Top 10 Ways to Fix Apps Not Updating on Android

Updating apps is one way to keep Android phone running smoothly. The problem occurs when the update button in the Play Store becomes unresponsive and you only get a loading indicator. Here’s how to fix apps not updating on Android.

1. Check the internet connection

Let’s go through the basics first. Make sure you have enough network bars or a working Wi-Fi connection to update apps successfully.

You can also use Speedtest or fast.com to check current internet speeds.

Download Speedtest for Android

2. Check the device memory

This is one of the most popular reasons for apps not updating on Android. If your Android phone runs out of storage space, apps will not update on your phone.

You can manually delete files and media from your phone to free up storage space. But this is a time-consuming process. Instead, you can use Google’s excellent Files app to clean junk files. Here’s how.

Step 1: Open the Google Play Store on your Android and download the Files app.

Download files on Android

Step 2: Launch the Files app and go to the Clean tab.

Step 3: The app finds junk files on your phone and offers a suggestion to remove them with a single tap.

Once you’ve cleared the storage space on your phone, it’s time to go back to the Play Store and update apps.

3. Update apps automatically

Android also offers an option to automatically update apps in the background. You don’t have to go to the Play Store every time to update apps manually. Here’s how to automatically update apps on your Android phone.

Step 1: Open the Google Play Store on your Android and tap the profile menu at the top.

Step 2: Go to Settings and open the Network Settings tab.

Step 3: Select Automatically update apps.

Step 4: Tap Wi-Fi only or Any network (if you want to automatically update apps on a cellular network).

Click Done and close the Play Store. After that, the Google Play Store app will process the app updates in the background.

4. Check the date and time

Some system apps like Play Store may behave differently due to incorrect date and time on your phone.

Step 1: Open Settings on Android.

Step 2: Go to System and select Date & Time.

Step 3: Enable Use network-provided time shift and Use network-provided time zone shift

Go back to the Play Store and try updating apps again.

5. Stop the Google Play Store

You have the option to completely stop Play Store services in the background and start over to update apps.

Step 1: Long press the Play Store icon and open the app info menu.

Step 2: Tap Force Stop and confirm your decision.

6. Clear Play Store cache

You have the option to completely stop Play Store services in the background and start over to update apps.

It is always recommended to clear the cache of such apps to keep the app running smoothly.

Step 1: Long tap on Google Play Store and open the app info menu.

Step 2: Go to the Storage & Cache menu.

Step 3: In the menu that opens, tap Clear Cache.

Close the app, open Google Play Store and update apps without any hassles.

7. Uninstall Play Store updates

Google is silently updating the Play Store with the redesign and new features in the background. If you installed the latest update using an APK file from a non-Google resource, you need to remove those updates. Follow the steps below to uninstall the latest Play Store updates.

Step 1: Long press the Play Store app icon and launch the app info menu.

Step 2: Tap the three-dot menu at the top and select the Uninstall Updates option.

8. Disable data saver mode

Android offers a built-in data saver mode that can help you curb data usage on your phone. An active data saving mode can mess up the app update function on your Android phone.

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your Android phone.

Step 2: Go to the Network & Internet menu.

Step 3: Tap on Data Saver and turn off the toggle in the following menu.

9. Grant unrestricted data usage to the Play Store

If you want to keep using Data Saver mode on Android but don’t want it to affect the Play Store, you need to enable unlimited data usage for the app.

In this way, the Play Store works normally even if the data saver mode is activated.

Step 1: Long press on the Google Play Store icon on your Android and tap on the “App Info” option.

Step 2: Go to the Mobile data & Wi-Fi menu.

Step 3: Turn on the switch for unlimited data usage.

10. Add your Google account again

There is a possibility that the Play Store cannot authenticate your Google account and therefore you cannot update apps on your Android phone.

You will need to remove and re-add your current account from the device.

Step 1: Open Settings on Android and go to the Account menu.

Step 2: Select your Google account and tap Remove account.

Step 3: Go back to the Accounts menu, tap Add account and add your Google account again.

After successfully adding Google account again, go to Play Store and update apps to the latest version.

Install app updates on Android

You might miss out on new features and bug fixes if the apps aren’t updated on Android. The practice might force you to source files from patchy websites and sideload APK files, which is unsafe and not the most convenient method. Instead, you can fix the problem by using the above troubleshooting tricks.