Here I’m going to guide you on How to Fix Google Play Store Waiting for Download: The day when I was searching for an app and trying to download it from Google Play Store, unfortunately, an error came which was “download pending” or “play store waiting for download.”
As everyone did, I also waited for half an hour to make sure that it started downloading, but when I returned after one hour, the app didn’t download, which is one of the common errors in smartphones nowadays.
If you are an Android user and want to download or update any app from Google Play Store but can’t because of this error which is waiting for a download error on Google Play Store, then today we have the ultimate solution.
You know that these methods work on almost all smartphones; without wasting any more time, let’s get straight into the ultimate guide for Play Store download pending problem:
Quick Fix for Google Play Waiting for Download
If it is happening with you, you can’t download or update any application, then follow the below procedure to fix it right now.
- Clear the search history off Play Store.
- Turn off auto-update apps.
- Restart your phone.
- At last clear all data from the Google Play Store.
These are the four techniques that I use to fix it. I have explained below how to clear all data from the Play Store.
Settings to fix the “download pending” error on Google PlayStore
- Go to your mobile settings and head over to the apps.
- Now go to the app list and find Google Play Store and your apps.
- Go to its storage.
- Now clear the cache of the Google Play Store and all data.
Sometimes cache memory is essential, and sometimes it will not resolve your problem. You have to clear the cache of the Play Store and also make sure to clear all data of the Play Store. Don’t worry. It won’t delete any data because all your data is stored in your Gmail account.
Moreover, after cleaning all data & cache of the Play Store, it will re-download the Play Store automatically. It can update or download any application from Google Play Store easily, so that’s how we fix this issue. You can read this for more assistance.
If this continues with you, here are the few things that you need to check before downloading any Android app from Play Store:
Check them to download apps from Playstore
I will mention a few things you must check if the problem continues with you. If it is urgent, try these file-sharing apps.
1. Check Your storage
If you are still getting the error, try to check your storage, check your storage, whether it’s full or free and if there is sufficient space in your storage to download that particular app. Also, read 3 Proven ways to Fix Android system Webview not updating.
2. Real network
Sometimes downloading any app or updating any app needs a stable network connection. Before you read, try to do a speed test showing you whether you’re getting Internet speed by just showing that 4G symbol.
3. Check your Play Store
If the problem continues with you, you must go to the Google Play Store and check whether you have added an app to update or have queued any app to download.
Because the Play Store can only download one app at a time, sometimes we add an app to download, forget about it and turn off the internet, and the app is still on our download list.
Best practices to fix it
4. The correct date and time settings
Ensure your device’s Date and time are accurately set to match the Play Store’s server time.
Example: Open the Settings app, navigate to the System section, tap on Date and time, and enable the “Automatic date & time” toggle. If already enabled, turn it off, wait a few seconds, and enable it again.
Mismatched dates and times between your device and the Play Store’s server can cause conflicts and download issues. Example: Suppose your phone’s Date and time are set incorrectly due to traveling to a different time zone. In that case, the Play Store may struggle to synchronize and initiate downloads.
5. Adjust app download preferences
App download preferences: The Play Store offers options to download apps over Wi-Fi only or any network. Selecting an inappropriate setting can hinder the download process.
Example: If you have set the Play Store to download apps exclusively on Wi-Fi, but you’re currently using mobile data, the waiting-for-download error may occur.
Open the Play Store, tap the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner, go to Settings, select “App download preference,” and choose “Over any network.” Example: By selecting “Over any network,” you allow the Play Store to download apps using Wi-Fi and mobile data, ensuring smoother downloads.
6. Temporarily disable auto-updates
Turn off auto-updates for apps, especially those with large file sizes, to prevent them from slowing down other downloads.
Example: Open the Play Store, tap the three-dot icon in the top-right corner, go to Settings, and uncheck the box next to “Enable auto-update.” You can also disable auto-updates from the Play Store settings under “Auto-update apps.”
Auto-update settings: Auto-updates for large apps or data-heavy applications can slow down the download process, causing the Play Store to get stuck.
Example: Let’s say you have auto-updates enabled for a game that requires a significant download size.
The Play Store may need help to complete the update, resulting in the waiting for download error.
7. Clear Play Store cache and data
Clearing the cache and data of the Play Store app can resolve various issues, including the waiting for download error.
Example: Open the Settings app, go to Apps & Notifications (or Installed apps or Application Manager), find the Google Play Store app, tap on it, go to Storage, and select “Clear cache.” If the issue persists, tap “Clear Data” or “Clear Storage” and restart your phone.
8. Grant necessary permissions
Ensure that both the Google Play Store and Play Services have the necessary permissions to access Storage for app downloads.
Example: Open the Settings app, go to Apps & Notifications, find the Google Play Store app, tap on it, select “Permissions,” and grant the storage permission if it’s not already enabled.
9. Disable VPN temporarily
If you’re using a VPN on your phone, try disabling it temporarily and then attempt to download or update apps through the Play Store.
Example: Open your phone’s VPN settings and toggle off the VPN connection. Retry the app download in the Play Store.
10. Reset app preferences
Resetting app preferences can restore default settings, resolving any conflicts affecting downloads.
Example: Open the Settings app, go to Apps & Notifications (or Application Manager), tap the three-dot icon in the top-left corner, select “Reset app preferences,” and confirm the action.
Other Helpful Resources
Here’s a video that I am attaching from the Guiding Tech YouTube channel. I hope this will help you to and fixing this problem:
My personal 11 tricks to fix play store waiting for download instantly
- Check your internet connection.
- Clear the cache and data of the Google Play Store.
- Restart your device.
- Disable and re-enable the Download Manager.
- Remove and re-add your Google account.
- Check for available storage space on your device.
- Disable any VPN or proxy settings.
- Update the Google Play Store app to the latest version.
- Reset app preferences on your device.
- Disable battery optimization for the Google Play Store.
- Use the “Force Stop” option for the Google Play Store app.
Conclusion
So that’s it for today, guys. Today I showed you the ultimate ways to troubleshoot Play Store waiting for Download or Download pending problem instantly. Hopefully, this ultimate guide will work for you, and let me know in the comments if you have any questions. Have a nice day.
