How to Stop an App from Auto-Updating on Android

Has an app ever worked perfectly, then after an automatic update it started crashing or doubled its battery consumption? It happened to me with a productivity app that completely redesigned its interface overnight. That’s when I learned how to stop an app from auto-updating on Android, and I haven’t looked back since.

Table of contents

Why would you want to block automatic updates?

Automatic updates seem like a good idea in theory: you always get the latest version with security patches. In practice, things don’t always go smoothly.

There are several reasons why many users (myself included) prefer to control when each app updates:

• Unwanted interface changes: An update can reorganize the entire app without warning
• Performance issues: New versions can be heavier or slower
• Feature removal: Developers sometimes remove features you relied on
• Data consumption: Updates can eat through your data plan if you’re not on Wi-Fi
• Incompatibility: Your Android version may not be compatible with the latest app version

I keep WhatsApp, Spotify, and a couple of critical apps on auto-update, but everything else I update manually when I feel like it.

Method 1: Disable auto-updates for a single app

If you only want to block one specific app, this is the most straightforward method.

Step-by-step in Google Play Store

1. Open the Google Play Store
2. Search for the app you want to block
3. Tap the three dots in the top-right corner
4. Uncheck Enable auto-update
5. Done. That app will never update on its own again

Verify it’s disabled

To confirm:

1. Go to your profile in Play Store → Manage apps & device
2. Go to the Manage tab
3. Find the app and check it doesn’t have the auto-update icon

Pro-tip: If the app already updated and you want to go back to a previous version, you’ll need to uninstall the update from Settings → Apps, or find the older APK on APKMirror. Play Store updates can’t be “undone” directly.

Method 2: Disable ALL automatic updates

If you’d rather no app updates on its own, you can change the global setting.

In Google Play Store

1. Open the Google Play Store
2. Tap your profile picture → Settings
3. Expand Network preferences
4. Tap Auto-update apps
5. Select Don’t auto-update apps

With this, all apps will wait for you to update them manually. You’ll get notifications when updates are available, but they won’t download on their own.

Wi-Fi only (middle ground)

If you don’t want to block everything but want to save data:

1. Follow the same steps above
2. Select Over Wi-Fi only

Warning: If you disable all automatic updates, remember to manually update security-related apps (banking, authenticators) regularly. Security patches matter.

Method 3: Block system app updates

System apps (Google, Samsung, etc.) sometimes update through channels other than Play Store. To control them:

On Samsung (One UI)

1. Go to Settings → Apps
2. Tap the three dots → Show system apps
3. Select the system app
4. Tap the three dots → Uninstall updates

This reverts the app to the factory version and blocks new automatic updates.

On Xiaomi (HyperOS)

1. Open the Security app → Optimize
2. Go to Settings → System updates
3. Disable Auto-download

Google Apps

Google apps (Gmail, Maps, etc.) update through Play Store, so Method 1 or 2 works perfectly.

Comparison table of methods

How to update apps manually

If you disable automatic updates, you need to know how to update manually when you want to.

1. Open Google Play Store
2. Tap your profile → Manage apps & device
3. Go to Manage → Updates available
4. Tap Update all or select apps individually

I got into the habit of checking for updates once a week. Sunday mornings became my routine: coffee, Play Store, update whatever interests me, and leave the rest for next week.

Update management by brand

Samsung Galaxy Store

Samsung apps also update through Galaxy Store:

1. Open Galaxy Store → Menu (☰) → My apps
2. Disable Auto-update

Xiaomi GetApps

1. Open GetApps → Profile → Settings
2. Disable Auto-update apps

Huawei AppGallery

1. Open AppGallery → Me → Settings
2. Disable Auto-update apps

Apps you should never leave unupdated

There are apps that for security reasons should always be kept updated, even if you’ve disabled auto-updates for everything else:

Banking apps: Banks update their apps constantly to patch vulnerabilities. An outdated banking app may have known security flaws that attackers actively exploit.

Authenticator apps: Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, Authy… These apps protect access to your accounts. If they have a vulnerability, it’s critical they get updated quickly.

Messaging apps: WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram fix encryption and security flaws in almost every update. Keeping old versions can compromise your conversations.

Antivirus: If you use an antivirus on Android (though I don’t recommend it), it needs to be updated to detect new threats.

My personal rule: security apps (banking, authenticators, messaging) stay on auto-update. Everything else is manual. It’s the perfect balance between control and security.

How to know if an update is safe before installing

Not all updates are equal. Before manually updating an app, you can verify whether it’s worth it:

Read the release notes: In Play Store, when an update is available, tap the app and scroll down. You’ll see “What’s new” that details the changes. Look for phrases like “bug fixes” or “performance improvements” — these are usually safe.

Check recent reviews: After a problematic update, users quickly complain in reviews. If you see lots of recent 1-star reviews mentioning “crashes” or “bugs,” wait a few days before updating.

Check online communities: Reddit, XDA Developers, or your brand’s forums usually have threads about problematic updates. A quick search for “[app name] update problems” can save you a headache.

Wait a few days: My favorite strategy: don’t be the first to update. Wait 3-5 days after release. If nobody complains, update with confidence. If there are issues, developers usually release a quick fix.

Pro-tip: Enable update notifications in Play Store but don’t install them automatically. That way you get the alert but decide when to do it.

Using app version tracking tools

If you manage many apps and want to stay on top of updates without auto-updating, these tools help:

APKUpdater: An open-source app that checks for updates across multiple sources (Play Store, APKMirror, F-Droid). It shows you what’s available and lets you decide which to install.

Exodus Privacy: Not an update tool per se, but it lets you check what trackers and permissions an app has before updating. If a new version adds suspicious trackers, you might want to skip it.

Obtainium: Tracks apps from various sources and notifies you when updates are available. Great for users who sideload apps or use alternative app stores.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to disable automatic updates?

Generally yes, but you should manually update security-related apps (banking, authenticators, antivirus) regularly. Automatic updates for these apps are important for security patches.

Can I revert an update I don’t like?

Not directly from Play Store. You need to uninstall the app and install an older version from APKMirror. Make sure to back up your data first.

Do automatic updates drain a lot of battery?

The update process uses some battery and resources. If many apps update at once, you might notice it. But the individual impact is minimal.

What happens if I never update my apps?

Eventually, apps will stop working. Some services require minimum versions on their servers. Plus, you’ll accumulate unpatched security vulnerabilities over time.

Conclusion

Knowing how to stop an app from auto-updating on Android gives you control over your device and avoids unpleasant surprises. My recommendation: block auto-updates for apps that have caused you problems, keep security-related ones on auto-update, and set aside some time each week to manually update whatever you care about.