Here's why it's important to keep your phone apps updated

Aside from brand-new functionality, updates can bring performance enhancements to existing apps. Developers might simplify the codebase to streamline performance, fix bugs that caused crashes or make the app easier on battery. They might find ways to perform the same tasks without being as stressful on the hardware. These are small tweaks you might not notice at first, but make your overall experience smoother.

While not as frequent, OS compatibility is also a reason for app updates. When a new version of Android or iOS is coming, developers need to make sure their app runs on it properly. If you update your OS but not apps, they could run into trouble. This ties back into new features, too. For example, when Uber added Live Activities to its iOS app, you wouldn't see them until you installed the latest version.

In some cases, apps might refuse to run until you install the latest version. This can happen at an inopportune time, like if you've just gotten on a plane and won't have an internet connection for a while. Updating regularly avoids your favorite app not working when you're in the middle of a camping trip with no signal.