Automatic app updates sound convenient — until a buggy update breaks your favorite app, or a redesign removes the feature you relied on. If you’d rather decide for yourself when (and whether) apps update, you can turn off automatic updates on both iPhone and Mac in under a minute.
Once automatic updates are off, you’re in control: you update apps manually from the App Store, reading the release notes first. Apple’s guide to updating apps explains both automatic and manual updates across iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
How to turn off automatic app updates
1. On iPhone: Settings → App Store
Open Settings, tap App Store, and turn off the “App Updates” toggle under Automatic Downloads. (On the very latest iOS, the path is Settings → Apps → App Store.) From now on, apps will only update when you say so — nothing changes silently overnight.
2. On Mac: App Store → Settings
Open the App Store app on your Mac, then open Settings from the menu bar (or press Cmd + comma) and uncheck “Automatic updates”. That’s it — your Mac will stop updating apps on its own, though it will still notify you when updates are available.
3. Update apps manually from now on
On iPhone: open the App Store, tap your profile icon at the top, and update apps one by one — or tap Update All if you’re feeling brave. On Mac: open the App Store and click Updates in the sidebar. 9to5Mac’s iPhone guide has visual walkthroughs of the App Store screens if you get lost.
4. Read release notes before updating
The whole point of manual updates is control. Before tapping Update, read the release notes — if an update only adds features you don’t need, or if other users report bugs in reviews, skip it and wait for the next version. This is how you avoid losing a perfectly working app to a bad update.
If it still doesn’t work
If apps keep updating despite the toggle being off, confirm you’re signed into the correct Apple ID, then restart the device — the setting sometimes needs a reboot to take effect. Note that iOS system updates are separate from app updates; if you want to block those too, here’s how to completely block iOS 26 updates on iPhone.
FAQ
Will I miss security updates if I turn off automatic updates?
You’ll still get them — just on your schedule. Make it a habit to check the App Store’s Updates section weekly. Critical security fixes are worth installing promptly; cosmetic feature updates can safely wait until you have time to review them.
Can I turn off updates for just one app?
No — the automatic updates toggle is all-or-nothing. But with manual updates, you effectively control each app individually by choosing which ones to update and when. To see everything you have installed, learn how to quickly open the installed apps list in macOS 26.
Taking control of app updates is one of those small changes that prevents big headaches. Turn off the automation, update on your own terms, and never be surprised by a broken app again.
