You tap Install in the Google Play Store, but the download stays on “Pending,” gets stuck at a percentage, or never starts at all. Sometimes app updates stop working at the same time even though the rest of your phone appears normal.
When the Google Play Store is not downloading apps, the problem is usually caused by the internet connection, low phone storage, a stuck Play Store process, incorrect date and time, corrupted Play Store cache, or a problem with Google Play services.
Start with the easiest fixes below. You usually do not need to factory reset your Android phone.
Quick Answer
If Google Play Store downloads are stuck on Pending, first switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data, restart the phone, and make sure you have enough free storage. Next, close and reopen the Play Store and clear its cache. If downloads still do not start, clear the Play Store storage, check for Play Store and Android updates, and only then move to the more advanced Google Play services or account fixes.
Why Is Google Play Store Not Downloading Apps?
A Play Store download can fail before the app is actually installed. That means the problem is not always with the app itself.
Common causes include:
- An unstable Wi-Fi or mobile data connection
- Very little free storage on the phone
- Another app download or update already in progress
- A temporary Google Play Store glitch
- Incorrect date or time settings
- Corrupted Play Store cache or app data
- An outdated Play Store or Android system
- A problem with Google Play services
- A Google Account authentication problem
- The specific app being incompatible with your device
Google has a dedicated Google Play download troubleshooting guide for apps and updates that get stuck or fail to finish.
1. Check Your Internet Connection
Start with your internet connection. Google recommends having a strong Wi-Fi or mobile data connection before troubleshooting the Play Store itself.
Open a browser and load a few websites.
If websites are also slow or not loading, fix the internet connection first.
Try switching connections:
- Turn Wi-Fi off.
- Turn Mobile Data on.
- Open Google Play Store.
- Try downloading the app again.
If the download works over mobile data but not Wi-Fi, the Play Store itself may be fine and the Wi-Fi connection may be the real problem.
If your Android phone shows Wi-Fi as connected but webpages and apps have no internet access, follow our Wi-Fi connected but no internet on Android troubleshooting guide.
You can also try the opposite test: connect to a reliable Wi-Fi network if mobile data is not working properly.
2. Restart Your Android Phone
A restart can clear temporary Play Store, network, and system processes that have become stuck.
- Press and hold your phone's power button or power-button combination.
- Select Restart.
- Wait for the phone to turn back on.
- Open Google Play Store.
- Try the download again.
Google includes restarting the device among its basic troubleshooting steps for Play Store downloads that will not start or finish.
3. Check Available Phone Storage
Apps cannot install properly if your phone is running very low on internal storage.
Open:
Settings > Storage
The exact menu name may vary depending on your Android manufacturer.
Google notes that low device storage can stop apps from downloading and installing, particularly when the phone has very little free space remaining.
If your storage is nearly full:
- Delete unnecessary downloaded files
- Remove duplicate videos or screenshots
- Clear large offline downloads
- Empty the trash or recycle bin in supported apps
- Remove apps you no longer use
- Move large photos and videos to another storage location when appropriate
Google also provides an official guide to freeing storage space on Android.
After freeing space, restart the phone and try installing the app again.
4. Check for Other Pending Downloads or Updates
If Google Play Store says Pending, another app may already be downloading or updating.
Open Google Play Store and:
- Tap your profile picture.
- Tap Manage apps & device.
- Check whether other downloads or updates are running.
Allow important downloads to finish or cancel downloads you no longer need, then retry the app that was stuck.
If many apps need updates, giving the Play Store a few minutes on a stable Wi-Fi connection may be enough.
5. Close and Reopen Google Play Store
The Play Store app itself may simply be stuck.
- Open your phone's recent apps screen.
- Find Google Play Store.
- Swipe it away to close it.
- Wait a few seconds.
- Open Google Play Store again.
- Retry the download.
This is another basic troubleshooting step recommended in Google's official Play Store support instructions.
6. Check Automatic Date and Time
Incorrect date, time, or time-zone information can interfere with connections to online services.
On many Android phones, go to:
Settings > System > Date & time
Make sure these settings are enabled when available:
- Set time automatically
- Set time zone automatically
Samsung and other manufacturers may place these options under a different Settings section, so search Settings for Date and time if necessary.
After changing the setting, wait a few minutes and try Google Play again. If the download remains stuck, restart the phone.
Google specifically includes automatic date and time verification in its basic Play Store download troubleshooting steps.
7. Clear Google Play Store Cache
If downloads are still stuck, clear the Play Store cache.
This removes temporary Play Store files without uninstalling your apps.
- Touch and hold the Google Play Store icon.
- Tap App info.
- Tap Storage & cache or Storage.
- Tap Clear cache.
- Open Google Play Store again.
- Retry the download.
Google describes clearing the Play Store cache as one of the most common solutions for problems downloading apps.
If Play Store downloads work afterward but downloaded apps themselves keep freezing or closing, that is a different problem. Use our Android apps keep crashing troubleshooting guide.
8. Clear Google Play Store Storage
If clearing only the cache did not help, you can reset the Play Store's stored app data.
Important: This does not uninstall the apps already installed on your phone, but Google warns that clearing Play Store storage can reset certain Play Store settings, including parental controls and password-protection settings. You may also be asked to accept the Google Play Terms of Service again.
- Touch and hold Google Play Store.
- Tap App info.
- Open Storage & cache.
- Tap Clear storage or Clear data.
- Confirm the action.
- Reopen Google Play Store.
- Retry the download.
If you use parental controls or purchase authentication, check those settings again afterward.
Google provides the current steps and warnings in its official Play Store app troubleshooting guide.
9. Update or Reinstall Google Play Store Updates
If the Play Store app itself is malfunctioning, check whether it has an update.
Check for a Play Store update
- Open Google Play Store.
- Tap your profile picture.
- Open Settings.
- Tap About.
- Find Play Store version.
- Tap Update Play Store if the option is available.
Reinstall Play Store updates
If updating does not solve the problem, Google also recommends uninstalling Play Store app updates as an advanced troubleshooting step.
- Touch and hold the Google Play Store icon.
- Tap App info.
- Tap the menu button in the upper corner.
- Select Uninstall updates.
- Confirm the action.
Then reopen Google Play Store and update it again through:
Profile picture > Settings > About > Update Play Store
This does not remove the Play Store permanently. It returns the Play Store app to the version supplied with your phone before it updates again.
10. Check Google Play Services
Google Play services is different from the Google Play Store app. It provides background services used by Android apps and Google features.
If the earlier fixes do not work, first check whether Google Play services can be updated.
You can also clear its cache:
- Open Settings.
- Tap Apps.
- Choose Google Play services.
- Tap Storage & cache.
- Tap Clear cache.
- Restart the phone.
- Try Google Play again.
Do not immediately clear all Google Play services data.
Google specifically recommends trying other troubleshooting options first. Clearing all Google Play services storage can remove certain information stored on the device, potentially including payment-related information and other Google service data, and you may have to authenticate services again.
If you reach that stage, follow Google's instructions directly in the official Google Play services troubleshooting guide.
11. Remove and Re-Add Your Google Account
If Google Play still cannot download apps, there may be a problem authenticating your Google Account.
This is an advanced step, so do it only after trying the previous fixes.
Before removing your Google Account, make sure important information is backed up and that you know your Google Account password.
The exact menu differs by phone, but look under:
Settings > Passwords & accounts
or:
Settings > Accounts and backup > Manage accounts
Select the affected Google Account and choose Remove account.
Restart the phone and then add the same Google Account again.
Google lists removing and re-adding the Google Account as an advanced Play Store troubleshooting option and warns that some information is removed from the device when the account is removed.
See Google's Play Store troubleshooting documentation before performing this step if you are unsure.
What If Only One App Will Not Download?
If every other Play Store app downloads normally but one specific app will not install, do not reset the entire Play Store immediately.
Check the app's Play Store page for:
- Device compatibility
- Android version requirements
- Country or regional availability
- Available storage
- Whether the app is still offered for your device
You can also cancel the failed download, restart the phone, and try that app again.
Google has a separate troubleshooting guide for problems downloading one specific app.
If only one installed app is malfunctioning after installation, troubleshoot that application instead of resetting Google Play.
Play Store Works on Mobile Data but Not Wi-Fi
If apps download normally when you switch to mobile data but remain stuck on Pending over Wi-Fi, focus on the Wi-Fi connection.
Try:
- Restarting your router.
- Forgetting and reconnecting to the Wi-Fi network.
- Disabling a VPN temporarily.
- Testing another Wi-Fi network.
- Restarting the phone.
If other apps and websites also have trouble on that Wi-Fi network, the problem is probably not limited to Google Play.
Use our complete Android Wi-Fi connected but no internet guide to troubleshoot the network separately.
What to Do If Google Play Still Will Not Download Apps
If none of the fixes above worked, check for an Android system update.
On many phones, look under:
Settings > System > Software update
or on Samsung Galaxy phones:
Settings > Software update
Install available updates and restart the phone.
Then test Google Play again.
Before considering a factory reset, confirm that:
- Your internet connection works normally
- You have enough free internal storage
- Date and time are correct
- You restarted the phone
- You cleared Play Store cache
- You cleared Play Store storage
- You checked for Play Store updates
- You tested Google Play services
- You checked your Google Account
A factory reset deletes personal data and should be treated as a last resort. Back up your important files before considering it.
If Google Play remains broken after all reasonable troubleshooting, use Google Play Help for additional support before wiping the phone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Google Play Store keep saying Pending?
Pending usually means the Play Store has not started the download yet. This can happen because of an unstable internet connection, another download in progress, low storage, or a temporary Play Store problem.
How do I fix Play Store stuck on Pending?
Switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data, restart your phone, check free storage, close and reopen Google Play Store, and clear its cache. If the download remains stuck, clear Play Store storage and check for updates.
Will clearing Google Play Store cache delete my apps?
No. Clearing the Play Store cache does not uninstall apps already installed on your phone. It removes temporary files used by the Play Store.
What happens if I clear Google Play Store data?
Your installed apps remain on the phone, but some Google Play Store settings may reset. Google notes that settings such as parental controls and password protection may need to be configured again.
Should I clear Google Play services data?
Not as an early fix. Google recommends trying other troubleshooting options first because clearing Google Play services storage can remove certain saved information and require you to authenticate Google services again.
Why can I download apps with mobile data but not Wi-Fi?
If downloads immediately start after switching to mobile data, your Wi-Fi network, router, VPN, DNS, or internet connection may be causing the problem rather than the Play Store itself.
Why won't one specific app download from Google Play?
The app may not be compatible with your device, Android version, account, or region. If every other app installs normally, troubleshoot the individual app before resetting the Play Store.
Do I need to factory reset my phone?
Usually not. Factory reset should be one of the last options because it erases your personal data. Try the network, storage, cache, Play Store, Google Play services, update, and account fixes first.
Final Thoughts
If the Google Play Store is not downloading apps or downloads remain stuck on Pending, start with your internet connection, phone storage, and a simple restart.
Next, close the Play Store, verify automatic date and time, and clear the Play Store cache. If the problem continues, clear its storage and check for Play Store updates before moving to Google Play services or removing your Google Account.
Most importantly, avoid jumping straight to a factory reset. A Play Store download problem can usually be diagnosed without deleting everything from your phone.