How to fix Samsung Galaxy Note 8 with “Can’t install app. Error code: -8” issue

The error message “Can’t install app. Error code: -8” is seem to be bugging some owners of the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 nowadays. It occurs only when you try to install or download an app and this could happen regardless of the app you download or the model and make of your phone. It is because it’s a Play Store error and may happen to all smartphones that run Android.

In this article, I will help you troubleshoot your Galaxy Note 8 that’s bugged down by this problem. I will share with you the procedures we’ve been using to fix this problem and make your phone work perfectly again especially when it comes to downloading or installing applications from the Play Store. So if you’re one of the owners of this device and are currently having similar issue, continue reading as this post may be able to help you one way or another.

Before we move on to our troubleshooting, if you are looking for a solution to a different issue, make sure you drop by our troubleshooting page as we’ve already addressed some of the most common problems reported by our readers. Find issues that are similar with yours and use the solutions we suggested. If you still need our help after that, then feel free to contact us by filling up our Android issues questionnaire.

What to do if your can’t install applications on your Galaxy Note 8?

Installing applications shouldn’t be a problem at all but since you’re having this problem, then here are the things you must do…

Reboot your phone first. It could be just a minor problem and sometimes it could be due to a glitch so you must begin your troubleshooting with a reboot. Or better yet, try doing the forced reboot by pressing and holding both volume down and power keys together for 10 seconds or more. It is a very effective procedure that may address any firmware and app-related issues. Once the phone has rebooted, open Play Store and try to download the app you were having issues with to know if the problem is fixed. If you’re still getting the same error, then move on to the next solution.

Make sure you have a strong internet connection. You need a stable internet connectivity in order to download applications. Weak connection may interrupt the download process and may result to this kind of issue. It’s better to be connected via Wifi especially if you’re downloading big apps. However, if you’re on mobile data, just make sure it’s stable and that you have enough credits to use the service.

Clear cache and data of Google Play Store. This error message may be just a minor issue with the Play Store itself and more often than not, it can be fixed by resetting the app store itself. By reset I mean clearing the app’s cache and data which will bring it back to its default settings and configuration as well as delete and replace possibly corrupt cache and data files. Here’s how it’s done…

1. Open your device’s Settings app.
2. Tap Apps & notifications and then See all apps.
3. Scroll down and tap Google Play Store.
4. Tap Storage and then Clear Cache.
5. Next, tap Clear data.
6. Re-open the Play Store & try your download again.

If the problem continues even after this procedure, then try the next solution.

Install app via web browser. This is actually a workaround but it gets the work done without directly dealing with the problem or error. Your phone should conform with all Google’s requirements before it can download and install applications whereas if you use a web browser or a computer to download the app, everything may work like a breeze.

1. On your computer (non-mobile) web browser, navigate to https://play.google.com
2. Sign in to the same Google account that you used on the phone/tablet via the Sign In button.
3. Search or browse the app and select Install.
4. Select the problematic device in the Choose a device dropdown and select Install.
5. Check if the app is successfully downloaded/installed on the device.

Backup files and perform Master Reset. Lastly, if the error continues to appear on your device and prevent you from downloading applications, then you must reset your phone as it could already be an issue with the firmware. So, take a little time backing up your files and data especially ones that are stored in your phone’s internal storage. After which, follow these steps to reset your phone.

1. Back up data on the internal memory. If you have signed into a Samsung account on the device, you have activated Anti-theft and will need your Samsung credentials to finish the master reset.
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.

I hope that we’ve been able to help you fix the problem with your device. We would appreciate it if you helped us spread the word so please share this post if you found it helpful. Thank you so much for reading!

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