Android Apps Change Automatic Updating

Froyo

The Android operating system for smartphones released an update with Android 2.2, code-named Froyo. Notable in the update was the inclusion of the auto-update feature for Android applications. Many Android users were excited about this update, since before its release users had to check on updates for each app used, and install them manually -- inconvenient, if you have more than a handful of apps on your phone.

Turning Auto-Update On

To activate the auto-update feature on a smartphone running on Android 2.2 or higher, go to the Android Marketplace, then to the 'Apps' section. Press the menu key, and select 'My Apps' from the pop-up menu. Select an app and scroll down. Check the grey button next to 'Allow Automatic Updating,' which will make the check mark in the gray box turn green. To automatically update, go back to the 'My Apps' screen, which will prompt you to check a box to automatically update all enabled apps.

Turning Auto-Update Off

To turn auto-update off, you need to access the application you wish to return to manual updating in the Android marketplace. Uncheck the 'Allow Automatic Updating' box, which will take away the green check mark. To update this app in the future, you will need to pull up the 'My Apps' screen by pressing the menu button in the Android Marketplace. Scroll down to find the app you wish to update. If an update is available, it will be listed under 'Update.' Select the app, and give permission to update manually.

Reasons for Modifying Individually

There are reasons to have certain applications automatically update while leaving others to be done manually. Users can benefit from having frequently used apps updated automatically, with infrequently used apps in manual updating. This can save memory storage on your Android phone, especially if you have more than a handful of apps installed. This can also help keep you within your data plan limits, using data only on the most useful app updates and postponing the less useful ones for another time.