How to update your Google Play Store app without sideloading like a savage

Oh, Google. You and your little tricks. Dunno how old this is (Update: Ah, since March or so. Cool.), but apparently there's a neat little trick to forcing your Google Play Store app to check for an update. No installing apk files from who knows where. No waiting like a peasant.

Just a couple taps of a button.

Are you ready? Here it is.

  1. Open the settings menu in the Google Play Store app.
  2. Scroll all the way down.
  3. Tap on the Build Version section.

How about that.

We presume there's a little more back-end magic to it, but whatever. We now have a "check for updates" button, and we're going to mash the hell out of it.

Props to +Phil Edge for pointing it out and for having an awesome name. And props to +Russell Holly for the act of headline savagery. And props to Google for remembering to have fun with its operating system.

Phil Nickinson