Google Play Store error codes and how to fix them

Problem

Google Play Error Processing Purchase DF-BPA-09 happens quite often when trying to download an app. This problem won’t go away if you simply try downloading again, so you’ll need to go into the settings.

Solution

The problem is not due to individual users but comes from Google Play itself, so we’re hoping it will be fixed in the near future. In the meantime, here is what you can do:

1. Go into the Settings app on your device.
2. Tap on Apps or Apps & notifications (the name varies depending on your device).
3. Select the All or See all apps option.
4. Scroll down until you see Google Services Framework.
5. Tap Storage & cache.
6. Finally, choose Clear storage and then OK.

If this doesn’t work, go on to the Google Play site on your PC and install the app that is giving you issues on your smartphone or tablet from there. When you go back to your device, the installation should work.

Problem

The cause of this error comes from Google servers themselves. First, we should tell you that waiting is a good idea, but other solutions work for some users.

Solution

Problem

Downloading an update or an application may fail with this error. 

The first thing to do is to clear the cache and data of the Play Store app. To do this:

1. Open the Settings app on your phone.
2. Tap on Apps or Apps & notifications.
3. Select the All or See all apps option.
4. Scroll down until you see Google Play Store.
5. Tap Storage & cache.
6. Finally, choose Clear storage and then OK.
7. Repeat the steps with the Clear data option.

This should fix the problem, but if it persists, you have to go to your account settings and delete your phone’s Google account. Once you’ve done that you just need to re-add it.

Problem

Error retrieving information from the server.

First solution

Go to Settings > Apps > All > Google Play Store and select both Clear data and Clear cache. Do the same for Google Play Services .

Second solution

Remove and re-add your Google account, restart your device and then re-add your account.

Problem

Error retrieving information from the server.

Solution

Go to Settings > Apps > All > Google Play Store > Storage & cache and select Clear cache and Uninstall updates. Do the same for Download Manager and Google Play Services.

Problem

This error message often appears when updating or downloading an app. Google’s servers are unable to retrieve information from your Google account. You can delete and re-register, but wait a few hours to see if the problem persists first. Sometimes it’ll just take care of itself.

• Go to the Settings > Accounts > [your account] > Remove account.
• Once this is done, you must reboot your device, then re-synchronize the account, adding it back to the phone.
• Finally, open Settings > Applications > All > Google Play Store > Storage & cache. Inside, you must click on the options Clear Data and Force Stop.

Problem

This error appears when you want to use a Google Play card. The problem seems to exist in several countries.

Solution

First, try restarting your device and try using the card again. If the problem persists, go to Settings > Applications > All > Google Play Store > Force Stop > Uninstall updates. The Play Store will then return to its original version and the problem should be gone.

Problem

You can’t download an app.

Solution

Remove your Google account. Remove all synced accounts. Go to Settings > Apps > All > Google Play Store > Storage & cache and select Clear data. Restart your device and try again.

Problem

Can’t download an app.

Solution

Problem

Strangely, this problem is quite common on Android devices. But rest assured, we have three possible solutions to deal with it. One of these tips should hopefully resolve your problem.

Solutions

Problem

Play Store error.

First solution

Problem

This error occurs when you want to download an application and the download stops.

Solution

Problem

Error 18 has been around since late 2015 and happens when you want to reinstall an application that you already had in the past. There is no quick fix to this problem, but some tricks can help.

Solution

Problem

This problem occurs when installing or updating an Android app.

Solution

To resolve this error, you must have a rooted device, since you will need to access a file named ‘smd2tmp1’ found in / mnt / secure / asec /. If your phone is rooted, you can delete this folder, which should permanently resolve the problem.

Problem

Unknown.

Solution

You need a root manager to solve this one. If you have one, navigate to Data/data. In that folder, locate the package name of the app causing trouble (this can be found by looking at the URL of the app on the Play Store website). Delete the entire folder. Try reinstalling the app.

Problem

When you try to install or update an app from the Play Store, it sends an error message stating, “App can’t be installed due to an Error 100 – No Connection.”

Solution

Problem

Can’t download the app as there are too many currently installed.

Solution

Uninstall old and unused apps.

Problem

This is a mysterious problem, which occurs when Google Play thinks an application is compatible with a device, but it actually isn’t. It can then cause the 103 error to occur and recur on all your other devices, including those that are compatible.

Solution

Problem

The application cannot be installed.

Solution

Head to Settings > Applications > All > Google Play Store> Storage & cache > Clear cache. If the problem persists, try downloading the app from the Play Store website.

Problem

This error happens when you try to download games or apps from the Google Play Store.

Solution

One fix for this issue is to clear the cache data for Google Play Services and the Google Play Store. 

1. Open the Settings app on your phone.
2. Tap on Apps or Apps & notifications.
3. Select the All or See all apps option.
4. Scroll down until you see Google Play Store.
5. Tap Force stop.
6. Choose Storage & cache.
7. Finally, choose Clear storage and then OK.
8. Repeat the steps with the Clear data option.

Now repeat the process above, but replace Google Play Store with Google Play Services at step four and then attempt your download again.  

Problem

The download is impossible and the request is ‘forbidden’. This usually happens when two Google accounts are used to buy applications on one device.

First solution

Go to the Google Play Store with the correct Google account. Uninstall the application in question. Try to get the app from Google Play again and tap the purchase button.

Second solution

Clear the proxy you have possibly set up, by going to Settings, then choose Wireless and Networks (or More networks/Network & internet/Connections) and then Mobile Network. Select APN, which stands for Access Point Name, and hit the Clear Proxy option. You can always reinstate the proxy afterward.

Third solution

Another solution would be to erase your entire search history, which you can do in the Play Store itself:

1. Tap on your account profile.
2. Select Settings.
3. Expand the General menu and tap on Account and device preferences.
4. Scroll down the list and tap on Clear device search history.

Fourth solution

Try creating a new Google account and using it for the Play Store instead. Go to the Google Play Store, tap on your profile picture, expand the accounts list by tapping on the V arrow button, then select Add another account. Type your new account credentials then reinstall the app.

Problem

Apps cannot be downloaded. This particular error can occur if you’ve reset the Google account you used to register on your phone, if you’ve restored your device to its factory settings, or if you’ve registered a new account on your phone.

Solution

A classic clearing of the cache will hopefully do the trick. Go to Settings > Applications > All > Google Play Store> Storage & cache > Clear cache.

Otherwise, try again on a different network connection.

Problem

Downloading applications or updates is impossible. If you use a proxy, remember that it may cause problems with the operation of the Google Play Store.

Solution

Problem

There is an error with your Google Play Store account.

Solution

Problem

Downloads and updates are impossible.

Solution

Remove your Google account by going to the Settings for your device, then Accounts and Google. Hit Remove account. Reboot your Android and add the account once again. Next, in the Settings > Applications > All > Google Play Services > Force stop > Storage & cache > Clear cache.

Problem

It’s impossible to install an application because of the Dalvik cache.

Solution

Problem

Problem downloading or updating apps from Play Store.

Solution

Delete your Google Play Store data in Settings > Applications > All > Google Play Services > Force stop > Storage & cache > Clear data. Delete data from Google Play Services as well (note: this will assign a new Google ID to your device, as if you had factory reset it, meaning your Google apps may temporarily act up afterward).

Problem

Difficulty updating installed apps

First solution

Clear out your Play Store data. Go to Settings > Applications > All > Google Play Services > Force stop > Storage & cache > Clear cache, and then Clear data.

Second solution

Disable your SD card, if you have one. Go to Settings > Storage > Unmount SD card.

Third solution

If your phone is rooted, you can delete the app’s APK and reinstall it. To do so, open up Root Explorer, or a similar application, and navigate to System / app > Mount R / W > Delete application. Or you can play it safe and rename the offending APK to do something like [application_name].apk.backup, so you can revert it if anything goes wrong.

Problem

Interruption of downloads from the Google Play Store.

Solution

The problem is that the cache of your device is full. Delete unneeded applications and files. Restart your smartphone in recovery mode by pressing the volume down, power, and home buttons (for Samsung devices), or volume down and power (for most other devices).

This mode provides a few more options. Select Wipe cache partition by navigating between options with the volume rocker. Confirm using the power button.

Problem

If you can’t open the Google Play Store or perform downloads, then surely you have the 501 error.

Solution

To fix it, you must go to Settings > Applications > All, then open these two applications: Google Play Services and Google Play Store – then you have to tap on Storage & cache and then Clear cache. Once you have done this, go into Accounts and delete your Google Account. Then restart your phone, input and synchronize your Google account again, then let your phone sit for five minutes without touching it. After these five minutes are over, the 501 error should not bother you anymore.

Problem

App could not be downloaded due to an error.

First solution

The usual, please: go to Settings > Applications > All > Google Play Store > Force stop > Storage & cache > Clear cache and Clear data. Also Clear cache and Clear data for Google Play Services.

Second solution

Problem

Two or more apps with duplicate permissions.

Solution

You need to find out what app has the same permissions as the one you’re trying to install and uninstall the problem app.

Problem

The code seems to be related to problems allocating space in the phone’s storage.

Solution

• Remove unnecessary files and apps from the device.
• Check in the Settings app, inside the Storage menu if there are problems with the internal or external storage (microSD card).
• Clear the Google Play data and cache: Settings > Applications > All > Google Play Store > Force stop > Storage & cache > Clear cache and Clear data.

Problem

You have problems downloading apps or installing new updates correctly.

Solution

1. Open the Settings app on your phone.
2. Tap on Apps or Apps & notifications.
3. Select the All or See all apps option.
4. Scroll down until you see Google Play Store.
5. Tap Force stop.
6. Choose Storage & cache.
7. Finally, choose Clear storage and then OK.
8. Repeat the steps with the Clear data option.

Problem

This problem mainly occurs on the HTC One M8 and M9. This often occurs when downloading or updating an app. Errors 907 and 963 are similar and resolved in the same way.

Solution

Problem

The Google Play Store “Can’t install app”.

Possible solutions

Problem

You can’t download an app.

First solution

Go to Settings > Applications > All > Google Play Services > Force stop > Storage & cache > Clear cache and Clear data.

Second solution

If you’re on a Wi-Fi connection requiring a web page login, ensure you are still logged in.

Third solution

Try another Wi-Fi network.

Fourth solution

Switch from Wi-Fi to mobile network data services. Only do this if you are comfortable using up data on your mobile plan.

Problem

Downloading the app works but it does not open once downloaded.

Solution

There is simply no more space on your Android. Eliminate all unnecessary data, such as music, videos, or large applications.

Problem

You can’t download an app.

First solution

Turn your Wi-Fi off and back on again, and then try to download or update the app in question.

Second solution

Problem

You can’t download an app.

Solution

Problem

The download is impossible: error while syncing your Google account or insufficient cache memory.

Solution

Problem

Usually occurs when trying to download larger applications. The app downloads, but the error message is displayed, saying the installation was unsuccessful due to an error.

Solution

Head to Settings > Applications > All > Google Play Store > Force stop > Storage & cache > Clear cache and Clear data.. Once you’ve done this, try downloading the problem app again.

Problem

The download is impossible because an update of the Play Store is in progress.

Solution

Wait a few minutes until the Google Play Store is completely upgraded. If the problem persists, go to Settings, then Apps, choose to See all apps, and locate the Google Play Services. Tap on Storage & cache, and then Clear data and then Force stop. Do the same with the Google Play Store application.

Problem

The application cannot be downloaded.

Solution

It could be as simple as restarting your device. If this doesn’t work follow these steps:

• Go to Settings > Applications > All > Google Play Store > Force stop > Storage & cache > Clear cache and Clear data.
• Go to Settings > Applications > All > Downloads / Download manager > Force stop > Storage & cache > Clear cache and Clear data.
• Do the same for Google Play services. Some users report needing to clear the data also for the Chrome browser.

Problem

Interruption during an update.

Solution

Go to Settings > Applications > All > Google Play Store > Force stop > Storage & cache > Clear cache and Clear data. Try the update again.

Problem

This error pops up when you’re trying to update apps and seems to occur when the Google Play Store is down, or there is some sort of server error.

Solution

Try updating the app later. It appears to be a temporary problem on Google’s end, so will just have to wait it out.

Problem

Problems when installing Android apps from the Play Store.

Solution

First, get a refund from the Play Store, which you can do within 15 minutes of purchasing. To do this, select the repayment option in the Play Store. Next, go into the Settings > Applications > All > Google Play Store > Force stop > Storage & cache > Clear cache and Clear data.

Problem

Occurs predominantly on HTC One M8 and M9 devices when trying to download or update an app through the Play Store.

First solution

Head to Settings > Applications > All > Google Play Store > Force stop > Storage & cache > Clear cache and Clear data.

Second solution

Settings > Applications > All > Google Play Store > Uninstall updates; go back to the previous screen, then Google Play Services > Force stop > Storage & cache > Clear data..

Third solution

Disable your SD memory card. Go to Settings > Storage > Unmount SD card > OK. Head back to the Play Store and try downloading or updating the app again. If it works, head back to Settings > Storage > Mount SD card.

Fourth solution

Move the app to your device’s internal memory. Go to Settings > Applications > All > (app causing the problem) > Move to internal memory. Head back to the Play Store, try downloading or updating the app again, and if it works, move it back to the SD card.

Problem

Error 971 commonly appears on Wiko phones running Android 5.0.2. It prevents you from installing an app after downloading it.

Solution

Problem

Error RH-01 is a server error that can prevent you from updating or downloading apps from the Play Store.

First Solution 

1. Go to Settings > Date & Time. If the automatic date and time + Time Zone are incorrect, you will need to manually set it.
2. Uncheck Automatic Date & Time and set the correct date/time+time zone.
3. Now try downloading an app or game in the Google Play Store.

Second Solution

1. Open the Settings app on your phone.
2. Tap on Apps or Apps & notifications.
3. Select the All or See all apps option.
4. Scroll down until you see Google Play Store.
5. Tap Force stop.
6. Choose Storage & cache.
7. Finally, choose Clear storage and then OK.
8. Repeat the steps with the Clear data option.

Follow the same steps for Google Play services and try again to download an app in the Play Store.

Third Solution

This is a common method to temporarily fix buggy Google Play updates by reverting the Play Store app to its factory/original version.

1. Go to Settings > Apps > All.
2. Scroll down and select Google Play Store.
3. Tap Force stop > Uninstall updates.

Have you ever come across any other Play Store problems? Let us know in the comments below.

Guide updated in January 2022 with more error codes and updated instructions. Existing comments on this page were not removed and may refer to previous versions of this article.