How to fix a Galaxy S9 Plus that won’t install or update apps in Google Play Store

Welcome to another troubleshooting episode for the #GalaxyS9. This post will give you the troubleshooting steps that you can do if your Google Play Store has stopped working, or blocks you from installing apps or updates.

Before we proceed, be reminded that we provide answers to Android problems. 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: Galaxy S9 Plus won’t install or update any app in Google Play Store

The google play store works but can’t install or updates any of my apps. I just bought this phone 2 months ago and it was working just fine. I can’t update or install apps since 2 days ago. What do I do? 

Solution: Play Store is a core Operating System app so Google tries to make it as bug-free as possible. At times though, just like any other app, it may crash or behave erratically out of the blue. The most common reason why this happens is due to third party interference. In some cases, new Android updates may corrupt the app or the system cache, resulting to a Play Store problem. To troubleshoot this issue, follow our suggestions below.

Clear the cache partition

Making sure that the system cache, which is stored in the cache partition, should be the first troubleshooting step that you must do. Updates or app installation can sometimes corrupt the system cache causing other apps or the operating system to behave erratically. To fix the problem, you want to clear the cache partition. Once you’ve done that, Android will create a new system cache, which, hopefully will resolve the issue.

To clear the cache partition on your Galaxy S9 Plus:

1. Turn off the device.
2. Press and hold the Volume Up key and the Bixby key, then press and hold the Power key.
3. When the green Android logo displays, release all keys (‘Installing system update’ will show for about 30 – 60 seconds before showing the Android system recovery menu options).
4. Press the Volume down key several times to highlight ‘wipe cache partition’.
5. Press Power button to select.
6. Press the Volume down key until ‘yes’ is highlighted and press the Power button.
7. When the wipe cache partition is complete, “Reboot system now” is highlighted.
8. Press the Power key to restart the device.

Uninstall updates of Google Play Store

If nothing is fixed after you’ve cleared the cache partition, the next troubleshooting step that you can do is deal with the problematic app itself. There are a number of things that you can do with it, such as to uninstall its updates. Here’s how to do that:

1. Open Settings app.
2. Tap Apps.
3. Tap on More settings at the upper right (three-dot icon).
4. Select Show system apps.
5. Find and tap Google Play Store app.
6. Tap More options icon at the upper right.
7. Tap Uninstall updates.
8. Restart your S9 and check for the problem.

Clear Google Play Store cache and data

Another troubleshooting step that you want to do with the Play Store app is to clear its cache and data.

1. Open Settings app.
2. Tap Apps.
3. Tap on More settings at the upper right (three-dot icon).
4. Select Show system apps.
5. Find and tap your app.
6. Tap Storage.
7. Tap Clear cache button.
8. Restart your S9 and check for the problem.

If clearing the cache won’t work, repeat the first 6 steps, then tap Clear Data button. This will clear the app’s data, returning all its settings to their defaults.

Sign out of your Google account

If the problem remains at this point, another good troubleshooting step to do is to sign out and back in to your Google account. Before doing this step, be sure to check the username and password of your Google account. The last thing that you want to happen is to be locked out of your phone or Google Play Store app.

To sign out of your Google account:

1. Open Settings app.
2. Tap Cloud and accounts.
3. Tap Accounts.
4. Select the Google account in question.
5. Tap Remove account.
6. Restart your device.
7. Sign back in to your Google account and check for the problem.

Clear data of Google Services Framework

Some users were able to fix Google Play Store issues in the past by clearing the data of another core Google app named Google Services Framework.

1. Open Settings app.
2. Tap Apps.
3. Tap on More settings at the upper right (three-dot icon).
4. Select Show system apps.
5. Find and tap Google Services Framework app.
6. Tap Storage.
7. Tap Clear data button.
8. Restart your S9 and check for the problem.

Boot to safe mode

As mentioned above, one of the possible reasons for your Galaxy S9 Plus Play Store problem may be a third party app. To check, you want to restart your phone to safe mode. Doing so will reboot the system to another software environment that blocks third party apps. So, if Google Play Store app works normally on safe mode only, you can bet an app is causing it.

To boot your S9 Plus to safe mode:

1. Turn the device off.
2. Press and hold the Power key past the model name screen.
3. When “SAMSUNG” appears on the screen, release the Power key.
4. Immediately after releasing the Power key, press and hold the Volume down key.
5. Continue to hold the Volume down key until the device finishes restarting.
6. Safe mode will display in the bottom left corner of the screen.
7. Release the Volume down key when you see Safe Mode.
8. Check for the problem.

If you suspect that one of the apps is behind the trouble, you should boot the phone back to safe mode and follow these steps to identify the culprit:

1. Boot to safe mode.
2. Check for the problem.
3. Once you’ve confirmed that a third party app is to blame, you can start uninstalling apps individually. We suggest that you begin with the most recent ones you added.
4. After you uninstall an app, restart the phone to normal mode and check for the problem.
5. If your S9 is still problematic, repeat steps 1-4.

Reset all settings

Before you want to do more drastic software changes, you should also consider returning all settings to their defaults. Unlike factory reset, resetting all settings as a troubleshooting step won’t affect personal data so at this point, there’s no need to back your files up yet.

To reset all settings:

1. From the Home screen, swipe up on an empty spot to open the Apps tray.
2. Tap General Management > Reset settings.
3. Tap Reset settings.
4. If you have set up a PIN, enter it.
5. Tap Reset settings. Once complete a confirmation window will appear.

Unroot or reflash stock firmware

This troubleshooting step only applies to cases wherein the device has been rooted or flashed with non-official firmware. If you haven’t heard of these terms, then your phone is probably not rooted nor running non-official software. Simply ignore this one.

On the other hand, if Google Play Store app started behaving erratically after you’ve installed an app from other sources after rooting or flashing, there must be a bug causing it. In this case, you want to return all software and apps to their original stock state by unrooting or flashing the stock firmware.

Factory reset

The most effective solution for any Google Play Store issue is factory reset. Be sure to back your personal data up first before you wipe your device with this reset.

To factory reset your S9 Plus:

1. Create a backup of your data.
2. Turn off the device.
3. Press and hold the Volume Up key and the Bixby key, then press and hold the Power key.
4. When the green Android logo displays, release all keys (‘Installing system update’ will show for about 30 – 60 seconds before showing the Android system recovery menu options).
5. Press the Volume down key several times to highlight ‘wipe data / factory reset’.
6. Press Power button to select.
7. Press the Volume down key until ‘Yes — delete all user data’ is highlighted.
8. Press Power button to select and start the master reset.
9. When the master reset is complete, ‘Reboot system now’ is highlighted.
10. Press the Power key to restart the device.

 

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