Downloading Android apps usually doesn’t take long: a few seconds on a decent Wi-Fi connection, maybe a minute or two if you’re on a busy mobile network. But if you have to download a handful of updates at once, or worse, dozens of apps on a new phone, it can take a lot longer. The Google Play Store fixes this in the latest feature update.
From now on, your Android phone or tablet can update or install up to three applications at a time, maximizing the bandwidth of a faster connection. Previously, the system could queue up a series of virtually unlimited app installations, but only download and install them one at a time, which could seriously slow things down if you had to get through dozens of new ones for a new phone installation.
Concurrent downloads became available earlier this year, according to 9to5Google, but only for brand new app installations. The process can also slow down because the next app won’t actually install until the previous one has finished – the longest part of the process if you have a lot of smaller apps to get through. Now the system should work with all installations and updates.
It’s worth noting that the ability to use three at once is something the App Store on iPhones and iPads has had for a long time. This solution is a minor quality of life adjustment, but as someone who is constantly trying out new phones and tablets (or setting them up for friends and family, since I’m the designated tech support person), I appreciate it.