How To Schedule Updates Google Play Apps

Thread Starter

I have an DINC and have most of the apps set to automatically update. The problem I'm having is that they seem to update at really inconvenient times.
Is there a way to set an update time or time range? If it's not native, does anyone know of an app that will do this?

Thank you in advance.

Jeff

Download the Forums for Android™ app!

Download

Maybe a tasker profile to turn background data on and off at particular times.
I don't know of scheduling, but you do have two options under settings in Play / Market.
1. Auto-update apps - this way you will have to manually update the apps, but you could use the update all button.
2. Update over Wi-Fi only - This is how I do it, as usually I get frustrated when I am trying to pull up a web site and it is slow because an app is updated. At least if they are updating over WiFi, it isn't as noticeable as it is on 3G
I'm afraid you can not.
Why don't you manually update them?

mikedt and utahjeff like this.
I'm totally with the original poster on this, it seems ridiculous that there isn't a simple schedule option built in for updating. It seems like update happen most commonly when I want to use the tablet or phone an having everything shudder to a halt while half a dozen apps download and install makes me want to revisit my decision to love android! Manual update isn't really a solution either, it just creates a task to remember to do. Perhaps there is a hook in one of the automate apps to turn on auto update for a select time, that'd possibly do it.
+1 for OP. Is there anybody who solved this problem?
It might be perfect if it updates my apps while I'm asleep, like 3 am.
+1. Not difficult to do at some time when you're not busy at home. Apps will update at various times, I assume, because they get updated to the Play Store at different times, as and when the developer gets around to it. But I've never had an app update yet that couldn't wait until it suits "me" to update.
Dave
I have mine set to manual updates and just accept all pending updates manually when I go to bed and they're done by morning. I do need to "keep WiFi enabled whilst charging" in Juice Defender.
+1
Can't believe this isn't a feature, I'm rooted and familiar with Tasker, no luck though. Will send virtual beer to whoever figures it out : )
I just have auto-update turned off, solves the problem for me completely. Because I prefer to see the nature of the update, and if there's going to be any problems or other adverse changes, this being a very good example of a bad app update... http://androidforums.com/threads/tapatalk-user-revolt.892042/
I've had some games I enjoyed ruined by updates, namely changes to now have intrusive ads in them.

Thom and codesplice like this.
This might work:
1 - Install AFwall+ (needs root) firewall. A pretty good program even if not needed for this. Simple interface to limit wifi or data access for each app.
2 - Create two "profiles" within AFwall+ (not to be confused with Tasker profile). One of the profiles (call it PlayEnabled) allows Google Play to access the internet and the other doesn't (PlayDisabled)
3 - Use the AFwall plugin within Tasker to switch between the AFwall profiles based on a Tasker schedule. For example switch to PlayEnabled at 1AM and switch to PlayDisabled at 5AM
This will surely prevent Google play from updating outside those hours. Two problem though:
A - what happens when you want to go into Google play for example to manually install a new program? You've got to switch toPlayEnabled AFwall+e profile before that would work. I suppose you could create an extra Tasker Task (with shortcut) that does two things: switch to PlayEnabled profile first and then launch Play. Then instead of manually launching the Play app directly when you want to visit the playstore, you just manually launch the shortcut to that extra task instead. But now when you're done you have to figure out how to switch back to PlayDisabled profile afterwards. Might be doable with some more thought, or might just tolerate it until next morning at 5AM when PlayDisabled will get switched in.
B - potential problem. What happens if Play senses a connection but can't connect? No way to know until you try it. Occasionally blocking programs has unexpected effects. It's not difficult to imagine you might be a little late getting some updates if Play doesn't attempt to update during the window 1AM-5AM.

argedion and mikedt like this.
I have updates set to occur only when WiFi is on. I also use an app called "WiFi On On Power," which basically turns WiFi on when I plug the phone in to a charger, and turns WiFi off when I unplug it. As a result, my phone automatically does all of its updating during charging (which usually means that I'm asleep), without any extra effort on my part.
BUMP
Certain things like this baffle me. +7 billion people & not a handful have found this meaningful enough to develop it? 18 updates while trying to get some work done over wifi is extremely inconvenient.
Like others mentioned here ... I have auto update turned off and check when it is convenient to see if anything is pending. I review before update on some and usually choose Update All.
Auto Update can and eventually will nail you when something is updated that you are not aware of.

You are the hall monitor ... it is part of the responsibility an Android owner has.

(Next thing you're going to tell us is that you use Clean Master.)

... Thom
I am not following your point. I'm not Android. I'm telling you there is an answer ... personal responsibility.
The fulcrum on which everything in Android is balanced is ... permissions. By using auto-update I assume you are also ignoring any review of permission change prior to updating. If this assumption is correct you're asking for trouble.

The only recourse in Android is to review permissions before doing an update. What good is it to do it after an update and after all your data has been sent to a home office in a different country?

... Thom
That is incorrect. Autoupdate will not install updates where new permissions are required. YOu will need to manually update the app and accept the new permissions, shown on a screen that lists only the new permissions, before the update will install.

electricpete and Thom like this.
Thank you for the clarification. My assumptions are now edited in.
... Thom
Hear hear... crappy rural Internet and 3 android devices in the house with the wife refusing to turn off auto updates on hers because she thinks she'll miss something important like a critical Facebook update... meanwhile Im stuck on the slow train most evenings. 2 am sounds like a reasonable time for auto updating to me.
Is there a way to use Tasker to turn on/off the auto update feature? Sorry, I am not terribly familiar with Tasker. Seems simple enough:
1. Turn on auto update at desired time.
2. Allow for reasonable amount of time for updates to happen.
3. Turn off auto update.

What are the best Tasker resources out there?

To all of you who think that the current state is ok, thank you in advance for your words of being ok with the status quo; but please don't tell the rest of us that we should just be happy with what we have right now. Auto updates during the business day is a P.I.T.A.
You can manipulate the dialog boxes in apps using Tasker. You need to be root-ed to do it.
When you consider what you are asking you will see why. The whole concept if protection is isolation of one app from another to prevent a rogue app from nailing you. That is enforced by the system. If you root you can remove that barrier and assume responsibility for what happens.

... Thom
There is an option available like "update only on WIFI"
the point would be, to update during certain times
to update through certain WIFI
to update only while plugged
very strange that this features do not apply.

The reason:
my WLAN is very slow during the day
While using private hotspot it is very expensive to use the little Loaddown amount for updates
during night, when plugged in, updates max run
if any permission is needed, can be called another time.

thanks for considering
**EDIT 02/11/18**
I have subsequently discovered that the below works for me, but only because I use the BBC iPlayer radio app in alarm clock mode overnight, while charging. This has the side effect of keeping my phone unlocked all night, and in these circumstances the below method "just works". However, I have since tested with my wife's phone, which is left on charge but locked overnight. Llama is still triggering at the correct time, but in practice the play store update does not commence *until* the phone is manually unlocked (at which point you see the play store already in foreground, and updating begins immediately). I have played around with the llama options to unlock phone and turn screen on automatically, prior to issuing the intent action to update play store, but they don't seem to get past the phone unlock password - so at present this solution will only work on a phone that is not screen-locked. I will do some more digging and post another update if I come up with a more elegant solution.
************************************************
Ressurecting this old thread with a solution - I also couldn't believe that android doesn't have a built-in solution to schedule play store app updates. After a lot of fruitless googling, I finally came up with a solution that will work for both tasker & llama, using android intents. Haven't tried it with tasker but it works for me on llama, which is a free install from play store. So:,

1. install llama

2. create a new event called "scheduled app update".

3. Set a condition to run the event at your desired time (I have set it to run between 03:00 and 03:01; leave all other bits of the condition set up at default and this will cause the event to run once only, at 3am).

4. Create an action. Choose "android intent" as the action from the list of options, then configure as follows (note, all values in "quotes" below to be entered WITHOUT QUOTES):

4.1 preset: custom android intent
4.2 intent send mode: start activity
4.3 package name:
"com.android.vending"
4.4 class name: "com.google.android.finsky.activities.MainActivity"
4.5 action: "com.google.android.finsky.VIEW_MY_DOWNLOADS"
4.6 leave all other fields as default until you get to the one named extras. You then need to hit the "create new extra row" button. This brings up three columns. In the first column (key), enter "trigger_update_all"; in 2nd column, select "boolean" from the list; in 3rd column, enter "true" (all again without the quotes)

5. That is it set up. I suggest you immediately use the llama "test actions" button to check that it works ok for you (this should basically ignore your time condition and just run the event immediately, so if you have set it up correctly you should see the play store pop up, check for updates, and then auto-install any that are pending, even if like me you have auto-update disabled.

I have done a bit more config in mine (I put in a 2nd queued event to kick in 5 eeconds after play store starts, which turns off my screen - as my phone is on a stand on bedside cabinet overnight, right in my line of sight, and the play store is very bright at 3am!).

Anyway, this works for me on 6.0.1 on my faithful old galaxy note 4, and I have also set it up & tested it on my wife's galaxy 7 edge running 8.0.0 (both stock, no root).

As I said above, Tasker also supports android intents, so plugging in same intent data to tasker should probably achieve same result.

Shame on google for not implementing this in a more user friendly manner from directly within play store settings, there are many like me on a capped data plan but with unmetered overnight, who don't want ~1GB of data to be consumed by the whole household's android devices all auto-updating during metered hours

ps. I registered here just to make this post, I don't think I've joined a forum for about 5 years, cos normally I can find what I need on google without having to post a question - but this one was a doozie, google is full of people asking how to do this, but very light on solutions!! Feels nice to pay back for all the many forum answers I've silently used in the past