Google Play Store Not Working
Google Play is a source to download and even run many applications. It acts as a medium between the android user and the creator of the application. If an error occurs when opening the application from the Google Play store, it can be fatal for users as this will cause a delay in downloading and opening the applications.
There is no particular Play Store troubleshooting guide, but there are certain methods that can help to restart the app. But before trying these methods, make sure that the problems you are facing are on the Play Store itself and not on the device. Many times, a temporary server problem can be the cause of Google Play Store errors.
Google Play Store Not Working? 10 ways to fix it!
There can be several reasons why your Google Play store is not working, such as a problem with the Internet connection, a simple glitch in the application, that the phone is not updated, etc.
Before delving into the reason, you should try restarting the phone. Sometimes simply restarting the device can solve the problem.
If the problem persists even after restarting the device, then you will have to review the guide to solve your problem.
Method 1: Check the Internet connection and the date and time settings
The basic requirement to run or download any application from the Google Play Store is an internet connection. Therefore, it is important to check the internet connection for the Google Play Store to work properly. Try switching from Wi-Fi to mobile data or vice versa. You can also try activating the Airplane mode and then deactivating it. Try opening the Google Play Store. It may now work correctly.
Basic data and time settings often prevent Google from connecting to the Google Play Store. Therefore, it is mandatory to keep the date and time up to date. To update the date and time settings, follow these steps:
1. Open the Settings on your Android smartphone,
2. Find the Date and time option in the search bar or touch the Additional settings option in the settings menu,
3. Touch the date and time option.
4. Touch the button next to the Automatic date and time. If it is already on, then turn it off and on again by touching it.
After completing these steps, go back to the play store and try to connect.
Method 2: Clear the Play Store Data Cache
Every time the Play store runs, some data is cached, most of which is unnecessary data. This unnecessary data is easily corrupted due to Google play not working properly. Therefore, it is very important to clear this unnecessary data from the cache.
To clear the cache data for the play store, follow these steps:
1. Open Settings on your Android smartphone.
2. Find the Google Play Store option in the search bar or touch the Apps option and then touch the Manage applications option from the list.
3. Search or manually find the google play store option from the list again, then Touch to open it.
4. In the Google Play Store option, touch the Clear data option.
5. A dialogue box will appear.
6. Touch the Clear Cache option. A confirmation dialogue will appear. The cache will be cleared.
After completing the steps above, try running the Google Play Store again. It may work fine now.
Method 3: Clear all Play Store data and settings
Deleting all data from the play store and resetting the settings may cause the Google Play Store to start working properly.
To delete all data and settings from the Google Play Store, follow these steps:
1. Open Settings on your smartphone.
2. Find the Google Play Store option in the search bar or touch the Apps option and then touch the Manage applications option from the list below.
3. Search again or manually find the Google play store option from the list and then tap on it to open it.
4. In the Google Play Store option, touch the Clear data option.
5. A dialogue box will appear. Tap on the option ‘Delete all data.
6. A confirmation box will appear. Click on OK.
After doing the steps above, you may be able to fix the Google Play Store not working problem.
Method 4: Reconnect Google Account
If the Google account is not properly connected to your device, it may cause the Google Play Store to malfunction. Disconnecting the Google account and reconnecting it can fix the problem.
To disconnect and reconnect your Google account, follow these steps:
- Open Settings on your smartphone.
- Find the Accounts option in the search bar or click the Accounts option from the list below.
3. In the Accounts option, touch the Google account, which is connected to your game store.
4. Press the Delete account option on the screen.
5. A pop-up window will appear on the screen, tap Remove account.
6. Return to the Accounts menu and tap on the Add account options.
7. Touch the Google option from the list, and on the next screen, touch the option Access Google account, which was previously connected to the Play Store.
After reconnecting your account, try to run the Google Play Store again. The problem will be fixed now.
Method 5: Uninstall updates from Google Play Store
If you have updated the Google Play Store recently and have a problem opening the Google Play Store, this issue may be due to the recent Google Play Store update. By uninstalling the latest update from the Google play store, your problem can be fixed.
1. Open Settings on your smartphone.
2. Find the Google Play Store option in the search bar or click the Apps option and then touch the Manage applications option from the list below.
3. Search or manually search for the Google Play Store option from the list again, then touch it to open it.
4. Within the Google Play Store option, touch the Uninstall option
5. A confirmation window will appear on the screen, click OK.
After completing these steps, the Google Play Store can start working now.
Method 6: Force stop Google Play Store
Google play store can start working when restarted. But before restarting the play store, you may have to force it to stop.
To force stop the Google Play Store, follow the steps below:
1. Open Settings on your smartphone.
2. Find the Google Play Store option in the search bar or touch the Apps option and then touch the Manage applications option from the list below.
3. Search or manually find the google play store option from the list again, then Touch to open it.
4. In the Google Play Store option, tap the Force stop option.
5. A pop-up window will appear. Click OK / Force Stop.
6. Restart the Google Play Store.
After the Google Play Store restarts, you may be able to fix the Google Play Store not working problem.
Method 7: Mark disabled apps
If you have some apps disabled, these apps may interfere with your Google play store. Enabling those apps may fix the problem.
To check the list of disabled apps, follow these steps:
1. Open the Settings of your smartphone.
2. Find the Apps option in the search bar or touch the Apps option in the menu and then touch the Manage Apps option from the list below.
3. You will see a list of all the applications. If any app is disabled, tap on it and enable it.
After enabling all disabled apps, try to run the Google Play store again. It may now work correctly.
Method 8: Disable the VPN
VPN acts as a proxy, allowing you to access all sites from different geographical locations. Sometimes if the proxy is enabled, it can interfere with the operation of the Google Play Store. If the VPN is disabled, the Google Play Store may start working properly.
To disable the VPN, follow these steps:
1. Open Settings on your smartphone.
2. Search for a VPN in the search bar or select the VPN option in the settings menu.
3. Click on the VPN and then disable it by disabling the switch next to the VPN.
Once the VPN is disabled, the Google Play store may start working properly.
Method 9: Restart your phone
Sometimes just restarting the phone can cause the Google Play store to start working properly, as restarting the phone removes temporary files that may prevent the Google Play store from working. To restart the phone, follow these steps :
1. Press the power button to open the menu, which has the option to Restart the device.
2. Tap on the Restart option.
After restarting the phone, the Google play store can start working.
Method 10: Factory Reset Your Phone
If none of the above methods works, then the last option left is to factory reset the phone. But be careful because a factory reset will erase all the data on your phone. To factory reset your phone, follow these steps:
1. Open the Settings of your smartphone.
2. Look for Factory Reset in the search bar or tap the backup and reset option in the settings menu.
3. Click the factory data reset button on the screen.
4. Click the Reset option on the next screen.
After the factory reset is complete, restart the phone and launch the Google play store. It may now work correctly.
Hopefully, using the methods mentioned in the guide, your problem related to the Google Play Store not working will be fixed. But if you still have questions, feel free to ask them in the comment section.
Mustafa Al Mahmud is the Founder of Gizmo Concept and also a professional Blogger, SEO Professional as well as Entrepreneur. He loves to travel and enjoy his free moment with family members and friends.