Keeping your Android device current is essential for security, performance, and access to the latest features. Google Play Services acts as a critical background component, handling everything from location services and Google account sign-in to app verification and push notifications. Because of its pervasive role, ensuring it is updated is a fundamental part of Android maintenance. This guide explains the straightforward process of how do you update google play services on android, while also clarifying what happens if updates fail and how to manage automatic settings.
Understanding Google Play Services and Its Update Mechanism
Before diving into the steps, it is helpful to understand why this component updates separately from other apps. Google Play Services is a system-level library that provides core functionality for Google applications and third-party apps. Unlike a standard app stored on your device, this service is delivered and managed through the Google Play Store app itself. Consequently, updates for it are distributed via the same channel you use to update your other applications. The update process is typically automatic, but knowing how to manually intervene gives you control over timing and troubleshooting.
Checking Your Current Version Information
You can verify the current status of this component before attempting an update. This is useful if you are troubleshooting connectivity issues or confirming that a specific security patch level is active. The version number and installation date provide insight into whether your device is current or if an update is pending. To check the status, follow these steps:
Open the Settings app on your Android device.
Scroll down and tap on Apps, or Application Manager, depending on your manufacturer's interface.
Locate and tap on Google Play Services in the list of applications.
On the app info page, you will see the version number and the date it was last updated.
Viewing Update History and Storage
Within the same app info screen, you can review how much storage the service is using and see recent update transactions. This helps confirm if the component was recently refreshed or if it has been stagnant for a long time. Managing storage and reviewing permissions here can also resolve conflicts that prevent updates from installing correctly.
Manual Update via the Google Play Store
The most direct method to address how do you update google play services on android involves using the Google Play Store app. Since the service is distributed through this platform, forcing an update check here is the most reliable way to get the latest version. This process ensures you receive the latest security patches and feature improvements immediately, rather than waiting for the background auto-update to trigger.
Launch the Google Play Store application.
Tap on the profile icon located in the top right corner.
Select Manage apps and device from the menu.
Under the "Updates available" tab, locate Google Play Services.
Tap the Update button if it appears.
Handling Update Failures and Permissions
If the update button is greyed out or the update fails, the issue is often related to device permissions or storage space. The service requires specific permissions to write data to the system partition, and insufficient storage will halt the download. Before retrying, ensure the Google Play Store account has the necessary rights and the device has at least 500MB of free space.
Go to Settings > Storage and free up space.
Check Settings > Apps > Google Play Store > Mobile data and enable "Allow background data usage".
