The Google Play Store is on the verge of a massive update that would change the way users deal with app updates. A new finding by Android Authority in the version 42.0.18 of the Play Store reveals that Google might soon be adding a feature to let users update apps sideloaded or installed via third-party stores right from the Play Store.
This potential change is based on a new feature in Android 14, which makes it possible for app stores to declare update ownership for apps installed from their stores. The feature is supposed to prevent users from unknowingly installing alternative versions of an app and present a confirmation dialog on install, identifying the original source and warning users that updates from other sources may change app behavior.
Currently, it prevents users from sideloading apps with updates in other stores but does not allow the update ownership to fall under the Play Store. That might change very soon.
Update sideload apps from Google Play
A new flag in the latest release of the Play Store shows that users might soon see an “Update from Play” button for apps downloaded elsewhere. According to screenshots, the Play Store would identify available updates for those apps and present a new button to transfer update ownership to Google Play.
Furthermore, the listing would indicate a message, “The app installed on your device didn’t come from Google Play. You can update the app from the original source or from Google Play.” It’s still not clear if choosing “Update from Play” will set the Play Store as the default source for all future updates. We will need to wait until the rollout reaches us to know more.
This feature is intended to make app management considerably easier and to provide much smoother user experiences in terms of updating apps, regardless of where they were installed in the first place. We will continue to stay up-to-date as Google locks down this probably game-changing functionality.