Google Play Store not working, how to do it

If the Google Play Store isn't working first of all, you'll want to make sure it's your problem and not Google's servers. If the Play Store doesn't open check if it works on a service like downdetector, for example. If many users report a similar problem, it is likely that the problem is from Google, you will have to wait for them to fix it.

If you suspect that the problem is with your phone, we recommend that you restart your phone. It sounds obvious, but this can be a quick fix to many problems. If the problem recurs, it's time to get down to business and understand why Google Play isn't working.

Make sure the date and time are correct and your internet connection is working properly.

At some point we've all had a problem with the Google Play Store. Whether it's an error message when the Play Store won't connect, crashes, or just won't open, there are a few solutions for you to try. Here's what you can do when the Google Play Store isn't downloading apps or connecting.

Google Play Store not working, how to do it

It may sound too simple or easy, but checking your internet connection could fix the problems you are having. Try switching from Wi-Fi to mobile data or vice versa and see if the problem persists. You should also try putting the phone into "airplane mode" and vice versa. Finally, you can reset the modem to make sure you have a good connection.

Check the Google apps on your phone

If the Play Store is not working or has anomalies, force it to close by dragging it away or by going to Settings> Apps and notifications> See all apps select Google Play Store and press Force close

Then, we recommend that you make sure that the Google Play itself is up to date and clean. This involves making sure you have the latest version of Google Play installed. 

If you are still having trouble, we recommend that you do some cleaning. This means clearing the Google Play Store cache, and if that doesn't solve the problem, you need to go further and clear your Play Store data.

If there is still a problem after the Play Store has been cleaned up, we will have to go a little deeper and clear the data and cache on Google Play Services, as well as make sure we install the latest version of Google Play Services. If the problem persists, the next step (make sure you record your passwords, etc.) is to reset your Google account on the device.

How to install the latest version of Google Play

It's silly, but sometimes an update is available for the Google Play but it won't download automatically until days after it's released. If you download the APK, you can get the latest version immediately. Read this article to find out how.

Play Store not working? Empty the cache.

In some cases, you can restart the Play Store by simply clearing the cache. The cache is a storage area that temporarily holds data so that it can be retrieved quickly without needing to be reloaded. This may solve your problem.

First, go to Settings from your smartphone's home screen. You should then go to Apps or Application Manager, it depends on your device. From there you should be able to scroll down and press on cache or you may need to go to Storage or Memory first then Clear Cache.

Once complete, go back to your Google Play Store and see if your problem is resolved. If not, you should try one of the other solutions here.

How to clear your Play Store data

Deleting data from the Play Store is similar to our first tip, but it deletes a little more. Return the app to its starting point and get rid of the saved information.

Remember, when you do this, your files, settings, accounts, databases and other information will be deleted. You should make sure that you have the login information for the account as your Google Play Store account will be removed.

To get started, go to Settings and find the app or Application Manager. From there you should be able to scroll down to Clear Data or go to Storage first and then Clear Data.

If the Google Play Store doesn't work, clear your data and cache

It is possible that Play Store problems may stem from problems with Google Play Services. If the Google Play Store is the heart of your Android device, then Google Play Services is its soul. Play Services is the mysterious background process that allows apps to communicate with different parts of the device, allowing them to sync, send push notifications, and so on.

If clearing the cache and data in your Google Play Store didn't work, you may need to log into Google Play Services and clear the data and cache there. Doing this is easy.

You need to go to your Settings and press Application Manager or Apps. From there, find the Google Play Services app (the piece of the puzzle). Depending on your device, you should be able to tap the Clear Cache button or you may need to go to Storage or Memory first, then hit Clear Cache.

If the problem persists, go back to this page and press Manage Space or Manage Storage, then tap Clear All Data.

Install the latest version of Google Play Services

Another thing that can help is to download and install the latest version of Google Play Services and Google Play Store. The latest version of the software is probably the most stable, so it helps to keep it up to date.

First, you need to make sure your Google Play Store is up to date. Go to the Google Play Store app and press the menu button (three lines in the top left corner of the screen). 

From there tap on Settings and under General you should be able to see when your Google Play app updates. Tap Automatically update apps and make sure Automatically update apps over Wi-Fi is checked. Now make sure you are connected to Wi-Fi.

Getting the latest version of Google Play Services is much more difficult and too long to mention here. Read our tutorial here for a detailed explanation on how to get the latest version.

Perform a factory data reset on your phone

If you're still having trouble after trying all of the above, then you may have little choice but to do a factory reset. This is a drastic measure and there are consequences. All your data will be lost. So you should do a full backup first.

Once your data is backed up, it's time to perform a restore. Go to Settings and tap Backup & Reset. Now make sure the Back up my data slider is turned on. Tap Backup account to select the account you want to back up your data to. Make sure you have access to your account.

Once done, go to the Backup & Reset menu and tap the Factory Data Reset button at the bottom. Confirm that you want to do this and your phone will be as it was when you bought it. Your data will be restored when you log back into your Google account.