At first Google Play was mysteriously updating in the background without our having control of it, until Google included a menu which then became a button for us to manually check for updates.
This button has never been very satisfying to press, because instead of rewarding us with an immediate update, we are informed that “already later, if that”, with a message indicating that a new version of the Google Play Store will be downloaded and installed. Does this button do anything?
Update Google Play from Google Play
Google Play, like Google Services, updates like magic, so when it added a button to manually check for updates, I was still a bit skeptical that the button was really Was it useful for something or was it just a story.
Normally I wouldn’t suspect Google, but the doubt comes from the fact that the button to check for Google Play updates is really not updating at the moment, but make a mental note to update later. Since Google Play updates later anyway, it stands to reason that there isn’t much difference between using the button or not. After many years of doubt, I decided to put it to the test.
Doing so was as easy as clicking Update Play Store and after getting the message “A new version of Google Play will be downloaded and installed”, wait. Basically nothing happens and no matter how much I kept looking at the poster or scrolling through Google Play, the version remained the same, although the Android Logcat records – somewhat cryptically, that says it all – that he has taken note of the petition.
When we press the button, Android takes note but does not move the finger until we switch to an application other than Google Play
The reason nothing happens is that Android wait until we stop using Google Play in the foreground to start the installation, and the truth is that it does it faster than expected, being almost instantaneous. This can be seen quite clearly in the Logcat log: as soon as we leave Google Play, the download and installation start in the background.
As soon as we close Google Play, the download and installation of the new version begins
Indeed, when reopening Google Play and checking the version, what was version 34.2.13 had become the most recent 34.4.16, without the mobile showing any indication that this was happening in background. I personally believe that it would be better if google play show the process update, just like you do when updating apps.
Now, sometimes we may find ourselves looking for updates from Google Play and it does not seem to us that there is, although we know that a more modern version exists. This can be applied today: in APKMirror we found Google Play APK 34.5.10, but the one uploaded to me is older.
The answer is the same as on so many other occasions: the gradual deployment of new versions of Google Play This means that the latest version of the Google store for our mobile may be different from that of other mobiles. In this case, the manual search for Google Play updates does not force the download of the latest existing version, but rather the latest version that Google has marked as compatible for our mobile. If you want a more modern one, you have to install it from the APK. The button does not lie, although it could give us some additional information to clear up our doubts.
