Apple relocates App Store updates in iOS 26.4; here is how to access them instantly

iOS 26.4 moves the App Store updates list, but a simple Home Screen long-press shortcut lets you jump straight to your pending updates.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 16, 2026, 4:02 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from 9to5Mac

A Navigational Shift in the App Store

With the public release of iOS 26.4, Apple has modified the user interface of the App Store, specifically altering how users track and manage individual app updates. While previously accessible immediately upon tapping the user profile icon, the updates list is now housed within a secondary sub-menu. This change adds a mechanical step to the process, a minor but noticeable friction point for power users who manually monitor version notes and software changes.

The New Multi Step Update Process

Under the new 26.4 architecture, users who navigate through the standard App Store interface must first select their profile image in the top-right corner. From there, they must now locate and tap a specific "Updates" menu option to reveal the list of pending and recently completed downloads. This adjustment aligns the App Store’s internal structure with other iOS system apps but has drawn early criticism for making a core function less accessible than in previous iterations of the software.

Utilizing the Long Press Shortcut

To mitigate the added tap, iOS 26.4 continues to support the high-utility Home Screen shortcut that has been a staple of the operating system for years. By applying a long-press (Haptic Touch) to the App Store icon on the Home Screen, a context menu appears. Selecting the "Updates" option from this list launches the app and navigates directly to the update management screen, effectively bypassing the new secondary menu entirely.