With the spread of smartphones on the Android OS, a large number of problems appear that the user has to face from time to time. One of these common troubles is all sorts of difficulties with the work of programs in the Google Play service. They may not be downloaded or installed; when you try to update already downloaded software, errors appear. All this, even in isolated cases, irritates users, and with constant repetition, it can create situations where the phone simply cannot be used normally.
If you are faced with such troubles, then do not despair - in most cases they are all easily fixable and do not pose a serious problem.
If apps don't download
The very first thing that can cause inconvenience in using a smartphone is that if you want to download programs from the Market, it refuses to do so. Here are the possible causes and their solutions:
- Problems with internet connection. Do not rush to sin on the device or operating system, there are often comical cases when the phone is connected to an inactive Wi-Fi point, mobile Internet with a very poor signal, or simply the gadget user forgot to enable any type of connection to the Network on the device;
- Internal device memory is full. It often happens that smartphones with a small amount of memory are quickly clogged with all sorts of files and there is simply nowhere to install new applications. You need to check how much space is available and, if necessary, free it from unnecessary programs;
- Incorrectly installed date and time on the smartphone. Some gadget models, after a reboot or a long shutdown, may show outdated date and time data. This creates a conflict between the device and the online service, and the latter refuses to work properly.
These are the main problems that interfere with the normal operation of many Internet applications, in particular Google Play.
Updates not working
Usually the reasons for refusal to download, install and update programs are the same, they just appear at different stages of using the software. If there are problems with already installed applications in the form of incorrect work or lack of updates, then the following recommendations can help:
- Most often, the main problem lies in incorrect operation. servicesGoogle play. They are installed on each Android gadget as a separate application and periodically ask for updates. If the malfunctions in question occur, then you need to try deleting the old data of this application and updating it again. This is done simply: you need to go to the phone section " settings”, find the application item and select Google Play Services. Next, in the settings, select the item " Uninstall updates". After that, you should go to the Play Market and update this program again;
- Problems with accountGoogle. Fixed by registering a new account. It is done very simply: settings, accounts and then add a new Google account;
- Another rather banal reason for most malfunctions of this kind is the device needs a reboot. Surprisingly, after this simple action, most problems disappear by themselves.
These are the main causes of problems with installing and updating applications from the Play Market and their solutions. It's simple, you just need to spend a little time and attention.
Many users, downloading various applications and multimedia content on their Android device, forget that its memory is not infinite. Updates may not be installed for such a banal reason as lack of disk space. If this is your case, then the solution is quite obvious - you need to delete unnecessary data, multimedia files, forgotten games and applications. In addition, it will be useful to perform such a procedure as clearing the cache. You can learn how to do this from separate articles on our website:
If, after you have freed up space in the memory of your device, updates are still not installed, go ahead, trying other options to fix the problem.
Reason 2: Problems with the memory card
The internal memory of most modern smartphones can be expanded by installing a memory card in them. At the same time, the Android operating system itself allows you to use such a drive not only for storing data, but also for installing applications and games. In this case, a certain part of the system files is written to the microSD card and, if there are various kinds of problems in the operation of the latter, updates of one or another software may simply not be installed.
There are several ways to check whether the memory card is really the culprit of the problem we are considering. Let's consider each of them in order.
Method 1: Move apps
First, let's try to move the applications installed on the SD card to the device's own memory. You can do this with just a few taps on the screen.
In many cases, this simple solution helps if the SD card was the culprit. If moving didn't fix the problem with app updates, try the next method.
Method 2: Remove the memory card
A more effective solution, in comparison with the previous one, is to temporarily disable the external drive. This is done as follows:
If the update is installed, you can safely make a diagnosis - the cause of the problem lies in the microSD used. In this case, the card should be replaced with a workable analogue, but first you can check it for errors, format it. You can find out how to do this on our website:
After the successful installation of updates and checking the operability of the SD card, if it is working, you can reconnect it. This is done in the reverse order as described above: "Settings" — "Memory"(or "Vault") - tap on external storage - "To plug". Then, by connecting a memory card, in the same storage settings, set it as the default memory (if required).
According to some users, the essence of this problem can be completely opposite, that is, it can be caused not by an external, but by an internal drive. In this case, you need to do the opposite of the above, assigning an SD card as a place to install applications or moving non-updated applications from internal memory to external memory. This is done in exactly the same way as described above, the difference lies only in the choice of a specific drive.
If none of the methods described under this and the previous reason helped fix the problem with installing updates, then the culprit should not be looked for in the storage device, but directly in the operating system.
Reason 3: System app data and cache
The Play Store, as the heart of the operating system, accumulates various junk data and cache during active use, which interferes with its stable operation. The same happens with Google Play Services, which are necessary for the normal functioning of proprietary software from Google. It is quite possible that the problem with updating applications arises precisely because the system tools we mentioned are too “clogged”. In this case, our task is to clean this software from garbage and reset it.
- AT "Settings" mobile device go to the section "Applications". Next, go to the list of all installed applications by tapping on the appropriate item or, for example, by going to the tab "Systemic"(it all depends on the version of Android).
- In the general list we find the Play Store and click on its name to go to the settings page.
- Once there, open the section "Vault" and in it alternately press the buttons "Clear cache" and "Erase data". In the second case, confirmation may be required.
Note: On different versions of Android, the location of the items mentioned above may vary. For example, buttons for clearing data may not be located horizontally, next to each other, but vertically, in sections with the name "Cache" and "Memory". In any case, look for something that is identical in meaning.
- We return a step back to the page of general information about the Play Market. In the upper right corner, tap on the menu button, made in the form of three vertical dots. Choose an item "Uninstall Updates" and confirm our intentions.
- Now we return to the list of all installed applications again and find Google Play Services there. Tap on its name to go to the settings page.
- As in the case of the Market, open "Vault", first press "Clear cache", and then on the adjacent button - "Place Management".
- On the page "Data storage…" click on the button below "Delete all data", confirm our intentions and return to the Google Play Services main settings page.
- Here we tap on the button located in the same corner in the form of an ellipsis and select the item "Uninstall Updates".
- We exit the settings to the main screen of the device and reboot it. To do this, hold down the power button, and then select the item in the window that appears.
- After starting the operating system, open the Play Store, where you will need to re-accept the terms of the Google License Agreement. Do this and try updating the application - most likely the problem will be fixed.
Forced data clearing and removal of updates to the Play Store and Google Play Services is an effective means of dealing with most of these errors. If this step didn't work for you to update the app, check out the following solutions.
Reason 4: Outdated version of Android
The version of the operating system plays an important role in updating applications. So, if the device has a morally obsolete Android installed (for example, below 4.4), then many of the popular programs simply will not be updated. These include Viber, Skype, Instagram and many others.
There are quite a few effective and easily implemented solutions in such a situation - if possible, the smartphone or tablet must be updated to the latest available version. If there are no updates, but there is a rather strong desire to increase the Android generation, this can be done through the firmware of the device. This option is not always available, but in a special section of our website you can look for a suitable guide.
To check for available OS updates, do the following:
As mentioned above, in the case of an outdated version of the operating system, there are no guaranteed effective solutions. If a smartphone or tablet is really old, then the lack of the ability to update some applications can hardly be called its most serious problem. And yet, even in such cases, you can try to bypass the restrictions set by the system, which we will discuss in the part about "Alternative troubleshooting options".
Reason 5: Specific (numbered) errors
Above, we talked about the problem of the impossibility of updating applications in general, that is, when the update is not installed, but the Play Market does not issue any error that has its own number. Quite often, the same process is interrupted by the appearance of a notification window. "Failed to update application...", and at the end of this message in parentheses it says "(Error Code: No.)", where # is a three-digit number. The most common error numbers are 406, 413, 491, 504, 506, 905. And although these codes are different, the options for eliminating such an error are almost always identical - you need to do what we described in "Reason 3", that is, erase and reset system app data.
For more detailed information about each of the errors listed above, we recommend that you read the special materials on our website dedicated directly to the Play Store and its work.
Other "numbered" errors are possible, they have the code 491 or 923. The notification that accompanies such failures states that updates cannot be installed. Fixing this problem is quite simple - you need to delete and then re-link your Google account.
Important: Before proceeding with deleting an account, make sure that you know the login (e-mail) and password for it. Keep them handy if you don't keep them in memory.
In the event of errors with codes 491 and 923, such a non-obvious solution as deleting and re-linking a Google account is guaranteed to get rid of the problem discussed in this article.
Alternative troubleshooting options
Each of the causes of the problem with updating applications described above has its own, often effective solution. The exception is an outdated version of Android, which is not always possible to upgrade. Below we will tell you what to do if the applications in the Play Store have not started updating after performing the steps described above. In addition, this information will be useful for users who, for one reason or another, did not want to look for the culprit of the problem, understand it and fix it.
Method 1: Installing the APK file
Most Android users are aware that this operating system supports the installation of applications from third-party sources. All that is required for this is to find the executable file on the Internet, download it to the device, run and install it, after providing the necessary permissions. You can get acquainted with how this method works in a separate article on our website, but we will briefly consider one of the possible examples.
There are quite a few sites where you can download APK files and the most famous one is APKMirror. There are also specialized web resources that allow you to "extract" the application executable directly from the Play Store. A link to one of them is given below, we will talk about it.
Important: This online service generates links directly from the Google store, so its use can be considered completely safe, unlike websites that offer files directly, the source of which is not always known. In addition, this approach provides the ability to download the latest version available in the Market.
- Launch the Play Market on your smartphone and go to the page of the application that you want to update. To do this, you can use the search or follow the path "Menu" — "My apps and games" — "Installed".
- In the window that appears, find the item "Copy" or ( "Copy link") and select it. The application link will be copied to the clipboard.
- Now, using a mobile browser, follow the link above to the page of the web service that provides the ability to download the APK. Paste the copied URL (long tap - select an item "Insert") in the search bar and click on the button "Generate Download Link".
- It may take some time (up to 3 minutes) for the web service to generate a link to download the APK file. After creating it, click on the green button Click here to download.
- A window will appear in the browser warning you that the downloaded file may harm your device. Just click on it "OK", then the download process will begin.
- When completed, press "Open" in the notification that appears, or go to "Downloads" smartphone, or open this folder from the curtain, where the notification will “hang”. Run the downloaded file by tapping on it.
- If you have not previously installed applications from third-party sources, you will need to give permission to perform this procedure.
- The new version of the application will be installed over the old one, therefore, in this way we forcefully updated it.
Depending on the version of Android, this can be done in a pop-up window or in "Settings" In chapter "Safety" or "Privacy and Security". In any of the cases, you can go to the necessary parameters directly from the installation window.
After granting permission to install, click the button "Install" and wait for the process to complete.
Note: Using the above method, you will not be able to update a paid application, since the APK Downloader service simply cannot download it.
This approach to solving the problem of updating applications in the Play Market cannot be called the most convenient and simple. But in those rare cases when it is impossible to install the update in any other way, this method will obviously be useful and effective.
Method 2: Third party app store
Play Market is the official, but not the only app store for the Android operating system. There are several alternative solutions, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages, and all of them were considered by us in a separate article.
A third-party app store can also be helpful if you are unable to resolve an update issue. The material at the link above will help you decide on the choice of a suitable Market. Then you just need to download it and install it on your device, and then find in it the application that is not updated in the company store. True, in this case, it may be necessary to remove the already installed version.
Method 3: Reset the device to factory settings
The last thing that can be recommended in cases where it is not possible to fix any problem in the operation of a smartphone or tablet on Android is to reset it to factory settings. In this way, you will return the mobile device to the “out of the box” state, when it worked quickly and stably. A significant disadvantage of this action is that all user data, files, installed applications and games will be deleted, so we recommend that you make a backup in advance.
As for the problem we are directly considering in this article - the impossibility of updating applications - it is unlikely that it will come to a reset. So, if the methods described in the first part of the article did not help (which is unlikely), then one of the two described above will certainly help not to get rid of, but simply bypass this problem, forgetting about its existence. A full reset can be recommended only if, in addition to the inability to install an update, there are other problems in the operation of the operating system and / or device.
Conclusion
In this article, we've looked at all the possible reasons why apps in the Play Store may not be updating, and we've also provided effective solutions to deal with the problem, even in cases where it is supposedly not fixed. We hope this material was useful, and now you, as expected, use the latest versions of applications on your Android device.
The Play Market is one of the most important apps on all Android gadgets. Thanks to him, users can download various programs, games, books, music to their devices. Moreover, this service from Google is automatically configured to check the current version of applications and update them. Therefore, every user needs to know how to update the Play Market on Android.
Many problems with an Android smartphone can be the result of a Google Play store failure. For example, due to an error in Google Play services, access to many pre-installed applications may be blocked and system processes may stop working.
To avoid such problems, it is necessary to monitor the timely updating of the branded application store. As a result, along with the ability to download new software, the user receives stable operation of system programs.
How to update the Play Market manually
By default, the Play Store is set to receive updates automatically. But it is possible that as a result of a malfunction in the Android OS, this software may not be updated.
The solution to the problem is to check and install the new version of the Play Market firmware manually. To do this, you must perform the following steps:
- launch the Play Market program;
- click in the upper right corner on the icon in the form of three horizontal dashes;
- select the "Settings" section;
- click on the item "Build version";
- if a message about the availability of a new firmware version appears on the screen, start the process by pressing the “OK” button.
Another way to force the upgrade of this program is to uninstall the current version.
To do this, do the following:
- open "Settings";
- click on the "Applications" section;
- go to the "All" tab;
- find in the Play Market list;
- click "Uninstall updates";
- confirm the action by pressing the "OK" button;
- wait until the removal process is completed;
- Launch the Play Store and click on "Build Number" again.
If you uninstalled the updates, but the problem is not solved, you need to try another solution - clear the program cache. You can do this in the following way:
- open the "Applications" section;
- go to the "All" tab;
- find and launch the Play Store;
- click on the "Clear cache" or "Erase data" button;
- reboot the device, and restart the program update.
If Google Play is not updated even after these manipulations, you can delete your account. You can perform this action in this way:
- Click in the system settings on the item "Accounts" or "Accounts" (on different versions of Android, this item may be called differently).
- Select "Google" from the list.
- Click on the account name.
- In the upper right corner, click on the icon in the form of three dots.
- Click "Delete account".
- Confirm deletion.
- Open Google play.
- Enter the username and password for the account, and start the update manually through the "Assembly version" section.
How to update Google Play installed on the phone manually
On some smartphone models, this software is not preinstalled. This situation may occur when using a non-certified phone or non-official OS firmware.
The only way to update the Google Play store is to download the new version and install it manually. You can find and download free firmware for this program through various Internet resources.
Before proceeding with the installation of Google Play, you must uninstall its previous version from the smartphone’s memory and allow software installation from unknown sources. To activate the "Unknown sources" option, you need to do the following:
- enter "Settings";
- in the "Security" section, activate the "Unknown sources" option.
You can download apk from the Internet resource both through a computer and through a phone. If the user used a PC to download, then the Google App Store installation file must be transferred to the Android device using a USB cable.
Installing Google Play Market is no different from installing other programs or games. To do this, the user must perform the following actions:
- enable any file manager on your mobile phone;
- go to the "Downloads" folder if the apk was downloaded via phone. If the program was transferred to an android gadget via a PC, open the folder where the installation file was copied;
- find the downloaded file and click on it;
- click "Install";
- after the installation process is completed, you need to restart your smartphone.
If immediately after the update there are problems with the device or access to Google Play, the user can return to the previous version. To do this, find the Play Market in the "Applications" section and click on the "Uninstall updates" button.
Consider how to properly update Google Play services and get rid of errors during the installation of software on your smartphone.
What is Google Play Services for?
Google Play Services- This is a software package that is used by default by all gadgets based on . All installed services are managed by a single utility. Google developers recommend regularly updating standard software for stable system operation.
If there is no service software in the main menu of your device, you can always install it from the official app store. Thus, the interaction of all applications will be carried out without failures and bugs.
Google services cannot be removed from the device because they are responsible for the following processes:
Updates allow the device owner to use Google programs with the most up-to-date interface and new functionality. Each update fixes previous bugs and improves program performance.
Method 1 - Using the Play Market
The first and easiest way to install updates for standard services is to use . The store icon is located in the main menu of the phone. To start downloading programs, you just need to log in under your own - you can use an existing profile or create a new account.
There are two types of updates from the Play Market:
- Automatic;
- Custom.
In the first case, the system automatically downloads and installs updates for all gadget programs or only for the selected list of applications. The download of new components begins when the phone connects to a fast Internet connection (via Wi-Fi). The second option - the user himself starts the update process for the program he needs.
To set up automatic updates, go to the app store and follow the instructions:
1 Flip from left to right open the main menu tab;
2 Click on the field "Settings";
3 In the window that opens, find the general settings section and select the item "Auto Updates";
4 In the box for changing the value of the option, check the item "Is always" or "Only via WiFi" if you want to save traffic. Also, it is not recommended to select the item "Is always" if you frequently use the Internet over a cellular network. Automatic downloads of programs may exceed the limit of available MB, which will lead to additional Internet costs.
Ready. Now, immediately after connecting the gadget to a high-speed connection to the global network, downloading updates for Google services and the rest of the user-selected software will begin.
If you do not want to automatically download any content from the Internet (this may slow down the device), you can manually start the installation of the new version of the program:
- Go to page "Google Services" by the link https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.gms&hl=en ;
- In the market window that opens, press the button "Update". If this button is absent and there are only the "Delete" and "Open" buttons, this means that the current version of the software itself is installed on your device.
You can check the name of the latest version of the program, version history, and learn about fixed bugs and new build features using the text field under the screenshots of the program on its page in the store.
About updates you will be notified by this tab in the status bar:
Just click on the notification that appears to get to . Perform the manual update as described above.
Method 2 - Installing Updated Services from a Third Party Source
This update option should be used if the standard software store has stopped working on your gadget for some reason. You can solve the problem with the work of services by installing them from a regular APK file.
Pay attention to the source from which the setup file is downloaded. To confirm its safety, we advise you to start it in the operating system.
It will be impossible to install the program if installation from unverified sources is prohibited. To enable this option, go to the device settings. Then open the "Applications" tab and check the box next to the item indicated in the figure below:
Now you can run the APK file. Confirm your agreement with the software use policy from the developer and wait for the installation of the program to complete. The Google services icon will appear in the main menu of the phone.
Method 3 - Roll back updates and reinstall them
Often, after updating programs in the Android OS, users may encounter problems with the software. Bugs occur due to incorrect installation of components, a conflict between the OS version and the application, or due to the actions of the developers themselves.
As a rule, developers quickly release bug fixes for their applications, so you should always stay tuned for updates. If problems occur in the most current version of the software, it is better to roll back the update and try to install it again, or wait for fixes.
To roll back an update means to remove all updates that have ever been installed on your gadget for a particular application. As a result of this action, you will receive the software version that was installed on the smartphone by its manufacturer.
To uninstall updates, follow the instructions: doesn't work, you can't use the app store, or the app install results in a system error message, you need to do one of the following fixes.
Clearing program data
Open the application window in the phone settings and click on the button "Clear Data". This action allows you to delete all information that the software has previously used on your device. All erroneous code executions will be removed.
To continue working with, you must re-authorize in the Google+ system. Information about all installed applications and their updates will be saved.