How to Update Google Play Store to the Latest Version

Originally written by Amit Kumar, updated by Dibyajyoti Kabi. First published June 10, 2019. Updated October 24, 2026.

To get the latest Google Play Store, open the Play Store, tap your profile picture, then tap Settings > About > Update Play Store. If a newer version is out, it downloads and installs on its own in a few minutes. You don’t need an APK file for this.

This post used to share a Play Store APK for the 2019 Material theme redesign. That design is long gone, and Google now pushes every Play Store update itself. I’ll show you how to force an update, what to do when the Play Store won’t update, and how to reset it when it breaks.

Key points

• The Play Store updates itself in the background on every phone with Google services.
• You can force a check from Play Store > profile picture > Settings > About > Update Play Store.
• Google Play services and Android system updates are separate from the Play Store app.
• If the Play Store acts up after an update, Uninstall updates puts it back to the factory version, and it updates again on its own.
• Skip Play Store APKs from random sites. A fake or modified Play Store can steal your Google account.

How do I update the Google Play Store?

Open the Google Play Store app and tap your profile picture at the top right. Tap Settings, then About, then Update Play Store. You’ll see a message that says the Play Store is up to date, or the update starts downloading. It installs on its own in a few minutes, and the app restarts with the new version.

Here are the steps.

1. Open the Google Play Store app.
2. Tap your profile picture at the top right.
3. Tap Settings.
4. Tap About to expand it.
5. Tap Update Play Store.
6. Tap Got it if it says the Play Store is up to date, or wait for the update to finish.

Google lists the same steps on its Update the Google Play app page. The version number shows right under Play Store version in that same About section, so you can check it before and after.

Do I need a Play Store APK to get the latest version?

No. Google rolls out every Play Store version through the Play Store itself, so the Update Play Store button gets you the newest build Google has released for your phone. An APK only makes sense on a phone that doesn’t have Google services at all, and that needs a different fix.

Most phones that “need” a Play Store APK either have the Play Store disabled, or they’re running a custom ROM without GApps. For a disabled Play Store, see the section below on turning it back on. For a custom ROM, flash the right GApps package from my GApps guide instead of sideloading the app.

I’d stay away from Play Store APKs on download sites. The Play Store has full access to your Google account and can install apps, so a modified copy is a real security risk.

Why won’t my Play Store update?

The Play Store usually fails to update because of a weak connection, low storage, a wrong date and time, or a stuck cache. Connect to stable Wi-Fi, free up at least 1 GB of space, turn on automatic date and time, and restart the phone. Then try Update Play Store again.

Work through these in order.

1. Switch to a stable Wi-Fi network, or turn mobile data off and on.
2. Check storage in Settings > Storage, or Settings > Battery and device care > Storage on a Galaxy phone.
3. Turn on automatic time in Settings > System > Date & time on a Pixel, or Settings > General management > Date and time on a Galaxy phone.
4. Close the Play Store from Recent apps and open it again.
5. Restart the phone.
6. Clear the Play Store cache. Go to Settings > Apps > Google Play Store > Storage and tap Clear cache.

Google’s basic troubleshooting page for Google Play covers the first five. Clearing the cache doesn’t delete your apps or your account.

How do I reset the Play Store if it keeps crashing?

Uninstall the Play Store’s updates. Go to Settings > Apps > Google Play Store, tap the three dots at the top right and tap Uninstall updates. The app goes back to the version that came with your phone, and it updates itself again the next time you open it on Wi-Fi.

1. Open Settings and tap Apps.
2. Tap Google Play Store. On a Pixel, tap See all apps first.
3. Tap the three dots at the top right.
4. Tap Uninstall updates and confirm.
5. Open the Play Store, accept the terms if it asks, and leave it on Wi-Fi for a few minutes.
6. Go to Settings > About > Update Play Store to pull the latest version right away.

You can’t fully uninstall the Play Store on a normal phone, because it’s a system app. Uninstall updates is the closest you get, and it fixes most crashes that start right after an update.

If the crash message names Google Play services instead, that’s a different app. My guide on the com.google.process.gapps has stopped error walks through that one.

What if the Play Store is missing or disabled?

Go to Settings > Apps, show system apps, tap Google Play Store and tap Enable if you see it. The icon comes back on your home screen or in the app drawer. If the Play Store isn’t in the list at all, your phone doesn’t have Google services, which is common on some Huawei phones and custom ROMs.

On a Samsung Galaxy phone, tap the sort icon next to Your apps and turn on Show system apps to see it. On a Pixel, open See all apps and use the menu to show system apps.

Some launchers also hide icons. Search for “Play Store” in your app drawer before you assume it’s gone.

How do I update Google Play services and the system?

Google Play services and Android system updates come through different menus. On a Pixel, go to Settings > System > Software updates. On a Galaxy phone, go to Settings > Software update > Download and install. Play services updates arrive through the Play Store and the Google Play system update screen in Settings.

It’s worth doing all three while you’re at it. An old Play services build can make Play Store downloads fail even when the Play Store itself is current.

For app updates, open the Play Store, tap your profile picture, tap Manage apps & device and tap Update all. Google explains that on its updating Android apps page.

FAQ

What is the latest version of the Google Play Store?

Google ships a new Play Store build every few weeks and rolls it out in stages, so the number changes often. Check yours in Play Store > Settings > About under Play Store version, then tap Update Play Store to get the newest build available for your phone.

Is it safe to download the Play Store APK?

Only if it comes from a source you fully trust, and I’d still avoid it. The Update Play Store button gives you the same official build without the risk of a modified file. A fake Play Store can ask for your Google password or install apps you didn’t pick.

Will uninstalling Play Store updates delete my apps?

No. Uninstall updates only rolls back the Play Store app itself. Your installed apps, their data and your Google account stay on the phone. The Play Store then updates itself again in the background.

Does the Play Store update automatically?

Yes. The Play Store checks for its own updates in the background and installs them on its own, usually over Wi-Fi. The Update Play Store button just makes it check right now instead of waiting.

Related guides

• How to fix com.google.process.gapps has stopped
• Download GApps for custom ROMs
• How to downgrade an Android app without root
• How to back up your Android phone without root
• How to enable Developer options and USB debugging

That’s it. Tap Update Play Store in the About section, and you’ve got the newest version Google offers for your phone, no APK needed.

Play Store still stuck on an old version? Leave a comment with your phone model (like SM-S938B or Pixel 9 Pro), your Play Store version and what happens when you tap Update Play Store, and I’ll help you sort it out.