Google Play Download Pending Problem

by goldi l. information

Your friend tells you about a great application that he is using. You like what you hear, so head over to Google Play to install it. When you tap the install button, you will see the words "Download pending."

If your phone tends to be slow, you might not think twice. But, if Google Play is stuck on "Download pending" and doesn't go away after a while, I'm afraid you have a problem. The good news is that there are several tips you can try to fix the problem.

Disable automatic updates

If Google updates apps in the background and you tap the install button, you will be stuck with the Download pending message until Google is done. It's a good idea to have important apps on auto update, that way you always get the latest features and bug fixes.

But there are applications that can wait and can be updated manually. To disable automatic update, tap on the hamburger icon when you open Google Play for the first time. When the menu slides out, touch Settings> Automatically update apps. Select Do not automatically update apps and ads after this, the apps will only update unless you do it manually.

Prevent unimportant apps from updating first

If you want to speed up the process, you can prevent other less important apps from updating first. In the updates tab, touch the X to the right of the applications whose update you want to delay. If you want to stop all updates, tap the Stop button.

Free up some storage

For an application to update, your device must have space to receive the new data. To give your device that extra space, an application that will facilitate the installation of useless files is Files by Google. This application will help you delete even WhatsApp GIFs that only take up space on your phone.

Check your SD card

If an SD card is not inserted correctly, it may be the reason you are getting the error message. Remove your SD card and reseat it properly.

Check that you have inserted it correctly before closing your device. Also, make sure your SD card is not corrupted as this can also make the Download Pending message persist.

Clear cache and data for Google Play Download Pending

If you've already checked your internet connection and disabled the VPN you may be using, it's time to clear your cache / date. To do this, go to Settings> Applications> Application manager> Google Play Store> Storage> Clear data / cache.

While in the area, you can also try to force stop Google Play. As you can see in the image above, the Force Stop button is to the right of the Storage option. By doing this you give the app a fresh start and hopefully your app will start downloading.