How To Resolve The Play Store Download Pending Issue

November 30, 2020

Author: John Williams

Pending download from Play Store is one of the problems you might face while installing new apps on your Android device from Google Play Store. When the error occurs, it makes your phone not download any new apps. Everything you try to download remains pending regardless of what you do.

It's really frustrating not being able to install apps from the Play Store, especially since it is the only source of reliable app downloads for Android devices. If you are also facing the problem, there are some methods you can try and see if they help solve the problem.

Cancel current downloads and updates

One of the possible reasons why your Play Store downloads get stuck on pending download is because you already have a lot of them running on your device. To fix it, you can disable installation and updates for all the apps you don't urgently need and then get the app that you really want to install.

Launch Google Play Store on your device.

Touch the three horizontal lines in the upper left corner.

Select My apps and games on the next screen.

If you see any apps or games that are currently being updated, cancel their processes by tapping X next to them.

Download via mobile data if the WiFi connection is not working

Since your app downloads require the internet, you need to make sure your internet connection is working. If you are on a WiFi network and it stopped working for any reason, you can change your internet source to mobile data to download your applications.

Turn off WiFi and enable mobile data on your phone.

Open Google Play Store on your phone.

Tap the three horizontal lines in the upper left corner and select Settings.

Choose the app download preference on the next screen.

Enable the Via any network option and tap Done.

Try downloading an app from the Store and it should work.

Turn off the VPN app on your device

The Play Store download pending issue could also be caused by a VPN app. Since VPNs basically spoof your location, the Google Play Store may think you're not in the country where you should be based on your device, and may pause your downloads.

If that's the case, there's really not much you need to do to fix the problem. All you need to do is disable the VPN app on your phone and you should be good to go.

The steps to disable a VPN vary depending on the application you use. In most applications, however, you will find a large button on the main interface that will allow you to turn the service on and off. You want to turn it off to fix the Play Store problem.

Delete Play Store data

Like other applications on your device, the Play Store application also stores its settings and adjustments in temporary files on your device. Sometimes these files can be the reason you are having problems in the Store.