I’ve a love-hate relationship with Android’s replace system. Updating particular person apps by means of the Play Retailer is extremely handy, however that very same system is usually frustratingly unreliable, falsely claiming your apps or Android model are up-to-date even once they’re not.
There are two separate issues at play right here. The primary is the Play Retailer, and the second is the system replace mechanism that checks for OTA Android updates. They each appear to show outdated data, and that may lead customers to consider their software program is present.
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False ‘updated’ messages
Your system could not really be updated
Regardless of what your telephone says, your software program may not be working essentially the most present model. That’s as a result of each the Play Retailer and system updates have an annoying behavior of displaying out-of-date messaging. A easy refresh will normally present the proper standing of the updates, however that’s an additional step many individuals received’t hassle to take.
The difficulty begins on the Play Retailer. Google Play Providers launched again in 2012, when Google uncoupled app updates from system updates, so safety patches and total enhancements may roll out to particular person apps. It’s been an excellent characteristic, and one of many issues that units Android aside from iOS.
However the Play Retailer has a nasty behavior of not exhibiting when an app replace is accessible. You’ll typically see all of your apps are up-to-date, however once you navigate to the person app’s web page on the Play Retailer, out of the blue there’s an replace ready. The Play Retailer seemingly solely reveals the app standing from the final replace, which is not sensible.
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There’s an identical drawback within the system replace part of the Android settings menu. You understand there’s a brand new Android replace, so that you head to your machine settings and examine for it. The telephone offers you a neat loading animation because it searches for the replace, solely to inform you that “Your system is up-to-date.” You’ll see the timestamp is days previous, exhibiting the system didn’t really examine for an replace. What’s with that?
What’s inflicting this?
The right storm of server and cache points
No one is aware of why that is taking place, as a result of Google is way more tight-lipped about their techniques than they’re about their Pixel telephones. Nevertheless, we are able to make some educated guesses from what we all know.
For starters, there are most likely some server-side points at play right here. Apps on the Play Retailer don’t present accessible updates just because the Play Retailer itself shouldn’t be mechanically updating from the server.
A associated subject might be communication points between Google’s servers and Android gadgets. Community issues, server overloads, or easy run-of-the-mill bugs and glitches may stop gadgets from receiving well timed details about updates.
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One more reason might be resulting from caching points. Outdated data is likely to be cached, inflicting each the Play Retailer and system updates to show inaccurate data. This may clarify why refreshing or tapping “Examine for updates” a second time out of the blue reveals the brand new replace. Lastly, it might be intentional, with Google releasing updates piecemeal, quite than unexpectedly, to regulate server load and carry on high of any points.
A Google engineer instructed us this over a decade in the past. Dan Morrill did a Reddit AMA and talked about how Google rolls out OTA updates, explaining how just one% of gadgets get the replace at first, and Google watches for as much as 48 hours to see the way it goes. Subsequent gadgets get the replace in batches, however repeatedly attempting to replace a tool merely resets it within the batch queue. Google has not modified this course of within the years since.
The consequence is similar, although, whatever the motive: updating our Android gadgets is typically a ache within the rear.
Workarounds and options
Listed below are some issues you are able to do to maintain your telephone up to date
There are some workarounds to those points, though all of them require just a little extra work than merely opening the Play Retailer and tapping “Replace All,” however at the least you’ll know you’re working with the newest software program and safety patches.
The very first thing to strive is to move to the shop web page for every particular person app and examine to see if an replace is accessible. Though it is a ache, particularly in the event you’re rocking a variety of apps, it is way more foolproof than counting on the primary Play Retailer replace web page. Talking of, another choice is to refresh the Play Retailer updates web page. If there are updates accessible, it’s going to present them as soon as the shop refreshes, typically.
You too can strive checking for updates later. Server-side points and batch updating may trigger issues together with your replace examine. Off-peak hours are greatest, when the server load shouldn’t be so excessive.
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In case you suspect there’s a system replace accessible and your telephone says “Your system is updated,” faucet the “Examine for replace” button once more. If there’s nonetheless no replace, then come again in 24 hours. You don’t need to unintentionally bump your machine additional down any batch queues Google is likely to be utilizing by repeatedly attempting to replace.
Lastly, the final resort is to restart your machine. This might filter out caches and glitches and refresh your machine’s connection to Google’s servers.
The onus is on Google
Finish-users shouldn’t have to leap by means of hoops to get updates; we would like them to look on the primary try. These persistent points with app and system updates have been round for a very long time, and we would love for Google to handle them. In any case, a seamless replace course of is a necessity in right now’s highly-connected digital world, even when updates aren’t as thrilling as they was once.
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