Update all your apps and software
Despite all the things you can do with today’s gadgets and screens, installing updates is not the most enjoyable way to spend screen time. These updates are essential if you wish to keep your device stable and secure.
First of all, these updates include essential security patches and bug-fixes. If you do not install them, your devices are vulnerable to malware attacks and phishing. These updates will give you the most recent features. And third, they improve compatibility with other hardware and software.
Keep on top of these updates regularly, and they shouldn’t take too much time out of your day–and you’ll be glad you got them in place. The good news is that modern day operating systems are proactive in pushing updates on their users, and most of the time you’ll simply have to accept the update installations when they’re convenient.
That said, we’d also recommend occasionally checking for updates manually, just in case you missed anything, and to make sure the automatic updates are working.
Windows
To check for any pending Windows updates, open Settings from the Start menu, then head to Windows Updates and click Check for updates. If any updates for the operating system are available, you can select See what’s in this update for details about it, and click Download & install to get it set up on your system.
Updates will download in the background by default, and you’ll be prompted whenever restarts are required (which will be the case with every significant update). You can control the process of updating Windows by selecting Advanced Options. This includes the hours that updates are applied and how Windows prioritizes updates. Screenshot: Microsoft
To run a manual check, click the
Updates
button on the left of the Microsoft Store interface. To run a manual check, click the Updates button on the left of the Microsoft Store interface.
For anything that hasn’t been installed through the Microsoft Store, you’ll need to check the settings inside each individual program–though most apps are set up to manage updates automatically on their own. To give you one example, in Google Chrome you can click the three dots (top right) then Help > About Google Chrome to check for updates.
macOS
You can check for pending macOS updates by opening the Apple menu, then choosing System Settings: Click General and Software Update to see if any downloads are pending. You can then begin the installation process if they are available. You may receive a notification before running a check if an update is available.
Click the “i” button to the left of Automatic Updates. This will ensure that the update process runs smoothly. It’s a good idea to keep all of the four features on the next dialog enabled: Download new updates when available, Install macOS updates, Install application updates from the App Store, and Install Security Responses and system files.
Checking for software updates on macOS. Screenshot: Apple
A restart will be required whenever a macOS update is applied. A restart will be required whenever a macOS update is applied.
Individual apps from the Mac App Store are covered by the
Install application updates from the App Store toggle switch mentioned above–you can also check manually in the App Store by clicking Updates on the left. For other software, check inside the programs themselves: With Spotify for macOS, for example, open the Spotify menu and choose About Spotify to look for updates.Android
With each phone and tablet maker developing their own flavor of Android, the instructions for software updates can vary between devices, but the main Settings screen is the place to start. On Pixel devices, from Settings you can choose
System then Software updates to see if there are any pending updates to install.From the next screen you can choose either
System update (to look for Android updates) or App updates (to look for updates to individual Android apps). In both cases, if updates are available, you’ll be able to install them–with apps, you can tap See details to apply the updates individually or all at once.Managing app updates on a Pixel phone. Screenshot: Google
By default, both Android updates and app upgrades should be performed automatically in the background. App updates are installed while the app is not in use. You’ll receive a prompt to restart your Android device as needed. You can also manage apps on any Android phone by opening the Play Store app, tapping your Google account avatar (top right), then choosing
Manage apps and device
.If you’ve got a Samsung phone or tablet, from Settings you need to select Software update
from the Settings menu–if an update is available, you can tap Download and install to apply it to your device, via a restart. If the Auto download over Wi-Fi option is enabled, the necessary downloads should be handled in the background, though you’ll still be prompted to confirm the actual installation.iOS and iPadOSWhen it comes to your iPhones and iPads, you can manage updates through the Settings menu: Tap
General
then Software Update to see if anything is available for you–if it is, you’ll be able to read about the new features in the update, and initiate the process of downloading it to your device and installing it (which will require a restart).On this screen you can tap Automatic Updates
to have most of the update process handled for you. You can use the Automatic Updates option to automate the process of updating your device. Screenshot: Apple
You can also choose to manually install updates whenever you want. If you have apps installed, they should be updated automatically without any need for your involvement. You can manually install updates if necessary by opening the App Store and tapping your Apple avatar (top right).
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