How to update the Google Play Store on an Android device and keep all your apps up to date

Google Pixel 3 — You can manually update your Google Play Store if it hasn't updated automatically.
Hollis Johnson/Business Insider

Your Android device should update the Google Play Store and all Android apps automatically.
To manually update the app, open the Play Store's Settings menu and go to the About section, then tap Update Play Store.
You can configure the Play Store to automatically update all apps using the Network preferences in the Play Store Settings menu.

Usually, your Android device updates your apps and the operating system regularly and automatically without any action on your part. This way, you always have the latest software with bug fixes and security updates on your phone or tablet. But sometimes you may want to install an update immediately, before your phone gets around top performing an automatic update.

This can be especially true of the Play Store, which is an important app that, among other things, is responsible for managing and updating all the other apps on your device. Or perhaps the automatic updates setting has been disabled and you want to turn it back on so you can update everything automatically again. Here is what to do.

How to update the Google Play Store

Most apps on your phone can be updated using the Manage apps & device option in the Google Play Store. But the Play Store itself is updated slightly differently.

1. Start the Play Store app.

2. Tap your account icon at the top right.

3. In the menu, choose Settings.

The Google Play Store app on Android. — Tap your account icon to see the Google Play Store menu.
Dave Johnson/Insider

4. On the Settings page, tap About.

5. Look in the Play Store version section. If there's an update available, tap Update Play Store.

The Google Play Store app Settings menu. — If there's an update available, you'll see a link to update the Play Store.
Dave Johnson/Insider

How to update all your apps automatically on Android

If your automatic update option is turned off, you're putting your Android device at risk by not promptly getting all the latest updates and security fixes for the apps on your phone or tablet. If you'd rather not check for app updates manually, you can configure your Android device to update all apps automatically.

1. Start the Play Store app.

2. Tap your account icon at the top right.

3. In the menu, choose Settings.

4. Tap the Network preferences and then tap Auto-update apps.

5. In the pop-up window, choose whether you want to update Over Wi-Fi only or Over any network (which will also update over your cellular connection).