A system for maintaining and upgrading hardware device functioning provides processes to select and install updates for software (e.g., applications or apps) on the hardware device. A notification system provides information for discretion and control over the selection of software updates to be applied to consumer mobile devices according to the particular characteristics of the device, e.g., the model of device, the specific operating system of the device, and software applications installed on the device. The notification system may be integral with app stores on mobile devices and tablets, and may also be applicable to the Internet of Things. A notification may take the form, for example, of a warning or recommendation associated with an update for an app on the user device and may enable the user to make an informed decision beforehand about whether or not to install a particular update on the user device.