Irrespective 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 appropriate iPhone throughout the globe will get the identical updates, on the identical time.
On Android, it is anybody’s guess. Google releases the most recent and best Android updates for Builders and its Pixel units, after which Android smartphone manufactures get began with growing their very own variations. For example, 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 cellphone till fairly a methods down the road.
To mitigate this to some extent, Google has determined to take issues into its personal fingers, pushing out some safety, privateness, and machine monitoring options to all Android units directly, utilizing somewhat recognized framework referred to as Google Play system updates.
And sure, it is complicated. It is not simply in regards to the Google Play Retailer or providers, and it is one thing that you just may by no means come throughout by yourself. Google does not ship notifications about it, neither is it part of the common Software program Replace display. So what’s it, the place is it, and why is it so essential?
Why are Google Play system updates so essential?
Credit score: Khamosh Pathak
As I discussed above, until you are on a Pixel, any common Android replace comes straight out of your cellphone’s producer, and never Google itself. That is normally the place you get massive Android updates, like how Samsung telephones acquired 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 elements of the OS. With this undertaking, Google can improve Android’s safety and privateness options with out going via the common channels. That is why, prior to now, Google has been capable of push options like Android Theft Detection, Distant Lock, and Offline Lock to all Android telephones operating Android 10 and above in a single day. One thing like this simply is not doable 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 liable 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 may try Google’s web site to see what’s new every month.
It is essential to ensure you’re getting these. Alongside their new options, in addition they introduce essential safety updates and bug fixes to your entire Google Play Companies platform.
What do you suppose to date?
Why do not you ever see Google Play system updates?
These updates are essential. However typically months can go by earlier than you even have the most recent one. That is as a result of Google does not promote these updates in any trend. There are not any notifications for them, they usually aren’t even mechanically put in if you carry out a daily Android OS replace.
Weirdly, they’re solely mechanically put in if you reboot your smartphone. And provides how smartphones are used nowadays, that may be months aside.
How one can examine for Google Play system updates
Credit score: Khamosh Pathak
I am unable to say if Google will ultimately change its methods and make Play system updates extra distinguished. However for now, there’s just one method 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 example for how one can discover this web page. When you’re utilizing a Google Pixel cellphone, go to Settings > Safety & privateness > System & updates. You may see two sections, Safety replace and Google Play system replace. Faucet the latter choice to obtain and set up the replace. The replace might be put in after your machine 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’s good to go.