Google consistently releases updates for its popular web browser Chrome. These releases come with immense benefits such as new features, bug fixes, better security, improved browsing experience, and a host of new features.
Unfortunately, hundreds of Android users face trouble updating the Chrome browser and miss out on the benefits due to numerous reasons. But don’t worry. This guide will comprehensively walk you through solutions that have worked for us and many other Android users.
We have listed all the solutions ranging from easy methods such as restarting your device and checking the internet connection to complex methods such as uninstalling Android Webview and sideloading Chrome.
Fix: Google Chrome Not Updating on Android
In an ideal scenario, Chrome should update when we click on the update button in the Google Play store. However, often it gets stuck on ‘Installing’ and doesn’t update. Let us begin our troubleshooting journey for Google Chrome not updating on Android with the below-mentioned solutions.
- Restart Your Device
- Check Your Internet Connection
- Check Date and Time Settings
- Cancel Pending Downloads or Updates
- Force Close Google Chrome
- Force Close and Relaunch the Play Store
- Clear Google Play Store Cache and Storage
- Uninstall Previous Chrome Updates
- Clear Google Chrome’s App Data
- Stop auto-updating all apps
- Leave the beta testing program
- Uninstall Android System Webview and Chrome
- Download the updates manually
Restart Your Device
Often a simple measure such as rebooting your Android phone can help you fix the Google Chome not updating problem. It is one of the most basic troubleshooting methods.
When your device restarts, all the system processes, and if the problem is being caused by some Android process error, it will be fixed automatically. If the issue isn’t fixed, follow the below solutions.
Check Your Internet Connection
It is another general troubleshooting method. Having a good internet connection with good data speed is important when you are updating Android apps from the Google Play Store.
To check if your internet speed is good, you can perform any of the internet speed tests available online. Alternatively, open your web browser and check if you are able to load any webpage or any other internet-dependent apps and check if they work. Once you have verified that your internet speed is good, you need to check if any other app is hogging the network bandwidth by running in the background.
For VPN users, try disconnecting and reconnecting to your VPN connection. Other network troubleshooting steps include:
- Enabling and disabling airplane mode.
- Switching to a wireless network.
- Rebooting your Wi-Fi router.
After closing all the background apps and checking your internet connection and VPN settings, check if you are able to update Google Chrome. If not, then follow along for the next solutions.
Check Date and Time Settings
For your Android to function properly, it is important that the date and time on your smartphone and tablets are accurate. Play Store also requires accurate date and time settings to update the apps.
In such event that your device’s date and time aren’t accurate, you can follow the below measures to set the correct date and time.
Step 1. Launch the Settings app on your phone.
Step 2. Navigate to the System settings section.
Step 3. Scroll down to locate the Date & time section.
Step 4. Locate Use network-provided time and Use network-provided time zone and turn them on.
Try updating Google Chrome after synchronizing the date and time settings. If you are unable to update, let us check how you can cancel pending downloads and updates.
Cancel Pending Downloads or Updates
Play Store allows only a single app to be updated or downloaded at a given time. If any other app is being downloaded or updated in the background, it will not allow you to update the Google Chrome browser.
You can either wait for the apps to download and update or cancel these processes to update Google Chrome immediately. Here are the measures for you to follow to update Google Chrome immediately.
Step 1. Firstly, launch Google Play Store on your Android device and tap on your profile picture given at the top-right corner of the screen.
Step 2. Click on Manage apps and device to check all installed apps and their updates.
Step 3. Go to the Updates available tab in the Overview section.
Step 4. Click on Cancel all. It will cancel all the undergoing processes.
Step 5. Look for Google Chrome in the list of apps and click on the Update button.
Once all updating and installing processes are completed or canceled, you will be able to update Google Chrome. If you still face Google Chrome not updating on the Android issue, it is time that we force close Google Chrome.
Force Close Google Chrome
If Google Chrome is freezing or is unresponsive, you might not be able to update the app from Play Store. In such an event, cancel the update for Chrome and follow the below steps to force stop the app.
Step 1. Look for the Chrome icon on your phone screen and long-press on it.
Step 2. Select the info icon.
Step 3. In the App info settings, click on the Force stop button.
Step 4. Click OK or Force Stop in the dialog box to proceed.
Try updating Google Chrome after completing the above steps. If you are unable to update Chrome, let us try and force stop Play Store.
Force Close and Relaunch the Play Store
Like any other app on your device, the Google Play Store is also prone to malfunctions. Being an application warehouse, when Google Play Store malfunctions, all the apps on your device will get affected.
If your Google Chrome is not updating on your Android, the Play Store could be the culprit. You can force stop the Play Store and relaunch it to restore the app to normal.
Step 1. Look for the Play Store icon on your phone screen and long-press on it.
Step 2. Select the info icon.
Step 3. In the App info settings, click on the Force stop button.
Step 4. Click OK or Force Stop in the dialog box to proceed.
Step 5. Now, click the Open button to relaunch the application.
Step 6. Head to the Google Chrome details page in Play Store and tap the Update button.
Wait for the update to complete. However, if Chome still isn’t updating, there could be a storage issue with your device. Let us walk you through clearing cache and Storage for Google Play Store and related services.
Clear Google Play Store Cache and Storage
Cache files are temporary files that apps store on your device to improve app performance. These files contain information about the apps and your interaction with them so that the apps don’t need to contact the server often.
Clearing these cache files will free up storage space on your device and resolve any performance glitches due to low Storage. We are providing you the steps for clearing the cache for Play Store, Google Play Service, and Android Download Manager to help you fix the Chrome update issues.
Clear Google Play Store’s Cache
Here’s how you can clear Play Store’s cache files to fix Google Chrome not updating Android error.
Step 1. Look for the Play Store icon on your phone screen and long-press on it.
Step 2. Select the info icon.
Step 3. Navigate to Storage & Cache section.
Step 4. Now, click on the Clear Cache option to delete all Play Store’s cache.
Now open the Play Store and check if you are able to update Google Chrome. If not, follow along to clear Google Play Service’s and Download Manager’s cache.
Clear Google Play Service’s Cache
Google Play Service is the API from Google that allows you to use Google services on your Android. Here’s how you can delete the cache files.
Step 1. Launch the Settings app and scroll down to locate App Management on your device.
Step 2. Tap the App List option.
Step 3. Please scroll down to locate Google Play Services and tap on it to view App info.
Step 4. Click on Storage & Cache settings.
Step 5. Tap the Clear Cache option to clear the app’s cache.
Clear Download Manager’s Cache
The Android Download Manager is a system service that facilitates downloads on built-in Android apps. Any problem with Download Manager can cause updating issues on Google Play Store.
Often clearing Download Manager’s cache can solve Google Chrome update issues. Before following the below steps, cancel all pending app downloads and close the Play Store.
Step 1. Open the Android Settings app and scroll down to locate App Management.
Step 2. Tap the App List option and click on the two dots given in the top right corner of your screen.
Step 3. Click on the Show System option.
Step 4. Please scroll through the App list and tap on Download Manager.
Step 5. In the App Info, click on Storage & cache and then tap on Clear cache.
After clearing all cache from Play Store, Google Play Services, and Download Manager, try updating Google Chrome. If you are still unable to do so, let us check how you can uninstall previous chrome updates.
Uninstall Previous Chrome Updates
It isn’t possible to remove or uninstall Google Chrome from an Android device as it is an in-built app for Androids. However, Chrome provides an option for users to uninstall previous updates made to the browser.
Sometimes, updates cannot be installed properly, and removing them will help you perform a clean update on the application. Uninstalling previous updates for Chrome will revert the app to the factory version and resolve issues that are preventing the browser from updating.
Step 1. Look for the Chrome icon on your phone screen and long-press on it.
Step 2. Select the info icon.
Step 3. In the App info settings, click on the three-dot menu icon available at the top-right corner of the screen.
Step 4. Click on Uninstall updates option and tap OK in the confirmation dialog box.
Step 5. Head to the Google Chrome details page in Play Store and tap the Update button.
Uninstalling corrupted updates can possibly help you fix the Google Chrome not updating on Android issue. If you didn’t strike gold yet, don’t worry. Let us clear all app data for google chrome to help your fix the problem.
Clear Google Chrome’s App Data
In many forums, we have noticed that by clearing the app data for Google Chrome, several users were able to fix the Google Chrome not updating on Android issue. We have provided you with the steps through which you can clear app data and check if the solution works for you.
Step 1. Look for the Chrome icon on your phone screen and long-press on it.
Step 2. Select the info icon.
Step 3. In the App info settings, click on Storage & Cache settings.
Step 4. Tap the Clear All Data option to clear the app’s data and tap OK in the confirmation dialog box.
Step 5. Once all data is cleared, head to the Google Chrome details page in Play Store and tap the Update button.
After clearing all app data, your browsing history, site cookies, and any locally stored data will be removed. You will have to re-login to your browser. If deleting app data also didn’t resolve your issue, don’t worry. Let us follow the following method to help your fix the problem.
Stop auto-updating all apps
Google Play Store provides users with an option to auto-update apps from time to time automatically. Google allows its users to enable or disable this feature manually.
Many users have found that disabling the update, all apps automatically option, and updating the apps manually one by one has helped them fix the Google Chrome not updating issue. Here’s how you can stop Play Store from automatically all Android applications.
Step 1. Please launch the Google Play Store on your Android device and tap on your profile picture given at the top-right corner of the screen.
Step 2. Click on Manage apps and device to check all installed apps and their updates.
Step 3. Look for the Stop button to stop updating the apps.
Step 4. Please scroll the list to find Google Chrome and Android System Webview and click on the update button next to them.
Wait for the update to complete. However, if Chome still isn’t updating, you can follow the next solutions in this guide. The following solution is for users who are a part of a beta testing program for applications.
Leave the beta testing program
Google Play Store provides users with a program called beta testing which gives the subscribed members early access to the app’s upcoming features and updates.
These updates are for testing purposes and are not made publically available as they may contain bugs that the users test and report back to the app’s developers team.
Suppose you are a part of the beta testing program voluntarily or accidentally. In that case, you might be using the beta version for Google Chrome which could contain bugs preventing the app from updating itself.
We have jotted down the steps that will help you leave the beta testing program and get stable updates for all apps on your device, including Google Chrome.
Step 1. Launch Google Play Store app on your device and go to the search bar.
Step 2. Type Android System Webview in the search bar.
Step 3. Scroll down the details page until you find the beta testing program option.
Step 4. Now tap on the Leave the beta program option to opt-out from receiving beta updates.
Step 4. Head to the Google Chrome details page in Play Store and tap the Update button.
Wait for the update to complete. However, if Chome still isn’t updating, the next solution will help you uninstall previous updates for Android System Webview to fix Google Chrome not updating issue.
Uninstall Android System Webview and Chrome
Android System Webview could be a potential cause due to which Google Chrome isn’t able to update. Android System Webview is a system app, and hence you can’t uninstall it. However, you can make the app revert to factory settings by uninstalling all the previous updates.
Unlike other apps, you cannot uninstall the updates from Android Settings. But don’t worry. We have found the steps to help you uninstall the app updates from Play Store and fix the Google Chrome not updating error.
Step 1. Launch Google Play Store app on your device and go to the search bar.
Step 2. Type Android System Webview in the search bar.
Step 3. On the app details page, click on Uninstall to remove all previous updates from the application.
Step 4. Head to the Google Chrome details page in Play Store and tap the Update button.
Wait for the update to complete. However, if Chome still isn’t updating, we have one final solution for you by which you can sideload the Chrome app by installing updates from third-party APK sites manually.
Sideload Chrome
If none of the above methods so far have worked for you, sideloading Chrome is your last resort. This solution will work as you are manually downloading Chrome and Android System Webview APK from a third party on your device.
Step 1. Open the apkmirror.com website on your web browser and search for Android System Webview. You can launch the download page directly through this link – Download Android System Webview.
Step 2. Navigate through the download list to see the list of versions.
Step 3. In the list, click on the download icon next to the versions.
Step 4. Choose the one suitable for your device from the list of all downloadable app, variants.
Step 5. You can copy the variant number and search it on Google to check if the variant is compatible with your device.
Step 6. Once verified that the variant is compatible, click on the Download button to download the APK.
Step 7. Click Allow or OK on the warning prompt since the APK isn’t a threat to your device.
Step 8. Once the download completes, install the APK and launch Chrome.
Downloading Chrome updates from third-party APK might be risky, and hence you should ensure that you are downloading it from a trusted website.
Bottom Line: Google Chrome Not Updating
Hopefully, our guide would have proved to be helpful in updating Google Chrome and Webview on Android. There are several fixes listed in our article ranging from easy to advanced solutions, that will surely fix the Google Chrome not updating on Android issue.
Some of the fixes might be a bit tricky, so please be patient and allow the system to complete one process at a time. The site apkmirror.com is a trusted site by several users, but if you want to use any other, ensure that you trust the website as APKs may contain malware harmful to your device.
