Being an Android user, you must have, at one time or the other, experienced the abrupt stopping or crashing of the Google Play Store with an error: “Google Play Service Has Stopped.”
Google Play store is one of the essential apps on Android mobile, and thus any problems related to it seem huge. But don’t worry, we have assembled nine fixes for the “Google Play store keeps stopping or crashing” issue.
Fixing “Unfortunately, Google Play Services Has Stopped”
The Google Play Store error usually occurs when the data is corrupted or has some issue with the internet connection or system time/date.
It is also possible that Google accidentally rolled out an update for your device, which isn’t compatible.
Solutions to fix Google Play Store Keeps Stopping or Crashing
Whatever be the cause, we will help you resolve it using the following fixes:
- Restart Your Device
- Update the Google Services and Play Store
- Change from Cellular to Wi-Fi (or Vice-Versa)
- Change the Time and Date
- Clear All Google Play Services Data (and Cache)
- Revert to the Older Version of Google Play Store
- Remove Your Google Account
- Install a Third-Party APK of the Play Store
- Factory Reset Your Device
Fix 1. Restart Your Device
Sometimes restarting your device is the most apparent yet silly solution. Sometimes our device isn’t configured correctly, and while restarting, it initiates all the essential operations and refreshes the device.
Step 1. Locate the power button given on the side of your mobile and press and hold it until you see a reboot and power off menu.
Step 2. Choose the power off option. You can also choose to reboot.
Step 3. Allow the mobile to shut down and then wait for 30 seconds.
Step 4. Press and hold the power button again to start the device.
Try re-launching the Play store app and check if the “Google Play keeps stopping” problem persists.
Fix 2. Update the Google Services and Play Store
The Google Play Store error message: “Unfortunately, Google Play Store Has Stopped” can occur if the version of the Google Play or Google Play Services Framework installed on your Android mobile is outdated.
Step 1. Open Google Play and tap the profile icon at the top-right corner.
Step 2. Go to the Manage apps and device menu to see the list of available updates.
Step 3. Click on Update all to update the outdated apps, including the Google Services Framework.
Step 4. Restart your device.
Hopefully, this would have fixed the error. If not, follow along to the next fix.
Fix 3. Change from Cellular to Wi-Fi (or Vice-Versa)
Not having a proper internet connection could also be a cause for the error “Google Services Has Stopped.”
The error may or may not come with the above error message causing the Google Play Store app to fail its operations abruptly and refuse to restart them.
To resolve it, you can try to switch between the type of connection you are using. If you are using Play Store on Wi-Fi, switch to cellular, and if using cellular, switch to Wi-Fi.
Fix 4. Change the Time and Date
Not having the correct time on your Android mobile could be one of the causes that the Google Play Store app malfunctioning. Here is a quick solution to the problem.
Step 1. Go to the Settings app on your Android mobile.
Step 2. Go to the System menu.
Step 3. Tap on the Date & Time option from the list.
Step 4. Enable the “Use network-provided time” option and ensure that the time zone and the time picked by the system are correct.
Step 5. If the system doesn’t pick the correct time, you can configure it manually by disabling the automatic time settings.
Step 6. Tap on the “Set Time” option and enter the correct values.
Step 7. Restart your device to allow the changes to reflect.
If incorrect date and time were the cause behind the Play Store app error, it would have been fixed. Launch the Play Store to check if it is fixed.
Fix 5. Clear All Google Play Services Data (and Cache)
The leading cause behind the Play Store error is the corrupted cache and data stored on your system. The app requires this information to identify you and to enhance the app’s performance and load time.
After clearing the cache and data from your device, you can resolve the error. Here’s how you can do it.
Step 1. Go to the Settings app on your Android mobile.
Step 2. Please scroll down and tap the Apps & Notifications menu and tap it.
Step 3. Tap on the “See All Apps” option to the list of apps.
Step 4. Tap on Google Play Store.
Step 5. Tap the Storage button. You can see the data stored in your mobile and the clear cache and clear data buttons.
Step 6. Click on the Clear data/clear storage or clear cache button. It will clear the cache and data for the Play Store.
Step 7. Now follow the above steps for Google Play Services and clear cache and data.
Step 8. Restart your phone.
Note: If you cannot find Google Play Services in the list of apps, then tap on the menu (three vertical dots) in the top-right corner. From the dropdown menu, click on Show System Apps. The Google Play Services will now be visible.
Once the mobile restarts, try to launch the Google Play application and check if the error is fixed.
Fix 6. Revert to the Older Version of Google Play Store
If the latest version of Google Play Store is glitching, but the previous version was working correctly, you can uninstall updates or roll back the version of Play Store.
This is the version that came when you first bought the mobile or tablet. Follow these steps to uninstall updates and roll back the version:
Step 1. Go to the Settings app on your Android mobile.
Step 2. Tap Apps & Notifications menu.
Step 3. Tap on the “See All Apps” option to the list of apps.
Step 4. Tap on Google Play Store.
Step 5. Click on the Disable or Force stop button provided on top of the screen. This will replace the latest version of the app with the older version that came with your phone.
Step 6. Enable the app again.
Step 7. Restart the Android device and apply the changes.
The older version was more compatible with your mobile or tablet and hence will now be working correctly.
Fix 7. Remove Your Google Account
It is possible that the Google account that you use on the Play Store isn’t correctly configured and hence causing the Play Store to malfunction.
You need to remove the account and then add the account again to resolve the error. Before you go ahead, make sure that you have the account’s password and that you have backed up all the essentials to prevent any data loss.
Step 1. Go to the Settings app on the tablet or mobile.
Step 2. Scroll down and tap the Accounts menu.
Step 3. Tap the Google account that you want to remove from the Android device and click on Remove Account. The option will be present in the menu bar in the top-right corner (three vertical dots).
Step 4. Add a google account again.
This should have fixed the error, and if not, then the other two indeed would.
Fix 8. Install a Third-Party APK of the Play Store
You can download and install a third-party copy of the Play Store from APK websites.
If you have a file manager installed, it will make it easier to find the downloaded Google APK file and install it on your Android device. Once the download begins, you can see a notification from the Download Manager that the download has started.
You also need a permit to install apps from third-party sources for the installation to be complete.
You can use Ghost Commander to download the Google Play Store and Google Play APK.
Fix 9. Factory Reset Your Device
Hopefully, the above fixes would have resolved the error, and you can use the Play Store without any problem.
However, if the solution is still not working, you have to revert the mobile to its original state, i.e., data factory reset.
We know it is a considerable step to clear all data, including the apps, texts, media, documents, etc. So, create a backup for all your data before you perform a complete reset.
Step 1. Open the Settings app on your mobile.
Step 2. Go to the system and click on the Advanced option.
Step 3. In the Reset options, tap on the “Erase everything (factory reset)” option.
Step 4. Allow the mobile to be wiped clean and reboot the phone.
Factory resetting your device is the ultimate solution for the Google Play Store and the most difficult to do due to nostalgia. Apart from this, you can also try rooting your device. However, we don’t recommend it as it is a complex fix.
