Google Play Store Keeps Stopping / Not Opening (12 Fixes That Work)

If your Google Play Store won’t open, keeps closing, or you see “Google Play Store keeps stopping”, the cause is usually one of these:

• Play Store bugged update
• Corrupted cache/data
• Google Play services conflict
• Low storage
• Wrong date/time or a stuck system process

Do this first

1. Restart your phone
2. Update the Google Play Store (Settings → About → Update Play Store)
3. Clear Play Store cache/data
4. Clear Google Play services cache/data if Play Store still crashes
5. Free 1–2 GB storage
6. If still not opening: Uninstall Play Store updates (revert to factory version)

Google Play services keeps stopping: 12 Fixes

Fix 1: Restart your phone (simple, but important)

Google’s Android troubleshooting for broken apps starts with restart + updates.

Fix 2: Check if Play Store has an update

If Play Store opens even for 10 seconds, do this:
Play Store → Profile → Settings → About → Update Play Store

Fix 3: Force stop Play Store

Settings → Apps → Google Play Store → Force stop
Then open it again.

Fix 4: Clear Play Store cache (safe)

Settings → Apps → Google Play Store → Storage & cache → Clear cache
This is one of Google’s main recommendations for Play Store issues.

Fix 5: Clear Play Store data/storage (strong fix)

If cache didn’t help:
Settings → Apps → Google Play Store → Storage & cache → Clear storage / Clear data

Then restart and try again.

Fix 6: Clear Google Play services cache/data

When Play Store keeps crashing, Google often points to cleaning Google Play services too.
Steps:
Settings → Apps → Google Play services → Storage & cache → Clear cache → Clear data

Restart your phone.

Google Play Store Download Pending: 13 Fixes

Fix 7: Check storage (low space = crashes)

If storage is nearly full, Play Store and Play services can misbehave. Free at least 1–2 GB, then retry.

Fix 8: Set Automatic Date & Time

Wrong time can break secure sign-in and background services.
Go to: Settings → Date & time → Set automatically (ON)
Google’s Android “app not working” guide includes updating/syncing basics like this.

Fix 9: Disable VPN / Private DNS (temporarily)

If Play Store opens but fails immediately or errors out, turn off VPN/Private DNS and test again.

Fix 10: Uninstall Play Store updates (revert to factory version)

If Play Store still won’t open:
Settings → Apps → Google Play Store → (menu) Uninstall updates
Google’s Play Store troubleshooting includes uninstalling updates as an advanced fix.

Then open Play Store and let it update again.

Fix 11: Remove and re-add Google account (if sign-in is stuck)

If Play Store keeps stopping right after it tries to load your account:
Settings → Accounts → Google → Remove account → Restart → Add account again

(Do this after cache/data steps.)

Fix 12: Still crashing? Update Android system

Settings → System → System update
Google’s Android troubleshooting emphasizes keeping the OS updated when apps keep crashing.

Sources

Google Play Help: Fix problems with the Google Play Store app (advanced)
https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/14121800

Google Play Help: Update the Google Play app
https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/15747876

Google Play Help: Keep your device & apps working with Google Play services
https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/9037938

Android Help: Fix an installed Android app that isn't working
https://support.google.com/android/answer/2668665