Google Play Store remains the most popular Android app store, even though there are some excellent Play Store alternatives out there. Although Google keeps updating its marketplace with bug fixes and improvements, some issues do not depend entirely on the devs of the app. In this article, we’ll focus on how to fix Google Play Store ‘download pending’ error.
The so-called ‘download pending’ error on the Google Play Store is prevalent, and it typically appears on Android smartphones with a weak connection to the Internet. However, some users with fast Internet connection might also encounter that issue.
But there is nothing to worry about because it’s quite straightforward to fix Google Play Store ‘download pending’ error by following the steps presented below.
Fix Google Play Store ‘Download Pending’ Error
Restart your device
The first fix you should try is to reboot your device. You can perform a soft restart, meaning that you have to hold your device’s power button for a few seconds, and then select Restart from the pop-up menu.
However, we recommend you a force restart. How you can do that depends on your device’s manufacturer, and it’s usually a combination of buttons. Check your smartphone’s or tablet’s user manual for further information.
Check for updates in the queue
On some occasions, the ‘download pending’ message in the Play Store is only a notification and not a sign of an error. In that case, you have to look under the app store’s ‘My Apps & Games’ section and see if any updates are running in the background.
If you want to install an app immediately and there are some updates in the queue, you’ll have to cancel those downloads and install the application that you want.
Force stop Google Play Store and Clear Cache
Sometimes the Google Play Store ‘download pending’ error is due to some issues with the app’s data. To fix that you’ll have to Force Stop Google Play Store and Clear Cache. Here’s how to perform those operations:
- Go to Settings -> Apps -> Google Play Store
- Tap on Force Stop
- Then, scroll down and press on Clear Cache
Note: On some Android smartphones and tablets, the Clear Cache option appears under the Storage submenu. Additionally, you can tap on Clear Data, too.
Hopefully, the methods presented above helped you fix Google Play Store ‘download pending’ error.
Daniel Kiss is the senior editor for News Lair. Daniel was working as a writer since he finished high-school, first for local papers then he started online, nowadays he likes to write about the latest games and tech innovations.
