Why App Updates Are So Important For Travelers

The next time you travel, you will really want to make sure you do this. It might be common sense for tech-savvy travelers but it’s often overlooked by everyone else and it can really slow you down. RELATED: The iPhone Map App Every Traveler Needs to Download

The tip is to always update your apps before leaving the house. No matter if it’s for a night on the town with friends or a round-the-world trip. Doing this is especially important these days given the surge of travelers combined with labor shortages, which means there’s not as much availability when it comes to the instantaneous services we’ve come to expect.

Unfortunately for me but fortunately for you, I learned this the hard way once while rushing off a plane at LAX and trying to hail an Uber. I experienced it again recently with my wife’s best friend (photo above) which inspired this post.

She hadn’t updated her Uber app in a while so it wouldn’t let her order a car until she had updated the app.

Updating an app usually doesn’t take long as long as you’re on WiFi but if you’re outside or in a destination without solid cell service or WiFi, you may be sidelined for a bit. That’s what happened to me when I was in LAX’s Terminal 4 and my T-Mobile service is not great in there.

Instead of just a few taps, I  had to find a spot where I had a strong connection and then wait a few minutes for it to update. That’s not always possible, depending where in the world you are and you definitely don’t want to be stuck trying to get an app to download if you need it in an emergency.

And this tip doesn’t just apply to Uber or other ride shares. It pertains to any app that you think you will use when you travel. You definitely want to do the same and update the apps for the airlines, hotels, cruises and car rental companies you plan on using when you travel and make sure your forms of payment are updated as well. If the app you want to use has an old or expired credit card saved as the method of payment, it can seriously delay you as you scramble to find your credit card, input the correct information and wait for it to be verified.

Save yoruself the headache and hassle and do all of this before you leave home.

Here’s how to manually update apps on your iPhone or iPad
1. Open the App Store.
2. Tap your profile icon at the top of the screen.
3. Scroll to see pending updates and release notes. Tap Update next to an app to update only that app, or tap Update All.

Here’s how to update an Android app
1. Open the Google Play Store app .
2. At the top right, tap the profile icon.
3. Tap Manage apps & device. Apps with an update available are labeled “Update available.”
4. Tap Update.

Has this ever happened to you? What app have you regretted not updating?

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