The Google Play Store is facing an issue where system-level apps with updates are not appearing in the “Pending downloads” list. Users report needing to visit individual app pages to manually update these apps.
This issue has affected several Google apps, including YouTube, Android System Intelligence, Google Partner Setup, and Settings Services.
Although users may receive notifications about updates, these updates are not visible in the pending downloads section.
Some system apps, like Google’s Data Restore Tool, also don’t show up in the “Installed” list, requiring users to use direct links for updates.
This has led to confusion, especially for those with auto-updates disabled, as they remain unaware of new versions unless they manually check.
The problem has persisted for months, with reports dating back to July 2024. While it could be a bug, some speculate that Google might be changing how system-level apps are updated, similar to how Google Play Services updates automatically without appearing in the list.
Google has yet to confirm if this behavior is intentional or a glitch. For now, users are advised to check system apps manually for updates to ensure their devices are running the latest versions.