The Google Play Store has started displaying repeat app updates for Android users, even when those updates have already been installed.
This issue, first noticed on Friday evening, is not new but has resurfaced unexpectedly.
The Nature of the Bug
Users have reported that certain apps, including Gboard, Google Messages, Pocket Casts, and The Athletic, appear in the Pending Downloads list without showing update sizes.
Instead, they simply display a message stating, “Updated at [time].” When users tap the “Update” button, the Play Store downloads 1-2 MBs of data and goes through the installation process again.
However, the version numbers of these apps remain unchanged, indicating that the updates are redundant.
Interestingly, this issue does not affect all apps. Some applications—both from Google and third-party developers—continue to update normally, with version numbers advancing as expected.
Impact on Users
So far, the repeat updates do not seem to be causing any functional issues for affected apps. The main concern is the unnecessary data usage and the potential confusion for users who may believe they are installing important updates.
It remains unclear whether these repeat updates are needed or if they are simply an error in the Play Store’s update system.
The issue has been observed on devices running Android 14 (Samsung) and Android 15 (Pixel) across multiple Google Accounts. Google has not yet acknowledged the bug or provided a timeline for a fix.
A Persistent Play Store Issue
This is not the first time the Google Play Store has encountered an issue like this. Similar bugs have been reported in the past, though Google has usually resolved them without official announcements.
Whether Google will eventually pull these redundant updates or let them continue remains to be seen.
For now, users experiencing the issue can manually check their app versions to confirm whether an update was actually needed.
If the problem persists, waiting for an official fix from Google may be the best approach.
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