-Fi.

Will I still get security updates if I turn off automatic app updates?

You’ll still get iOS system updates (those are separate), but app-specific security patches won’t install until you update the app manually. It’s recommended to check for updates regularly.

Does turning off automatic updates affect the App Store’s “Update All� button?

No. You can still manually update all apps at any time by tapping “Update All� in the App Store. The automatic toggle only prevents background downloads.

Why did my iPhone update an app even though the toggle was off?

This can happen if the update was already queued before you turned off the toggle. Also, some apps have built-in update mechanisms that don’t use the App Store. Check your App Store purchase history to confirm which apps updated and when.

Is there a way to schedule automatic updates for a specific time?

No, iOS doesn’t offer a schedule for automatic updates. You can only turn them on or off. For more control, keep them off and update manually when you’re ready.

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