How to install, update, and manage apps on the Google Play Store
Install apps, keep them updated, and manage them safely in Google Play, with practical troubleshooting and a backup check before uninstalling.
Prerequisites
Before you begin, make sure your Android device has an internet connection and that you can open the Google Play Store. To install apps or manage your library, you may need to be signed in to a Google Account. Menu names can vary slightly by device or Play Store version.
Install an app
Open the Google Play Store app.
Search for the app by name, or browse the available categories.
Open the app’s listing. Check that it’s the app you intended to download, then review its description and compatibility information.
Tap Install and wait for the download to finish. Open the app from its Play Store page or from your device’s app list.
If you don’t see an Install button, the app may not be available for your device or region, or there may be another account or device restriction. Availability can vary.
Update apps
To update apps yourself:
Open the Play Store and tap your profile picture.
Tap Manage apps & device.
Under Updates available, tap See details.
Tap Update beside an app, or tap Update all.
Some updates may ask you to accept new permissions, and a device restart may sometimes be needed. For Google’s step-by-step instructions, see How to update apps on Android.
To enable automatic updates for all apps, go to Profile picture > Settings > Network preferences > Auto-update apps, then choose the option that suits your data plan. The available choices may differ. To set automatic updates for one app, open its Play Store listing, tap More, and look for Enable auto update.
To check for a Play Store app update, open Profile picture > Settings > About > Update Play Store. Google says the app will report whether it is up to date; if an update is available, it downloads and installs automatically. See Google Play’s instructions for updating the Play Store app.
Manage installed apps
To review apps on your device, open Profile picture > Manage apps & device > Manage. Select an app to view its Play Store listing and available management options. The displayed options may vary by app and device.
Before uninstalling an app: uninstalling can remove data stored only on the device. First verify that any data you need is backed up and that the backup includes that app’s data and can be restored. Backup coverage differs by app; if you cannot verify it, don’t uninstall the app if losing its local data would be a problem.
Troubleshooting
A download or update is stuck: Check your connection, available device storage, and whether other downloads are still pending. Then try again.
An app won’t update automatically: Open the app’s Play Store listing and check for an Update button. Also check the auto-update setting and whether the Google Account on the device has a sign-in error; Google notes that sign-in errors can prevent automatic updates.
The Play Store itself seems out of date: Use Profile picture > Settings > About > Update Play Store and follow the status message.
The app still won’t install or update: Avoid clearing app storage or resetting the device as an early fix, since those actions can remove data or settings. Check the app listing and device-specific guidance first. If you use a Chromebook, Google provides separate app-update instructions for that platform.
