Imagine a day in your digital life without your favorite Android apps. Those nifty little programs that keep you connected, entertained, and organized play a crucial role in our daily routines. What makes these apps even more useful are the frequent updates they receive, allowing us to enjoy the latest features, bug improvements, and better security, thus reducing potential malware or threats. The Google Play Store is a digital marketplace where we find, download, and update these apps. Renowned as a reliable digital distribution service, it is operated and developed by Google, catering to millions of users worldwide. It features countless Android apps, games, music, movies, TV shows, books, magazines, and more, available at our fingertips, whenever and wherever we need them.

However, as with all technology, it’s not immune to the occasional glitch. One common problem that Android users face is that their Google Play Store apps do not update automatically. This issue can result in users missing out on critical updates, new features, bug fixes, and can even lead to security concerns.

So, how can we ensure our apps stay up-to-date without having to manually update them every time? Fear not, this blog post provides the solution. It guides you through the step-by-step process of tackling this issue and ensuring your Android device runs smoothly, with all apps updating as and when they should.

Understanding the Google Play Store

Before we tackle the problems, let’s first understand what we’re dealing with. The Google Play Store, previously known as Google Play or Android Market, is a digital distribution service offered by Google. It offers millions of the latest Android apps, games, music, movies, TV, books, and magazines that users can enjoy anytime, anywhere, across all Android devices.

Most Android users install and update applications via the Google Play Store to access the latest features, bug improvements, and reduce potential malware or threats. The Play Store also includes an auto-update feature, which makes keeping your apps up-to-date easy and straightforward. But what if this feature stops working?

Why Aren’t My Apps Updating Automatically?

Many users have reported that their Google Play Store apps aren’t updating automatically, even when they have the auto-update feature turned on. The causes can range from internet connection issues, and outdated system software, to temporary app cache data that prevents the auto-update feature from functioning properly.

How to Fix Google Play Store Apps Not Updating Automatically

Let’s dive into the various ways you can fix this issue:

1. Restart Your Mobile Device

Often, a simple device reboot can fix minor bugs or glitches that prevent system background processes from running. To restart your mobile device, press and hold the Power button for a few seconds, then tap on ‘Restart’ when the power menu appears on your screen.

2. Check the Internet Connection

A slow or unstable internet connection can also prevent your apps from updating. If you suspect your network may be the problem, try performing a power cycle on your Wi-Fi router or switch to a more reliable internet connection.

3. Check for Software Updates

Outdated device software can conflict with the app updating on the Play Store. Regularly updating your device’s software can reduce several issues, including compatibility problems with third-party apps.

Visit the Settings menu on your device > Locate the Software Update option
Select the Check for Updates option > Install the available updates if there are available

4. Set the Correct Date and Time

An incorrect date or time settings on your Android device can cause issues with syncing Google’s servers. Always ensure your date and time settings are correct.

Navigate to the device’s Settings menu.
Select ‘Additional Settings‘, followed by ‘Date & Time‘.
If the displayed time is incorrect, adjust it manually to the correct time.
Subsequently, enable the toggle switch for ‘Network-provided time‘.
Lastly, ensure that the Timezone aligns with your current country or region.

5. Clear Cache and Data of Google Play Store

Clearing the cache and data of the Google Play Store ensures that temporary cache issues don’t prevent your apps from auto-updating. This simple process can often resolve many common problems with the Play Store.

Access your device’s Settings menu and then select the “Apps & Notifications” option.
Next, select ‘See All Apps‘ and locate the Google Play Store.
Click on the Google Play Store to open the application’s information page.
Find and tap on ‘Storage & Cache‘. Proceed to ‘Clear Cache‘, and once that’s complete, tap on ‘Storage & Cache‘ again.
Finally, select ‘Clear Storage‘.

6. Manually Update an Application

Sometimes, manually updating the application helps resolve issues with bulk app updates in automatic mode.

Begin by opening the Google Play Store application on your device and tapping on the hamburger menu icon.
Next, select ‘My Apps & Games‘ from the drop-down list that appears.
In the list that pops up, check if there is an update available for the specific application you’re dealing with.
If an update is indeed available, click on the ‘Update‘ button located next to the application’s name and wait for the installation process to be completed.

7. Update the Google Play Store Version

Ensure your Google Play Store app is up-to-date. An outdated app can cause several problems, including issues with auto-updates.

Launch the Google Play Store application. In the top-right corner, click on your profile icon.
Navigate to ‘Settings‘, then select ‘About‘. Click on ‘Play Store version‘.
A message will appear indicating whether your Play Store is current or not.
Acknowledge the message by clicking ‘Got it‘. If there’s an update available, it will auto-download and install within a few minutes.

8. Change Network Preference for Auto-Update Apps

If your network preference option is already selected to Wi-Fi, try using any network to avoid limited internet bandwidth issues.

Launch the Google Play Store application.
In the upper-right corner, touch the account (profile) icon.
Access ‘Settings‘ from the dropdown menu.
Locate and select ‘Network Preferences‘.
Click on ‘Auto-update apps‘.
Opt for ‘Over any network‘ to permit the Play Store to carry out automatic updates.

9. Sign Out of the Google Account and Sign Back Again

Temporary glitches can often be resolved by signing out and signing back into your Google account.

Launch the Google Play Store application.
Tap on the account (profile) icon positioned in the top right corner.
Search for the ‘Sign Out‘ option and proceed to sign out.
After waiting for a few minutes, sign back in.

10. Turn Off Battery Optimization

If you have battery optimization turned on, consider turning it off as it can limit background activity and affect performance.

Access the device’s “Settings” menu.
Go to “Battery Settings“.
If Power Saving Mode is enabled, select it.
“Disable” Power Saving Mode.

Note: For additional assurance the Background activity of the Google Play Store can be switched on:

Within the Battery Settings menu, tap on “App battery management.”
Locate and select the option for “Google Play Store.”
Ensure that the “Allow background activity” option is enabled.

11. Disable Battery Saver

Just like battery optimization, the battery saver mode can restrict ongoing processes and limit the auto-update of Google Play Store apps.

12. Check for Enough Storage Space

Low storage space can cause several issues with the application installation, updates, and even running. It’s essential to regularly clear unnecessary junk files or unused applications.

13. Force Stop the Play Store App

Force-stopping the Play Store app can fix issues caused by the app running in the background.

Open the Settings menu on your Android device.
Go to “Apps & Notifications.”
Tap on “See All Apps.”
Next, locate and tap on “Google Play Store” to access the app info page.
Tap on “Force Stop.”
If prompted, confirm the task.

14. Uninstall Google Play Store Updates

Sometimes a recent update to the Play Store app can bring several bugs or stability issues. Uninstalling these updates can often fix issues with the Play Store.

Checking Wi-Fi Connection
Make sure your device is connected to a reliable Wi-Fi network. Stable internet connectivity is crucial for app updates.
Accessing App Information
Locate the Google Play Store app icon on your device. This can be found either on your home screen or in the app drawer. Long-press the Google Play Store app icon. A menu should appear, from this, select ‘App info.’
Uninstalling Updates
After you’ve entered the ‘App info‘ screen, locate the ‘More‘ option situated usually at the top of the screen. Tap on ‘More.’ From the drop-down menu, tap on ‘Uninstall updates.’
Sign again
A prompt might appear asking if you want to change the Play Store app back to the previous version. If prompted, tap on ‘OK‘ to confirm your decision to uninstall updates.

15. Reset App Preferences

Resetting app preferences can solve issues with installed application settings, disabled apps, and app permissions.

Access the device’s Settings menu.
Tap on “Apps and Notifications.”
Select “See All Apps.”
On the App Info page, tap on the three-dot icon.
Choose the option to “Reset app preferences.”
Confirm the process as required.
Proceed to reboot the device.
Verify if the issue still persists.

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Closing Remarks

With the help of these 15 actionable solutions, you should no longer face problems with Google Play Store apps not updating automatically. It’s crucial to remember that each Android device and user might have unique experiences. So, don’t lose hope if the first few methods don’t work. Keep trying until you find the solution that works best for your device.

Updating your apps automatically ensures you’re equipped with the latest features and vital security updates, allowing you to enjoy a seamless and safe Android experience. Always remember that regular app updates not only enhance your user experience but also play a significant role in protecting your digital data.

If the problem persists even after trying all the solutions provided, you may want to reach out to Google’s customer support or the manufacturer of your Android device. They can offer professional assistance and solve your issue in no time. Lastly, Google Play Store apps not updating automatically is an issue that many Android users face. Thankfully, it’s a problem that has multiple solutions.

We hope this guide has helped you in resolving this concern, allowing you to continue enjoying your favorite apps without interruption. We would love to hear about your experiences, so feel free to share them in the comments below. For more information, check out google’s official help desk.

Google Play Store Apps Not Updating Automatically: Causes and Solutions