In what could be a bug or a behavior change, the Google Play Store does not display the updates available for system applications.
Update of 2/1/25: Here is a list of current Google applications that do not appear in the list of waiting downloads, but will display an “update” when you visit the Play Store list:
Update of 9/4/24: This problem continues and we have now seen it Impact YouTube, which is a preinstalled application, on several devices. Although we have received a Play Store notification according to which a new update is available, going to the screen of pending downloads reveals that there is nothing to install. When you visit the list of applications directly, it is available to update.
Update of 7/11: This happens again with Google partner configuration::
The configuration of Google Partner is an application required for devices that run Google Mobile Services (
- This application is preinstalled by the manufacturer of devices to guarantee appropriate functionality of the device on all Android devices with Google Mobile Services; It cannot be disabled or deleted.
- Google recently moved this application to the Play Store so that bug corrections, improvements and critical updates to your device can be delivered more quickly. No other modification has been made following this list of Play Store.
- If your device runs Android 7 or a previous version, it will not receive an update for this application. This application may indicate that it is not compatible with your device, but that does not mean that the application works badly or causes your device dysfunction.
Update 7/1: If a Play Store notification says today that you have one more update that does not appear on the screen of pending downloads, this missing application is the Google data restoration tool:
This system application helps you restore your old phone data using a cloud cable or backup. The application is already installed on your Android device.
It can only be accessible and updated by a Direct Google Play link. The application does not appear in the installed list either.
Original 2/6: This problem occurs on the screen of downloads pending. System applications that have available updates simply do not appear here even if other applications are normally appearing.
We noticed this problem for the first time a few weeks ago. It recently performed with the parameter and Google Wi-Fi provisioner services, which has experienced updates in recent days.
Curiously, a system application with a new version will appear in the notification of Google Play’s “new updates”, but will not appear once you visit the page for initiate. You may also notice that this happens when an alert indicates that you have – for example – three application updates, but that only two are new.
This could be an intentional change and follows how Google Play Services is updated by the Play Store, but never appears on the screen for waiting downloads. Google could expand applications at the system treated in this way.
However, if you have automatic disabled updates, these systems applications never install the latest version. As such, you should find out elsewhere that there is an available download and go manually to the list to update.
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