iPhone shows updates needed when all apps are up to date

I Have no idea if this has anything to do with your dilemma, but I update apps on my devices and in iTunes on my Mac. I have recently discovered that I can not update Podcasts or Find My Friends in iTunes. I keep getting this message.

I would just as soon delete both apps (which I think will be doable in iOS 10) and iTunes allows me to delete the apps from my library, but they still appear on the devices when I sync. Like I said, there may be no connection at all to your problem, but it does make me wonder. These apps do not show up as needing an update on my devices, but only show as needing an update in iTunes. That would be the opposite of what you are experiencing.

I am at a loss, maybe someone else will have a suggestion.

Edit: If there are no other suggestions, you may have to do a system restore - that may resolve it but at the expense of time and effort.

System Restore. First backup your device using iTunes. Also import your photos to your computer and copy all important data. Try restoring from backup first and testing it. If it does not help, you may have to restore as New and reconfigure from scratch as the backup could be corrupted. For this reason it is important to have your photos and data saved separately from the backup. Here are the steps for a Restore:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201252

Try resetting the App Store:

Close the App Store completely from the app switcher window by double clicking the Home button and swiping up the App Store preview pane until it disappears from the screen. Then sign out of the iTunes Store (in Settings).

Then do a forced restart. Hold down the Home and Wake/Sleep buttons at the same time for about 15-20 seconds until the Apple logo appears.

Then sign back into the iTunes Store.

For what its worth, I have noticed this/similar issue for some time. When I update an App directly from my iPhone the badge icon number decrements properly. However, if I update an App in iTunes and then sync with my iPhone the badge (on the iPhone) doesn't change until there is another update ready to be downloaded.

I just live with it. It is more of an annoyance (to me) than a serious problem. I keep expecting it to fixed with an iTunes/iOS update, but nothing yet. Its been acting like this for a VERY long time (years and various iTunes/iOS updates - even when I replaced my iPhone 4s with a 6s). I haven't tried singing out/in of the iTunes or App Store.

The "Find My Friends" and "Podcast" issue seems to be something else entirely. Perhaps a recent glitch on Apple's part since these are now built into the iOS. I read in a different forum that if the above behavior really bothers you (with those 2 Apps in iTunes) to simply delete those Apps in iTunes (NOT on your device - they can't be deleted there since they are part of the iOS). Again, I just live it for now.

Try going to Settings > Notifications > App Store > and toggling the setting for Badge App Icon to Off. Then restart the phone and turn back to On.