Android Emulator stuck on "Google Play Services are Updating"

Question

I recently began learning how to create Google Maps activities in Android app development, and have stumbled onto an issue with Google Play Services. Whenever I set my gradle build dependency to compile 'com.google.android.gms:play-services-maps:11.0.4', which is the most recent version of play-services-maps, the emulator screen gets stuck on the following view upon running my maps app:

I have allowed the app to sit there for over an hour, and nothing has changed or updated. As I've read in other StackOverflow questions, I can get the app to properly function by setting my gradle build dependency to an older version, such as compile 'com.google.android.gms:play-services-maps:9.0.0', but this limits my ability to use newer Android features and APIs in my apps, such as FusedLocationProviderClient.

I am running on Nougat 7.1.1, and have installed the following SDKs in an attempt to solve this Google Play Updating issue:

• Android SDK Build-Tools
• Android SDK Tools
• Google Play APK Expansion Library
• Google Play services
• Support Repository > Google Repository

I haven't found any StackOverflow threads specific to this "Google Play services are updating" message. What can I do to resolve this issue?

Answer 1

In addition to @Jamal Eason's answer, you may use Nexus 5 and Nexus 5X emulators which have Play Store. Check here. You may also try running on real android device connected via USB that supports google maps and having google play service installed.

Answer 2

Use API 24 or API 26 Android Emulator system images and you should be good to go. API 25 does not have the latest Google Play Store app pre-installed yet. Note on the screen shot that only these images are "Google Play" versions.