diff --git a/doc/api/api_changes/2017-05-31-AL_dynamic_update.rst b/doc/api/api_changes/2017-05-31-AL_dynamic_update.rst
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..565a60a4cef7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/api/api_changes/2017-05-31-AL_dynamic_update.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+NavigationToolbar2.dynamic_update is deprecated
+```````````````````````````````````````````````
+
+Use `FigureCanvas.draw_idle` instead.
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py b/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py
index 3438210023f1..3cd6e34c73c1 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py
@@ -2711,9 +2711,6 @@ class NavigationToolbar2(object):
          whenever a mouse button is released, you'll be notified with
          the event
 
-      :meth:`dynamic_update` (optional)
-         dynamically update the window while navigating
-
       :meth:`set_message` (optional)
          display message
 
@@ -2778,8 +2775,9 @@ def back(self, *args):
         self.set_history_buttons()
         self._update_view()
 
+    @cbook.deprecated("2.1", alternative="canvas.draw_idle")
     def dynamic_update(self):
-        pass
+        self.canvas.draw_idle()
 
     def draw_rubberband(self, event, x0, y0, x1, y1):
         """Draw a rectangle rubberband to indicate zoom limits."""
@@ -3024,7 +3022,7 @@ def drag_pan(self, event):
             #safer to use the recorded button at the press than current button:
             #multiple button can get pressed during motion...
             a.drag_pan(self._button_pressed, event.key, event.x, event.y)
-        self.dynamic_update()
+        self.canvas.draw_idle()
 
     def drag_zoom(self, event):
         """Callback for dragging in zoom mode."""
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk.py
index 02fc2a22b762..f9a2fa47edd0 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk.py
@@ -681,10 +681,6 @@ def release(self, event):
         try: del self._pixmapBack
         except AttributeError: pass
 
-    def dynamic_update(self):
-        # legacy method; new method is canvas.draw_idle
-        self.canvas.draw_idle()
-
     def draw_rubberband(self, event, x0, y0, x1, y1):
         'adapted from http://aspn.activestate.com/ASPN/Cookbook/Python/Recipe/189744'
         drawable = self.canvas.window
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3.py
index c4b007fdc97c..6a1f74a30c65 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3.py
@@ -544,10 +544,6 @@ def release(self, event):
         try: del self._pixmapBack
         except AttributeError: pass
 
-    def dynamic_update(self):
-        # legacy method; new method is canvas.draw_idle
-        self.canvas.draw_idle()
-
     def draw_rubberband(self, event, x0, y0, x1, y1):
         'adapted from http://aspn.activestate.com/ASPN/Cookbook/Python/Recipe/189744'
         self.ctx = self.canvas.get_property("window").cairo_create()
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_macosx.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_macosx.py
index d3ce00fa650d..e093e2799b8d 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_macosx.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_macosx.py
@@ -241,8 +241,6 @@ def prepare_configure_subplots(self):
     def set_message(self, message):
         _macosx.NavigationToolbar2.set_message(self, message.encode('utf-8'))
 
-    def dynamic_update(self):
-        self.canvas.draw_idle()
 
 ########################################################################
 #
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt5.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt5.py
index d23bf13f7d76..9c3518ffc9e7 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt5.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt5.py
@@ -706,9 +706,6 @@ def zoom(self, *args):
         super(NavigationToolbar2QT, self).zoom(*args)
         self._update_buttons_checked()
 
-    def dynamic_update(self):
-        self.canvas.draw_idle()
-
     def set_message(self, s):
         self.message.emit(s)
         if self.coordinates:
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_tkagg.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_tkagg.py
index cd2373bf4fe8..af0ed62f9d81 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_tkagg.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_tkagg.py
@@ -859,11 +859,6 @@ def update(self):
         #    self.omenu.adjust(naxes)
         NavigationToolbar2.update(self)
 
-    def dynamic_update(self):
-        'update drawing area only if idle'
-        # legacy method; new method is canvas.draw_idle
-        self.canvas.draw_idle()
-
 
 class ToolTip(object):
     """
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_webagg_core.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_webagg_core.py
index 4c1b0a0f57cd..132361afc95f 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_webagg_core.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_webagg_core.py
@@ -423,9 +423,6 @@ def set_cursor(self, cursor):
             self.canvas.send_event("cursor", cursor=cursor)
         self.cursor = cursor
 
-    def dynamic_update(self):
-        self.canvas.draw_idle()
-
     def draw_rubberband(self, event, x0, y0, x1, y1):
         self.canvas.send_event(
             "rubberband", x0=x0, y0=y0, x1=x1, y1=y1)
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wx.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wx.py
index bd9c281e715f..8746b9034cbd 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wx.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wx.py
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@
 from matplotlib.path import Path
 from matplotlib.transforms import Affine2D
 from matplotlib.widgets import SubplotTool
-from matplotlib import rcParams
+from matplotlib import cbook, rcParams
 
 from . import wx_compat as wxc
 import wx
@@ -1675,6 +1675,7 @@ def release(self, event):
         except AttributeError:
             pass
 
+    @cbook.deprecated("2.1", alternative="canvas.draw_idle")
     def dynamic_update(self):
         d = self._idle
         self._idle = False