So you got your new Google Pixel phone and are raring to install your favorite apps from Google Play Store, but you get the download pending alert. This can be frustrating, especially if the Pixel device is stuck on that screen and doesn’t download any apps.
Thankfully, there are some quick fixes you can use to resolve the problem and start downloading apps to your phone again.
How to fix Google Play Store download pending issue on Google Pixel
Note: The steps below are specifically for Google Pixel 2 or Pixel 2XL.
Restart your phone
Restarting the phone usually fixes any software glitches that can cause the downloading pending issue on Google Play Store in your Pixel phone. You can restart it and try to download the apps from the store again.
Check your internet
If you have a weak internet connection or WiFi isn’t switched on, you won’t be able to download apps and they’ll stay pending until the connection is back on. You can also try using cellular data or WiFi, whichever works.
Boot in safe mode
If rebooting the Pixel phone didn’t work, try to boot it in safe mode using these steps:
- Press and hold power button for a few seconds until the Power menu appears
- Long press and hold Power off for some seconds
- The Safe mode popup will be displayed
- Tap OK to boot in safe mode
- Use the phone for a few minutes in safe mode before restarting normally
- Try to download apps from Play Store again
Force stop Google Play store
- Open Settings
- Tap Apps & Notifications
- Now tap See all apps and tap Google Play store
- Hit the Force stop button
- Open Play Store and try to download the apps
Clear the cache and data on Play Store and Google Play Service
- Open Settings and tap See all apps
- Tap Google Play Store>Storage>clear data and clear cache
- Do the same for Google Play Service and wait five minutes before trying to download apps from the store again
Reset app preferences
- Open Settings>System>Reset options
- Select Reset app preferences
- Restart the device
- Open Google Play store and try to download apps
Disable Restrict background data for Play Service and Play Store
- Open Settings>Apps & Notifications>See all apps and tap Google Play store
- Tap Data Usage
- Toggle Background data to turn the switch blue
- Go back to Google Play services and tap it
- Tap Data usage and ensure the toggles for background data and unrestricted data usage are blue
Uninstall updates
- Open Settings>Apps & Notifications>See all apps and tap Google Play store
- Tap Google Play store
- Now tap the three dot menu at the upper right side and select Uninstall updates
- Restart your Pixel device and try downloading apps again
Elsie is a tech writer with 8+ years professional experience. For Tech News Watch, she brings rich experience contributing to topics such as Windows, MacOS, Android, and iOS among others. In her spare time, she loves checking out the latest tech trends, gadgets, and news, listening to music and cars.
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