Hi guys,
none of the apps I've downloaded through the Play Store are auto-updating, even though I've set it to auto-update over Wifi.

The settings for the Play Services are as recommended, so push notifications work fine, for instance.

When searching this forum for a solution, I found this thread, but it doesn't apply because for that thread starter, it did eventually auto-update, whereas for me, even after a month, it doesn't.

Also, it has nothing to do with the target SDK mentioned there as for example my Signal app has one much higher than the miminum mentioned in that thread.

I've also tried setting the battery permission for the Play Store to "unrestricted", just to test if that helps, but it doesn't.

What am I missing?
How can I get all apps to auto-update?

Thanks so much!

    Giklunewas According to this Google support page, the following constraints need to be met in order for Play Store to automatically update apps:

    • The device is connected to a Wi-Fi network.
    • The device is charging.
    • The device is idle (not actively used).
    • The app to be updated is not running in the foreground.

    It might be that the aforementioned conditions are never properly met in your case. For example, if you're only ever charging your phone during the night and never keep it connected to Wi-Fi during that time, I assume that would be a reason Play Store doesn't automatically update your apps.

    Aside from this, I don't really see what could be causing this issue.

    Edit: I realize the link I posted seems to refer to automatic updates in corporate environments specifically ('Managed Google Play'). Not sure if it applies for Play Store in general.

        I confirm having the same issue than Giklunewas

        So based on 233328’s answer, it happens in my case because my phone is never charging and connected to the Wi-Fi at the same time. Thank you for the accurate details.

            In addition to what was mentioned by @233328 - can you please confirm for us that you've installed these apps through Play Store and not something else like Aurora Store? That is because for the unattended update API to work, Play Store needs to be the installer of record, which means you either have to install the apps through Play Store, or at least manually update them once so that the last app to update them is the Play Store.

              Thanks for your answers, guys!

              233328 All of the 4 conditions are frequently met when I charge my phone every other day or so.
              Meaning it's idle while charging, no apps are running and it's connected to WiFi.

              matchboxbananasynergy Yes, I confirm that that I only ever used the official Play Store app.

              In addition, since the auto-update is not working, I've had to update all the apps manually several times already.

              Do you guys have a solution for this?

              I wouldn't think it to be complicated, as I'm not using or running anything fancy. Just the regular Play Store app, one GrapheneOS user profile, and popular apps like Signal or Google Maps.

              Thanks so much!

                  7 days later

                  Hi matchboxbananasynergy and 233328 ,

                  just wanted to follow up if you have any ideas as to why it's not updating?

                  Again, Play Services and Play Store are set to "unrestricted" battery use and all notifications are allowed.

                  Seeing as I'm running a fairly easy setup, I feel like this should work?

                  Thanks!

                      @Giklunewas

                      Just popping in here to say my apps update automatically. Unsure why you're having issues. I'd suggest a couple things to maybe help?

                      First, make sure your wifi is set to unmetered. Maybe your phone is, for some reason, detecting your wifi is a metered connection, which might affect auto downloads. To do this go to: Settings > Network & internet > Internet > Saved networks > *your home wifi* > Network usage > Treat as unmetered.

                      Then change Play Store settings here: Play Store > tap profile picture in upper right-hand corner > Settings > Network preferences. I have mine set like this:

                      • App download preference: Over any network (you might want to select wifi)
                      • Auto-update apps: Auto-update apps at any time

                        Giklunewas It can only auto-update apps where it's the installer for the current version. If it isn't already the installer, it has to request that you approve the installation. If you disabled these notifications from our compatibility layer, it will be getting stuck waiting for you to approve a request before it can continue since Play Store only updates 1 app at a time and waits until it succeeds before continuing. It sounds like you likely disabled these notifications.

                            Hi unwat ,

                            thanks for chiming in and for your suggestion, I appreciate it!
                            I've gone ahead and set the home wifi as "unmetered" as you suggested (it was set to "detect automatically"), so we'll see if that was the problem.
                            The other settings were already as you suggested.

                            GrapheneOS , Play definitely is the installer of all apps that I downloaded since that's where I downloaded and installed them from.

                            However, I'm not sure about the notification settings you mentioned, so can you please tell me where I can find and double check the "notifications from our compatibility layer" ?

                            Thank you so much!

                                5 days later

                                GrapheneOS It sounds like you likely disabled these notifications.

                                I just wanted to follow up if you could please clarify where I can double check whether or not I have those notifications enabled?

                                If I'm searching within the settings, there's no such option named "compatibility layer notifications".

                                @unwat , unfortunately, changing the home wifi to "unmetered" was not the reason as it didn't fix it.

                                Thanks for your help, you guys!

                                    Giklunewas I just wanted to follow up if you could please clarify where I can double check whether or not I have those notifications enabled?

                                    Settings > Notifications > App Settings > 3 dots > Show system > Search GMSCompat > Tap GMSCompat > Enable all relevant notifications.

                                        Hi treequell , thanks for letting me know!

                                        I followed your instructions and found that all notifications had already been enabled for GMSCompat.

                                        So as a result, regarding what GrapheneOS said:

                                        GrapheneOS It sounds like you likely disabled these notifications.

                                        I can now definitely confirm that that's not the case.

                                        So that brings us back full circle to the beginning of the thread: why are auto updates not working for me if I have everything set up and enabled in a way that's supposed to work?

                                        Thank you!

                                              11 days later

                                              Unfortunately I can't offer a solution, but chiming in to say that I have set up two Pixel 6a phones with GrapheneOS and both have the same issue, which persists after trying all troubleshooting steps in this and the other thread, switching networks and Google accounts, and reinstalling the whole OS.

                                              The only thing that worked was restoring the stock OS. This is definitely a bug or misconfiguration in Graphene, but I have given up investigating it for now.

                                              3 months later

                                              I use two up-to-date GOS Pixels , neither of which will auto-update apps using Play Store.

                                              • devices are on wifi explicitly selected for unmetered
                                              • all apps have been closed (none are running idly)
                                              • devices are plugged into power
                                              • devices have been left to sit idly while plugged to power source and on this unmetered wifi
                                              • Play Store is given Unrestricted battery access

                                              Device #1 is running Play Store only in Owner Profile. Device #2 Play Store in Owner and one User.

                                              I started using Play Store only right before the whole debacle with Aurora Store a month or so ago. During this time, Play Store apps have never auto-updated.

                                                • [deleted]

                                                • Post #16
                                                • Edited

                                                spiral Play Store is given Unrestricted battery access

                                                AFAIK only Google Play services need battery exception (to reliably receive push notifications). Apps installed through the Play Store should auto update just fine without it.

                                                During this time, Play Store apps have never auto-updated.

                                                Might this be what you're looking for?

                                                    [deleted]

                                                    Apps installed through the Play Store should auto update just fine without it.

                                                    Unfortunately, apps do not auto-update for me, not on two different GOS devices.

                                                    Might this be what you're looking for?

                                                    I don't see anything there which applies to me but I appreciate the lead nonetheless.

                                                      muhomorr

                                                      Thanks. I cleared storage of Play Store and will report back.

                                                      More data points:

                                                      • devices are always connected to a VPN without split-tunneling for Play Store
                                                      • on device #1 ALL apps were originally installed using either Aurora Store or Obtanium, not Play Store. When Aurora went down a month or two ago, I signed into Play Store and allowed it to take over updating the apps which were already installed
                                                      • on device #2 I may also have initially installed some apps using Aurora, I can't really remember - but I acquired this device just as Aurora Store went down. Since that time, on this device I signed into Play Store and have used it exclusively for downloading and installing apps. IF auto-update through Play Store requires apps to have originally installed through Play Store then it's possible that Play Store actually is updating the apps which it originally installed, but not the apps which were installed through Aurora Store, and if so it just appears to me that PS isn't auto-updating anything at all

                                                      If I originally installed an app through Aurora Store but then allowed (and continue to allow) Play Store to update that app, should Play Store be able to update that app? Or, must the app have originally been installed through Play Store? To test this myself I have downloaded an app through Play Store, Github, and will watch to see if it's auto-updating or not - but maybe someone can tell me if this is even necessary.

                                                        Actually, I just discovered that, in the settings for an app, I can see from where it was installed. Play Store is not auto-updating for apps which I can confirm were installed through Play Store.

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                                                          • Post #21

                                                          spiral

                                                          Actually, I just discovered that, in the settings for an app, I can see from where it was installed.

                                                          I believe that value changes according to what you last used to update a given app.

                                                          But quite a hodgepodge of installers you got there. I would create a blank profile to demo Play doing background updates. I'm running TQ3A.230605.012.2023061402 on Pixel 6a and Play stuff works flawlessly. Play Store updates itself along with Google Play services, and I already received a couple of updates to my installed apps in the background.