Have you ever faced “download pending error” message while installing an app from Google Play Store? It is a kind of annoying error when you really in a hurry to install an app. For example, if this error occurs to book a flight ticket urgent on an app and this error can be really frustrating.
It is the commonly faced problem among the Android users when they trying to download an app from poor network conditions either WiFi or SIM data. It is an obvious reason that Google allows the installation of apps only in good data reception. However, in some cases, the poor network is not the main issues. There are several things which can cause this error. Let’s find out the ways to fix “play store download pending” error on Google Play Store.
1. Reboot the device
My first and foremost advise is rebooting the device. Rebooting fix many of the internal issues of any device which is struggling to perform basic tasks. It completely restart the Android OS and purges the memory of the device.
2. Enable Background Data Usage
It is a good thing to check the background data usage option on your device. If it is currently set limited, then you may have the chances of getting this error. Simply change to unrestricted data access in the background. It is not a complete solution to the pending error, however, in some cases, it can be a problem while downloading new apps from Google Play Store.
To enable unrestricted data access in the background, go to “Settings -> Data usage -> Data Saver -> Unrestricted data”. Here, scroll down and enable the switch slider of Google Play Store option.
3. VPN issue
Use of VPN might be another issue which is causing the “play store download pending” error on Google Play Store. If you are connected to a slow speed server with higher ping rate will slow the Internet performance even if you have a good broadband connection. Disconnect the VPN for some time and try again.
Also, in some cases, Google Play feels that you are not on a WiFi connection if you use a VPN service. It means if the settings are enabled only to download and update over a WiFi connection.
If you don’t want to stop the VPN running, you can change the options given below.
Go to Settings in the Play Store and change the options under “App download preference” and “Auto-update apps” to allow non-Wi-Fi downloads.
4. Stop Auto-Updates and Pending Installations
Google Play Store has a set of rules for downloading and updating apps on Android. To maintain a queue process of downloading and updating apps it uses a priority in the background. As priority works in the background, it downloads as per your apps selection process. The earlier download command is given download first and later apps will be added in the queue.
If you want to skip this queue to download a required app from the list of pending downloads follow the below steps.
To stop auto-updates open app store and click on the hamburger menu followed by “My apps & games.” Here, you can stop auto-updates and any pending installations.
5. Last try
If you are unlucky in all the above methods, you have one last method to try. Delete the Google account on your Android device and start from the beginning of installing procedure.
Conclusion
These are the most common fixes to solve the “play store download pending” error. If you are facing an issue on your device, it is advisable to follow from method 1.
Which fix worked for you? Let us know in the comment section below.