How to see which apps were updated on your Android phone

Something changed on your phone overnight? Here's how to find out what.

Updated 8 October 2026

Apps on Android update themselves in the background. Usually that's what you want – until something looks different, a feature disappears or your battery suddenly drains faster. Then the question is: which app changed, and when?

Check recent updates in the Play Store

1. Open the Play Store and tap your profile picture at the top right.
2. Choose Manage apps & device and open the Manage tab.
3. Tap the sort option and choose Recently updated.

To see the version an app has now, go to Settings → Apps, tap the app and scroll down to the version number.

The limits of that list

• It only covers apps from the Play Store – not apps from other stores, APK files or your employer.
• It doesn't show the version an app had before the update, or the exact time.
• It doesn't show apps you removed, or what changed in an app's permissions.
• Android itself keeps no update log at all.

Keep a full history with UpdateMonitor

From the moment you first open it, UpdateMonitor records every update, new install and removal: the old and new version, the date and time, the source, and which permissions an app gained or lost. Android system updates are included too. You can search, filter, see busy days in a calendar, and export everything as a CSV or PDF – handy when IT support asks what changed. Everything stays on your phone.

Frequently asked questions

Can I see updates from before I installed UpdateMonitor?

No. Android doesn't keep that information, so UpdateMonitor can only record changes from the moment you first open it.

How do I stop apps from updating automatically?

In the Play Store, tap your profile picture → Settings → Network preferences → Auto-update apps and choose Don't auto-update apps. For a single app, open its Play Store page, tap the three dots and turn off Enable auto update.