iPhone automatic App Updates not working

I have been facing this issue since forever. I always thought it was just one of those issues limited to my device until today that I decided to search if this was a real issue for others too.

Apple, help!

It's 2024, an iPhone 15 Pro Max, and an iPad Pro Max, and It doesn't even notify for the updates. How cool is that? 🤣😜😂

Probably, Apple engineers don't know how to code for auto updates. 🙆🤓 Once they learn from Android, they will undoubtedly implement it. When? Once there is any new technology that replaces mobile devices, they will have time to learn 🤣🤣🤣😂😅😂😁.

I am having the same issue since iphone x or even before. I dont even remember the last time the apps were being updated automatically. I have tried all the fixes and instructions from apple with no hope. How many f***n years do you still need to fix this? I have changed my iphone to a new one several times and it seems that it wont be solved unless we change the f***n apple id. Bunch of loosers. Its our bad keep using this garbage.

I post to say: you are not alone and to add to the tally who have this issue.

Automatic App Updates have never worked for me, ever. I’ve had various iPhones, having upgraded every year or two, and never has auto app update worked.

My sister and her husband have the same issue (the other day he had 48 apps that had an update pending). My parents iPhones have the same issue too.

I hope someone can help, or can escalate.

No, this does not happen on any of my Android devices. Toggling "automatically update apps" on Android makes apps update automatically. On all of my Apple devices, toggling "automatic downloads" does absolutely nothing that I can see.

I don't think it's root cause of the issue. The real issue is that iOS doesn't even refresh automatically list of apps that CAN be updated so it DOESN'T EVEN INFORM me that an update CAN be done. I have to refresh it manually to even know that an update is available. Even if the developer has not enforced an update using the "needs-update" tag, EITHER way, the app should appear as available for update on the App Store and it does not until I do it manually. Besides, that's why I use the "Automatic Updates" option to ALWAYS have the LATEST versions of the apps and I don't care if the developer has set the update as required or optional. If Apple understands "automatic updates" as updating ONLY developer-required updates, and I'm left waiting up to 6 weeks (!!!) for all other updates, then it's not an automatic update process for me and Apple should add an "Always force update to the newest version of the app" option to App Store. Currently, it works tragically.

I’ve had the same problem for years and years now! It is very irritating. I’ll go into my apps and have 60 apps or more that need to be updated. I’ve been dealing with it so long I’m just use to manually updating them. Although I shouldn’t have to and I’ll forget sometimes for weeks to update apps because honestly I shouldn’t have to. My phone does my automatic system updates but never updates any apps on its own even though I have it marked to do it!

I have never had Offload Unused Apps turned on.

My automatic updates on 2 accounts (mine and my wife's) and 4 devices stopped in November 2023.

Interesting. I shall try this out and get back to you.

I'm still having this issue. Both on my work phone and my personal iPad.

This is still an issue and apple has not done anything to fix it

Still happening, not resolved.

Well I was never informed by an Apple employee on this here.

I just attempted it, I turned off this “offload unused apps” in the setting which you provided a great walkthrough.

Do you know if this applies for the general system update as well since I have to reload and see for updates while it’s not automatic?

Same issue here since 2016 my first iphone 5C. I believe they are padding the daily views/visits stats for the app store. Imagine if half of us opening app store every few days are just there for updates not to browse for new apps. Could be under-motivating for new developers to realize many aren’t checking for their great new app.

I think I have never been able to get my apps to automatically update. As long as I’ve owned iPhone, it’s been “auto” updating in that a couple apps will update randomly but I have to go refresh my App Store if I want all the apps to update.