Google Play Store Now Supports Simultaneous App Downloads
Google’s Play Store has recently enhanced user experience by enabling simultaneous downloads and installations of multiple Android apps. This long-awaited feature, which had been in sporadic testing over the past few years, has now been widely implemented, offering users a way to manage app installations.
Previously, Android users had to wait for one app to completely download and install before beginning the process for another. With the updated functionality, users can download and install two apps simultaneously. This change simplifies adding apps like Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides, which are typically larger files, allowing them to be set up concurrently. The progress of these installations can be conveniently tracked in the Play Store and on the device’s home screen.
However, this new feature is currently limited to new app installations and can only handle two simultaneous actions; a third app will remain “Pending” until one of the first two completes. This contrasts Apple’s iOS App Store, which can manage up to three concurrent downloads and installations.
Currently, the simultaneous downloading feature does not extend to app updates—a common activity for most users—which would greatly benefit from such functionality. Hopefully, this initial rollout is just the beginning, with further enhancements likely on the horizon, which will be particularly beneficial when setting up new devices.
This update has been confirmed on multiple Pixel devices running Android 14 and Play Store version 40.6.31, signaling a broader rollout to all compatible Android devices. This development is a welcome change for Android users, promising more efficiency in managing app installations and potentially reducing the setup time for new devices.
