The Background Bandwidth Drain
By default, the Apple Watch operates autonomously from your iPhone when it comes to software maintenance. The operating system actively monitors the watchOS App Store in the background. If a developer releases an update for an app you have installed, the watch will quietly download the new code and install the update while the watch is connected to power. While this ensures your software is always current, it consumes a massive amount of background bandwidth and can rapidly deplete the watch’s highly limited internal storage capacity if massive apps update unexpectedly. You must seize manual control of the installation process.
How to Turn Off Automatic App Updates
You can revoke the App Store’s permission to download files in the background via the App Store settings.
- Open the Settings app directly on your Apple Watch (the grey gear icon).
- Scroll all the way down the main list and tap on App Store.
- Look for the master toggle switch labeled Automatic Updates.
- Toggle this switch to the Off position (the green background will disappear).
Manual Installations Only
The change is instantaneous. The Apple Watch will completely sever its background polling connection to the App Store servers. The device will never again download or install a software patch without your explicit authorization. To keep your apps secure, you must now manually open the App Store application on your watch, scroll to the bottom, tap “Account,” and manually trigger the “Update All” button when you are ready.