Update Android apps - the 3 best tips

You have to update Android apps regularly - pretty much everyone knows that. Here you can find out what you should pay attention to and how you can update the apps on your Android smartphone or tablet most efficiently.

Update all Android apps in no time - that's how it's done

First of all, of course, you need to know for which of your installed Android apps updates are available. You can find out with the help of the Google Play Store app.

• Open the app to the Google Play Store. Open the menu using the sandwich icon and select "My apps and games". An overview with all installed Android apps opens. At the top are those for which an update is available (see screenshot).
• With the "Update all" button at the top right you can have all apps updated at once. Note: Read on before you click the button.

Convenient: Install updates for Android apps automatically

You can also have the apps installed on your Android smartphone updated automatically. To do this, proceed as follows:

• In the Google Play Store app, press the sandwich icon in the top left and choose "Settings".
• Click on "Automatic app updates" and then select the second selection (see picture), updates to your Android apps will be downloaded and installed automatically from now on. Note: Why this is not recommended in every case, read in the next section.
• If you want to check each update individually, but still not always check for new app updates, just check the "Notifications" box. This will show you in the status bar if new updates for your Android apps are available. You then decide which of them should be installed.

Attention: Permissions of apps - you should pay attention to this when updating

Android apps require different permissions when you install them. However, newer app versions sometimes require different rights than the original app that you had installed. Therefore, you should pay attention to the following when updating the app:

• If you click on "Update" for an app, you may be informed about additional permissions that the app requires in the latest version (as shown in the picture). In this case, you should be careful:
• Always read the required permissions carefully. Some app developers describe what rights are needed for what on the Google Play Store page. If this is not the case, you should ask yourself which function of the Android app the respective authorization could use.
• Especially with a long list of permissions (see picture), you should be taken aback. If in doubt, you should not install the app or the update for the app.
• Tip: With the new Android 6 you can regulate app permissions individually. With older smartphones, this is unfortunately only possible with root rights.