Do software updates make our devices worse?

This story version has been formatted as an on-air script for broadcast outlets. See the original research story here.

YOUR PHONE MAY NOT BE THE ONLY THING DREADING ITS NEXT SOFTWARE UPDATE.

A NEW SURVEY OF 2,000 AMERICANS FROM USER-TESTING FINDS MOST PEOPLE BELIEVE SOFTWARE UPDATES MAKE THEIR DEVICES WORSE, NOT BETTER.

MANY SAY UPDATES DISRUPT HOW THEY USE THEIR PHONES, COMPUTERS AND APPS, WHILE OTHERS WORRY THEY’LL CHANGE SETTINGS, SLOW DOWN DEVICES OR ADD FEATURES THEY NEVER ASKED FOR.

IN FACT, MOST PEOPLE ADMIT THEY AVOID UPDATES UNLESS THEY ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO.

THE STUDY, CONDUCTED BY TALKER RESEARCH, FOUND MANY USERS FEEL ANXIOUS BEFORE INSTALLING AN UPDATE, EVEN THOUGH THEY OFTEN FEEL RELIEVED OR HAPPY ONCE IT’S FINISHED. 

SO WHAT ABOUT YOU? DO YOU INSTALL UPDATES RIGHT AWAY, OR DO YOU PUT THEM OFF AS LONG AS POSSIBLE? WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

Research methodology:

Talker Research surveyed 2,000 U.S. adults who have access to the internet; the survey was commissioned by UserTesting and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between Apr. 8 and Apr. 14, 2026. A link to the questionnaire can be found here.

To view the complete methodology as part of AAPOR’s Transparency Initiative, please visit the Talker Research Process and Methodology page.