"Download pending" in Google Play? 6 fixes

howtosimply.com/guides/download-pending-in-google-play-6-fixes/ · Checked October 2026 · Samsung Galaxy A57 5G (SM-A576B), One UI 8.5, Android 16

6 of 6 steps with real screenshots · 2 official sources below

Device

Android

Shown on

Samsung Galaxy A57 5G (SM-A576B), One UI 8.5, Android 16

App

Google Play

Real screenshots

6 of 6 steps

Our phone

Shown on Galaxy A57, One UI 8.5

Checked

October 2026

Sources

2 official, linked below

Step by step

1. 

   Look at the queue

   In Google Play, tap your profile picture, then Manage apps & device. Updates available shows how many are waiting. Update all, or See details to pick only the ones you need.

   Watch these steps Done

2. 

   Check the free space

   The same page shows how much storage is used. Samsung advises freeing some up when less than 1 GB is left.

   Done

3. 

   Check the App download preference

   Profile, Settings, Network preferences, App download preference. If it says Over Wi-Fi only, downloads wait until you join Wi-Fi.

   Done

4. 

   Choose when to download

   Over any network downloads straight away and may use mobile data; Over Wi-Fi only waits for Wi-Fi. To stop downloads waiting, pick Over any network.

   Done

5. 

   Clear the Play Store cache

   Settings, Apps, Google Play Store, Storage, Clear cache. Ours had 428 MB of cache. Clear cache keeps your apps and account.

   Done

6. 

   Set the date and time automatically

   Google lists a wrong date or time as a cause of failing downloads. Settings, General management, Date and time, Automatic date and time. It was on on our phone.

   Done

Watch these steps

If you do not see this option

• You have a Google Pixel or another phone Google gives the routes Settings, Storage for free space, and Settings, System, Date & time, where Set time automatically and the time zone Set automatically should both be on. Source: Fix problems downloading apps with basic troubleshooting steps

If this does not work

• Still pending Google suggests closing and reopening the Play Store, restarting the phone and checking for a system update. Source: Fix problems downloading apps with basic troubleshooting steps

About this guide

An app sits at Download pending and never starts. On our Galaxy, Play showed 10 updates waiting, which is the most common reason: everything in that queue goes first.

We opened these screens and cancelled every dialog; no update was started.

Good to know

A VPN or a very weak connection can also hold downloads. Switch the VPN off for a moment and try again.

Still stuck? Restart the phone and install any system update under Settings, Software update.

In short: Clear the update queue in Manage apps & device, free storage, check App download preference, clear the Play Store cache, automatic date and time.

📷 See real photos from the Galaxy A57 in our Camera Lab, next to 10 other phones.