Android and iOS have long competed over which platform offers the superior user experience. iOS is often lauded for its robust security features, whereas Android provides a more customizable user experience. Bridging this gap in user convenience, Google has introduced a significant update to the Play Store: the ability to download and install multiple apps simultaneously.
Originally reported by 9to5Google, this update eliminates the previous queue system in the Play Store, allowing for the simultaneous download of multiple apps. This feature is particularly useful for users setting up new devices, as it expedites the process. Currently, the update is being rolled out to devices equipped with Android 14 and Play Store version 40.6.31.
With this new feature, users can download and install up to two apps concurrently, which facilitates quicker setups of new devices and faster access to new apps. For example, sizable apps such as Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides can be downloaded at the same time, removing the inconvenience of waiting for one to complete before starting another. Users can monitor the download progress both in the Play Store and on their home screens.
However, the capability for simultaneous downloads is restricted to new app installations and does not extend to updates. Additionally, only two apps can be downloaded at once; any further selections will be placed in a “Pending” state until one of the initial two installations completes. Google may consider expanding this limit in future updates.
In related developments, Google is also exploring a new security feature for the Play Store that involves placing potentially harmful apps in quarantine. According to Android Authority, the proposed ‘app quarantine’ feature would restrict an app’s functions, making it visible but non-operational on the device. It would also prevent the app from initiating processes or interacting with other apps.
This feature, managed exclusively by Google Play Protect, could enhance device security by isolating suspicious apps. Though it appeared in the Android 14 QPR2 Beta 1, the ‘Quarantined Apps’ page has been removed, indicating that the feature might be postponed beyond Android 15 for future implementation.
