Many users are experiencing a strange bug where the Play Store insists on updating Google apps. Except this is impossible since none are offered.
Keeping your Android apps up to date is a necessity. The famous formula “bug fixes and performance improvements” that accompanies most updates The update isn't there for show after all. Generally, the Play Store takes care of everything as long as you've enabled the automation of the process. In some cases, the app itself even tells you that a new version is available when you open it. Google Photos does this, for example.
According to several internet users, it seems that the Play Store is being overzealous at the moment. They see a notification on their smartphone urging them to perform an update to ensure the proper functioning of the Google app store. This doesn't suggest that this is a phishing attempt; the message is legitimate. Except there's a problem: no updates are offered.
The Play Store insists that you do phantom updates
“Update Google Play Services. Google won't work unless you update Google Play Services“, we can read for example. But while tapping the notification does open the relevant page on the Play Store, it's impossible to go any further; there's no new version to install. Other users are seeing similar messages mentioning Google apps in particular, such as Messages. Same result as before.
Read also – Feeling like the Google Play Store is acting strange? You're not alone, there's definitely a bug.
The bug seems to be affecting Pixel 9 Pro owners. Interestingly, it's occurring on both the latest beta and stable versions of Play Services. If you're one of the "victims," unfortunately, there's nothing you can do right now. Some have found that forcing an update to a Google app using an APK file fixes the problem, but not all have one available. We'll have to wait for the Mountain View company to look into it.
Got this Google play services error pic.twitter.com/zrSLKgS0nQ
— Maaz Perwez (@MaazMz) March 18, 2025
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