Google Play Store Not Downloading Apps? Try These Fixes

Common causes

• Low storage space on your phone
• Wrong date and time settings
• An app that isn’t available for your device
• Parental controls that prevent access to an app

Step-by-Step Solutions

Start with the basic checks at the top and work down the list, trying your download again after each step.

1. 1

   Step 1: Check your Wi-Fi or mobile data

   Downloads need a strong internet connection.

   Make sure you have a strong internet connection. It’s best if you can connect to a Wi-Fi network.

   If you don’t have access to Wi-Fi, make sure you have a strong mobile data connection. Then try your download again.

2. 2

   Step 2: Check your storage space

   If your phone is low on storage space, it can stop apps from downloading and installing.

   Open the Settings app and tap Storage.

   Your phone may be low on space if you get a notification about storage space, or if there’s less than 1 GB available.

3. 3

   Step 3: Close the Play Store and restart your phone

   Closing and reopening the Google Play Store app, then restarting your phone, are quick basic steps to try.

   To close the Play Store, swipe up from the bottom of the screen, hold, then let go. Swipe up on the Google Play Store app to close it, then tap the Google Play Store app to reopen it.

   To restart your phone, press and hold the Power button, then tap Power off or Restart. If your phone doesn’t restart, press and hold the Power button until it turns on again.

4. 4

   Step 4: Check your date and time settings

   The date and time on your phone need to be correct.

   Open the Settings app and tap System, then Date & time. Under “Date & time,” check whether “Set time automatically” is on. Under the “Time zone” section, check whether “Set automatically” is on.

   If both are off, turn both of them on. Wait a few minutes and check if the problem is fixed. If it’s not, restart your phone and check again.

   Good to know

   If both settings are already on, your phone’s date and time setting probably isn’t the issue.

5. 5

   Step 5: Check for Android system updates

   An available system update is one of the basic checks for download problems.

   Open the Settings app and tap System, then Software update, then System update. Your update status appears.

   To download or install updates, follow the on-screen instructions.

6. 6

   Step 6: If only one app won’t download, check that app

   When the problem is a specific app, check whether it’s available for your device.

   Open the Google Play Store app and find and tap the app. The app’s page says whether it’s available for your device. If it’s not available, you can’t download it.

   If the app is available and you still can’t download it, try the Google Play Store steps below.

7. 7

   Step 7: Clear the Google Play Store cache and data

   Clearing the Play Store cache is the most common solution to download problems.

   Touch and hold the Google Play Store app, then tap App Info. Tap Storage & cache, then Clear Cache. Then tap Clear storage, then Delete.

   Clearing the cache and data may delete some Play Store settings, like parental controls and password protection, so re-enable them afterward. The Play Store also asks you to agree to the Terms of Service again the next time you open it.

   After each of the next steps, try to download an app again to check if it fixed the problem.

8. 8

   Step 8: Uninstall and reinstall Play Store updates

   Removing and then reinstalling Google Play Store app updates is another advanced step to try.

   To uninstall updates, touch and hold the Google Play Store app and tap App info. At the top right, tap More, then Uninstall updates. Review the info and tap OK.

   To reinstall updates, open the Google Play Store app and tap the Profile picture at the top right. Tap Settings, then About. Under “Play Store version,” tap Update Play Store.

9. 9

   Step 9: Remove and re-add your Google Account

   Removing your Google Account from your phone and adding it back is one of the advanced steps for download problems.

   When you remove an account, everything associated with it, including email, contacts and settings, is deleted from your phone. Back up any important information first.

   Open the Settings app and tap Passwords & accounts. Under “Accounts,” tap the account, then Remove account. To confirm, tap Remove account, then Delete.

   To add it back, open Passwords & accounts again. Under “Accounts,” tap Add account, then Google, and follow the on-screen instructions.

   Good to know

   If you don’t see Passwords & accounts, look for Users & accounts, Passwords, passkeys & autofill, Password, passkeys & accounts or Manage accounts, depending on your phone. Some of these steps only work on Android 14 and up.

10. 10

    Step 10: Clear Google Play services as a last step

    Google doesn’t recommend clearing Google Play services unless you’ve tried all other troubleshooting options.

    Clearing Google Play services data may delete some information saved to your phone, including passwords, transit cards, COVID cards and virtual payment cards saved to Google Pay. You may also need to reauthenticate your payment methods on Google Pay and sign back into your Google Account on all devices.

    Open the Settings app and tap Apps, then Google Play services. If it isn’t there, tap See all apps, then Google Play services. Tap Storage & cache, then Clear cache. Then tap Clear storage, then Clear all data, then Delete.

    Afterward, re-enable password protection and parental controls.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related guides

• Storage & AppsAndroid Storage Full? Try These FixesSee what’s using storage on your Android phone, clear space with Free up space and Smart Storage, remove backed-up photos, archive or uninstall apps and clear app cache.
• Network & ConnectivityAndroid Mobile Data Not Working? Try These FixesTurn mobile data and airplane mode off and on, check your signal, data limit, Data Saver, roaming and network type, then reset network settings or contact your carrier.