Ever opened an app only to have it crash immediately, or worse, realize you’re missing that one new feature everyone else is posting about? It’s usually because of a pending update. Most of us just assume our iPads handle this stuff in the background. But sometimes, the "magic" fails.
Honestly, knowing exactly how to update an app on my iPad manually is a skill you'll need more often than you think. Whether your Wi-Fi is being flaky or you've disabled automatic updates to save battery, getting those new versions installed shouldn't be a headache.
The Quick Way to Update Apps Manually
If you’re staring at an app icon and wondering why it’s not doing its thing, head straight to the source. The App Store. Forget digging through your system settings for a specific app; that’s not where the updates live.
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- Find the App Store icon on your Home Screen. Tap it.
- Look at the top right corner. You’ll see your profile icon (either your photo or a little grey silhouette). Tap that.
- Now, here is the part that trips people up: you have to pull down on this account screen to refresh it. Just like you’re refreshing a website or your email. A little spinning wheel will appear.
- Scroll down. You’ll see a section called Upcoming Automatic Updates or Available Updates.
- You’ve got two choices here. Tap Update All if you’re on a fast connection and have time, or just hit Update next to the specific app that's giving you trouble.
Wait for the blue circle to fill up. Once it’s done, the app will move down into the Updated Recently list. Simple.
Why Your iPad Isn't Updating Automatically
We've all been told that iPads are "set it and forget it" devices. In a perfect world, your apps update while you sleep. But if you find yourself constantly asking "how do I update an app on my iPad" because the automatic system isn't working, check your settings.
Basically, Apple gives you a toggle switch for this. Go to Settings, scroll down until you find App Store (it’s usually grouped with Mail, Notes, and Safari), and look for the Automatic Downloads section.
If App Updates is turned off, your iPad will never update anything on its own. Flip that switch to green. Even then, keep in mind that "automatic" doesn't mean "instant." Apple often staggers these updates over a few days to avoid nuking their servers. If a huge game update just dropped and you want it now, you’re going to have to do the manual refresh method I mentioned above.
Troubleshooting: When the "Update" Button Does Nothing
Sometimes you tap "Update" and... nothing happens. The circle spins for a second and then turns back into a button. Or it just stays grey forever. This is usually down to three things: storage, connectivity, or a weird software glitch.
The Storage Wall
Apps are getting huge. If you’re rocking an older 64GB iPad and you have a few high-res movies or a massive photo library, you might be out of "breathing room." An update needs space to download the new files before it replaces the old ones.
If you're stuck, go to Settings > General > iPad Storage. Check the graph. If you're in the red, try the Offload Unused Apps feature. It’s kinda genius—it deletes the app but keeps all your personal data and settings. When you redownload it later, everything is exactly where you left it.
The Wi-Fi Lie
Sometimes your iPad says it’s connected to Wi-Fi, but the connection is actually "dead." If you're on a public network (like at a coffee shop or an airport), they often block large downloads. Try switching to a different network or restarting your router if you're at home.
The "Nuclear" Option: Delete and Reinstall
If a specific app refuses to update no matter what, just delete the whole thing. Long-press the icon, tap Remove App, then Delete App. Head back to the App Store and download it fresh. This forces the iPad to grab the absolute latest version from the server.
iPadOS 19 and the Future of Updates
As we move further into 2026, iPadOS has changed a bit. With the latest refinements in iPadOS 19, Apple has integrated more "Intelligence" into how background tasks are handled. The system is now much more aggressive about pausing updates if it thinks your battery is degrading or if you're using a high-intensity professional app like Final Cut Pro.
Interestingly, if you’re using one of the newer M4 or M5 iPad Pros, the system might prioritize updates for apps you use most frequently during your "active hours." It’s a subtle change, but it means that the apps you rarely touch might sit on an old version for weeks unless you manually intervene.
Summary of Actionable Steps
- Manual Check: Open App Store -> Profile Icon -> Pull down to refresh -> Update All.
- Fix Automation: Settings -> App Store -> Toggle "App Updates" to ON.
- Clear Space: Use "Offload Unused Apps" in the Storage settings if updates keep failing.
- Reset App Store: If things feel laggy, force-quit the App Store app by swiping up and away, then reopen it to clear the cache.
- Re-authenticate: If you get a "Verification Required" loop, sign out of your Apple Account in Settings and sign back in to refresh your security tokens.