Here’s why it’s important to keep your phone’s apps up to date

You’re probably pushed to update something every day, whether it’s an operating system, a browser, a console game, or anything else with an Internet connection. The apps on your phone may seem like a minor update in the big project, but you shouldn’t leave them on forever. There are many benefits to updating apps, and delaying them for too long can lead to problems.

Luckily, this isn’t really a problem since automatic updates are a quick toggle in the App Store (Settings > Apps > App Store > App updates) or Google Play Store (in the app, tap your profile picture, then go to Settings > Network Preferences > Auto-update apps).

But you shouldn’t rely on it entirely either. Updates may get stuck or fail, like when you have to manually update Android Auto. And they don’t necessarily reach your device as soon as they’re available. It’s best to combine automatic updates with manual checks from time to time to make sure they’re working as they should. And when those updates are installed, you need to know what’s going on behind the scenes.

This is the most obvious change when you update an app: moved buttons, added features, or expanded libraries. We’ve all had the experience of opening one of our favorite apps and being surprised by its new look. Some apps, like social media, are constantly changing. Others, like those for purchasing or utilities, may only change once or twice a year.

If you ignore the updates, you’ll miss out on new tools like leaving ratings on Spotify songs, smarter playback options in a podcast app, new courses in Duolingo, and new tracks in the Nintendo Music app. While the changes that matter most to you depend on the apps you use, you won’t want to miss the fact that your favorites can offer more.

However, this is one of the elements that has disadvantages. App updates can remove features or break what was working well. It could also be that you simply don’t like the new configuration of an app over how it was before. Fortunately, active app developers should quickly address widespread issues, and after using the new version for a while, you’ll get acclimated again.

Fixing security vulnerabilities is the main reason to update apps, even if you don’t want to. While not as crucial as operating system vulnerabilities, security flaws in apps could potentially open the door to attacks on your device or the information contained within the app. This is more of a concern on Android than iPhone, because iOS isolates apps more strictly.

However, there have always been attacks that abuse iPhone apps, such as making calls without your permission. And earlier in 2026, an exploit was discovered in Zoom’s apps that allows you to take control of other people’s devices. It’s not like every app is terribly vulnerable as soon as you’re running an old version, but you never know when something you’re using might become the next target.

The longer a security issue has been known, the more time attackers have to develop an exploitation plan. By installing the latest patches and fixing the problem, your device will no longer be in their crosshairs once bad actors figure out how to cause damage.

In addition to brand new features, updates can improve the performance of existing applications. Developers can simplify the code base to streamline performance, fix bugs that caused crashes, or make the app easier to use on battery. They could find ways to perform the same tasks without being as stressful on the hardware. These are small tweaks that you might not notice at first, but make your overall experience smoother.

Although not as common, operating system compatibility is also a reason for app updates. When a new version of Android or iOS arrives, developers need to make sure their app runs correctly. If you update your operating system but not your applications, they might experience problems. This also refers to new features. For example, when Uber added live activities to its iOS app, you won’t see them until you install the latest version.

In some cases, applications may refuse to run until you install the latest version. This can happen at an inopportune time, such as if you just got on a plane and don’t have an internet connection for a while. A regular update prevents your favorite app from not working when you’re camping without a signal.