How to fix Google Play Store: 11 foolproof tricks 🚀
Although the Google Play Store is feature-rich and easier to navigate, it still has some bugs that prevent users from searching and downloading their favorite apps and games. 🛠️📱
Recently, many Android users have reported issues with the search functionality of the Google Play Store. They have complained that the search is not working. ❌🔍
Whenever you try to search for an app name, it shows unknown errors instead of results. Sometimes, it returns no results at all. If you are facing the same issues, here are some solutions you can try. 💡👇
1. Restart the Google Play Store
Restart the application will fix errors and temporary failures that prevent the operation from the search in the Google Play Store. So, before you do anything else, restart the Google Play Store app on your Android smartphone. 🔄📲
To restart the Google Play Store, close the application and open it again from your Android's application menu.
2. Force stop the Google Play Store
If the Google Play Store not working After restarting it, you need to force stop the app on your Android.
Force stopping the Google Play Store may end all the services and its processes that are in the background. This way, if any background process is causing conflicts with the search, it will be resolved. ⚡🔌
To force stop the Google Play Store, long press the app and select 'App info.' On the App info screen, tap the Force Stop button.
3. Restart your Android device
If the above two methods do not fix the Google Play Store search issue, you need to restart your Android smartphone.
Restarting your Android regularly is a good practice as it gives your device time to recover. device to cool down and kill all hidden background processes and apps. 🔄❄️
Press the power button to restart your Android smartphone and select 'Restart'. After restarting, go to the Google Play Store and search for your device. Favorite app or game you want to install. 📲🎮
4. Check if Google Play Store servers are down
Before moving on to more complicated methods to resolve the Google Play Store search issue, you need to make sure that the app store is not facing server problems. 🔄🛠️
When the Google servers are down, you will have problems using most of their services, including Google Maps, Photos, Gmail, and the Google Play Store.
You can check the Google Play Server Status in the down detector. If the servers are down, you must wait until they are restored. ⏳🔍
5. Avoid using VPN or Proxy applications
Another reason you might not be able to use search Google Play Store is the use of VPN applications o Proxy. If you use a VPN or Proxy to unblock country-specific apps, temporarily disable the VPN connection. 🌐🚫
VPNs and Google Play Store are not a perfect match, and you will face problems. Sometimes, VPNs VPN connections can cause internet connectivity issues, which leads to the search in Google Play Store not working. ⛔📉
Also, Google does not Allows VPN connections to unblock apps and games that are not available in your region, which could result in your account being suspended. ⚠️🚫
6. Disable Parental Controls in Google Play Store
If some apps don't appear in Google Play Store searches, it's possible that the parental control is enabled on your account. To resolve this issue, you need to disable parental controls. Here's how to do it. 🔄👶
1. Open the Google Play Store and tap the profile picture in the upper right corner.
2. Select Configuration in the list of options that appear.
3. In the Settings screen, expand the section of Family.
4. On the next screen, tap on Parental controls.
5. Disable the switch for 'Parental Controls On'.
After you turn off parental controls, reopen the Google Play Store and try searching again. This time, the Google Play Store should list your apps and games. 🎉📱
7. Correct the Date and Time on your Android
Many Android users have reported that they have fixed the problem of Google search Play Store correcting the date and time on your smartphone. 🕒📅
If your Android phone uses the wrong date and time or the time zone selection is incorrect, you will experience problems using most of the Google services. 🕑⚠️
So, make sure your phone is using the correct date and time to resolve Google Play Store issues.
8. Clear Google Play Store and Services Cache
Another important reason why Google Play search is not working is a Corrupt cache file for Google Play Store and Google Services. To resolve this issue, you can clear both caches. 🗑️✨
1. Open the Settings app on your phone Android and select Applications.
2. Then, under Applications, tap on Application Management.
3. On the screen of Application Management, find Google Play Store and tap on it. Then, tap on Use of storage.
4. Next, tap the button Clear cache.
5. Now, under Application Management, find and tap on Google Play Services.
6. Tap the button Clear cache for Google Play Services.
9. Uninstall Google Play Store Updates
Google Play Store on your Android device is set to update automatically. It installs updates silently without notifying you. 📥📱
It's likely that the Google Play Store has recently updated and installed a faulty update, which is causing the search to not work. So it's a good idea to uninstall the Google Play Store updates and check. 🔄🛠️
- Long press the Google Play Store icon on your home screen and select App information.
- Touch the three points in the upper corner right of the Information screen from the app.
- Select Uninstall updates from the list of options that appear.
10. Delete and re-add your Google Account
If nothing has worked for you, the next best option is to delete your Google Account and log back in. Here's what to do. 🔄👍
1. Open the Settings app on your Android and select Passwords and Accounts / Users and Accounts.
2. Under Passwords & Accounts, tap on your Google Account.
3. In the top right corner, tap the three dots and select Delete account.
This will remove the Google account on your Android smartphone. Now, you need to log in again with the same account. This should fix the Google Play Store search issue. 🔄👌
11. Switch to an alternative to the Google Play Store
Google Play Store is not the only store of android appsThere are many other app stores where you can download your favorite apps and games. 🛍️🕹️
We have already shared a guide listing the best alternatives to Google Play Store for Android. You need to review that article for discover the best app stores for Android. 📜✨
You can also Manually install the application's apk file or game you want on your smartphone. 📥💡
Given that Google Play Store is the app store for Android, it is frustrating that the search does not work. However, the The methods we share will help you solve the problem search in Google Play Store. Let us know in the comments if you need further help. 💬😊
