Google Play Store not working on your phone? Here's how to resolve the issue
We all experience different Google Play Store problem at some point or the other. The problem could occur as a result of an error message when downloading apps, or Play Store not opening at all, and sometimes it's always frustrating getting all sorts of error messages on your phone.
Most users are tired and do not know how exactly to fix this issue. Provided you follow the below tips you shouldn't have any issue about Google Play Store not working on your phone anymore.
Below are ways to make Google Play Store run smoothly on your device when it doesn't work on your Android phone.
In minor cases, you can get the Play Store running smoothly again by just clearing the cache. The cache is simply a storage area which temporarily holds data so it can be quickly retrieved without the need for reload. Clearing the cache can actually solve the problem on your phone.
Firstly, navigate to Settings > Apps > Application manager ( depends on your device though). From there scroll down and tap Clear Cache or you might have to go to Storage and then Clear Cache.
Upon completion of this, navigate to Google Play Store and see if the problem is solved, if it's not, then try any of the below tips here.
Deleting your Play Store data is quite similar to the first step but erases quite a bit more, as it sets the app back to square one and deletes all of your saved information, including any issue that might have caused the problem on your phone.
You have to take note that you need to backup all your information as files, settings, accounts, databases and other information of sort will be erased and also have the login information for the,, account as it will be taken off the Google Play Store account.
To do this, navigate to Settings > Apps/Application manager. From there Clear data, or go to Storage first then Clear data.
There's every possibility that Play Store problems could come issues with Google Play Services. For example Google Play is the body of your Android device then, Google Play Services is its soul. Play Services is responsible for background processes that allows apps to communicate with different parts of your device, allowing them to sync, send push notifications and many more. So to say, if after clearing the cache on Google play store doesn't resolve the issue, then there might be need to go to Google Play Services and do same too.
To do this, go to Settings > Apps and find Google Play services app. Depending on the type of device, you should be able to hit the Clear cache button, and if it doesn't help still, come back to Google play services and tap Manage space/ manage storage then click on Clear data.
This aspect might also help as such you are advised to download and install the latest version of Google Play Services on your phone, as the current version of the software tends to be the most stable. So you are advised to keep it updated.
There's every chance that Play Store on your phone will stop working if the download manager on your phone is disabled. To enable it, navigate to Settings > Apps/Application manager > All ^ Download manager.
Note: if Download Manager is disabled, you will see a button marked with Enable, so simply tap to switch Download manager back on. Likewise if all you see are force stop and disable buttons then it means Download Manage is enabled.
If none of the above steps seem not to work, then performing a factory reset will be a better option, as you are advised to back up all your useful data and information before doing this as all information and data will be lost.
To do this, navigate to Settings > Backup & reset, and make sure the slider for Backup my data is on. Click Backup account to select which account you want your data backed up to.
Once this is done, go to the Backup & reset menu and tap the Factory data reset button at the bottom. Confirm to do this and your phone is back as new. All of your data will be restored when you log in back into your Google account.
If your Play Store app isn't working, then refreshing your Google account on your Android device will be a better option. This means that your Google account on your phone will be reset and not just in the Google Play Store. Make sure you know the acount(s) before you do this as you may lose the entire account if care is not taken.
To do this, go to Settings > Accounts. Then tap the Google account you so wish to remove, then click the menu icon( hamburger icon at the top right) and tap Remove account. You can do this for every Google account on your device.
To re enter your Google account, go to Settings > Account. The only thing you get to see here now is Add account, so if you see an account there then it means you forgot to remove one. Click on the Add Account and follow the on-screen steps to re add your account.
If you using a Rooted device and Play Store has refused to work on your device, you can modify your host file for a quick fix.
Go to your preferred file manager, go to system/etc/hosts and select the Edit option( though varies between devices)
Add a hashtag(#) to the front of the second set of numbers and save your changes(i.e change 124.0.0.1 to #124.0.0.1) and reboot your device. Re add your Google account and your Google Play Store problems should be solved.
Most users are tired and do not know how exactly to fix this issue. Provided you follow the below tips you shouldn't have any issue about Google Play Store not working on your phone anymore.
Below are ways to make Google Play Store run smoothly on your device when it doesn't work on your Android phone.
1. Clear the Google Play Store Cache
In minor cases, you can get the Play Store running smoothly again by just clearing the cache. The cache is simply a storage area which temporarily holds data so it can be quickly retrieved without the need for reload. Clearing the cache can actually solve the problem on your phone.
Firstly, navigate to Settings > Apps > Application manager ( depends on your device though). From there scroll down and tap Clear Cache or you might have to go to Storage and then Clear Cache.
Upon completion of this, navigate to Google Play Store and see if the problem is solved, if it's not, then try any of the below tips here.
2. Clear/ delete Play Store data
Deleting your Play Store data is quite similar to the first step but erases quite a bit more, as it sets the app back to square one and deletes all of your saved information, including any issue that might have caused the problem on your phone.
You have to take note that you need to backup all your information as files, settings, accounts, databases and other information of sort will be erased and also have the login information for the,, account as it will be taken off the Google Play Store account.
To do this, navigate to Settings > Apps/Application manager. From there Clear data, or go to Storage first then Clear data.
3. Clear data and cache on Google Play Services
There's every possibility that Play Store problems could come issues with Google Play Services. For example Google Play is the body of your Android device then, Google Play Services is its soul. Play Services is responsible for background processes that allows apps to communicate with different parts of your device, allowing them to sync, send push notifications and many more. So to say, if after clearing the cache on Google play store doesn't resolve the issue, then there might be need to go to Google Play Services and do same too.
To do this, go to Settings > Apps and find Google Play services app. Depending on the type of device, you should be able to hit the Clear cache button, and if it doesn't help still, come back to Google play services and tap Manage space/ manage storage then click on Clear data.
4. Installation of latest Google Play Services version
This aspect might also help as such you are advised to download and install the latest version of Google Play Services on your phone, as the current version of the software tends to be the most stable. So you are advised to keep it updated.
5. Enable Download Manager
There's every chance that Play Store on your phone will stop working if the download manager on your phone is disabled. To enable it, navigate to Settings > Apps/Application manager > All ^ Download manager.
Note: if Download Manager is disabled, you will see a button marked with Enable, so simply tap to switch Download manager back on. Likewise if all you see are force stop and disable buttons then it means Download Manage is enabled.
6. Reset factory data on your smartphone
If none of the above steps seem not to work, then performing a factory reset will be a better option, as you are advised to back up all your useful data and information before doing this as all information and data will be lost.
To do this, navigate to Settings > Backup & reset, and make sure the slider for Backup my data is on. Click Backup account to select which account you want your data backed up to.
Once this is done, go to the Backup & reset menu and tap the Factory data reset button at the bottom. Confirm to do this and your phone is back as new. All of your data will be restored when you log in back into your Google account.
7. Reset your Google account on your phone
If your Play Store app isn't working, then refreshing your Google account on your Android device will be a better option. This means that your Google account on your phone will be reset and not just in the Google Play Store. Make sure you know the acount(s) before you do this as you may lose the entire account if care is not taken.
To do this, go to Settings > Accounts. Then tap the Google account you so wish to remove, then click the menu icon( hamburger icon at the top right) and tap Remove account. You can do this for every Google account on your device.
To re enter your Google account, go to Settings > Account. The only thing you get to see here now is Add account, so if you see an account there then it means you forgot to remove one. Click on the Add Account and follow the on-screen steps to re add your account.
8. Rooted users: edit hosts file
If you using a Rooted device and Play Store has refused to work on your device, you can modify your host file for a quick fix.
Go to your preferred file manager, go to system/etc/hosts and select the Edit option( though varies between devices)
Add a hashtag(#) to the front of the second set of numbers and save your changes(i.e change 124.0.0.1 to #124.0.0.1) and reboot your device. Re add your Google account and your Google Play Store problems should be solved.
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