What Should You Do If Your Android Device Isn’t Downloading or Installing Apps?

Many mobile operating systems have failed in the past owing to app compatibility and constraints. Without applications, your ability to utilize a phone or tablet is severely restricted.
The same is true for defects and flaws in your AndroidOS device. While the operating system supports a large range of apps, problems are nevertheless possible and, if left addressed, may render your smartphone almost worthless. So, what should you do if your Android smartphone is refusing to download or install apps?
This post will lead you through basic troubleshooting methods and remedies so you can go back to installing applications on your Android smartphone as soon as possible.
Android Device Won’t Download or Install Apps
Because the Google Play Store is quite dependable, major issues are uncommon. But if you can’t download applications right now, something is wrong elsewhere. Before we go into more obvious methods, let’s go over some things you should look at first.
If you can’t download applications, cross the following off your list first:
- Is your smartphone fully charged? – Some smartphones may not allow you to download new applications until your device is fully charged, which might be as much as 15% or 30%.
- Have you have a good internet connection? – You might be using cellular data, or you could be connected to WiFi but the connection is poor. If feasible, try another WiFi network.
- Have you rebooted your device? – Most difficulties, including those with the Google Play Store, may be resolved by restarting your phone.
- Is there a problem with the Google Play Store as a whole? – Examine the downdetector webpage. Perhaps Google is experiencing a major problem, and you just need to wait for the engineers to resolve it.
Now that we’ve covered the fundamentals of fast fixes, try downloading an app from the Play Store. If your Android smartphone is still unable to download or install applications, consider the following methods.
Check Your Free Space
When troubleshooting a device, it’s always a good idea to start with the fundamentals. Downloads are subject to the availability of storage space. Most programs are just a few gigabytes in size, but others are much more. Is there enough space on your device? Do you need to do any spring cleaning before bringing in new items?
First, check your devices’ storage by following these steps:
Because the Android interface differs by manufacturer and version, our course focuses on broad guidelines that should apply to everyone.



If your storage is full, you may easily erase seldom used apps by pressing on Apps, selecting the apps you want to delete, and then hitting Uninstall.
Return to the Google Play Store and try to download the desired app again. If you have a lot of storage space, stay reading for additional ideas.
Check Your Network
We touched on it briefly before, but your network connection has a lot to do with your ability to download applications. Let’s dig further into your internet connection if your downloads are very sluggish or not occurring at all.
Check sure the network you’re connected to has adequate strength to keep the connection regardless of how you download your applications (through WiFi or cellular data). If your WiFi is crowded, you’re nearly out of range, or you only have one or two bars of signal, you may want to wait until you’re in a better location before downloading your app.
Websites and programs not loading correctly is one of the first signs that you have network connection troubles. You may check a stable connection by doing a speed test using your phone’s browser or if you already have the app.
If you’re connected to Wi-Fi, try switching to cellular data. If another Wi-Fi network is accessible, you may try it. If cellular data is your sole option, make sure that background data use is enabled in your Android device’s settings.

Reboot Your Device
A device restart is one of the most basic and effective ways to resolve software problems. Perhaps your issues are the result of a simple bug. A reboot will force the phone to discard all of the code it was processing and restart. New processes will be put into memory, and you may be able to download the software without encountering any problems.
Check Your Time & Date Settings
Authentication is a mobile procedure that needs your device to be authenticated with Google Play and the download server at the precise moment. Most of our phones automatically sync date and time with the network, but it’s worth double-checking.
All you need to do is ensure that your operating system is set to the correct time zone. If it’s accurate, proceed. If it isn’t, make the necessary changes or set it to automatic. Here’s how it’s done:
- Turn your phone off and on again to ensure that the time has been updated.


Clear the Google Play Store Cache
If your Android smartphone still does not download or install applications after following all of these instructions, it may be worthwhile to erase the Store cache. The cache is a temporary storage location where the Google Play Store keeps all of the data it utilizes and/or requires to operate. It is possible for it to get corrupted, thus it is worth examining.
- Choose Settings and then Apps & Notifications.
- Select Google Play Store.
- Choose Storage and then Clear cache.
- If Google Play services and Google Services Framework are present, repeat the process.
- Choose Settings and then Apps & Notifications.
- Select Google Play Store.
- Select Permissions.
- Check that SMS and Phone are enabled. Contacts and location are optional, however you should enable them to test.
- Check that the permissions for Body sensors, Call logs, Camera, Contacts, Files and Media, Location, Microphone, SMS, and Phone are set to Allow.
- Retest the app download.
- Open your phone’s Settings app and choose Apps & Notifications.
- Scroll to the bottom and choose Google Play Store.
- In the top right-hand corner, tap the three vertical dots.
- Tap on Uninstall updates.




Change Your Google Play Store Permissions
Because permissions are usually assigned automatically, there isn’t always a need to change them. However, if you’ve gotten this far and are still unable to download or install an app, it’s worth a go.






Some security programs will alter these settings, causing the Google Play Store to malfunction. If you don’t want all of these services to be available, you may disable them after testing.
Uninstall Google Play Updates
It’s no secret that software upgrades have a habit of introducing new issues. If the problem with the Play Store started after a software update, you may remove the most recent version. Reverting to an earlier version of the program may be all that is required to resolve an issue.
Here’s how to uninstall a Google Play Store update:




Now restart the Play Store and try to download the app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Having problems with your smartphone is inconvenient, particularly when you can’t access crucial functions such as the Google Play Store. Continue reading if you have any more inquiries.
What do I do if I accidentally delete the Google Play Store on my Android device?
The Google Play Store comes pre-installed on the majority of Android OS devices. Maybe you’ve looked through your app drawer and home screen and still can’t locate the small Play Store symbol. The good news is that you haven’t truly removed it unless you’re using an AndroidOS device that didn’t come with the official Google Play Store software.
If you can’t locate the Google Play Store app on your smartphone, follow these steps:


3. At the bottom of this new page, you’ll notice the choice to Enable or Turn on. Tap it.
4. Locate the Google Play Store in your app drawer. It should display, but you must re-add it to the home screen.
When your Google Play Store app disappears, it is most likely because it has been deactivated rather than destroyed.
What do I do if I can’t update apps?
You may receive an error that prohibits you from upgrading programs, among other problems with the Play Store. The majority of your apps will be uploaded to the Google Play Store by the Android operating system. The majority of the methods stated above apply to this issue, as well as the inability to install applications. However, as an extra precaution, you should attempt to forcibly stop the program in question.
Here’s how to force stop an application on Android:


Try updating the application again. If none of the suggestions above work, you may remove and reinstall the problematic program. However, there are occasions when developers’ applications are no longer maintained. Go to the Google Play Store and look for developer updates.
If your Android smartphone is refusing to download or install applications, one of the solutions listed above will undoubtedly assist. Do you have any other suggestions for getting downloads to work? If you do, please tell us about it in the comments section!
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