The Google Play Store is a preinstalled app on most Android phones. It lets you download apps, books, movies, etc., to your phone. Sometimes, if there’s a problem with it on your Android phone, uninstalling and reinstalling Google Play Store is one of the recommended solutions. But how do you do that? Let’s check out how to uninstall the Google Play Store and reinstall it.
Did you know you can install the Google Play Store on Windows as well? Learn how by following our tutorial.
How to Uninstall Google Play Store
You cannot directly uninstall the Google Play Store from your phone. However, you can either disable it or remove its recent updates, which is similar to uninstalling the Play Store. Let’s check out both methods of uninstalling the Play Store from your Android phone or tablet.
1. Disable Play Store
When you disable the Google Play Store, its icon will disappear from your Android phone’s home screen and app drawer. At the same time, you won’t be able to update or install apps using Play Store. However, nothing will happen to existing apps. They will not be removed from your phone. You will need to enable Play Store to use it again.
- Open “Settings” on your phone or tablet.
- Go to “Apps” (or “App & notifications” on some phones), and under “All apps,” tap on “Google Play Store.”
- Tap on the “Disable” button. A confirmation pop-up will appear. Confirm when asked.
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2. Uninstall Google Play Store Updates
Uninstalling Play Store updates will restore the Play Store app to the original or factory version, thus fixing any issues that might be plaguing it. The Play Store app will still appear on your phone, and you can use it normally. You can install and update apps from Play Store as well. Your existing apps will also be safe.
Basically, you can continue using the Play Store app by leaving it as it is after uninstalling the updates. However, your phone will then automatically update it in the background. You can also update it manually as shown in the reinstall Play Store section. Follow these steps to uninstall Google Play Store:
- Open “Settings” on your Android phone.
- Tap on “Apps,” then select Google Play Store under “All apps.”
- Tap on the three-dot icon at the top and select “Uninstall updates” from the menu.
Getting a “Something went wrong try again” error in Google Play? Here’s how you can solve the issue.
How to Reinstall Google Play Store
After you have uninstalled the Play Store app, you can reinstall it in one of the following four ways.
1. Enable Google Play Store
If you disabled the Google Play Store, as shown in method #1 above, you simply need to enable it so that you can start using it again.
To enable Play Store, open “Settings -> Apps -> Google Play Store.” Tap on “Enable.”
2. Let Play Store Update Automatically
By default, the Google Play Store will automatically update in the background as long as it’s connected to a working Internet connection after you’ve uninstall its updates. Just leave the Google Play Store alone for a few minutes, and it will update itself.
3. Update Play Store Manually
If the Google Play Store doesn’t update automatically, or you want to check for new updates manually, your Android phone offers a hidden way to do so.
- Open the Google Play Store app on your phone.
- Tap on the profile picture icon at the top and select “Settings” from the menu.
- Tap on “About” to expand the section.
- Hit the ” Update Play Store” button under the Play Store version. If an update is available, Play Store will start updating. If not, you will receive a pop-up message stating that the Play Store is updated.
Tip: if you don’t see the “Update Play Store” button, tap on “Play Store version” to update it manually.
4. Install or Update Play Store Manually Using APK
Lastly, you can manually install an updated version of the Play Store on your Android phone using its APK. Follow the steps below.
- Open APKMirror.com, one of the trusted sites to download APKs. Make sure you don’t download from just anywhere.
- Search for Google Play Store on the website.
- Tap on the latest version of the Google Play Store.
- On the next screen, scroll down to find variants of the current version. Tap on the version compatible with your phone and hit the “Download APK” button.
- After downloading the APK file, tap on the file to install it. You may be asked to give permission to install apps from unknown sources. Do so to allow the app to install on your device.
Tip: if you face any problems while installing Play Store from the APK, read our guide to learn how to install apps from unknown sources on Android.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to disable Google Play Store?
It is safe to disable the Play Store for a short time, especially if you are unable to download or update apps from the Play Store or are facing a similar issue related to apps on your phone. As a general rule, however, you should keep it enabled, as it helps you install and update apps. It also checks on malicious apps, thanks to the Play Protect feature.
What do I do if the Google Play Store app doesn't appear on my phone?
You may have accidentally removed it from your phone’s screen. Simply open the app drawer, locate the app and drag the Play Store icon back to the home screen. If Play Store doesn’t appear in the app drawer as well, you may have disabled the Play Store app. Enable it as shown above or install it from APK manually.
Can I force stop the Google Play Store?
Yes. Force stop the Play Store by going to “Settings -> Apps -> Google Play Store.” Hit the “Force stop” button.
How do you reset the Google Play Store?
You can either disable and enable the Google Play Store app as shown above or clear the Play Store app’s cache and data by going to “Settings -> Apps -> Google Play Store -> Storage.” Press the “Clear cache” and “Clear data” buttons.
Is there any way to fully delete Google Play Store from your phone?
Yes, it’s possible to do that. But you will have to root your device, as Play Store is a system app.
All screenshots by Mehvish Mushtaq.
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