Android users rejoice! Google Play is finally rolling out a much-requested feature: parallel downloads for applications. This means you can download two apps concurrently, significantly improving download efficiency, especially for users with powerful devices and fast internet connections.
Long-Awaited Multitasking Arrives: Google Play Now Enables Simultaneous App Downloads
In 2019, Google experimented with this functionality, but it wasn’t widely implemented. Now, it appears this feature is receiving a broader rollout, marking a significant improvement in user experience.
Benefits of Parallel Downloads
Previously, downloading apps on Google Play occurred sequentially. This meant waiting for a large game download to finish before a smaller app could begin. This inefficiency no longer applies. With parallel downloads, both downloads can commence simultaneously, maximizing utilization of your device’s processing power and internet bandwidth.
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Current Limitations: Updates Not Included
While parallel downloads represent a major step forward, it’s important to note that this functionality currently excludes app updates. Updates continue to download one at a time. The rationale behind this might lie in the way updates work on Android. When an app utilizes App Bundles (a common practice today), updates only download the modified parts instead of the entire app. Although this reduces download size, it adds some processing time as the new parts need to be integrated with the existing app. This process, particularly for a large number of updates, could potentially strain the device’s resources, hence Google‘s decision to maintain sequential updates.
A Welcome Improvement Despite Limitations
Despite not encompassing updates, the ability to download two apps simultaneously is a significant improvement for Android users. This long-awaited feature allows for faster acquisition of multiple apps, streamlining the download process. You can easily verify if your device has access to parallel downloads by checking the Google Play notifications. If you see notifications for two ongoing downloads, then congratulations, you’re experiencing the new functionality!
The arrival of parallel downloads signifies Google’s commitment to enhancing user experience in the Play Store. While app updates remain single-threaded for now, this update paves the way for further improvements in download management within the Android ecosystem.
