Google Play download pending? 8 fixes when apps won’t start

What does Download pending mean on Google Play?

Pending means the Play Store has accepted your request and put it in a queue, but has not started it yet. Normally the delay is a few seconds. It becomes a problem when the queue never moves. The Play Store downloads a limited number of apps at once, and an update that stalls in front of yours blocks everything behind it. The cause can also be a network preference, low storage, a wrong clock or a damaged Play Store cache, so work down the list in order.

Clear the queue first

Tap your profile picture in the Play Store, then Manage apps & device. Under Updates available, tap Cancel all (or the X next to each item), then tap Update only for the app you need. Large games, like those with several gigabytes of data, often hold the queue. Also check that you are not downloading from another device on the same account through the Play Store website. Closing the Play Store from Recents and opening it again gives the queue a fresh start.

Wi-Fi only and network preference

Play Store may be set to download only over Wi-Fi, so a big app waits forever on mobile data. Open Play Store › Settings › Network preferences › App download preference and choose Over any network, or Ask me every time. On the other hand, if Wi-Fi is weak, switch to mobile data for a test, then back. Turn off any VPN, and if you are on a hotel or school network, switch networks.

Storage, SD cards and Android version

Download pending can happen if there is no room to unpack the file. Open Settings › Storage and look at the free space. Delete large videos, old downloads and unused apps, or move photos to cloud storage. If your phone has an SD card set as the default install location, a faulty or full card can stall installs, so test with the card removed. For a full guide, see freeing Android storage. Also, check that your Android version is supported by the app you want, since very old versions of Android may not meet the requirements.

Date and time, Google account and sync

A wrong clock breaks secure connections, so go to Settings › System › Date & time and turn on Set time automatically and Set time zone automatically. Then check your account: open Settings › Passwords & accounts (or Accounts) and make sure your Google account shows no sync error. If it does, tap it, check Account sync and sign in again if asked. A new password or a security prompt on your Google account can block the Play Store until you confirm it.

Clear Play Store and Google Play services data

Go to Settings › Apps › Google Play Store › Storage and tap Clear cache. If it stays pending, tap Clear storage (or Manage space then Clear all data), and restart the phone. This only resets the store's settings, not your apps. Do the same for Google Play services if the problem persists, and check Download Manager (Show system apps) for a stuck process. On Samsung, also look at Settings › Battery and device care to make sure the Play Store is not restricted.

Family Link, parental controls and approvals

On a child's account, a download can sit on Pending because a parent has not approved it. Open Family Link on the parent's phone and check for a request. If you use a work or school account, an administrator may restrict installs. Also check Play Store › Settings › Parental controls to see if a content filter is on. If you are the parent, approve the request, and the download should begin within a minute.

Play Protect, auto-update and queue settings

Open Play Store › profile picture › Settings › Network preferences and check Auto-update apps. If it is set to over any network, many apps may update at the same time, which makes the queue long. Set it to over Wi-Fi only, and turn off auto-update for apps you do not need to keep current. Play Protect scanning a new app can also add a short delay, which is normal. If it looks stuck on scanning, wait a minute and check that Google Play services is up to date.

Samsung, Pixel and Galaxy Store differences

On Samsung phones, the Galaxy Store also updates apps, and two stores can compete for the same download. Check Galaxy Store settings and turn off auto update there if you prefer the Play Store. On Pixel phones, the Play Store is the main store, and system updates may use the same download service, so wait for a system update to finish. If the Play Store is slow after a big Android update, the cache may need a fresh start, so clear it again.

Remove and re-add your Google account

As a last software step, back up your data, then remove your Google account from Settings › Passwords & accounts and add it again. Make sure you know the password and have your recovery phone number nearby. After that, restart the phone and try the download. If it works, the account sync was the cause.

Why a pending download is not a sign of a virus

A stuck download looks alarming, but it rarely means anything is wrong with your phone's security. It is nearly always a queue, a connection or a storage issue. Still, only install apps from the Play Store, and be careful with sites that offer files outside it. If you have to wait, watch the notification shade for a progress bar, since that tells you whether the download has really started. If the bar appears and then disappears, the install failed, and the error message under Manage apps & device › Manage will often tell you why.

It also helps to keep your phone tidy. Uninstall apps you no longer use, turn off auto-update for games you rarely open, and restart the phone once a week. A phone with a short queue and free space almost never gets stuck on pending.

Still pending? Other things to try

1. Install the latest Android update in Settings › System › System update.
2. Try downloading the app from the Play Store website while signed in to the same account.
3. Uninstall Play Store updates (Settings › Apps › Google Play Store › three dots › Uninstall updates), then let it update again.
4. If every app fails, back up and reset network settings. Last, consider a factory reset only after you have copied your photos and data.

If the Play Store itself will not open, read about a Play Store that will not open. If downloads are quick but drain the battery afterwards, see how to clear an app's cache on Android.

Check the download queue

Play Store downloads one app at a time. If many updates are queued, a new download waits behind them. Tap your profile picture, then Manage apps & device › Manage, and look at pending updates. Cancel the ones you do not need right now with Cancel all, then start your download again. It usually begins within seconds.

Most pending downloads clear with the first few fixes on this page.