Google to specify improvements in Google Play updates

In addition to security updates, Google Play system updates also regularly appear for Android. However, a changelog of this was never shared by Google. That is now changing, with Google specifying the content of the updates.

Content Google Play System Updates

Every month there is a new security update for Android, which manufacturers in turn can optimize for their devices. In addition, a Google Play system update appears with some regularity. Bugs are often addressed and new functions can be added in the background. The Google Play system updates will appear not only for smartphones, but also for other devices such as tablets, Wear OS watches, Android Auto and other Google certified Android devices. The content of these updates was never shared, so it was always a guess what exactly was being tackled.

It appears that Google has now worked on this, going into more detail about what has been addressed with which updates. Google has been doing this since December 2021, but has only just surfaced now. The changelog is shared on Google’s support pages. So here we see which improvements and issues have been addressed.

With the December 2021 Google Play system update, improvements have been made to battery life. In addition, Google has added improvements for device connectivity, network usage, privacy, stability, security, and updateability. In the January 2022 changelog, Google rolled out improvements to the system that manages the time zone and the associated transition to daylight saving time. We have listed the January ones for you below.

January 2022

Critical Fixes

• [Tablet, Wear OS, Phone] Bug fixes for device connectivity, safety & emergency, system management & diagnostics and media related services.^[1]

Google Play Store

• Play-as-you-download feature to let gamers start playing mobile games while the app download continues to reduce waiting times. ^[3]
• New Features to help you discover the Apps & Games you love.^[3]
• Optimizations allowing faster and more reliable download and installation.^[3]
• New features to the Play Pass and Play Points programs. ^[3]
• Enhancements to Google Play Billing. ^[3]
• Continuous improvements to Play Protect to keep your device safe. ^[3]
• Various performance optimizations, bug fixes and improvements to security, stability and accessibility. ^[3]

System Management

• With updates to the timezone management system, added support for new daylight savings time transition changes in various countries.^[1]
• Updates to system management services that improve device connectivity, network usage, stability, security and updateability. ^[1]

_{[1] Available through Google Play system update for January.}

_{[3] Available through Google Play Store v28.7 updated on 01/06/2022.}