Android Device Not Play Protect Certified? Try These Fixes

Common causes

• A device that isn’t on Google’s list of certified devices
• A network connection problem between your device and Google Play
• An out-of-date version of Google Play services
• Google Play services turned off or not installed
• An unlocked bootloader
• A rooted device or one modified to run a custom Android OS

Step-by-Step Solutions

Check your certification status first, then work through the steps that match the message you see.

1. 1

   Step 1: Check your certification status

   The Google Play Store app shows whether your device is Play Protect certified.

   Open the Google Play Store app. At the top right, tap the profile icon, then tap Settings. To check if your device is Play Protect certified, tap About, then scroll to Play Protect certification.

   If you see “Device is not certified,” check if your device is on Google’s list of certified devices. If it’s listed, the Fix device issue button is in the same place.

   Good to know

   Device certification and Google Play Protect work separately. Turning off Google Play Protect won’t fix a “Device is not certified” issue, and Google recommends that you always keep Google Play Protect on.

2. 2

   Step 2: Tap Fix device issue

   If your device is on the certified list, Google Play can try to fix the certification problem for you.

   If your device is on the list of certified devices, tap Fix device issue and follow the on-screen instructions.

   If this doesn’t completely fix the problem, look at the message you get and use the matching steps below.

   Good to know

   If you see “Something went wrong. Try again later.” the attempt failed with an unknown error that may be temporary. Wait at least 10 minutes, then try again.

3. 3

   Step 3: Check your internet connection

   The message “Your device has no network connection” means there was a problem connecting your device to Play systems.

   Make sure that you’re connected to a stable internet connection. Open your Settings app and visit Network and Internet or Connections.

4. 4

   Step 4: Update Google Play services

   The message “Google Play services is out of date” means the version on your device is outdated.

   Open the Settings app and tap your profile picture, then All services. Under “Privacy & Security,” tap System services, then Google Play services. Tap Update or Install.

   Google Play services isn’t the same as the Google Play Store app, and it’s included with Android. You can’t force stop or uninstall it.

   Good to know

   Google Play services is only supported on devices with Android 7.0 (API level 24) and up.

5. 5

   Step 5: Turn on Google Play services

   The message “Google Play services can’t be found” means your device couldn’t detect it.

   You may have turned off or not installed Google Play services on your device.

   To turn it on, open the Settings app and tap your profile, then All services. Under “Privacy & Security,” tap System services, then Google Play services, then Download.

6. 6

   Step 6: Install system updates and restart

   Android OS and security updates often fix device issues, though Google says this isn’t a guaranteed fix.

   Open your device’s Settings app, tap System, then Software updates, and follow the on-screen instructions. Most system updates and security patches install automatically.

   Updates can be large. Before you update, connect to Wi-Fi and charge your device to at least 75%.

   If no updates are available, try restarting your device.

   Good to know

   Update schedules vary by device, manufacturer and mobile carrier, and older devices can’t always run newer Android versions.

7. 7

   Step 7: Check for an unlocked bootloader

   A device with an unlocked bootloader fails Play Protect certification checks.

   If Google Play says your device failed certification checks because its bootloader is unlocked, that is why your device isn’t certified. Google Wallet may also not work in stores on a phone with an unlocked bootloader.

   This guide doesn’t cover changing the bootloader. For this message, Google’s help page points you to the instructions your device manufacturer provided.

8. 8

   Step 8: Restore the original software on a modified device

   A rooted device, or one modified to run a custom Android OS, fails certification checks.

   If Google Play says your device may be rooted or modified to run a custom Android OS, the original, manufacturer-signed Android build that came preinstalled on your device needs to be restored.

   Google’s steps for this message include checking and updating your Android version and, if that doesn’t help, a factory reset. For device-specific instructions, check your manufacturer’s support site.

   A factory reset erases all your data from your phone. Data stored in your Google Account can be restored, but all apps and their data are uninstalled, so make sure your data is in your Google Account first.

   Good to know

   If you’re resetting to fix an issue, Google recommends trying other solutions first.

9. 9

   Step 9: Send feedback if your certified device gets the alert

   If your device is certified but you got an alert that it’s not, you can ask Google to review it.

   On your device, open the Settings app and tap your Profile picture. At the bottom, tap Give feedback, then enter details about what happened.

   For more information on the error, tap System logs before you send it.

   • If the issue is with an app, include the name of the app you used when you got the error and add the hashtag #appissue.
   • If the issue is device related, include the type of device you used and add the hashtag #deviceintegrity.

Frequently Asked Questions

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