How to turn off automatic updates on iPhone

Phones are configured to automatically install software and app updates, although some iOS updates need to be installed manually. It is a good thing that your iPhone and applications automatically update to the latest versions. However, there are cases where manually installing these updates is more beneficial.

We’ll walk you through some benefits of manually installing iOS and app updates. You will also learn how to turn off automatic updates on iPhone.

Update iPhone, the complete guide

Why you should turn off automatic updates on your iPhone

The first version of iOS updates is often unstable and full of bugs. Hence, it is preferable to update the iPhone after the first major update.

Disabling automatic updates also has data saving benefits, especially if your internet plan is limited. IOS updates sometimes run out of gigabytes of data. You will reach your data usage limit faster than usual if your iPhone installs new updates without your permission.

Sometimes, it’s nothing serious. You may simply want to turn off automatic updates because you aren’t ready to transition to a new operating system. Or maybe you prefer an older iOS version than the last iteration.

How to turn off automatic updates on iPhone

Disabling automatic iOS updates puts you in the driver’s seat. You get full autonomy on which iOS versions / updates are installed on your iPhone and when they are installed.

1. Open the app Settings and select General.
2. Touch Software update.
3. Select Automatic updates.
4. iOS, by default, automatically downloads new software updates when your iPhone is connected to a Wi-Fi network. Also, it automatically installs the update overnight if your iPhone is charging and connected to Wi-Fi. Deactivate Install iOS updates to prevent your iPhone from updating automatically.
5. Deactivate Download iOS updates to turn off automatic iOS updates. This will also disable the option Install iOS updates.

Your iPhone will not download or install multiple iOS updates without your approval, even if you are connected to Wi-Fi.

Disable automatic update in iOS 14

The steps and onscreen instructions to disable automatic updates in iOS 14 are slightly different from iOS 15 and other versions of iOS.

Go up Settings > General > Software update > Customize automatic updates (The Automatic updates ) and disable the options Download iOS updates e Install iOS updates.

How to manually install software updates on iPhone

To check for iOS updates, go to Settings > General e Software update. Wait for iOS to display the latest software version available for your iPhone and select Download and install to install the update.

Make sure your iPhone is connected to a Wi-Fi network. Otherwise, the “Download and Install” button will be grayed out. A “Your software is up to date” message will appear on the screen if your iPhone is running the latest version of iOS.

Turn off automatic app updates on iPhone

IPhones download and install iOS updates only over Wi-Fi connections. This is not the case with app updates. The iOS App Store can install new versions of the iPhone app via cellular and Wi-Fi connections.

Installing app updates is something many app developers recommend. But that’s not something we recommend if your data / cellular plan is limited and you have many apps on your iPhone.

Also, not all app updates are stable and problem-free. It is a good idea to check that a new version of the app is bug-free and problem-free before updating the app on your device. You don’t want to get stuck with a problematic app as it’s not exactly easy to downgrade an app or install an older version in iOS.

We highly recommend that you turn off automatic app updates and manually update your apps after making sure they are problem-free.

You open Settings, select App Store and deactivate App e App updates in the “Automatic Downloads” section. Then, go to the “Cellular Data” section and turn it off Automatic downloads.

How to check for app updates on iPhone

Now that you’ve disabled automatic app updates, here’s how to manually check for app updates in iOS.

1. Open the App Store and select the icon profile in the upper right corner.
2. Scroll to the “Updates available” section and tap the button Refresh next to the app you want to update. Better yet, select Update everything to install all available app updates.

Enable low power mode

Enabling power saving mode is a trick to (temporarily) pause automatic iOS and app updates. There iOS power saving mode is designed to reduce battery-draining apps and processes on iPhone. When you enable Power Saver mode, iOS temporarily disables automatic downloads and other power-hungry processes running in the background.

To activate the power saving mode, go to Settings > Battery and activate the energy saving mode.

A faster alternative is to open your iPhone’s Control Center and tap the battery icon. The battery icon will turn yellow and a warning “Power Saving Mode: On” will be displayed on the Control Center.

If you can’t find the battery icon, customize your iPhone’s Control Center to include the power saving mode. In iOS 15, go to Settings > Control center and touch theplus green icon next to Energy saving mode. This will add the Power Saving Mode shortcut to the Control Center.

For iPhones with iOS 14 or earlier, go to Settings > Center of check > Customize Control Center and select Energy saving mode.

When Power Saving Mode is on, the automatic download options are immediately disabled and disabled in the Settings menu. You should see a message saying “Automatic downloads are not available in Power Saver mode” under the options.

Note: iOS has automatically disabled the power saving mode when your iPhone charges over 80%. If this happens, you will need to re-enable Power Saver mode. Otherwise, automatic downloads and updates will resume in the background.

Update your iPhone (and apps) manually

Downloading updates at your leisure helps reduce data usage, extend battery life, and make sure you install stable, bug-free software on your iPhone. Again, be sure to perform due diligence checks before manually installing any updates.

Read user experiences and feedback on Apple Support Communities, check App Store ratings, and read reviews on other reputable tech forums or websites.