Play Store download pending is one of the errors you could face while installing new apps on your Android device from the Google Play Store. When the error occurs, it causes your phone not to download any new apps. Anything that you try to download remains pending regardless of what you do. If you need the app instantly, say for a taxi ride, the error can be very frustrating. In such situations, our first impulse is to blame everything on the poor Internet. Indeed, the issue is more commonly faced while using public Wi-Fi, on roaming networks, and with traveler SIM cards.
There are a couple of reasons why the Play Store keeps saying download pending when updating or downloading apps. Piled-up cache or internet connectivity issues are the most usual. However, at times, you might face download pending errors in the Play Store app, leading to frustration when trying to download something. Apps don’t get downloaded on Play Store rather application users keep seeing a message that downloads are pending. In this article, we will tell you different ways to fix the Google Play store Download Pending issue.
How to Fix Google Play Store Download Pending Error?
There are eight solutions by which you can solve the ‘Download Pending’ error, let’s discuss how to solve the error-
- Solution 1: Check Out Wi-Fi and Internet Connection
- Solution 2: Turn Off the VPN App if Activated
- Solution 3: Restart Your Device
- Solution 4: Clear Google Play Store’s Data
- Solution 5: Uninstall Play Store and Reinstall Updates
- Solution 6: Examine Your Phone’s Storage
- Solution 7: Clean the Google Play Cache
- Solution 8: Factory Reset Your Device
Solution 1: Check Out Wi-Fi and Internet Connection
There are chances that your mobile internet is down or is working terribly slow for some reason. Your Wi-Fi is not working as intended or is terribly slow due to some error. See if toggling the Wi-Fi button guide you download the app using your mobile data plan.
In that case, connect to a different Wi-Fi network or ask your known person to start his mobile hotspot. I would also suggest you toggle the data plan off and go back and check if the error gets fixed.
Solution 2: Turn Off the VPN App if Activated
Since VPNs basically spoof your location, it may lead Google Play Store to think you aren’t in the country where you should be according to your device, and it can pause your downloads. If that’s the case, there really isn’t much you need to do to fix the issue. All you need to do is disable the VPN app on your phone and you should be good to go.
In most apps, though, you’ll find a large button on the main interface that lets you turn the service on and off. Maybe you can get the solution by fixing this too.
Solution 3: Restart Your Device
Sometimes you get the solution of Google Play Store download pending easily by restarting your device. You should try restarting your Android phone or tablet. Sometimes, this small step shows wonderful results without touching any other setting. So, try out this too.
Solution 4: Clear Google Play Store’s Data
Play Store downloads a single app at a time, further adding to the ‘Download pending’ error. To allow your download to start, you will have to clear the queue so that all downloads scheduled before it can be stopped. You have to clear all the cache of the Play store app.
Note that sometimes, if you clear the play store cache data can also help restore balance to the universe!
Solution 5: Uninstall Play Store and Reinstall Updates
Sometimes, if you uninstall the application and reinstall it again, in that case, the associated services will reset and, once the Google Play Store gets updated again, you shouldn’t have Download pending issues anymore.
The major cause of this problem is the outdated Google Play Store version. In many cases, users also reported that they were able to fix the problem by going to the previous versions of the Play Store. Try to update your Play Store app version.
Solution 6: Examine Your Phone’s Storage
It is also the most common Google Play issue, and it occurs due to storage in a phone. Typically, you will get a notification if your phone storage is low while downloading anything. Although, if you want to ensure storage is not causing the issue of download pending, So do these things to check your storage. Go to the settings and open the storage. Then it will show you how much data you have at your clearance. If you want to clear some space by uninstalling the unused apps or deleting the old data or videos you have backed up.
Solution 7: Clean the Google Play Cache
The overloaded cache can also cause an app to fail, which can sometimes occur with the play store. The issue has mainly occurred when you have many applications that the play store needs to check for updates and can carry out other actions. Follow the given steps to wipe out the cache.
- Open the settings app and then click on “App Management” from the menu.
- After that, choose “Google Play Store” and click on “Storage Usage” from the menu.
- Now, you can finally click on the clear cache.
Moreover, it can erase minor glitches like download pending errors. If the issue is still not resolved, check your date and time.
Solution 8: Factory Reset Your Device
If nothing is going right then there is only one solution left which is the factory reset your device”. If nothing works and you still have the Play Store download pending issue on your phone, your last resort should be to reset your phone to the factory settings. It’ll clear all of your configurations, settings, data, and let you set up your phone from scratch.’
Don’t forget to take a backup of your device files before you start to do the factory data reset of your device. Otherwise, all important data will be lost.
FAQ’s Section
Q: Why my Play Store is showing downloads pending?
Clearing the application cache of the Google Play Store app often solves a lot of problems, download pending issues included. Underneath the Disable, Uninstall updates, and Force stop buttons, you will see Application notifications and other options. Tap on Storage. Make sure Google Play is closed and then click the Clear Cache button.
Q: What does download pending mean?
Play Store download pending is one of the errors you could face while installing new apps on your Android device from the Google Play Store. When the error occurs, it causes your phone not to download any new apps. Anything that you try to download remains pending regardless of what you do.
Q: How do I clear the Play Store cache?
On your Android phone or tablet, open device Settings. 2. Tap Apps & notifications. 3. Tap Download Manager. 4. Open Google Play Services. 5. Tap Storage. 6. Tap Clear storage Clear all data. 7. Open the Google Play Store app. 8. Wait for a while, then try your download again.
Q: Is it safe to clear data from Google Play Store?
It’s safe to do so, but it will just recreate the data as the whole mobile itself can’t run without the app. You might be able to see some problems due to the missing data. Deleting the app data will however not delete your personal information saved by Google. You can manage this data at Google – My Activity.
Conclusion
Did we help you solve the Google Play Store download pending issues? You will need to be cool here and try one or all of the above solutions to see if you can resolve the error. Which method worked for you? Let us know in the comments box section below. Also, feel free to contact us in case of any doubts or queries.
