The most widely used mobile operating system in the world is Google’s Android, which is often simple to use and configurable for both developers and end users. Android OS offers the most applications on the Google Play Store thanks to the Linux kernel as well as its being an open-source platform. However, when installing or updating apps, some users have to see their Google Play Store stuck at waiting for download. This is the issue we’ll try and fix today.
How Does Google Play Store Work?
It’s a platform, but from the perspective of a mobile device, it’s an app. It is Google’s platform for providing its users with many types of digital material. The Play Store is not merely an app store, although that is what most people believe. Here, you can access the content of every kind. In addition to your standard Android applications, the Google Play Store also has music, film, books, and games. A big selection of songs from all over the world is available on Google, but it requires a subscription or a one-time payment. While there are many paid apps and games accessible, movies and books can also be bought. These apps and games come in both free and paid varieties, and everything is stated clearly in the app listings.
It is also a safe platform for Android apps. Google advises downloading all Android apps from the Google Play Store. The business makes every effort to thoroughly inspect each app before submitting it to the Google Play Store. This means the business works to prevent viruses from reaching the store. However, there are other places where Android apps can be downloaded besides the Google Play Store. There are illegal online websites that offer modded and cracked paid apps for free, and there are 3rd party apps store from manufacturers like Samsung and Huawei. There are some trustworthy Android apps available that are not listed on the Play Store. Despite the fact that those particular apps are not dangerous, the fundamental cause of this is that they are breaking the rules. Some of them provide you access to capabilities that Google has disabled, including, for instance, the ability to play YouTube videos in the background. These app stores may be found on F-Droid and XDA Labs, for instance. There are a ton of fascinating apps there that are not offered in the Play Store. The nice part is that those programs have also been checked for security flaws. You can also sideload apps instead of using the Play Store but I wouldn’t recommend it unless you know what you’re doing. Anyway, let’s get into the thing we’re here for.
How to Fix Google Play Store Stuck at Waiting for Download?
If you’ve been experiencing this problem on your Android device, don’t panic; it’s becoming a problem that many users encounter. The Google Play Store is unquestionably the most trustworthy source when it comes to updating or installing any applications on an Android device. However, it appears that unhappy customers are unpredictably running into difficulties. The good thing is there are a few troubleshooting steps you can try to fix this issue.
Reboot
It is always a great idea to reboot your Android whenever you run into any sort of issue. Even before you panic and start searching the internet for any solutions, go ahead and restart your device first. You should first attempt manually rebooting the device to ensure sure there isn’t any problem with the OS.
Check Internet
Check your internet connection to see if it’s functioning properly, as a slow or inconsistent internet connection might result in a number of problems while downloading or updating apps from the Google Play Store. You should check if you have data available if you’re using mobile data. Use a website like Speedtest to check the internet speed. While you’re at it, I also suggest you adjust the download preference if you have no problem downloading apps over mobile data.
- Go to Settings.
- Select General and then navigate to App Download Preference.
- Choose the Over Any Network
Also, check the same on the Google Play Store app.
- Open Google Play Store
- Tap on the Profile icon.
- Select Settings.
- Tap on App Download Preference and select Over Any Network.
Check Storage
Checking whether there is still space on your device’s storage is also advised. If the file size exceeds the available space on the device, low storage space might occasionally lead to a number of problems during app installation or update. Even if you see that there is enough space available for the app you’re trying to download, it is still advisable that you uninstall any unwanted apps. You will need a little more than the size of the app you’re trying to install.
- Open Settings.
- Go to Storage.
- Check the available storage.
Check the Date and Time
The likelihood is high that your device’s operating system is using the wrong date and time format or selected a different time zone, which could interfere with the process of installing or updating an application through the Play Store. You will need to set up the correct date and time for Google Play Store to work properly.
- Navigate to Settings > System.
- Tap on Date and Time.
- If “Set Time Automatically” is enabled and it is showing the wrong time, then disable it and set the time manually. Or vice versa.
- If “Set Time Zone Automatically” is enabled and it is showing the wrong date, then disable it and set it manually. Or vice versa.
Switch Accounts
The active Google account profile should be removed from your device and added again, or you can simply switch to a different Google account to see if the Play Store issue is still bothering you.
To switch Google accounts:
- Open Google Play Store.
- Tap on the Profile icon.
- Select the arrow icon next to your active account and switch to another account. If you aren’t signed in to another account, then you can sign in now by tapping on Add Another Account.
Update Play Store App
It’s also conceivable that the Play Store app is out-of-date. In that case, you should now check for Play Store updates and install them as soon as they become available. This is usually an automatic process but you can do it manually.
- Open Google Play Store
- Tap on the Profile icon.
- Find and select Setting > About.
- Tap on the Play Store Version to check for updates.
Update WebView
Google’s pre-installed system component known as Android System WebView enables online information to be shown by Android apps. Check if there is an update to the app as it might be what’s causing the issue.
Update System
Additionally, it is strongly advised to check for the most recent system updates and install them on the phone because an out-of-date system build or version may eventually result in a number of problems with performance or the ability to install apps from the Google Play Store.
- Go to Settings.
- Tap on System.
- Check for updates.
Clear Cache
There can occasionally be problems with the Google Play Store installing various apps due to an old or corrupt cache on the device. To make sure there is no problem, you should erase the Play Store’s cache and storage data. The path might vary from device to device.
- Navigate to Settings > Apps.
- Tap on Show All Apps.
- Find Google Play Store and tap on it.
- Tap on Clear Cache and Clear Data under Storage
Grant Permission
While this is a very rare issue, it might be what causes the problem for you. In order to ensure that the app runs without any problems, you should also provide Google Play Store access to your storage. Your Play Store app might be unable to actually finish the installation process without storage permission.
- Go to Settings > Apps.
- Find Google Play Store and tap on it.
- Tap on Permissions and allow Storage
Disable VPN
If you’re trying to install or update apps while using a VPN, that might be the thing that’s causing you this issue. If you’re still having trouble, try disabling your device’s virtual private network (VPN). While VPNs do provide internet accessibility for geo-restricted applications or content, there is always the possibility of bad internet speed or other stability difficulties. Disabling the VPN service will allow you to recheck the problem.
Turn Off Parental Control
This is a far-fetched idea but it might just work in your case. Check if Parental Controls are turned on. if it is and you do not have any children, it is recommended to turn it off.
- Go to Google Play Store.
- Tap the Profile icon.
- Select Settings > Parental Controls.
- Disable the feature.
Reset App Preferences
There are a number of built-in Play Store options for Android tablets and smartphones that can affect things like background data usage and data caps. It is advised that you reset the Google Play Store app preferences on your device by doing the following:
- Open Settings.
- Go to Apps.
- Tap on All Apps. This option might be under the 3-dot menu on some devices.
- Tap on Reset App Preferences.
Reinstall Play Store Updates
In order to guarantee that all Android apps are functioning properly, Google often preinstalls Play Store & Play Services on Android right out of the box. However, if the Play Store starts acting strangely after the system updates it automatically in the background, you should remove Play Store updates and let it install again.
- Open Settings.
- Go to Apps > All Apps.
- Find Google Play Store and uninstall the updates.
- Also, find Google Play Services and do the same.
We hope that this guide helped you fix Google Play Store Stuck at Waiting for Download.
