Apple made changes to the App Store for both iOS 13 and iPadOS. One of the main changes is around App updates.
The App Store updates are no longer available in the ‘Updates’ tab on the app store. The Updates tab has now been replaced with ‘Arcade’ in the App Store.
Contents
Quick tips 
Update your apps using these quick tips
- Long-press the App Store icon and choose Updates from the Quick Action menu
- Tap your profile icon in the App Store and choose Update
Related:
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- Where is Camera Roll in iOS 13 and iPadOS?
- No More iTunes. How to use Finder in macOS Catalina to Sync and Restore iPhone
- 11 things you can do in iOS 13 that you couldn’t do in iOS 12
- It’s the end of iTunes as we know it (and we feel fine)
- iOS 13 Privacy and Security improvements announced at WWDC
- Is your iPad compatible with iPadOS? Here’s what you should know
Where is the App Store Update tab in iOS 13
The fast way to update apps
- Long Press the app store icon
- Choose Updates from the Quick Action menu
- Update all or some of your apps
Open the App Store app & update apps there
The ‘Updates’ tab in the app store has now been removed in iOS 13 and iPadOS and all app updates are now made available via your user profile on your iPhone and iPad.
Here’s how to update your Apps in iOS 13
- Tap on the App Store app to get started
- Tap on Today tab at the bottom
- Click on the user profile icon on the top right corner of the screen
- This brings up the account details
- Scroll down to the section ‘Available Updates’
- Tap on ‘Update All’ to get all the app updates OR
- You can tap on ‘Update’ next to the app to update individual apps
The iPadOS app updates via the app store are essentially the same process.
Tap on your User id and follow the same steps as described for the iPhone in the previous steps.
Once the apps have been updated, tap on your user ID profile to see all the recently updated apps.
Delete Apps easily from your iPhone via App Store too!
The other new addition on this app listing screen associated with your account is the ability to directly delete/uninstall any apps right from this screen.
Swipe left on any of the listed apps, and you will find the familiar Delete option to uninstall the app from your iPhone or iPad.
Although it may take a little getting used to, we like the idea of having all your app purchases, subscriptions and App updates in one single place that is easily accessible.
App Store account settings in iOS 13
When you tap on your user ID and enter your credentials, your detailed account settings are made available to you. This shows all your Purchase history, any hidden purchases via iCloud and your family sharing settings.
On this screen, you can also choose to enable or disable personalized recommendations feature of the app store. When you enable this setting, Apple uses it to improve recommendations for you in the app store.
You can also manage your iTunes Pass using Wallet here and manage the subscription to iTunes Newsletters and special offers.
A lot has been written in recent days about the demise of iTunes, but when you look at the iOS 13 and iPadOS screens, you will still see iTunes mentioned in many places.
Updating Apps on macOS Catalina is pretty straight-forward. When you click on the App Store and open a session, the App store updates are readily available in the Updates section.
We hope that you found this short article helpful. We are super excited for the official launch of iOS 13 and iPadOS. Overall the iOS 13 has proven to be very fast and reliable!
Obsessed with tech since the early arrival of A/UX on Apple, Sudz (SK) is responsible for the editorial direction of AppleToolBox. He is based out of Los Angeles, CA.
Sudz specializes in covering all things macOS, having reviewed dozens of OS X and macOS developments over the years.
In a former life, Sudz worked helping Fortune 100 companies with their technology and business transformation aspirations.
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I am going from the today button to my profile and there is not a single reference to update my apps.
The only way I was able to update my app was to search for it and find the update that way.
I have also rebooted my phone and there is still no option to see the apps I have or how to update them. this totally pisses me off, since I mainly use my iPhone for navigation and email and now I can’t quickly access the important updates anymore.
For example google maps won’t work on iPhone if it is not up to date. How can apple make updates like this?
Luckily my main phone for 3 years now has been Oneplus and it still works like new without problems like this.
This is why I’m done with your phones.
Absolutely ridiculous. So now of the four tabs, there is one for “games” and one for “arcade”, which is effectively the same thing. Everything is geared toward 10 year-olds now. What a sick joke this culture has become.
The update button was replaced by arcade and there’s no update all button or any options to update.
Hi Journey,
Find the app updates function under your Account icon in the top-right corner of the app store app.
If any updates for apps are available, it should show a red badge with a number indicating how many apps need updating.
Tap your account icon and scroll down, then choose to Update All or update apps one-by-one by tapping on the Update button next to the app you want to update.
If you don’t see any available updates, that usually means all your apps are current and do not require an update.
Liz
I still couldnot find my fitbit history nor how l can upgrade
Tapped the profile pict on Apps icon — couldn’t get the apps ‘ready for update’ to update. BUT I just turned off my phone entirely, restarted the phone, and the updates worked. When all else fails, REBOOT. Halleujah!!
Cool….so Apple made updating apps more difficult than it needed to be so they could add another “feature” in the App Store to get people to waste more money and time on their phones.
Great job, Apple! Nice work keeping things simple.
Agreed. I hate improvements. Had to change an 8 year old iPad. Confusing.
Thanks a lot. This post help me a lot.
Cheers!
Just discovered I have 42 updates in waiting. The latest changes to app update procedures & demise of iTunes suck.
I will be checking out android phones for my next purchase, also a year end purchase of an iPad is likely off the table!
You know this is annoying. I have to tap my life away just to tell the apps to update.
Why didn’t Apple try harder to hide the updates?
After the update my I’m getting new mail in junk mail & trash file What happened
This is ridiculous, it pisses me off I have to google search how to upgrade my apps. How can they do such stupid things !?
Why when I select All in trash or junk mail I can not select or see delete all since the upgrade. Thanks
Hi Sarah,
Are you seeing Archive instead of Delete?
If so, you need to change your mailbox behavior in the Passwords & Account settings for your email service provider.
Go to Settings > Passwords & Accounts > Choose your account > Tap the name of your account again > Select Advanced > under Move discarded Messages into change to Deleted Mailbox > tap the account back button > select Done to save.
Restart your Mail app and then see if you now see the delete option
Learn more here: How To Delete Emails Completely from iPhone and Save Storage
Thanks, I hate it.
App updates need its own tab in the App Store. Of all the stupid things to do, why get rid of that tab? Now updating apps is a ridiculously convoluted process in a tiny drop down menu. WHY?
100%
Because now you have Arcade to spend your time and money on. It’s great! Just shut up and keep shelling out for pointless crap! Don’t worry about key features, just hand over that money.
Which numbskull decided that an Arcade tab should be annoyingly mandatory? Anyone know if it’s possible to remove/delete it? So fed up with the Arcade “push” – you have no idea!
I cannot access my updates on my iPad using the method you describe by using the account, my account does not open. Is there another way to update apps?
Thanks.
Hi Lorraine,
There isn’t another way that we know of. We suggest you sign out of your iTunes & App Store via Settings > iTunes & App Store > Tap your Apple ID and choose to Sign out. Restart. Then go back to those same settings and sign in again with your Apple ID.
Liz
Since iOS 13 uploaded I am unable to update any apps.
I have followed the procedure tapping on today and then up in the top right-hand corner.
My account details will not load. I am frozen out of all games that require an update but I can’t get it to update!!!
Hi Elizabeth,
Try signing out of the iTunes & App Store (via Settings > iTunes & App Store > tap your Apple ID and choose Sign Out), restart, and then sign back in with your Apple ID via Settings > iTunes & App Store.
That usually does the deal!
Thanks for the suggestion Elizabeth but I have tried it several times with no luck. From the posts I’ve seen I’m not the only one with this issue. Really fed up now why are these updates not checked and double checked before being sent out to mess up everybody’s iPad.
As my iPad apps are now unusable iPad is going to sit in a corner whilst I use my tablet from Samsung that does not have all these problems Apple has created. Presumably it’s too much to ask that Apple provide another update to sort this out – no wait – that won’t be any use as I can’t open any of my apps! Goodbye Apple.
I’m having the exact same problem.
I have an app requiring an update but cannot do so.
I’ve gone into iTunes & App Store – logged out.
Backed out and went back in to no avail.
I just get the loading message but it never loads.
On another app, I’m not able to get into the store and am assuming I won’t be able to make purchases. This is absolutely ridiculous!
Apple needs to go back to the drawing board on this release and in the meantime re-release the install bringing us back to where we were before.
Which Intern decided the update app function should buried further into obscurity! Do better, Apple.
I agree this update is terrible! Change it back so we can see apps we have and can easily update!!!!!!!!!!!
This is so incredibly stupid. I don’t want my apps mixed with apps I don’t have. Can’t believe you made such a stupid move. Maybe you should ask the people that pay big money for your products their opinion before you make these changes.
Why is it now a PROCESS to update my apps? Now we do t even get a warning when a app needs updating. Apple needs to quit jerking us around!
In an attempt to push the sales of apps that are a total annoyance to many users, the new “Update App” function is convoluted, irritating and one of those functions that has taken a GIANT step backward for the many iPhone users. The design team that came up with this inane process and the programming team that implemented it should be FIRED!
If Steve Jobs we’re still around, they would be. I’m using an iPad air2 and had no problem whatsoever – until now. I can’t update my apps nor can I access the store on them. The fix they provided isn’t working.
Yeah, why! Something that somebody used every day has to be hidden? IOS is turning into bloatware, btw. Full of stuff like Arcade that I don’t need.
AppStore updates are way too hard to find. AND I find games and arcade to be redundant. Dumb changes,
IOS 13 REALLY sucks!!! Ever since the update my phone is wacko.
Typing weird, it reset and screwed up google maps.
Just a horrible experience! Anyway, you can Un-update and go back to an iOS version some moron didn’t create?
Hi Robert,
For now, Apple is still signing iOS 12.4.1 so you can roll back your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to that version–if you want to do this, do it soon since Apple unsigns older iOS versions fairly soon after a major iOS release.
If you want to preserve your device’s data, you need to connect to a backup made before you updated it to iOS 13.
To downgrade, you need to use iTunes
1) Disable Find my in Settings > Apple ID > Find My and turn off Find MY for your device
2) Download to yoru computer the ipsw files for iOS 12.4.1 from a site like this
3) After downloading, connect your device to your computer
4) Open iTunes and go to the Summary page for your device
5) Hold down the Option key (Macs) or Shift key (Windows) and press the button to Restore
6) In the pop-up, locate that ipsw file for iOS 12.4.1 and open it
7) Confirm you want to erase your device and restore it to iOS 12.4.1
8) Wait until iTunes completes the restore and you see a welcome message on its screen
9) Connect to a backup made BEFORE updating to iOS 13 (it can be an iCloud or an iTunes backup)
IOS 13 is a huge step backwards for casual iPhone users. I especially dislike the removal of the easy update app feature. Hope they get rid of gaming icon and put app feature back.
Unfortunate push to sell stuff and make things less usable for the action that is most often used.
Update tab replaced with (unwanted to me) arcade tab? Booooooooo! And i neverl liked the small windowed accounts tab that now holds recently purchased etc, bad uses of screen space and badly implemented and now they shove updates there? I am actually fuming!
When i said bad use of screen space i meant on ipads.
The new way to see app updates is ridiculous. Who the heck came up with that?
Regarding iOS & IPadOS 13 article, very nice.
A corner case could be caused by a particular setting in Content & Privacy that will prevent the Profile icon from appearing in Apps.
If a person, like myself chooses to add a lockdown of the Profile in Privacy & Content restrictions by setting Account Changes to Don’t Allow(With this setting it grays out Profile Pic Tab in Settings BTW), will prevent changes to account even when iPad is unlocked for user’s use.
It’s an additional level of security I add.
SO to use App Updates in iOS & iPadOS be sure Account Changes under Setttings—>ScreenTime—->Content & Privacy Restrictions—->Account Changes set to Allow. If you have a passcode on ScreenTime, which you should, you’ll need to enter it to make these changes.
There are some good comments on the new appstore features. I love my iphone.
How odd they’d go out of their way to make it more inconvenient.
Yet in so many other ways they sought to improve speed.
Yet here saving time made no sense to them.
Tab on your Icon Right side.
I don’t like this change… i prefer the ‘Updates’ tab.