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@n0ads @Microfix Thanks….I’ll leave the Direct Download to the “advanced” users that can’t wait.  I just checked Firefox browser again now, and it’s there and auto updates.  All’s well.

iPhone 13, 2019 iMac(SSD)

Apparently to get 138.0.1 you have to go to the Mozilla download page, it’s not rolling out yet and Firefox still says 138.0 is the current version.  I’ll wait for the rollout, but thanks for the heads up.

iPhone 13, 2019 iMac(SSD)

1 user thanked author for this post.

WCHS

Thank you.  I’m very committed to daily auto iCloud backups and weekly updates to the Mac for the iPhone.  As for the Mac, I do weekly backups to Time Machine or more often if I know files or settings have changed enough to warrant a new backup. I keep the Documents and Pictures on an external drive with weekly updates as well.

iPhone 13, 2019 iMac(SSD)

Susan Bradley wrote:

I just want a backup- in the Apple world a cloud backup works just fine.

Susan, I don’t follow exactly what you’re saying here…are you suggesting there is no need to backup an iPhone to a Mac via Finder, just use iCloud backups? I do both. Thank you.

iPhone 13, 2019 iMac(SSD)

@Alex5723 That’s fine.  I had asked though, since the Auto Updates option was missing from your phone per the screenshot you posted, if turning Background Apps Refresh  ON put the option back into Automatic Downloads as Background Apps Refresh seemed to be the cause for it missing.  You could turn Refresh back OFF as I have done.

iPhone 13, 2019 iMac(SSD)

@PKCano @Alex5723 Found this solution on reddit and it worked for me also!  Alex5723, would you try it also and see if the Auto Updates option reappears in Automatic Downloads like it did for me?  I guess App Refresh got turned off in the 18.4 update? Who would have ever thought of this as a solution.

iPhone 13, 2019 iMac(SSD)

2 users thanked author for this post.

Alex5723, PKCano

@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)

pmcjr6142 wrote:

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

Yes, didn’t help.

iPhone 13, 2019 iMac(SSD)

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)

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)

@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)

@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)

Did my iPhone 13 and 2019 iMac this morning.  No problems with either iOS 18.4 or Mac OS 15.4.  Turned off iOS and OS Auto Updates and backed up both to iCloud, Finder and Time Machine respectively.

iPhone 13, 2019 iMac(SSD)

1 user thanked author for this post.

Myst

I have to wear my glasses every time I use the iPhone or I can’t see and read anything on the screen.  I have always used Face ID and have never had an issue with the glasses and like the convenience it gives me to log on quickly…even in very low light.  Maybe it’s the frame size/thickness of your glasses that causes the problem?

iPhone 13, 2019 iMac(SSD)

FYI… Auto updates for Mac OS and iOS is now automatically turned on with these latest updates.  The article goes on to say that “Apple knows best…”  Isn’t this nice.

https://osxdaily.com/2025/04/01/psa-automatic-update-enables-itself-with-macos-sequoia-15-4-ios-18-4/

 

iPhone 13, 2019 iMac(SSD)