Android apps don’t usually take long to download: a few seconds on a decent Wi-Fi connection, or a minute or two if you’re on a busy cellular network. But if you need to download multiple updates at once, or worse, dozens of apps on a new phone, it can take much longer. The Google Play Store is fixing this problem in its latest feature update.
Now your Android phone or tablet can update or install up to three apps at once, maximizing the bandwidth of any faster connection. Previously, the system could queue up a series of virtually unlimited app installations, but would only download and install them one at a time, which could be very tedious if you had dozens of new apps to install for a new phone configuration.
According to 9to5Google, concurrent downloads became available earlier this year, but only for new app installations. The process could also slow down, as the next app wouldn’t install until the previous one was finished, which is the longest part of the process if you have a lot of small apps to manage. The system should now work across all installations and updates.
It’s worth noting that the “three at a time” feature is a feature the App Store has long offered on iPhones and iPads. This fix is a small quality-of-life improvement, but as someone who’s constantly testing new phones and tablets (or setting them up for friends and family, since I’m the designated tech support person), I appreciate it.
