iPhone automatic App Updates not working

The issue is still not solved. Everytime I go to App Store I see not updated apps. I have to refresh it manually and tap on "Update all". Automatic updates option is on!

I’ve had this issue for way too long and finally decided to search if anybody else was experiencing it.

Do better, Apple!!!!

I have been having this issue all year of 2023. For whatever reason, my apps will not automatically update. I have to turn my automatic app update setting off just so I can get a notification to manually update the app. This has been an issue for a long time. I’m surprised apple hasn’t resolved it yet.

In fact, every single time I ask other iPhone users about this issue, they are usually unaware of it until I suggest they check if their apps are updated via the app store. Sure enough, almost 100% of the time there are dozens of apps which need updated.

This is becoming a fascinating experience in dealing with large-scale tech support as a consumer.

One rep told me this is a known problem. See chat below.

After the chat, a 3rd tier engineer remoted into my phone and walked me through some troubleshooting steps that I'll share;

1. Make sure "Update Apps Automatically" is enabled. Well duh.
2. Remove VPN apps. My Google Fi VPN is disabled, but he still insisted this could be a root cause. This is an unlikely cause, as my iPads don't have VPN apps/settings.
3. Update the iOS. Of course 17.3 came out last week so I'll try this on one device.
4. Sign out/in from your Apple ID.
5. Close all open apps.
6. Restart device.
7. Lastly, he stated that apps could take up to 6 weeks to update automatically, once a new version is released to the App Store by the developer. I don't believe this to be true. He states that App developers choose the timeframes for app updates. While I could see small developers using long app update intervals, large companies push updates weekly or faster in order to fix crucial bugs. The largest software companies in the world aren't all going to wait 6 weeks between app updates. In one sense, this goes against Agile development principles. This also doesn't explain why this used to work, as many have reported here. Everyone suddenly agreed to wait 6 weeks? Okay.

Apple I think this is solely on you to address.

I’ve been looking in to this issue with a very well known MDM provider, in my role as a systems engineer supporting schools.

A large local authority in the UK was getting frustrated because their MDM reported app updates were available, but the iPads were not installing them when commanded.

The issue was, and still is that even though a new version of a particular app has been made available on the App Store, the app developer has to apply a tag to the previous versions to tell the devices that it “needs-update” and that’s typically a staged process across the globe.

What this means in the context of this thread is that automatic updates will not happen until the app developer applies a “needs-update” flag to their app in your region, but you can manually check for updates in the App Store to shortcut that process which makes it appear as though your iPhone or iPad is ignoring available updates.

The reality is that automatic updates rely on the app developer, not the device OS. Apple could certainly make this more obvious, but I don’t think they can do anything about it without overwhelming servers when every single iPhone and iPad in the world decides to update Instagram at the same time!!

I have also been facing this issue for long time and it is unacceptable in my opinion fora premium and expensive device like iPad. Can Apple staff please respond with an answer and hopefully a solution?

furthermore, to make things worse, there is not even an option to update all apps at once, and one has to manually click update for each of the apps needing update.

Yes still going on with the same issue here as all of you.

Sadly I even had a whole 2 hour chat with an Apple employee.

I was appalled to have a 2 hour chat of pointless nonsense I’ve already done.

They just telll you the same as the forum is written.

They say you have to turn off “security responses & systems files.

• does not work I’ve tried and it failed.
• i questioned why do I need to turn off my security response ?

the employee also pushed around telling me to turn the phone off and restart then last but not least telling me to update manually ?

So now I’m here with y’all on this forum trying to figure it out.

[Edited by Moderator]

Maybe 'Offload Unused Apps' is activated?

Apple introduced the Offload Unused Apps feature with iOS 11 to help users with limited iPhone storage. With this feature, apps are deleted, but not removed from your Home screen. It simply shows a cloud icon next to the name, indicating that it has been removed. You manually have to download the apps that were erased by this feature. It should be turned off by default, but... you know.

To turn off this feature:

1. Head to Settings
2. Swipe down and tap on iTunes & App Store
3. Swipe down if needed and look for Offload Unused Apps
4. Turn this feature off if you’d like to keep all of your apps permanently

I’ve had this issue for all my iPhone 12 Pro life. I assumed if I upgraded to the iPhone 14 Pro Max it would go away.

Sadly till this day Dec 29th 2023 I have the issue.

Apps won’t auto update nor will it tell me I have one unless I refresh or load up manually. This is the same as the system general update too. It’s tedious, I have everything turned on to auto update and I get nothing.

I have to manually refresh and load the page and update everything myself. It’s tedious because other iPhone users I talk to don’t have the issue?

Sadly no I don’t belive it will be.

Ive had this issue since my iPhone 12 Pro Max. I even upgraded last year to the 14 pro max and still having the issue.

I have to refresh the update page for general updates as well as app updates even after “automatically turned on”

Dec 29,2023

Just had to manually update my apps today in 2024. It’s been like this since I switched to Apple a few years ago

How do we get this escalated so someone will look into this? Are there Admins who monitor these threads?

I’m pretty sure this has been an issue ever since I’ve had an iPhone. Many years!

I have automatic download turned on, but the list of manual updates is very often present. If the oldest waiting app on the list of manual updates is around 7 days, then yes, this is related to the functionality of the App Store for developers: deployment in phases, which takes seven days. The first day limits the number of installs or updates to 10%. More details about the feature on this page:

Release a version update in phases - Update your app - App Store Connect - Help - Apple Developer

I had tons of apps that I discovered by accident had not updated. So many things lately have gone wrong with IOS updates. Maybe more that I have not noticed. It leaves me wondering if the same thing happens with android devices. I've had an iphone for years but this is frustrating.