Regardless of how a lot Google has tried over the previous couple of years, it is by no means managed to make Android updates as seamless as iOS updates. On the iPhone, each suitable iPhone throughout the globe will get the identical updates, on the similar time.
On Android, it is anybody’s guess. Google releases the newest and biggest Android updates for Builders and its Pixel gadgets, after which Android smartphone manufactures get began with creating their very own variations. As an illustration, as a result of Samsung’s model of Android 15 is completely different from what OnePlus is doing, that may typically imply key options do not present up in your telephone till fairly a methods down the road.
To mitigate this to some extent, Google has determined to take issues into its personal palms, pushing out some safety, privateness, and system monitoring options to all Android gadgets without delay, utilizing just a little identified framework referred to as Google Play system updates.
And sure, it is complicated. It isn’t simply in regards to the Google Play Retailer or companies, and it is one thing that you just may by no means come throughout by yourself. Google would not ship notifications about it, neither is it part of the common Software program Replace display screen. So what’s it, the place is it, and why is it so necessary?
Why are Google Play system updates so necessary?
Credit score: Khamosh Pathak
As I discussed above, until you are on a Pixel, any common Android replace comes straight out of your telephone’s producer, and never Google itself. That is often the place you get large Android updates, like how Samsung telephones obtained up to date to Android 15 with the One UI 7 replace.
However the Google Play System updates are completely different.
It began in 2019 with Mission Mainline, the place Google began to separate a few of the key parts of the OS. With this venture, Google can improve Android’s safety and privateness options with out going by way of the common channels. This is the reason, prior to now, Google has been capable of push options like Android Theft Detection, Distant Lock, and Offline Lock to all Android telephones working Android 10 and above in a single day. One thing like this simply is not potential with common Android updates.
Whereas these are small options, they are not all that Play System updates offer you. Google Play System updates are additionally accountable for Google Play Shield, the framework that scans and stories malicious apps on the Play Retailer, plus they add new options to the Google Play Retailer and Google Pockets.
Not like a daily Android replace, which could present up at any time, Google Play system updates present up each month with out fail. You possibly can take a look at Google’s web site to see what’s new every month.
It is necessary to be sure you’re getting these. Alongside their new options, additionally they introduce necessary safety updates and bug fixes to your complete Google Play Providers platform.
What do you suppose to this point?
Why do not you ever see Google Play system updates?
These updates are crucial. However typically months can go by earlier than you even have the most recent one. That is as a result of Google would not promote these updates in any style. There aren’t any notifications for them, and so they aren’t even routinely put in once you carry out a daily Android OS replace.
Weirdly, they’re solely routinely put in once you reboot your smartphone. And provides how smartphones are used today, that may be months aside.
The way to examine for Google Play system updates
Credit score: Khamosh Pathak
I can not say if Google will ultimately change its methods and make Play system updates extra outstanding. However for now, there’s just one approach to examine for them, and that’s to manually set up them within the Safety updates part within the Settings app.
Completely different telephones have completely different menus, so I am going to use Pixels for instance for how one can discover this web page. When you’re utilizing a Google Pixel telephone, go to Settings > Safety & privateness > System & updates. You will see two sections, Safety replace and Google Play system replace. Faucet the latter choice to obtain and set up the replace. The replace can be put in after your system reboots.
On every other smartphone, search goes to be your pal. Within the Settings app, seek for “Play system replace,” which ought to assist get you the place it is advisable go.
