Play Store having new version of the app, but not showing update

Question

I have my app installed in my cell with version 1.0.5 ( Version code 9)

In Google Play Store, I can see my app with version 1.0.7 ( Version code 11 ), but it doesn't show me the button update ( it is showing me the button "Open")

Is it something I have to include in my app???

Is it a bug in Play Store???

Is it a configuration problem???

I join my AndroidManifest.xml

<uses-sdk
    android:minSdkVersion="16"
    android:targetSdkVersion="20" />

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION" />
<uses-permission android:name="com.google.android.providers.gsf.permission.READ_GSERVICES" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />
<uses-permission android:name="com.spg.googlemaps.permission.MAPS_RECEIVE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.CAMERA" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_SETTINGS" />

<!--
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.RECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WAKE_LOCK" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.BATTERY_STATS" />
-->
<uses-feature
    android:name="android.hardware.camera"
    android:required="true" />
<uses-feature
    android:name="android.hardware.camera.front"
    android:required="false" />

<permission
    android:name="com.spg.googlemaps.permission.MAPS_RECEIVE"
    android:protectionLevel="signature" />

<uses-feature
    android:glEsVersion="0x00020000"
    android:required="true" />

<application
    android:name="com.myapp.MyApplication"
    android:allowBackup="true"
    android:icon="@drawable/ic_launcher"
    android:label="@string/app_name"
    android:logo="@drawable/ic_logo"
    android:theme="@style/Theme.AppCompat" >
    <uses-library android:name="com.google.android.maps" />

    <meta-data
        android:name="com.google.android.gms.version"
        android:value="@integer/google_play_services_version" />

    <activity
        android:name="com.myapp.SplashScreen"
        android:label="@string/app_name"
        android:noHistory="true"
        android:screenOrientation="portrait"
        android:theme="@android:style/Theme.Black.NoTitleBar" >
        <intent-filter>
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />

            <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
        </intent-filter>
    </activity>
    <activity
        android:name="com.myapp.LoginActivity"
        android:label="@string/title_activity_login"
        android:noHistory="true"
        android:screenOrientation="portrait"
        android:windowSoftInputMode="adjustResize|stateVisible" >
    </activity>
    <activity
        android:name="com.myapp.DashBoard"
        android:label="@string/app_name"
        android:screenOrientation="portrait" >
    </activity>
    <activity
        android:name="com.myapp.FragmentTabsPdv"
        android:label="@string/app_name"
        android:screenOrientation="portrait" >
        <meta-data
            android:name="android.support.PARENT_ACTIVITY"
            android:value="com.myapp.DashBoard" />
    </activity>

    <meta-data
        android:name="com.google.android.maps.v2.API_KEY"
        android:value="@string/maps_key" />

    <activity
        android:name="com.myapp.RutaActivity"
        android:label="@string/title_activity_ruta"
        android:screenOrientation="portrait" >
        <meta-data
            android:name="android.support.PARENT_ACTIVITY"
            android:value="com.myapp.FragmentTabsPdv" />
    </activity>
    <activity
        android:name="com.myapp.BaseActivity"
        android:label="@string/title_activity_base"
        android:screenOrientation="portrait" >
    </activity>
    <activity
        android:name="com.myapp.SettingsActivity"
        android:label="@string/title_activity_settings"
        android:screenOrientation="portrait" >
        <meta-data
            android:name="android.support.PARENT_ACTIVITY"
            android:value="com.myapp.DashBoard" />
    </activity>
    <activity
        android:name="com.myapp.InformacionPdvActivity"
        android:label="@string/infoPdv"
        android:screenOrientation="portrait" >
        <meta-data
            android:name="android.support.PARENT_ACTIVITY"
            android:value="com.myapp.RutaActivity" />
    </activity>

    <receiver android:name="com.myapp.BaseActivity$NetworkChangeReceiver" >
        <intent-filter>
            <action android:name="android.net.conn.CONNECTIVITY_CHANGE" />
        </intent-filter>
    </receiver>

    <activity
        android:name="com.myapp.MetricaTabs"
        android:label="@string/title_activity_metrica_tabs"
        android:screenOrientation="portrait"
        android:windowSoftInputMode="adjustPan" >
        <meta-data
            android:name="android.support.PARENT_ACTIVITY"
            android:value="com.myapp.RutaActivity" />
    </activity>

    <meta-data
        android:name="com.crashlytics.ApiKey"
        android:value="7d80161d908dd5424f232598dba254c7d2a43307" />

    <activity
        android:name="com.myapp.SendMessageActivity"
        android:label="@string/title_activity_send_message" >
    </activity>
</application>

Solution 1

Make sure the app you have installed in your mobile is not an apk built with debug keystore. The play store will show always as "Open" button instead of "Update" if the play store app certificate doesn't match with the installed app certificate. I realized this when I did trial and error with debug and signed apk's only signed apk worked. And always use versionCode for comparing versions instead of versionName.

Solution 2

It also helps to clear the cache of the Play Store APP in settings. This should not be necessary. The problem is that this blocks an update to the correct version later. Only the version number is updated but not the binary. Google Play then thinks that everything is ok, but it still uses the old APK.

Solution 3

hope this helps someone since I have benefitted a lot from this community.

If your last installed version is from Android studio, you won't see the 'Update' button in play store. You will see the 'Open' button instead. I have tested this with my development phone in which the app was installed directly using Android studio and also with some of my actual users. My users installed the last version from play store. When I pushed a new update, they see the 'Update' button in play store.

Solution 4

I solve this once my app update button was not showing because i did't installed it directly from play store . Now the solution is download old version of your app from play store and then upload new version of app after publishing of app update button will show.

Solution 5

Before You Jump into messier solutions try clearing the cache of Play Store and look at your app's play store listing. In my case it worked.

View more solutions

Comments

[Juliatzin]

I use signed version always!

[Roy Doron]

What do you mean by "debug keystore"?? you generate a Keystore after Building in Release mode and archiving the project. there is no "Debug" keystore.. there is just a Keystore....

[Amit Tumkur]

@RoyDoron it is generated default by android studio for building a project into apk every time.it is signed every time with this default keystore file. You can find it on Windows pc at this location C:\Users\XXXXX\.android\debug.keystore

[Mooing Duck]

Android Studio uses debug keys for debugging, which don't match the release keys used for release builds. Since your Android Studio version has a different key than the Play Store version, it won't update automatically

[Nimisha V]

I have the same issue, I installed release APK and update version name and version code and upload on play store. Still, I am getting "installed" button instead of "update".

[kishan verma]

@nimishaV install apk directly from play store after that when you upload new version it will show you update button.

[Nimisha V]

I got solution why I am not getting update option when I install APK from other sources. That is because of app signing.

[dtech]

Update will not show for signed packages either. I think it is because google play strips some information from the apk before it gets to the app store, which constitutes some minor difference in the packages, which is why it doesn't show update.

[Bruno Eduardo]

If you download an old APK from your version control console you also won't see the "Update" button.

[mad_greasemonkey]

Did not work for me, I created a signed apk with the same keystore file, still it is not showing the update button in play store.

[Gaudam Thiyagarajan]

could be because of play store cache. try clearing play store cache in app settings of play store

[Jakir Hossen]

clear play store data from app info or settings/ application/playstore/clear data

[amit pandya]

where you can clear the cache in google play store?

[Tomas Andersen]

Sorry for late reply, follow these instructions: support.google.com/googleplay/answer/7513003

[Amol Chakane]

Even after the signed APK we get this issue for some of the users. When they first search and open the app in play store. Again when they press back button and click on app, the Update button is shown. Is there anything a developer can do to resolve this problem?

[Mahesh Jamdade]

but if we have a app in production and some good amount of user base we cant tell end users to clear playstore app cache / data

[Tomas Andersen]

Hi. Yes I see that. I haven't found any other workaround yet. So you should at least update your FAQ or documentation/help sections to include the info about the clear cache part. If anyone finds out please post the response here.

[Sinapse]

Same for me, even if I use the same keys

[Gopal Awasthi]

What if I release 2 releases in internal testing. Do I get the Update option in that case?

[Harpreet]

Yes, you will get the update option for all added test Gmail accounts.

[raddevus]

Mine versionCode was larger but it still didn't show update. Actually, all the items that are supposedly requirements are changed in mine but the update still doesn't want to show. (as of 2021-07-02)

[raddevus]

FYI - Clearing my cache on Play Store app didn't help. The update doesn't show up evern though my versionCode and version and all the other items are set up properly.

[raddevus]

I updated my app following all of the known procedures. My app doesn't show up with update button still -- yes, deleted cache from play store etc. I also installed the app on one phone and then went to another phone (where previous version is installed) went to the app store to see if it would show update but it doesn't: only shows [open] button. This seems to be an unsolvable mystery at this time. 😞

[Laurent]

THANK YOU! YOU SAVED MY LIFE! Yes, You have to push all updates on the play store and download from it AND NOT test from a version from Android Studio or Visual Studio Code. Google make the difference,may be a security concerrn. I had always the launch button and now I have the upadte (notice, You'll have to wait a bit after you deployed the appbundle to the play console. Good luck!