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Want More Control? Here’s How to Easily Turn Off Auto-Updates for a Single Android App!
Disabling auto-updates for one app on Android keeps your apps working the way you like. Sometimes, a new update may bring bugs, take away your favorite features, or look different than you want. You can stop a single app from auto-updating—no need to turn off updates for everything.
Steps to Disable Auto-Updates for a Specific App
- Open Google Play Store.
- Tap your profile icon at the top right.
- Tap “Manage apps & device”.
- Tap “Manage”, then find the app you want.
- Tap the app to open its info page.
- Tap the three dots at the top right.
- Uncheck the box next to “Enable auto update”.
- This keeps the selected app at its current version.
- All other apps can still auto-update.
- You can manually update this app by going to its page on the Play Store and tapping “Update”.
Extra Tips
- If you want most apps to stop auto-updating, you can set the Play Store to “Don’t auto-update apps” under Settings > Network Preferences > Auto-update apps.
- You can also do the reverse—set all apps to not auto-update, then enable auto-update for just your chosen apps using the same steps above.
What to Do if There’s No Uncheck Option?
Some apps may not show the auto-update option. This can be due to new Play Store policies or if the app developer marks updates as required. Forcing an old version in these rare cases is tricky.
If you need full control—like stopping forced updates—a root solution such as Zygisk Detach exists for advanced users. This involves rooting your device, using Magisk, enabling Zygisk, and then using the “zygisk-detach” module to fully detach an app from the Play Store. Only do this if you understand the risks of rooting and system modifications.
Why Might You Want This?
- Avoid losing features you depend on.
- Prevent bugs or crashes in important apps.
- Keep the app’s look and feel unchanged.
Key Takeaways
- For most people, you can disable auto-updates for individual apps right from the Play Store using the steps above—clean and easy.
- Advanced root-based tools exist for deeper controls, but those are for users experienced with rooting and understanding Android’s system.
Maintaining control over your apps helps keep your phone working just how you want. Now you can make smart choices and keep your favorite apps just right.