Out of the box, the new Nexus 6P is fast and smooth with almost no apps, as there is no bloatware from carriers. It is a clean Google device. However, after a few months of owning it, users will fill it with apps and games. For those who don’t want to deal with constant update notifications or want to control what gets updated, here we will explain how to manage or disable automatic app updates on the Nexus 6P.
Google’s new phone is one of the best Android smartphones released recently and millions of users love it. However, as Android updates and more apps are downloaded, users may notice that many apps are self-updating almost daily. We are here to stop this or give the owners options.
Those who do not want their Nexus 6P to update itself, or rather are not bothered by tons of notifications to update apps daily, have several easy ways to fix this problem. This is great for iPhone converts or first-time Android owners, and it only takes a few clicks in Google Play Store settings to change things up.
By default Nexus 6P (or most Android phones) automatically updates apps; this is the easiest way to leave something for most owners. However, some like me want full control. This could be saving data and updating over WiFi only, or checking which apps actually update. Play Store also automatically adds an icon for new downloads to the home screen and we can disable this obnoxious feature in this settings menu as well.
Everyone has different needs, wants or preferences for settings on a phone. Below we will explain where and how to change the auto-update features of the Google Play Store for the Nexus 6P.
Instructions
The settings users will change today are in the Google Play Store, where you get the games, apps or music. Not on the phone. Go to the Google Play Store by tapping the icon on your home screen or finding it in the app tray.
After entering the Google Play Store, users can select the top left (3 lines) menu button next to the “Google Play” search bar. From here go to “Settings” and select it as shown below.
This area is the general settings for the Google Play Store. The first option listed in this menu is the “Auto-update apps” setting, click that. Choose the one that works best for you here. By default, it will be set to automatically update apps at any time. No one would want apps to be updated while using data because that would use up a full 2-4GB data plan very quickly and would incur an overcharge from a carrier. Choose “Auto-update apps” instead, or choose to update apps only over a WiFi connection such as home internet.
Choosing “Auto-update apps” means users will be constantly notified in the notification tray that apps need to be updated, rather than just updating them on their own. However, this gives owners control to see what has been updated, check the change logs to find out what’s new, and stop the updates. I always check change logs, reviews and other stuff to know what has changed. A prime example is my text messaging app Textra. I would never update as I prefer an older model.
It is best to update apps over WiFi to save data, and WiFi is usually faster and saves battery life and time. Then, as we mentioned above, here you can also uncheck the option that automatically puts icons on the home screen when an app is downloaded. It’s a nice feature, but it will eventually become a hassle and many will disable it.
What Should You Choose?
Average smartphone users or those new to Android should let the smartphone do everything for them. My family always hates getting notifications for updates so they have it set to automatic. Personally, I’d rather check for what updates and look at the permission requests and the “what’s new” list first, so I set it up manually.
Owners using auto-update won’t know what’s new because they don’t see the changelog. Users will notice changes made to popular apps like Facebook, YouTube, and even games you might enjoy.
At the end of the day, it all comes down to personal preferences, how much time users want to spend on their phones managing things, and other things. Choose the best for you and enjoy. These same steps are basically the same for all Android smartphones and tablets with Google Play Store.
