What to do if Galaxy S7 won’t install updates from Play Store app, won’t connect to one wifi network only

A #GalaxyS7 user reached out to us a few days ago about his device being unable to install updates from the Play Store app. While this is not the first time that we’ve heard of the problem, it’s a fairly uncommon issue and there’s not a lot of useful literature out there that helps. In this troubleshooting episode, we hope to give an easy to read guide on how to fix this issue. We also include one case that talks about an S7 being unable to connect to one wifi network. Hopefully, you’ll find our suggestions helpful.

If you are looking for solutions to your own #Android issue, you can contact us by using the link provided at the bottom of this page.

When describing your issue, please be as detailed as possible so we can easily pinpoint a relevant solution. If you can, kindly include the exact error messages you are getting to give us an idea where to start. If you have already tried some troubleshooting steps before emailing us, make sure to mention them so we can skip them in our answers.


Problem 1: What to do if Galaxy S7 won’t install updates from Play Store app

Trying to update apps through the Play store and it says downloading but never does anything. I am having to resort to downloading APKs which then need updating (which i can’t do). I have tried clearing the cache, factory reset (which worked once). Really don’t want to delete my Google account as i have a lot saved on google drive which i would lose. — Nicola Bettridge

Solution: Hi Nicola. There’s a number of possible reasons why your Galaxy S7 is not installing updates. Let’s discuss each of them briefly. We’ll also tell you what troubleshooting steps that you can do to fix the issue.

Possible reasons why your phone won’t install updates:

  • not enough storage space
  • root or custom ROM blocking updates
  • corrupted Google Play Store app and/or services
  • slow internet connection

To know what exactly is causing the problem, you need to perform troubleshooting steps in order to narrow down the reason. Below are the things that you can try to do:

Ensure that your internet connection is fast

This is common sense. If you have slow or intermittent connection, like when you’re using spotty cellular network, downloads may not finish at all. Try using a reliable wifi connection or a faster mobile data connection to complete the downloads. if nothing will work, do the rest of the steps below.

Free up space

Sometimes, lack of enough internal storage space during an update can cause downloading problems. In some cases, an error indicating the situation may pop up while in others, nothing at all. In order to eliminate the possibility that lack of storage space is causing the problem, make sure that there’s at least 1GB of available space in internal storage device. Keep in mind that app updates are usually stored to the internal storage device rather than the SD card. To free up space, move non-system critical files such as photos, videos, and music to the SD card, or purge them from the system.

Remove and log back in to your Google account

The next best thing to do is to remove your Google account from your device to clear whatever bug that’s associated with it. We don’t know why you’re going to lose files in your Google drive if you’ll do this as you’re basically not deleting your Google account from Google servers, but only temporarily disassociating it from your phone. This means that once you log back in, your Google Drive files should still be there. You can even access your Google Drive files using a computer or another device.

To remove your Google account from your S7, follow these steps:

  1. Open Settings app.
  2. Tap Cloud and accounts.
  3. Tap Accounts.
  4. Tap Google.
  5. If you have multiple Google accounts, select the one you’re having a problem with.
  6. Tap three-dot icon at the upper-right side and hit Remove account.

Troubleshoot Google Play Store app

Should removing your Google account then relogging won’t fix the issue, your next troubleshooting step is to Force Stop Google Play Store app. This should kill the app and restart it. Here’s how to do that:

  1. Open Settings app.
  2. Tap Apps.
  3. Look for Google Play Store app and tap it.
  4. Tap Force Stop button.
  5. Try to download and install updates again.

If force stopping Google Play Store app won’t make a difference, the next good thing that you can do is to delete its data. This step is the virtual equivalent of reinstalling the app. Since you’re dealing with a first party app from Google, you can’t just uninstall, then reinstall it.

To delete an app’s data, follow these steps:

  1. Open Settings app.
  2. Tap Apps.
  3. Look for Google Play Store app and tap it.
  4. Tap Storage.
  5. Tap Clear Data.
  6. Restart the phone and reopen Google Play Store app.
  7. If prompted, enter your Google credentials again and download updates.

Clear data of Google Services Framework

Another good app to look into in this situation is the Google Services Framework app. This app is responsible for all things update-related, especially those that are handled by Google services or apps like the Play Store. Make sure that you also clear its data just like the Google Play Store.

Clear cache partition

Another good thing to start modifying is the cache partition. This is where your phone’s system cache is kept. At times, a corrupt system cache can cause problems so make sure that you clear the cache partition to force the phone to purge the old one and replace it with new. In order to clear the system cache, follow these steps:

  1. Turn off your Samsung Galaxy S7.
  2. Press and then hold the Home and Volume UP keys, then press and hold the Power key.
  3. When the Samsung Galaxy S7 shows on the screen, release the Power key but continue holding the Home and Volume Up keys.
  4. When the Android logo shows, you may release both keys and leave the phone be for about 30 to 60 seconds.
  5. Using the Volume Down key, navigate through the options and highlight ‘wipe cache partition.’
  6. Once highlighted, you may press the Power key to select it.
  7. Now highlight the option ‘Yes’ using the Volume Down key and press the Power button to select it.
  8. Wait until your phone is finished doing the Master Reset. Once completed, highlight ‘Reboot system now’ and press the Power key.
  9. The phone will now reboot longer than usual.

Wipe the phone with Factory reset

If all the steps above won’t help at all, it’s time that you need to do a more drastic step. It’s time to wipe your phone clean and return all software settings back to their defaults. We know for a fact that factory state software allows update downloads and installations. In order to factory reset your device, do these steps:

  1. Create a backup of your files.
  2. Turn off your Samsung Galaxy S7.
  3. Press and then hold the Home and Volume UP keys, then press and hold the Power key.
  4. When the Samsung Galaxy S7 shows on the screen, release the Power key but continue holding the Home and Volume Up keys.
  5. When the Android logo shows, you may release both keys and leave the phone be for about 30 to 60 seconds.
  6. Using the Volume Down key, navigate through the options and highlight ‘wipe data / factory reset.’
  7. Once highlighted, you may press the Power key to select it.
  8. Now highlight the option Yes — delete all user data using the Volume Down key and press the Power button to select it.
  9. Wait until your phone is finished doing the Master Reset. Once completed, highlight ‘Reboot system now’ and press the Power key.
  10. The phone will now reboot longer than usual.

We expect your phone to start downloading and installing updates after a factory reset but if it continues to show the same problem afterwards, there must be something that’s blocking the software from doing so. In this case, it’s possible that you’re not telling us one important thing, that your phone may be rooted or running non-official firmware. Some root software may block official updates to prevent conflicts so make sure to unroot your device or reflash everything back to stock.

Problem 2: Galaxy S7 won’t connect to one wifi network

Hi. This problem occurs only at work.When I connect the WiFi, it connects and disconnects after mere 2-3 seconds. My phone connects to my home WiFi and everywhere else. I’ve tried to free some space in my phone, restarted/switched off my phone, reset network settings, changed location to GPS only. I’ve tried all that I could. Please help! this is really frustrating. Also, the secret codes don’t work on my phone. I tried all the codes given on google and YouTube but nothing seems to work. — Jaineet Dhillon

Solution: Hi Jaineet. If the phone works fine with other wifis but not in a particular one, the problem is not with your phone but with that network. If this is a corporate wifi network, make sure to talk to the wifi administrator or to whoever is in-charge. They may be blocking unknown or unrecognized devices in their network for some reason. We know nothing much about your circumstances so there’s really nothing specific that we can give you in terms of solution. Your issue is not uncommon though so we’re very positive that this is due to limitations or restrictions in your work wifi. For instance, they may be limiting the number of users in their network at any particular time. They may also be filtering the devices that can use their wifi so you may have to let the wifi administrator know about it so they can register your device and allow it to connect.

Each wifi network is set up differently so there’s nothing much that you can do on your end to fix it. As far as your circumstances are concerned, there’s no problem with your phone at all.


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