How to check which version of an app you have and update it safely
Find out which version of an app is installed, see whether an update is waiting, and update without losing data. Simple steps for Android, plus what to do with apps installed from an APK file.
Apps change often. A bug that annoys you may already be fixed in a newer release, and a new release can also change something you liked. Before you ask for help, report a problem or decide whether to update, it helps to know exactly which version you are running. This guide shows how to find the version, how to check for updates and how to update without putting your data at risk.
Why the version number matters
The version number tells you what you actually have on your phone. Support teams ask for it first, because a problem reported on one version may not exist on another. It also tells you whether you are behind: apps that miss updates for a long time can stop working with the services they connect to, and they may miss fixes for security problems.
Step 1: find the installed version
Menu names differ between phone brands, but the idea is the same everywhere.
- Open Settings, then Apps (sometimes called Apps and notifications or Manage apps).
- Tap the app you are interested in to open its App info page.
- Scroll to the bottom. The version is usually shown there, for example as a short number such as 2.4.1.
You can also press and hold the app icon on the home screen and tap App info, which takes you to the same page. Many apps also show the version inside their own Settings, under About.
Step 2: check whether an update is waiting
If you installed the app from an app store, open that store, tap your profile picture and look for the section that manages your apps and device. It lists the apps with updates available and the ones that are already current. Open the app's own page in the store and you will see either an Update button or an Open button. Open means you already have the latest version offered for your phone.
Step 3: prepare before you update
Most updates finish without trouble, but a few minutes of preparation avoids the rare bad one.
- Connect to Wi-Fi so a large update does not use up your mobile data.
- Make sure the battery is above about half or the phone is charging.
- Keep some free storage. An update needs space for the new files while the old ones are still there.
- If the app holds important data such as notes, chats or game progress, make sure it is backed up or signed in to your account first.
- Read the What's new text. It tells you what changed, and it is the best clue to whether you want the update now.
Step 4: update the app
Tap Update on the app's page, or choose Update all in the store if you want everything current. Wait until the button changes to Open before launching the app. Then check the version again in App info to confirm the change. If you want updates to arrive on their own, the store settings let you turn on automatic updates, either on any network or on Wi-Fi only.
Apps installed from an APK file
Apps installed by hand from an APK file do not always update themselves. To update one, download the newer APK from the same trusted source you used before and open it. Android installs it over the old version and keeps your data. Two cautions apply. First, the new file must be signed by the same developer as the old one; if it is not, Android refuses the update, and that refusal is a useful warning that the file may not be genuine. Second, do not uninstall the old version first unless you are told to, because uninstalling removes the app data.
Common mistakes
- Updating over mobile data without noticing and using up your allowance.
- Updating with almost no free storage, which makes the update fail halfway.
- Downloading an update from a random website because a pop-up said your app was out of date. Updates should come from the store or source you originally used.
- Ignoring the permissions screen. If an update asks for access that makes no sense for the app, stop and read before you continue.
- Never updating at all. Old versions are the ones that break first.
In short
Check the version in App info, look for updates in the store you installed from, prepare with Wi-Fi, charge and free space, and then update. For more practical guides, visit the BoldAPK home page.
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