Back in July, Google detailed a new “System services” page to update background apps that help power your Android device.
Besides Google Play services, there are a ton of other first-party applications that help Android run. These apps mostly lack homescreen/launcher icons and interfaces, while they don’t appear in the Play Store’s main updates list alongside what you download.
Google is now providing a centralized place to see and update them.
To access (on most Android devices), open the Settings app > Google > switch to the “All services” tab > scroll to “Privacy & security” > System services. On Pixel, start by tapping the top card with your name and profile image in Settings.
Top comment by Arthur
I've had this page for a few weeks now. While it's nice to be able to individually check if there are any pending updates for these various apps, not being able to see the latest version number on the Play Store listing is a PITA.
You have to go to the app page in the phone's app listings and check the version number at the bottom of the page.
Google lists the following services by “Up to date” and “Available updates”:
- Adaptive Connective Services
- Android System Intelligence: Live Caption, Smart Reply, more
- Android System Key Verifier: Google Messages
- Android System SafetyCore: Sensitive Content Warnings in Google Messages
- Android System WebView
- Cross-Device Services: Android app streaming on Chromebooks
- Device Connectivity Service: Notification sync between the Pixel Tablet and phones
- Device Health Services
- Google Partner Setup
- Google Play Protect Service
- Google Play services: Fast Pair, Quick Share, Unknown Tracker Alerts
- Google Play Services for AR: ARCore
- Google Partner Setup
- Search Engine Selector
- Settings Services
- SIM Manager
- System parental controls
These services automatically update in the background, but this page lets you do it immediately (if available). You can open a listing to read the Play Store description, but this page lacks version numbers. As such, you have to visit the App info page in an oversight that Google will hopefully address. If needed, you can also “Remove updates.”
Speaking of App info, tapping “App details” at the bottom of that page will now take you to System services instead of the Play Store.
This page also has a prominent link to “Join System services beta.” That includes Google Play services and all the other services mentioned on this page.
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