Button Missing for Automatic Apps Updates

Topic

New Reply

I believe this may have happened after installing iOS 18.4, but the button to turn on Automatic  Updates in the App Store settings is missing.  Automatic Downloads is still there, but not Auto Updates.  Turning on Automatic Updates in Settings> General>Software Updates doesn’t fix it.  Anyone experiencing this and maybe found a fix?

 

iPhone 13, 2019 iMac(SSD)

Reply | Quote

Replies

Apple has turned Automatic Updates on by default in macOS 18.4 and I think in iOS  18.4.
If you click on the “i” in the circle, the previous settings are there. I have turned OFF the auto download/install. I don’t want my bandwidth taken up by a download/install when I’m busy on my Macs. And I certainly don’t want it on my iPhone/iPad when I’m on Cellular and not plugged in.

I left the Security Response and system file updates ON Auto, as it had been before.

Reply | Quote

@PKCano After installing 15.4 and 18.4, I turned off the new default setting for macOS Auto Updates and iOS Auto Updates, but don’t know if this affected App Store Auto Updates in iOS 18.4 or not. It did not affect the macOS App Store Auto Update setting. To test this on 18.4 , I turned iOS Auto Updates back on in 18.4/iPhone and the App Store Auto Update toggle is still missing. So I then turned iOS Auto Updates both back off again. So, I don’t know why the Apps Store App Auto Update toggle is now missing.

iPhone 13, 2019 iMac(SSD)

Reply | Quote

You have App Downloads and Automatic Downloads both turned OFF.
Can you turn either ON?

Reply | Quote

@PKCano Yes, I can turn them both ON now, but I have always had them OFF and it didn’t affect Automatic Updates being ON…when it was visible to turn on. Turning them ON now, doesn’t bring up Auto Updates. As far as I can tell, the only changes before now is 18.4

iPhone 13, 2019 iMac(SSD)

Reply | Quote

There is a difference between OS/iOS updates and App Store updates, just like there is in Windows between WU and Microsoft Store.
Turn ON/OFF OS updates under General\Software Updates.
I don’t believe that pertains to App Store Updates , and visa versa.

Reply | Quote

PKCano, I know that, but thanks for the info and for trying.  In my 9:03AM reply, I tried to explain that I turned both OS and iOS auto updates back on and then back off just to see if it had any effect on the App Store updates. It did not. But I tried it anyway.  As I said, nothing changed in my Settings except for 18.4 and then noticing that App Store auto app updates on/off toggle is missing.  Remains a mystery. As anyone else discovered that App Store Auto Updates on/off toggle is now missing?

 

iPhone 13, 2019 iMac(SSD)

Reply | Quote

On my 18.4 (it has the same sliders as yours) turning OFF/ON the Cellular slider allows me to manipulate the other two.
If I turn ON Cellular, then  turn ON the other two, then turn only the Cellular back OFF, it leaves the other two ON. I have my phone connecting to WiFi when I’m home and I don’t want it to use the Cellular for updates when I’m away.

Reply | Quote

pmcjr6142 wrote:

On my 18.4 (it has the same sliders as yours)

Then the Automatic Update toggle is missing for you also.  Are we saying that there is no longer the option to have Automatic apps updates?  There certainly was at some time before.  Before this toggle went missing,  I had Cellular Data “Automatic Downloads” OFF also for your same reasons.  But toggling it ON/OFF now has no effect on either of the two options remaining in Automatic Downloads and their ON/OFF setting.

iPhone 13, 2019 iMac(SSD)

Reply | Quote

I have to eat my words. I do have an “App Update” slider between App Downloads and In-App Content.
Below that trio, I have a section titled CELLULAR DATA with two sliders “Automatic Downloads” and “App Downloads”
BTW, I have an old iPhone SE 2.
Have you tried resetting the phone (shutting it down/restarting, not wiping/reloading)?

 

Reply | Quote

pmcjr6142 wrote:

Automatic  Updates in the App Store settings is missing

* Running iOS 18.4 RC2 on iPhone Max Pro

There are settings for App Store and Apple Store
App are not installed automatically. I get notification with number of app updates which I install manually.

I don’t have an “App Update” slider between App Downloads and In-App Content.

Reply | Quote

@Alex572 Thank you.  It’s not just me. So, the auto update slider is indeed missing. In the actual 18.4, not the RC, Apple Store is a new app, but I don’t see these settings there.  I  install new apps manually as well. Because Auto Updates never seemed to work anyway, because either the notification/badge alert to new app updates doesn’t seem to work as well..maybe due to staggered introductions by the app developers. Who knows.

iPhone 13, 2019 iMac(SSD)

Reply | Quote

pmcjr6142 wrote:

Have you tried resetting the phone (shutting it down/restarting, not wiping/reloading)?

Yes, didn’t help.

iPhone 13, 2019 iMac(SSD)

Reply | Quote

Looking at @Alex5723 ‘s screenshot, perhaps my difference is having an old SE 2 that’s been updated, b/c I have the “App Update” slider between “App Downloads” and “In-App Content” Who knows? I suppose that’s what you remember on yours?

1 user thanked author for this post.

pmcjr6142

Reply | Quote