Google Play: “Download unsuccessful” Error Fix

Mitch Bartlett Comments (28)
Google Play header

I recently started getting “Download unsuccessful” errors on my Android device whenever I tried to upgrade or download an app using Google Play. This seems to be a common error for the entire line of Android devices. Luckily, the fix was easy for me. If you’re experiencing the same problem, give these steps a try.

Fix 1 – Restart

First, give a power down and restart of your device a try. Be sure to power it completely off.

  1. Unlock the screen.
  2. Press and hold the “Power” button until a menu appears.
  3. Select “Power off“.
  4. Wait for the device to power off.
  5. Wait 10 seconds, then press and hold the “Power” button to power the device back on.

See if you can download items now.

Fix 2 – Clear App Data

If a power down didn’t fix your issue, try these steps.

  1. Open “Settings“.
  2. Select “Applications“.
  3. Select “Manage Applications“.
  4. Tap the “All” tab, then scroll down and select “Google Play Store“.
  5. Select “Storage“.
  6. Select “Clear cache” and “Clear data“.
  7. Back out of the screen and select “Download Manager” (May also be listed as “Downloads”).
  8. Select “Clear cache” and “Clear data“.
  9. Also clear data for “Google Services Framework“, “Google Apps“, “Google Hangouts“, and “Checkin Service“. Some users are reporting they had to clear data for the “Browser” and “Chrome” apps as well. You may not see all of these apps listed on your particular device.

See if downloading from the Google Play works now.

Of course, this works with any Android device.

Author Mitch Bartlett

Through my career that spans over 20 years I have become an expert in Microsoft Systems Administration, Android, and macOS. I started this site as a technical guide for myself and it has grown into what I hope is a useful knowledgebase for everyone.

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Comments

  1. I recently started getting “Download unsuccessful” errors on my windows 10. whenever I tried to upgrade or download an app using Google Play. This seems to be a common error for the entire line of windows 10.

  2. Hello I need help with my Google play. I use to download thing but now when I want to download Microsoft Teams it says there an Error plz help

  3. My Nokia 5.1 plus downloaded an update now I can’t even turn off my phone to reset the system Help

  5. Hello
    I downloaded the mp3 music downloader on my note 10 samsung phone and all the downloads were working well. Then when i wanted to listen to undownloaded songs or download new ones i get error, which means i cant listen/ download new songs. But all the already downloaded ones works perfectly. Any help plz. Knowing i followed all the above instructions.
    Thanks

  6. Hello
    I downloaded the mp3 music downloader on my note 10 samsung phone and all the downloads were working well. Then when i wanted to listen to undownloaded songs or download new ones i get error, which means i cant listen/ download new songs. But all the already downloaded ones works perfectly. Any help plz. Knowing i followed all the above instructions.
    Thanks

  7. No Not help me at all..
    My samsung S2 tablet has the error message .. Unfortunaltey, Google Play services has stopped working…
    I have powered on and of several times it will not go away.
    It will not let me into any menu or apps… so cannot get into settings to change anything?
    So Mr Genius where do I go from here.. there is nothing on the web relating to this problem.. Other than go into settings?? cannot? impossible.
    ????

  8. It don’t work for me, I have tried many of the steps, it still write waiting for download. And will not download

  10. i have a Motorola android and its been acting up a lot lately. I have rebooted it and factory reset it so many times. I even started the android as new and created new emails just in case my hone has been hacked or a virus. for example i have never downloaded the facebook app and it appears on my phone eventhough i clear it and disable. i ont know much about technology but i know for a fact that when i bought the phone i did not have a lot of the apps that are on it. i don’t know how to begin i cant get to my important stuff because of it. and what is sandboxed? i see that a lot under some of my apps? like my location, microphone and camera settings will come on also when i keep taking them off for security reasons. its creepy. and that’s why it wont let me do my factory resseting on my google play services. whats stopping it? or whats helping it to start the other weird apps?? what is summit RCS sevice version 1027-65c4a641028-aedad73??

  13. I have a Samsung galaxy S2 my whatsapp worked perfect 3days ago then an update came up i installed the update then it stopped working. I uninstalled whatsapp and reinstalled but only gets to 66% completion then I get an error code -11. I updated my Google play services, uninstalled Google play updates in the application manager and updated them again. I cleared all the caches in the app management tab under downloads. My download manager only shows force close next to it cancel which is greyed out can’t select it and there isn’t a disable or enable option.

    Please give advice to resolve this problem.

    Many thanks

    Dewaldt

  15. Cleared Play Services and Download Manager data. Got rid of the “ErrorReport” constantly downloading and I was able to download my app. Thank you.

  18. I did all of this and when it didn’t work I factory reset my phone and it still isn’t working. I was getting “%1$s unknown error has occurred “

  19. After AT&T , Samsung and Google techs inside my phone it is a total mystery to all of them. My pro stopped downloading everything in August 2015. I was told AT&T COULD backup my stuff to try a reset. I went to the store they said they had NO way to do it. ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS ???

  21. I don’t know what to say , but it works like genius , please, please please keep the hard work,you are rocks..Thanks a lot.

  25. Fix 2 has sorted the mess that was my daughter’s phone – thank you so much :-)

  26. Hi guy! thank you for the information and may the force be with you.
    I wish much success in your life.

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