How to Turn Off Automatic Updates on an iPhone

Taking Control of Your Software Versions

By default, Apple designs the iPhone to handle all of its software maintenance in the background. When a new version of iOS is released, or when app developers push bug fixes to the App Store, your phone will quietly download and install these updates while it is plugged into a charger overnight. This ensures that the vast majority of iPhone users are always running the most secure and feature-rich software available.

However, automatic updates are not ideal for everyone. Major iOS updates can occasionally introduce new bugs, change the user interface in frustrating ways, or cause battery drain issues on older iPhone models. Similarly, a poorly designed app update might remove a feature you rely on daily.

If you prefer to wait a few weeks to see if other users report problems before committing to a new software version, you need to turn off automatic updates. Apple separates these controls into two different menus: one for the core operating system (iOS) and another for individual applications.

Method 1: Stopping Automatic iOS System Updates

If you want to prevent your iPhone from automatically installing major software upgrades (like moving from iOS 16 to iOS 17) or minor security patches, follow these steps:

1. Unlock your iPhone and open the Settings app.
2. Scroll down slightly and tap on General.
3. Tap on Software Update.
4. At the top of this screen, tap on Automatic Updates.

You will now see a screen with three distinct toggle switches, giving you granular control over what happens in the background:

• Download iOS Updates: If you turn this off, your phone will not even download the update files to your storage. You will have to trigger the download manually.
• Install iOS Updates: If you turn this off, the phone will download the update file in the background so it is ready, but it will never install it or restart your phone without your explicit permission.
• Security Responses & System Files: Apple strongly recommends leaving this toggle On. This allows Apple to push urgent, tiny security fixes to patch active vulnerabilities without requiring a full phone restart.

To take total control, ensure the “Install iOS Updates” toggle is turned grey (off).

Method 2: Stopping Automatic App Updates

Stopping system updates does not stop the apps on your home screen (like Instagram, Spotify, or banking apps) from updating themselves. To control your applications, you must adjust the App Store settings.

1. Open the Settings app and return to the main menu.
2. Scroll down a long way until you see the section for built-in Apple apps.
3. Tap on App Store.
4. Look under the “Automatic Downloads” heading.
5. Find the toggle switch labelled App Updates.
6. Tap the toggle so it turns grey (off).

How to Manually Update Apps After Turning This Off

Once you turn off automatic app updates, your applications will remain frozen on their current versions forever unless you take action. You must now remember to check for updates manually on a regular basis.

1. Open the App Store app on your home screen.
2. Tap your Profile Picture in the top right corner of the screen.
3. Scroll down past your account balance and purchase history.
4. You will see a list of “Available Updates” with release notes explaining what has changed in each app.
5. You can tap the Update button next to an individual app, or tap Update All at the top of the list to refresh everything at once.

To check if new updates have been released since you last looked, simply pull down from the middle of this screen and release to refresh the page.