Play Store

Google Play Store to Add Pause and Resume Option for App Downloads

Google is preparing a long-awaited feature for the Play Store that will let Android users pause app downloads and resume them later without losing progress. The capability was discovered by Android Authority researchers while examining the code of Play Store version 53.0. Currently the store only allows users to cancel a download entirely, but the new update will introduce a dedicated Pause button next to each active download. Once paused, the item remains visible in the built-in download manager, allowing users to resume directly from the list without searching for the app again. The function is intended to help users manage bandwidth, conserve mobile data, or delay large game downloads until a Wi-Fi connection is available. Although Google has not yet made an official announcement, the feature is already functional in testing, suggesting a release may arrive sooner than the previously indicated 2026 timeframe.

Google Tests Third-Party App Store Support in Play Store Following Epic Games Antitrust Ruling

Google is actively testing multiple new features in the Play Store, including a dedicated Play Labs experimental section, direct installation of alternative app stores, and an expanded two-line search interface. The most notable change allows users to install competing app marketplaces directly from Google Play, a capability tied to the reinstated 2024 court decision in the Epic Games antitrust case after the companies' settlement was withdrawn. Although the new menu option for third-party stores has been discovered through app modifications, attempts to access it currently result in errors. Play Labs, an experimental area for previewing upcoming store capabilities similar to features already present in Google Search, was also found but remains non-functional. The updated search bar is already operational, supporting longer natural-language queries and an Ask Store prompt to help users describe needs in detail rather than using short app names. APK analysis indicates these developments are still in progress, meaning Google may modify, delay, or cancel any of them before wider release. The overall direction signals that the primary Android app store is preparing to facilitate competition by distributing rival marketplaces.