Play Store | The repository of applications : For every Android model, Google Play Store acts as the centerpiece of applications. Name any app from any of the genres, and you are sure to find it in the Store. Not only for the installation of brand new apps, but the Play Store also comes in handy in upgrading the same and keeping up with the new features provided on the platforms.
Any kind of download from the Play Store comes with a verified badge to prove the authenticity of the source of the app. But, there are many times where you would have experienced the issue of ‘Download pending’. Do not worry, as we have got it covered and discussed in the upcoming content of the blog.
Fix Play Store Download Pending Error : Different Ways

In general, selecting and downloading apps on Google Play Store are very effortless. But there are times when an app gets freeze under an indefinite period of download pending. In simple words, the error prevents your device from saving any of the new applications.
Irrespective of different troubleshooting techniques, the notification bar keeps showing the pending status. Thus, certain steps can be taken to come out of such vicious and irritating loops.
Checking up the background updates and downloads
As a default option, Google Play Store gains permission to download the different updates or version packages as soon as it gets connected to a stable Wi-Fi source. Thus, clutter gets created and the download stays pending for a long duration.
To prevent the same, follow the steps given below:
- Launch the Google Play Store on your device.
- Hit on the 3 horizontal bars at the top rightside of the screen.
- Go to My apps and games in the drop-down menu.
- Check the apps whose updates are running and hit on the cross to cancel them.
- Alternatively, you can turn off the auto-update feature to save space and inconvenience in the future.
Checking up the internet connection
As a part of Factory settings, Google Play Store is set to run only from a Wi-Fi source. Hence, if you would have forgotten to change the preference, then such limitless pending loops would keep popping up. In that case, go for the steps given below:
- Launch the Play Store on your device and hit on the three horizontal bars at the top right corner of the screen.
- Go to Settings -> App download preference.
- Then tap on the option of ‘Over any Network’.
With this, you can resume downloading the apps even from your mobile data connection. Alternatively, if you are connected to a Wi-Fi source and still face the issue, then checkup for the internet speed test. This shows up the net reliability of the connection and you may switch to the mobile data.
Device storage reaching the threshold limit
Sometimes, you would have downloaded several apps to create clutter in the device storage. As a result, when you hit on a new download, it shows the warning of clearing up space and thus enters into download pending mode. In that case, go for the following steps:
- Launch the Play Store and go for Settings->Storage.
- Check up on the available space and accordingly free the space by deleting the applications that you do not use that often.
- Play Store has this unique feature of categorizing the apps based on their usability and so it becomes easy for you to filter them out.
Not just the apps, you can also go to the Gallery and delete old and unwanted pictures, videos and audio files to create space for new apps.
Rebooting the device
Rebooting the device does not have any such logic of its own. It’s just that if any of the given methods are not working, then maybe restarting the device might sort out the issue. The mobile also requires some cycles of rebooting to clear off the cache data permanently and improvise the overall performance of the system.
Clearing off Google Play Store cache data
With time, the Cache data keeps getting accumulated in the device storage to consume a lot of space and prevent new downloads. Thus, go for these steps to troubleshoot the issue:
- Go to the device settings and hit on the Apps option.
- Select the Play Store out of the options displayed.
- Out of the options displayed on the screen, you would find the option for Storage. Hit on it.
- Hit on the Clear Cache option.
As a result, the extra data packets get cleared off. Ensure that your Play Store is not running while the steps are getting executed.
Disabling the VPN apps on your device
If you are using a VPN over your device, then there are high chances of your original location getting tampered with and making the Play Store believe that you are in another nation where the app download is not legal. Thus it keeps pausing the same.
To prevent this, just go to the VPN app and hit on the power button symbol at the interface. This turns off the virtual network and your device gets restored to the original location. Now, you can download the app effortlessly.
Rolling back the Play Store update
The Google Play Store keeps updating at times to match up the user’s expectations. But, if you observe that any recent Play Store update has caused such an issue, then you can roll back to the previous edition. Just follow the steps given below:
- Open the Device settings and go to the Apps and Notifications option.
- Select on Google Play Store out of the options displayed.
- Tap on the three dots displayed at the top-right corner of the screen and hit on Uninstall updates.
- Click on the prompt to confirm the action.
Hence, if you Can’t Download Apps from Play Store, then you can easily revert to any of the options mentioned above. Do let us know if you have any further queries on these.