My installed Google Play Services version looks outdated

ryrona

Which version of Google Play Services is supposed to be installed on our phones currently, on a fully up-to-date GrapheneOS installation?

Because Google Play Services hasn't been updated for me for almost a month, and is still version 24.44.33, even though the changelogs for the compatibility layer says the supported version has been updated to 24.46 and then 24.47.

Google Play itself didn't update either, last time I got an update for it it was through GrapheneOS App Store, not through Google Play itself, which has never happened before either.

I just worry Google Play self-updating broke for me. I have App Store fully enabled and functional, but all auto-updating disabled. I have manually installed all updates every day. I have notifications enabled for both Google Play and Google Play Services, even if I have never actually seen any notification. I have background battery usage enabled for them both too, but not the unrestricted mode. I have had auto-updating of apps disabled in Google Play for most of the time, but have opened it daily to manually install app updates. I have had auto-updating enabled the last few days just to double check that isn't the cause. Still no update.

I guess my question is, what Google Play Services version does everyone else currently have installed? Has it updated to anything newer than 24.44.33?

fid02

ryrona I just worry Google Play self-updating broke for me

If you visit the Play services Play Store entry, is it displaying that there's an update available? https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.gms

Stephan-P

ryrona yep. 24.44.33 here too
(P7a, GOS 2024120200)

ryrona

fid02 If you visit the Play services Play Store entry, is it displaying that there's an update available? https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.gms

Yes, it does. It says version 24.46.31 is available and there is an Update button I can click.

Dumdum If you swap the release channel for GPlay to Alpha, it lets users update to 24.47.31. Beta and Stable is still 24.44.33

Okay, that explains it I guess. Where can I find this information myself?

Dumdum

If you swap the release channel for GPlay to Alpha, it lets users update to 24.47.31. Beta and Stable is still 24.44.33

Dumdum

ryrona Where can I find this information myself?

When looking at the info screen in the App Store, tap the three dots in the top right to change the channel (for the specific app you're looking at). After selecting Alpha, it'll show "Available version 24.47.31" above the description.

ryrona

Dumdum When looking at the info screen in the App Store, tap the three dots in the top right to change the channel (for the specific app you're looking at). After selecting Alpha, it'll show "Available version 24.47.31" above the description.

Oh, you mean GrapheneOS App Store? I was wondering why Google Play hasn't been updating it. I expect GrapheneOS App Store to lag behind Google Play, typically it is Google Play that updates it or itself first.

ryrona

Neither Google Play nor Google Play Services have been auto-updated through Google Play yet, even if new versions have been released for both many times. I still run a version installed mid-November.

Someone else seem to also be experiencing the same issue:

https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/18420-problems-with-updating-google-services-after-a15

ryrona

GrapheneOS developers have confirmed that Google Play self-updating is broken for everyone, and know what commit to GrapheneOS that broke it. That commit is needed to prevent Google Play from auto-installing unwanted software, and the GrapheneOS developers do not deem that it is feasible or even possible to rewrite it in a way to permit auto-installation of updates to Google Play and Google Play Services while still blocking the unwanted software installation.

Updating Google Play and Google Play Services will thus only be possible from GOS App Store going forward. They updated the text on the website too, to reflect this new reality.

Ticket with more information:
https://github.com/GrapheneOS/os-issue-tracker/issues/4696

GrapheneOS

ryrona To be clear it's needed to stop it asking to install unwanted software. Users would still need to approve installing it since they're regular apps unable to install things without explicit approval. It's very annoying for it to keep asking to install things that aren't needed / wanted because it acts as if it's on the stock OS. It can also block installing other things since it gets stuck waiting for those to be approved.

It is likely still possible to update Play services via the Play Store, it just won't do it automatically. Play Store doesn't have a Play Store app page for itself so that might not be possible anymore.