Google gets with the times and allows multiple app updates at once

Google Play logo on an android smartphone with corner hole punch camera
(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Updating apps on the best Android phones should be quick and easy. Google Play used to let you download multiple app updates simultaneously, but the feature was removed about a decade ago. However, after all this time, Google is bringing it back, making it much easier to keep your apps up to date.

9to5Google spotted the change to the Play Store, and it's a positive move for Android users. 

Once you exceed three app updates, the remainder will be listed as “pending” while they wait for a slot to open. Once an update finishes, the next one will move from pending to downloading. 

As far as why Google got rid of it, many speculated that smartphone write speed limitations kept the OS from installing multiple apps simultaneously. Modern phones feature blazing-fast internal storage thanks to UFS and NVMe technologies. This allows for writing more than one large file at a time, opening the feature up for use again. 

We contacted Google to ask about the update and were told, "We often experiment with different features on Google Play to test their performance and gather feedback. This means you may see a feature temporarily, and it may not be available to all users or become a permanent part of the experience."

More from Tom's Guide

Category
Arrow
Arrow
Back to Mobile Cell Phones
Brand
Arrow
Storage Size
Arrow
Colour
Arrow
Condition
Arrow
Price
Arrow
Any Price
Showing 10 of 65 deals
Filters
Arrow
(128GB)
Our Review
1
Google Pixel 8 Pro - Unlocked...
Amazon
(256GB Black)
Our Review
2
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Cell...
Amazon
(128GB)
Our Review
3
Google Pixel 8a - Unlocked...
Amazon
(512GB Black)
Our Review
4
OnePlus - 12 512GB (Unlocked)...
Best Buy
Our Review
6
Google Pixel 8 Pro - 128 GB
Verizon
(512GB)
Our Review
7
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra...
Samsung
Our Review
8
Google Pixel 8a 128 GB
Visible
Our Review
10
Google Pixel 8 Pro - 128 GB
AT&T
Show more
Dave LeClair
Senior News Editor

Dave LeClair is the Senior News Editor for Tom's Guide, keeping his finger on the pulse of all things technology. He loves taking the complicated happenings in the tech world and explaining why they matter. Whether Apple is announcing the next big thing in the mobile space or a small startup advancing generative AI, Dave will apply his experience to help you figure out what's happening and why it's relevant to your life.