We’ve reported Google is testing Inline Update flow for the Chrome Canary on Android which allows updating Chrome without leaving the app. If you don’t know, Google has announced about “In-app updates” in 2018 and at I/O 2019, the company confirmed about in-App updates API general availability for developers. The new API is a “Play Core Library feature that introduces a new request flow to prompt active users to update” apps.
In app-Updates API currently supports two flows.
Immediate update flow: requires users to update the app before using the app. Developers can use this UX to address major bugs.
A full screen user experience that requires the user to update and restart the app in order to continue using the app
Google says this user experience is ” best for the cases where an update is critical for continued use of the app”. If the user gives permission to update, Google Play takes care of installing the update and restarts the app.
Flexible update flow: This allows users to download the update while using the app. This UX is ideal to push new features, performance improvements, and minor fixes.
A user experience that provides background download and installation with graceful state monitoring.
Seems developers already using in-app update’s Flexible flow to prompt users to update their apps in the background. For instance, we’ve noticed popular streaming app HotStar doing that.
The flexible update flow ensures user continues to use the app while the update is downloaded in the background and user will be notified to install the update when the download is complete, This update experience doesn’t require users to leave App and visit Play Store.
Have you noticed any other apps prompting you to update the app in the background in this fashion?