Due to app compatibility issues and limitations over the years, many mobile operating systems have failed. It is extremely difficult to use a tablet or phone without an app.
This is true even for glitches and errors that may affect your AndroidOS device. Although the operating system supports many applications, errors can still occur that could render your AndroidOS device useless. What can you do if your Android device refuses to download or install apps on its own?
This article will help you troubleshoot and fix your Android device so that you can install apps again.
Android Device Will Not Download or Install Apps
Google Play Store is fairly reliable so you are unlikely to encounter any major problems. If you are unable to download apps, there is something wrong. Before we get into more intuitive solutions let’s first review what you need to do.
These are the apps you should check first if you have trouble downloading them.
- Is your device charged? You may be unable to download new apps on some devices if your device is not charged at least 15%, 30% or more.
- Are you able to connect to the internet with stability? You might be using cellular data or your WiFi signal is weak. If possible, try another WiFi network.
- Are you sure that your phone has been power-cycled? – Most problems can be fixed by a quick reboot of your phone, including those with the Google Play Store.
- Is there a problem with the Google Play Store? Check out the downdetector website. Google may be experiencing a major issue. You just need to wait for the developers to fix it.
After you’ve learned the basics, download the Play Store app. Here are some options to install or download apps on your Android device if you still have problems.
Get Your Free Space
It pays to get the basics right when you are troubleshooting a device. Downloads depend on the amount of space available for your file. Many apps only take up a few megabytes of space, but others are much larger. Are you sure your phone has enough storage? Are you able to do some spring cleaning before adding new things?
These steps will help you check the storage on your device.
Note – The Android interface is different for each manufacturer and version. This tutorial will explain how to make it work for you.
- To search for storage, open the Settings.
- In the list, tap Storage.
- Check the storage space available.
You can quickly delete applications that are not in use by tapping on Applications and then tap on Uninstall.
Go back to Google Play Store to try again to download the app you want. If you have lots of storage, continue reading to find more solutions.
Check Your Network
This has been mentioned briefly, but the speed at which you can download apps depends on your internet connection. Let’s examine your internet connection to see if your downloads are slow or not happening at all.
No matter how you download apps using WiFi or cellular data, make sure that your network is strong enough to keep the connection going. You might want to wait until your WiFi signal is stronger before you download your app.
Websites and apps that don’t load correctly are a sign that your network connectivity is poor. To verify a strong connection, you can either run a speed check with your browser on your smartphone or use the app that is already installed.
Switching to cellular data is a good option if you’re on WiFi. If you don’t have access to WiFi, you might try another network. You can also check the Settings of your Android device to make sure background data usage is not turned on if cellular data is your only option. This can be done by visiting the Settings>Apps>Google Play Store>Mobile Data and Wi-Fi options. You can toggle on the switch next Background Data.
Reboot your device
Restarting your device is one of the easiest and most effective ways to resolve software problems. Your problems may be caused by a simple glitch. Rebooting will cause all code to be dropped and the phone to start over. You may be able download the app with no errors if new processes are loaded into your memory.
Check your Time & Date Settings
Authentication requires that you have the right time to authenticate your phone with Google Play or the download server. Although most phones automatically sync date and time with their network, it is worth doing some research.
You just need to make sure your OS is in the correct time zone. You can move on if it is correct. Correct it if it’s correct. Here’s how:
- Open Settings on your Android phone and type Date & Time into the search bar.
- Turn on the switch for Auto date and time by turning it off.
- Restart your phone and check that the time has been updated.
Clear the Google Play Store Cache
Clearing the Store cache might help if your Android device is unable to download or install apps despite following all these steps. The Google Play Store’s temporary storage is where all data is saved. It is possible for it to become corrupted so make sure you check.
- Select Settings, Apps and notifications.
- Select Google Play Store.
- Select Storage or Clear cache.
- If present, repeat the process for Google Play Services and Google Services Framework.
Modify your Google Play Store Permissions
Permissions are usually set automatically so you don’t have to change them. If you’ve reached this point and still can’t download or install an application, it is worth the effort.
- Select Settings, Apps , and Notifications .
- Select Google Play Store.
- Select Permissions.
- Make sure SMS and Phone are turned on. You can turn on Location and Contacts to see if they are working.
- Select Google Play Services Apps and Permissions.
- You must ensure that permissions are set to “Allow” for body sensors, call logs, camera, contacts, files and media, location, microphone, SMS, and phone.
- Test the app download.
These settings can be affected by security apps, which may cause problems with the Google Play Store. After testing, you can disable all these services.
Remove Google Play Updates
Software updates can cause new problems, it’s not a secret. You can uninstall any software updates that caused the problem you are having with the Play Store. Sometimes you can simply revert to an earlier version of the software to solve the problem.
Here’s how you can uninstall a Google Play Store Update:
- Tap on Apps and notifications in the Settings section of your phone.
- Scroll down and click Google Play Store.
- Tap the three vertical dots at the upper right-hand corner.
- Click on Uninstall Updates.
Restart the Play Store to try downloading the app.
Most Frequently Asked Questions
It’s not fun to have problems with your device, especially when you are unable to use key features such as the Google Play Store. Continue reading if you have any questions.
What should I do if my Android device accidentally deletes the Google Play Store?
Google Play Store is pre-loaded on all Android OS devices. You might have searched your home screen and app drawer for the Play Store icon, but it isn’t there. The good news is that it hasn’t been deleted unless you are using an AndroidOS device without the native Google Play Store app.
If you are unable to find the Google Play Store App on your device, here’s what you should do:
- Tap on Apps and notifications to open Settings.
- Scroll down until you find Google Play Store. Next, click on it.
- You will find the option to turn on or enable the page at the bottom. Tap it.
- Search for the Google Play Store in your app drawer. You should see it, but you’ll need to add the Google Play Store back to your home screen.
If your Google Play Store app is missing, it’s most likely that it has been disabled and not deleted.
What should I do if my apps won’t allow me to update them?
You may also encounter other Play Store problems, such as an error that stops you from updating your applications. Android’s operating system depends on the Google Play Store for most of its applications to be uploaded. This problem can be solved by most of the above steps, along with the inability to download apps. As an additional step, force-stopping the app is a good idea.
Here are the steps to force an Android application to stop.
- Tap on Settings and then on Apps .
- Tap the app that you are having problems with.
- Tap on Force Stop to the right-hand side.
Try to update the app again. If none of these steps work, you can remove the app and reinstall it. Sometimes, apps may not be supported by developers. Check the Google Play Store to see any developer updates.
These steps will help if your Android device refuses to download or install apps. Are there other methods to download apps? If so, please let us know!
