By
Chethan Rao
Published Feb 4, 2026, 1:02 PM EST
Chethan is a reporter at Android Police, focusing on the weekend news coverage for the site. He has covered tech for over a decade with multiple publications, including the likes of Times Internet, Guiding Tech, and Android Headlines, to name a few. Chethan's love for Android dates back to the days of the Samsung/Google Nexus S, with his first Android phone being the HTC Desire HD back in 2010. Away from work, he's on the lookout for live cricket streams or NBA highlights. He also enjoys the occasional hour or two of console/mobile gaming whenever time permits.
Sign in to your Android Police account Add Us On Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recapGoogle Play system updates are rolled out to Android devices from time to time. These updates often land without any major user-facing changes, though they include crucial security-related fixes and other improvements essential for your Android smartphone.
While it's not uncommon for an update of this nature to be delayed, multiple user reports now suggest that the most recent Play system update has brought about a peculiar issue. According to posts and comments on Reddit, devices running the January 1, 2026, Play system update were downgraded to the November 1, 2025, version following an update.
Although these posts discuss instances of the issue appearing on Pixel devices, Android Authority notes that it's also affecting a OnePlus 13R at their disposal. The publication also found that their device reverted to the January 1, 2026, Play system update after uninstalling the Play system update, a process that Google made easier in November.
You probably won't need to take such a drastic step, though, as we haven't seen reports of it causing any performance issues on devices (yet). So it's wise to stay put and wait for Google to issue a clarification or restart the February 2026 update.
There's probably not much need for concern
One user heard back from Google's support team on this situation:
It is normal for the Google Play system update behind the security patch, often remaining on an older date like November 1, 2025, even with a February 2026 security patch. These updates often roll out in phases and are independent of OS security updates. No action is required, as they update automatically in the background.
You likely received a small, incremental update that did not include major module changes, so this may not change the date.
Separately, Android Authority theorizes that Google may have accidentally mislabeled this particular update. While that may partially explain the current situation, we can't be entirely sure until it's official. Aside from the comment above, Google hasn't issued a detailed statement on this particular glitch. We have reached out to the company and will update this story as soon as we hear back.
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Get the newsletter for straightforward explanations of Play system update glitches, user reports, and what they mean for your Android device. Subscribing helps you follow Android update coverage and practical clarifications. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.I didn't encounter this issue while installing the Google Play system update on my Pixel 6a, having made the jump from the November 2025 update to the January 2026 version. It's worth noting that the Pixel 6 and the Pixel 7 (except the Pixel 7a) have moved to a quarterly release schedule, which means the January 2026 update may be the last for the next few months.
Meanwhile, some users are still stuck on the November 2025 Play system update, so the experience is far from consistent.
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