Google may be developing a way to send out Android system updates the same way it delivers app updates — through the Play Store.
The next change to Android system updates could be more user-facing, with an interface right in the Play Store instead of system settings. It’s not ready for prime time yet, and it’s unclear if or when it’ll ever see the light of day or if it will be available to all Android phones, or just a subset (like Google Pixel devices, or maybe Android One phones). But it sure looks like Google is at least considering rolling out system updates through the Play Store.
However, this seems like a very good idea. With a function like the one described above, users would be able to update both their apps and operating system in one, much more user-friendly place, rather than digging through the various settings screens. Needless to say, this small improvement also makes it much more convenient to distribute updates to manufacturers, who may be increasingly encouraged to update their products in the shortest possible time.
There are no pictures of the new Google Play system update feature included in the Play Store APK, but there are some lines of text suggesting it’ll work a lot like the current System Update feature on Google Pixel phones, first offering a “Download & Install” option, followed by “Preparing…” then “Installing… Device will restart soon” and finally “All good! Update complete.”