Google Play Store is the most used app store to download apps and games on Android. But sometimes we get some errors, like it not downloading apps and games even when you have a good internet connection. This was a very bad situation, like we needed to download an app urgently. This is not a serious problem, it was fixable.
For some of you, it may be caused by simple reasons like a network problem, an outdated version, a cache issue, etc. You don't need to visit any service centre, and you don't need to reset your smartphone to fix this problem. By following this article, you can easily identify the issue and fix the problem by yourself.
In this article, we will share with you the most effective ways to fix this problem in your Play Store app. These steps will work for most Android smartphones, and any one of these methods will work for you. So, without wasting much time, let's explore the methods to fix this problem in your Play Store app.
How To Fix Apps Not Downloading In the Play Store?
Check Your Internet Connection
To download apps or games from the Play Store, you need a stable internet connection, especially for larger apps or games. If you have a weak, slow or frequently disconnected internet connection, then the app you are trying to download in the Play Store may not download and get an error.
If your smartphone keeps switching between WiFi and mobile data, then it can also be the reason for the download failing, because this can interrupt the download process and give an error so if you are trying to download through WiFi then turn on only the WiFi option in your device or if you are trying to use mobile data then turn on only the mobile data option.
Also, try enabling Aeroplane mode in your smartphone for a few seconds, then disable it; it restarts your network and may fix the downloading issue in the Play Store.
Check Phone Storage
Play Store requires some free storage space to download apps & games on your smartphone. If your device's storage is almost full, then the Play Store will stop downloading apps and games and show an error. The storage requirement will be based on your downloading app size; however, some apps require more space during installation.
Your phone may have stored several photos, videos, files, unused apps, app data, etc This all can cause low storage. We all notice it when we try to download a new app or game from the Play Store. To fix it, remove unwanted photos, videos, files & apps from your smartphone. This will free up some space in your device.
After freeing some storage in your device then restart your phone. Now try to download an app or game from the Play Store again. Freeing some storage will also help your Android device to run faster, as I told you in the previous article.
Clear Cache & App Data
Like all other apps Play Store also stores cache in your device over time. Sometimes this stored cache can be corrupted. In this situation, you will face errors in the Play Store, like this download issue, which issue caused by a corrupted cache can be fixed by clearing the cache in your smartphone.
In a situation where clearing the cache doesn't solve your problem, you can also clear the data of the Play Store, which has your saved settings of Play Store, Information, etc By clearing data, it clears all this. Clearing data can solve any deeper problems with your Play Store app.
To clear it, follow the following steps:
- Open the Settings app on your smartphone
- Find Apps option, then click on it
- Find something like the Manage apps or All apps option, then click on it
- Find the Play Store there
- Find the Storage option, then click on it
- Click the Clear Cache, then click the Clear Data option
If clearing the cache & data of the Play Store didn't fix the problem, then clear the cache & data of the Play Services.
Remove & Re-Add Your Google Account
The Google account can also become an issue because sometimes the account may not sync properly, or your account data may be corrupted, which can block downloading & updating in the Play Store. In this situation, removing the Google account and re-adding it may fix your download problem.
When you remove your account from your smartphone, it removes the sync error, resets the authentication for every Google app on your device. When you re-add your account, it resyncs all the data and starts every service.
To remove & re-add, follow the following steps:
Remove
Before removing your account, make sure you remember your Google account password; otherwise, it may become unusable.
- Open the Settings App on your device
- Find User & Accounts option, then click on it
- Click Google
- If you have multiple accounts, choose the main Gmail account
- Click Remove
Re-add
- Open the Settings App
- Find User & Accounts option, then click on it
- Find Add Account option, then click on it
- Find the Google option, then click on it
- Sign in with your Google account
Update Play Services, Play Store & System
If you are using an outdated version of the Google Play Store or Google Play Services, it starts to show errors in the Google Play Store. Also, make sure you are not using a very old Android version device because it also has an important role in making work Google Play Store work properly.
Always make sure your Android device's software is up to date to avoid security bugs, network problems, compatibility issues, etc that can affect the working of the Play Store in your smartphone. To check if you are using the latest version, follow the following steps:
Software Update
- Open the Settings app on your smartphone
- Find System & Updates, then click on it
- Find Software Updates, then click on it
- Click Check for Updates
- If there is any update, download and install it
Play System Update
- Open the Settings app on your device
- Find options like Password & Security, then click on it (For some devices, it will be inside the About phone or About or About device option)
- Find Google Play System Update, then click on it
- If there is any update, download and install it
What If The Play Store still doesn't work?
Sometimes it can be caused by of server-side issue, so try waiting for some hours or a day; it may be fixed automatically. If still not, the final option is to reset your device. Before resetting your device, make sure you back up your data, because by resetting, you will lose all your personal data in your device.
To reset your device, follow the following steps:
- Open the Settings app on your device
- Find the System or System & Updates option, then click on it
- Find the Reset option, then click on it
- Find Erase All Data or Reset Phone option, then click on it
Conclusion
The downloading issue in the Play Store is a very common issue, and most of the time it is caused by small problems that can be easily fixed by yourself, which means you don't need to visit any service centre to fix it. You can fix it by the simple steps given above, like checking the internet, clearing the cache, clearing app data, re-adding your Google account, checking for updates, etc.
We also shared some good habits that can also increase your phone's life here, like keeping some free space, keeping the device system & services up to date, clearing cache files, etc. These small good habits can prevent this type of bug or errors in your device in future.
Hope this article helped you to fix your Phone's Play Store app downloading issue. If it is still not fixed, try waiting a day because it can be a problem with the server. If you like this article, then don't forget to check our other articles in the category Tech Fixes.