Updating apps manually
Open the App Store and tap your account picture at the top right. The list of pending updates appears there with Update All at the top, and each app shows its release notes. Pull down on that screen to refresh if you expect an update that has not appeared yet.
Apps do not update through Settings → General → Software Update. That screen is only for iOS itself — a distinction that trips people up when they are looking for an app fix.
Turning automatic app updates on or off
Settings → Apps → App Store on current iOS — or Settings → App Store on older versions — contains App Updates. With it on, apps update quietly in the background, usually overnight while charging.
The same screen carries a cellular data control for automatic downloads. If your plan is capped, leave that off and let updates wait for Wi-Fi.
When an app will not update
Three common causes. The app may require a newer iOS than your iPhone runs, in which case the App Store offers the last compatible version instead and says so. There may not be enough free space. Or the app was bought under a different Apple Account, and updates only come from the account that downloaded it.
If your iPhone has reached its last iOS version, apps raising their minimum requirement is the main way that starts to matter — our guide for older iPhones covers what to expect.
Redownloading an app that is stuck
An app showing a permanently stalled progress ring usually clears if you press and hold the icon, delete it, and reinstall it from the App Store. You keep anything stored in iCloud; anything held only inside the app is lost, so check before deleting a game or a notes app.
Restarting the iPhone first is worth trying, since a stuck download often clears on its own after a reboot.
When an update makes an app worse
iOS does not let you roll an app back to a previous version, and there is no supported way to do it. If an update breaks something you depend on, the practical options are to report it to the developer and wait, or to find an alternative.
This is worth remembering before turning automatic updates on for an app that is critical to your work. Our guide to apps failing after an iOS update covers the case where the operating system rather than the app is the cause.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I update apps on iPhone?
Open the App Store, tap your account picture at the top right, and use Update All or update apps individually.
Why won't my apps update?
Usually the app needs a newer iOS than your iPhone runs, you are out of free space, or the app was bought under a different Apple Account.
How do I turn off automatic app updates?
Settings → Apps → App Store, then turn off App Updates. The same screen controls whether updates use cellular data.
Can I downgrade an app to an older version?
No. iOS provides no supported way to roll an app back. Report the problem to the developer or find an alternative.