what to know
- Settings > App Store . Under Automatic Downloads , turn on Apps / App Downloads and App Updates .
- Set up Face/Touch ID to download: Settings > Face ID & Passcode (or Touch ID ), Enter your password and open.
- If your iPhone or iPad is connected to a data network, you can also choose to use cellular data to download automatic updates.
This article explains how to enable automatic updates for your iPhone and iPad so that your devices can automatically patch apps, install the latest versions of apps and games, and sync new purchases across all your devices with a single download. These instructions apply to iPads running iPadOS 13 and above and iPhones using iOS 9 and above.
Automatic app updates eliminate the need to download dozens of updates on each device. Once turned on, your iOS device will download updates for any apps as they become available.
Open the Settings app.
In iPadOS 13 and iOS 13 and later, tap App Store in the Settings sidebar, or select iTunes & App Store in the sidebar exist iOS 12 to iOS 9.
In the "Automatic downloads" section, turn on the toggle next to "App updates" iPadOS 13 or iOS 13 and above or newer next to iOS 12 to iOS 9.
Once application updates are turned on, updates will occur when available. You no longer need to manually update every app on every device.
If your iPhone or iPad is connected to a data network, you can choose to use cellular data to download automatic updates. Certain apps, especially games, can take up a significant portion of your monthly data allotment. Even with an unlimited plan, cellular downloads may slow down your device using other services. Use with caution.
The Automatic Downloads section also includes an on/off slider for apps (this option may also be called app downloads ). It works differently than the application update feature.
When you turn on Apps / App Downloads , when you install a new app on any of your devices, it will automatically be downloaded to other devices that use the same Apple ID and have the feature turned on. It does not check for updates to these applications.
In iOS 12 through iOS 9, the Automatic Downloads section also included on/off sliders for Music and Books and Audiobooks . Turn them on to sync new music or book downloads across your device. In iPad 13 and iOS 13 and later, these two settings have been moved to the Music and Books settings respectively.
If you're a couple or a family sharing the same Apple ID, automatically syncing music and books across devices may not be the best option, especially if you have different tastes in books and music. Syncing music to all your devices can also fill up storage space quickly.
However, if you're the only one using that Apple ID, or you have free storage, these settings can save time downloading each new purchase to each device.
Another time-saving feature is the ability to download apps from the App Store using Face ID or Touch ID.
To turn on this setting, open the Settings app, select Face ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode ), Enter your password when prompted, then click the iTunes and App Store toggle switch to the "On" position.
