App Not Updating on iPhone or Android? How to Fix Update Issues

When an app refuses to update, the store may keep showing “Pending,” the progress bar may stop moving, or the update button may do nothing. Sometimes the update appears to finish, but the app still behaves as if nothing changed.

Before deleting the app or changing network settings, work through the simple checks first. The right fix depends on whether the update is stuck downloading, cannot install, or has installed but the app still seems outdated.

Start with these quick checks

Check whether the App Store or Google Play is still downloading another app or update.
Switch to a reliable Wi-Fi connection, or test another connection if the current one seems unstable.
Restart your phone and try the update again.
Check available storage and make sure the app supports your phone’s current operating-system version.
Open the store’s app page directly and see whether an Update button is still available.

If the update still fails, use the section below that matches what you see on your screen.

1. The app update is stuck on “Pending” or does not start

A pending update often means the store is waiting for another download, the connection is unstable, or the store itself is temporarily stuck.

On iPhone

Open the App Store and check whether other apps are downloading or updating.
If several updates are queued, let the current download finish or pause other downloads if your iOS version offers that option.
Tap your profile picture and check the available app updates. If the app appears there, try updating it from that screen.
Restart the iPhone, then return to the App Store and try again.

On Android

Open Google Play Store and check the pending downloads or update queue.
If another download is occupying the queue, let it finish before retrying the affected app.
Open the app’s Play Store page directly and tap **Update** if the option appears.
Restart the phone and retry the update.

2. Check your internet connection

App updates can fail when the connection repeatedly drops, even if websites appear to load. Large updates are especially likely to stall on an unreliable connection.

Open a few websites or try another online app to check whether the connection is working.
If you are on Wi-Fi, move closer to the router or restart the router if other devices are also having trouble.
If possible, try a different trusted Wi-Fi network.
If you are using mobile data, check whether your data allowance is available and whether the store is allowed to download over mobile data.
If a VPN or filtering app is enabled, temporarily disconnect it for a test only if doing so is safe and permitted on that network.

Avoid resetting all network settings as an early step. On some phones, that can remove saved Wi-Fi networks and other network configuration, creating more work than the original update problem.

3. Free up storage space

Your phone may need more free space than the app’s download size alone suggests. The installer can need room to unpack files and complete the update.

On iPhone

Open Settings → General → iPhone Storage.
Wait for the storage list to load and review which apps or files use the most space.
Remove downloads you no longer need, or consider Apple’s Offload App option when available. Offloading removes the app but is designed to keep its documents and data.
Return to the App Store and retry the update.

On Android

Open Settings → Storage. The exact menu name varies by phone.
Remove unnecessary downloads or large files you have backed up.
Check whether the phone offers a safe storage-cleanup tool.
Retry the update in Google Play.

Before deleting an app: make sure its important data is synced or backed up. Some apps store files or progress only on the device, and uninstalling them may permanently remove that data.

4. Clear Google Play Store cache on Android

If updates repeatedly get stuck on Android, a corrupted temporary cache may be part of the problem. Start by clearing the Play Store cache—not the app’s data.

Open Settings → Apps (the wording may vary by manufacturer).
Select Google Play Store.
Tap Storage & cache or the closest equivalent.
Choose Clear cache.
Reopen Google Play and try the update again.

Do not clear data or storage unless simpler steps have failed and you understand the consequences. Menu names and behavior vary by Android version and device.

5. Check your account, date, and time

Store account problems can block downloads or installations. On either platform, confirm that you are signed in to the account you normally use and that the store is not asking you to resolve a payment, authentication, or terms prompt.

On Android, also check that the phone’s date and time are set automatically. Incorrect time settings can interfere with some secure connections. On iPhone, check for any App Store sign-in message and follow the on-screen instructions.

6. The app is not compatible with your phone

If the Update button is missing, the store says the app is incompatible, or the update repeatedly fails after downloading, check compatibility before trying more aggressive fixes.

Open the app’s store listing and review its requirements or compatibility details.
Check whether your phone has an available operating-system update under Settings.
Confirm that your device still supports the app. A developer may stop supporting older OS versions or certain devices.
If the app is rolling out an update gradually, it may not be available to every account or region at the same time.

Do not assume every missing Update button means something is broken. The app may already be current, the update may not have reached your device, or your device may no longer meet the requirements.

7. The update finished, but the app still looks the same

Not every update changes the home screen or adds an obvious feature. Some updates fix security issues, bugs, or background components.

Open the app’s store listing and check its version or update status if that information is shown.
Close and reopen the app. If necessary, restart the phone.
Read the release notes to see what actually changed.
If a specific feature is still missing, check whether it requires a separate setting, account eligibility, or a gradual server-side rollout.

If the store confirms that the latest version is installed, repeatedly tapping Update will not force a feature to appear when it is controlled by the service rather than the app version.

8. Reinstall only after safer options fail

If the app still will not update, reinstalling may help—but treat it as a later step, not the first one.

Confirm that you know how to sign back in.
Check that important data is synced or backed up.
On iPhone, consider whether Offload App is sufficient before choosing Delete App.
On Android, avoid clearing app data or uninstalling if the app contains unsynced files or progress.
Install the app again only from the official App Store or Google Play listing.

Never install an app update from an unfamiliar download site just because the official store is failing. That can expose your device and account to malware or a modified app.

Quick checklist before you try again

Restart the phone and check the store’s update queue.
Test a stable internet connection.
Free up storage space if it is nearly full.
On Android, clear the Google Play Store cache.
Check account prompts, date and time, app compatibility, and OS updates.
Verify whether the app is already updated or the new release is still rolling out.
Back up important data before offloading, deleting, or reinstalling an app.

When to contact support

If the same app still cannot update after these checks, note the phone model, operating-system version, app name, exact error message, and the steps you have already tried. Contact the app developer or Apple/Google support through official channels. That information makes it easier to distinguish a device problem from a store or app-side issue.