An automated software update system for updating software applications (124, 144, 410, 420, 440) stored at a client computing device (120, 210, 300), the system comprising: a processor; and computer readable media including instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: determine that an initial version of a first software application currently stored on the client computing device (120, 210, 300) will be incompatible after an upgrade of an operating system on the client computing device from a first configuration to a second configuration (142, 620); identify a priority classification for the first software application; submit a first update query to an online software repository (270, 450) regarding the first software application; receive, in response to the first update query, a first status indicating that a first content is available to update the first software application from the initial version to an updated version, wherein the updated version is compatible with the second configuration of the operating system (142, 620); and if the first software application has a high priority classification, automatically update the first software application from the initial version to the updated version prior to an upgrade event that upgrades the operating system from the first configuration to the second configuration. a processor; and computer readable media including instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: determine that an initial version of a first software application currently stored on the client computing device (120, 210, 300) will be incompatible after an upgrade of an operating system on the client computing device from a first configuration to a second configuration (142, 620); identify a priority classification for the first software application; submit a first update query to an online software repository (270, 450) regarding the first software application; receive, in response to the first update query, a first status indicating that a first content is available to update the first software application from the initial version to an updated version, wherein the updated version is compatible with the second configuration of the operating system (142, 620); and if the first software application has a high priority classification, automatically update the first software application from the initial version to the updated version prior to an upgrade event that upgrades the operating system from the first configuration to the second configuration. determine that an initial version of a first software application currently stored on the client computing device (120, 210, 300) will be incompatible after an upgrade of an operating system on the client computing device from a first configuration to a second configuration (142, 620); identify a priority classification for the first software application; submit a first update query to an online software repository (270, 450) regarding the first software application; receive, in response to the first update query, a first status indicating that a first content is available to update the first software application from the initial version to an updated version, wherein the updated version is compatible with the second configuration of the operating system (142, 620); and if the first software application has a high priority classification, automatically update the first software application from the initial version to the updated version prior to an upgrade event that upgrades the operating system from the first configuration to the second configuration.