Option to disable automatic App Store updates

Question

Level 1

4 points

Option to disable automatic App Store updates

I want to disable automatic App Store updates but the button in settings > App Store has apparently vanished. Not sure it’s a bug or Apple just removed the option.

iOS 26.1

iPhone 17 Pro Max, iOS 26

Posted on Nov 15, 2025 11:12 AM

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Answer 1

Limnos

Level 10

425,609 points

Nov 15, 2025 6:00 PM in response to ArthurPrest

ArthurPrest wrote:

does not appear for some reason.

Check these possibilities:

● If an app or feature on your device is not working, not appearing, or is restricted (grayed out), a frequent reason is it may have been disabled using Screen Time, or by a technology administrator if you are using a device owned by an employer or educational institution.

- Read this support article If your Apple ID or other options are greyed out in Settings —> If your Apple Account is grayed out in Settings, or you can't sign out - Apple Support

Tap your Settings app > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > scroll to Accounts > tap Allow Changes and turn on.

- If the device is managed (check: Settings > General > VPN (or Profiles & Device Management), contact the technology department of the organization that is doing the managing.

● Situation where a VPN was preventing action —> Unable to sign out of my Apple ID on my i… - Apple Community

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Answer 2

Katana-San

Level 10

80,449 points

Nov 15, 2025 1:24 PM in response to ArthurPrest

Hello~ Have a look here by clicking on below…

How to manually update apps from the App Store - Apple Support*

*Turn automatic app updates on or off.

~Katana-San~

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Answer 3

Limnos

Level 10

425,609 points

Nov 15, 2025 5:58 PM in response to Carol B.

Carol B. wrote:

If that button is not green, it is already disabled. You don't have to do anything to disable automatic updates. That is what you wanted to do, right?

Carol B.: The button pictured appears to be for automatic downloads, not automatic updates. Automatic downloads are for when you get something on a different device and want it downloaded automatically on other devices too. Updates refers to, well, updating apps automatically.

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Answer 4

ArthurPrest Author

Level 1

4 points

Nov 15, 2025 11:23 PM in response to Limnos

thank you for your message.

the automatic app updates toggle in settings has vanished and has nothing to do with content & privacy restrictions (have that disabled). My phone is a personal phone, not managed from an organization.

i don’t use VPN on a regular basis.

seems to be an iOS 26.1 bug.

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Answer 5

Katana-San

Level 10

80,449 points

Nov 15, 2025 2:18 PM in response to ArthurPrest

Hello once more~ Any screen time restrictions?

~Katana-San~

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Answer 6

Mac Jim ID

Level 9

58,124 points

Nov 16, 2025 12:38 AM in response to ArthurPrest

ArthurPrest wrote:

i don’t use VPN on a regular basis.

Not using it on a regular basis implies that you have one installed. Simply turning it off is not the same thing and it will need to be uninstalled to test if that is the cause of the problem. You can always add it again if it makes no change. Restart your phone after it has been removed.

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Answer 7

ArthurPrest Author

Level 1

4 points

Nov 15, 2025 1:54 PM in response to Katana-San

I know how to do that. As you can see in my screenshot, the button to disable / enable automatic app updates does not appear for some reason.

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Answer 8

Carol B.

Level 6

17,651 points

Nov 15, 2025 3:27 PM in response to ArthurPrest

If that button is not green, it is already disabled. You don't have to do anything to disable automatic updates. That is what you wanted to do, right?

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