“Your Device isn’t Compatible with this Version” Google Play Error

Play Store issues on Android are not common but when they do appear, the user experience gets completely ruined. The “Device not compatible” Google Play error appears rarely on newer devices but it’s not as scarce on old handsets. It prevents users from downloading apps from Google Play Store and there are not many ways to address it. Luckily, we have an explanation of why it happens along with some applicable solutions. Check them out below.

• Fix Play Store Download pending error in 5 steps

Table of contents:

1. Make sure your phone and Android versions are supported
2. Update Android
3. Clear data from Google Play Store and Google Play Services
4. Uninstall Play Store and Google Play Services updates
5. Try with an older APK

How do I fix Google Play Device not Compatible Error?

1. Make sure your phone and Android versions are supported

The “Device not compatible” Play Store error is actually quite self-explanatory. Sadly, not all devices and Android versions support Play Store and if you run into this issue, chances are that you are not meeting the requirement in order to download or update apps via the Play Store.

The requirements differ and you can find out if your device is supported, here. You can search for your device in a browser by selecting Find in page from the 3-dot menu.

In addition, we must mention region limitations as some apps are available only in certain regions. This can be somewhat mitigated by installing apps via an APK, but more on it later.

Moreover, there are many Android-powered devices that don’t share the same apps. Some are only made for Android OS, some for WearOS, and some for Android TV or Android Auto. And, Spotify, for example, has a different app for each of the aforementioned platforms. So, have that in mind as well before moving to the next step.

2. Update the Android version

Now, the minimum compatibility for apps mandated by Google is Android 9. So, if you are on Android 8 Oreo, there’s a good chance that many apps won’t work for you. Updating to Android 9 should help. If your device doesn’t support Android 9, there are still things you can do.

Ideally, you would want to get yourself a newer handset. If that isn’t an option, using custom ROMs is a great way to prolong your phone’s software support for a couple of extra years. If you don’t know your way around custom ROMs, consider visiting XDA and searching there.

3. Clear data from the Google Play Store and Google Play Services

If you went through all the previous steps and can’t find any relation to your device and Android version, you can try clearing data from Play Store and Google Play Services. By clearing local data, you’ll reload the Store and, hopefully, address the problem at hand.

• Fix: Google Play services keep stopping on Android

Here’s how to clear data from Google Play Store and Google Play Services in a few simple steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Select Apps.
3. Expand all apps.
4. Locate and open the Play Store from the list of all available apps.
5. Tap Storage.
6. Clear data and do the same for Google Play Services.
7. Restart your phone and try using the Play Store again.

4. Uninstall Play Store and Google Play Services updates

Alternatively, instead of just clearing the local data, you can uninstall updates for Google Play Store and Google Play Services. This is the closest thing to reinstalling those two as they are system services and can’t be removed completely. You can do so in system settings.

Here’s how to uninstall updates from Play Store and Google Play Services:

1. Again, navigate to Settings > Apps > All apps and open Play Store.
2. Tap on the 3-dot menu and then tap Uninstall updates.
3. Do the same for Google Play Services and restart your device.

5. Try with an older APK

Finally, if you are still unable to install apps from the Play Store, consider using APK generators like APK Mirror to get an older version of the app that bothers you. Then, you can sideload it and, hopefully, it will work on your Android without issues. You might need to enable installation from Unknown sources for your browser if you are on an older version of Android.

And, with that said, we can conclude this article. Thank you for reading and do share alternative solutions and your experience with the “Device not compatible” Google Play error in the comments section below.