How to Check If Your Apps Are Up to Date (PC & Mobile)

Most people assume their apps are updating themselves — and for the most part, that’s true.
But sometimes, auto-updates fail. Or they’re turned off without you realizing.

That’s why it’s smart to know how to manually check if your apps are up to date, whether you’re using a PC, a phone, or both.

Here’s a simple guide for checking update status across different platforms.

✅ 1. On Windows (PC)

For Microsoft Store apps:

Open the Microsoft Store
Click your profile icon → App settings
Then go to Library → Get updates

This will scan for updates for all Microsoft Store apps.

For other apps (like Chrome, Zoom, VLC):

Open the app
Go to Help → About or Settings → Check for Updates

✅ Tip: Some apps auto-update silently in the background. Opening the “About” menu often triggers a version check.

✅ 2. On macOS (Mac)

For App Store apps:

Open the App Store
Click Updates on the sidebar
Click Update All or update individually

For non-App Store apps:

Open the app
Look for “Check for Updates” under the menu bar (often in the app name dropdown)

✅ Tip: You can enable automatic updates in System Settings → General → Software Update → Automatically keep my Mac up to date

✅ 3. On Android

Open the Google Play Store
Tap your profile icon → Manage apps & device
Under “Updates available,” see which apps need attention
Tap Update all or update selected apps

✅ Optional:

Go to Play Store Settings → Auto-update apps
Make sure it’s enabled (preferably over Wi-Fi)

✅ 4. On iOS (iPhone/iPad)

Open the App Store
Tap your profile picture
Scroll down to view pending updates
Tap Update All, or update individually

✅ Tip: In Settings → App Store, turn on Automatic Downloads → App Updates for less hassle.

✅ 5. How to confirm an app is current

Not all apps clearly show if they’re up to date. Here are some quick ways to check:

Look for the version number in the app’s “About” section
Visit the developer’s official site and compare versions
Use tools like Patch My PC or SUMo (legacy) on PC to scan multiple apps at once

Key points to remember

Auto-updates don’t always work — manual checks help catch missed updates
Use built-in tools like Microsoft Store, App Store, or Play Store to check versions
Most apps have a “Check for Updates” option in their menu or settings
Confirming your app version is up to date ensures better performance and security
Make a habit of checking once a week or every two weeks