Fix: Google Play Music keeps stopping

Google Play Music is, love it or hate it, an industry standard when it comes to music streaming, although some other services took over. However, Google made a dubious decision to switch its efforts to YT Music and completely neglect the Play Music app. Google Play keeps stopping for many users and there’s no solution on the horizon.

We can’t say that we have a definite solution for you since this is a problem on the developer’s side. However, it won’t cost you anything but some time to try the steps below.

Table of contents:

1. Refresh the library, disable Bluetooth, and reboot
2. Clear the app’s cache
3. Check the network and disable the Downloaded only option
4. Disable battery optimization for Google Play Music
5. Reinstall the app and make it your default music player
6. Prepare to switch to YouTube Music

How do I fix Google Play Music has stopped?

There are various reasons why Google Play music keeps stopping, starting with an in-app bug that hasn’t been addressed. Also, chances are that the locally-stored cache is corrupted or that you have some network issues.

Solution 1 – Refresh the library, disable Bluetooth, and reboot

Let’s start by refreshing the Google Play Music library first. By refreshing the Library, you should overcome some minor playback bugs. Don’t forget to turn off Bluetooth (you can enable it later), and reset the device afterward.

Here’s how to refresh the library in Google Play Music:

1. Open the Google Play Music app on your device.
2. Tap on the hamburger menu and choose Settings.
3. Tap Refresh.
4. Disable Bluetooth.
5. Restart your phone.

Solution 2 – Clear the app’s cache

Another step you can try is clearing the cache from the app. There’s a chance that the locally stored cache is corrupted. You can also clear the data, but this will delete all downloaded and cached songs. Keep that in mind before clearing the data.

Follow these instructions to clear the cache from the Google Play Music app:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Apps.
3. Choose All apps (App manager or Manage apps).
4. Locate Google Play Music and open it.
5. Choose Storage.
6. Tap Clear cache (and Clear Data if you don’t mind re-downloading tracks again to your device).
7. Reboot your device and look for improvements.

Solution 3 – Check the network and disable the Downloaded only option

Moving on, you need to ensure that there are no connection issues. This, of course, applies only if Google Play Music keeps stopping while you stream music instead of listening to local tracks.

Here are some things you should do to ensure that the network isn’t causing issues with Google Play Music:

• Disconnect and connect again to your wireless network.
• Restart your phone/tablet and router or modem.
• Disable VPN or proxy temporarily.
• Make sure that no other devices are straining the network.
• Disable Bluetooth or NFC temporarily.
• Reset Network settings to factory values.

Solution 4 – Disable battery optimization for Google Play Music

If you are not using a handset that’s powered by stock or close-to-stock Android, chances are that there’s a heavy battery optimization killing Google Play Music while working in the background.

That’s why we suggest disabling battery and RAM optimization for Google Play Music. You can usually do that within the app system settings. Here’s how:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Apps.
3. Choose All apps (App manager or Manage apps).
4. Locate Google Play Music and open it.
5. Select Battery saver and disable optimization for Google Play Music.

Solution 5 – Reinstall the app and make it your default music player

Many users suggested that the best solution for the problem is to simply reinstall the app and move from there. Of course, if the app comes pre-installed, you can only uninstall updates.

Follow these instructions to reinstall Google Play Music:

1. Navigate to Settings > Apps > All apps > Play Music again.
2. Uninstall the app.
3. Open the Google Play Store and install Google Play Music again.

In addition, make sure to make Google Play Music your default music player. Usually, this isn’t necessary, but it seemingly helped some users.

Follow these steps to make Google Play Music your default music player:

1. Navigate to Settings > Apps > Default apps (or All apps > 3-dot menu > Default apps).
2. Select Play Music as your default music app.

Alternatively, you can navigate to the Google Play Music section on APK Mirror (or any other APK hub online), download, and install an older version of Google Play Music. Just allow installation from third-party sources and install the app.

Solution 6 – Prepare to switch to YouTube Music

Finally, if none of the previous steps worked, we have bad news for you. Google is slowly but steadily working on discontinuing Play Music and switching users to YT Music instead. This means that the app is probably being neglected and that these and similar issues will hardly be addressed.

So, even though the majority agrees that Google Play Music is overall better at the current state than YT Music for a variety of reasons (uploading your tracks is the key one), it is what it is.

Download YT Music and give it a go. Soon enough it will be the only option for Google Music subscribers out there.

With that said, we can conclude this article. Thank you for reading and, in case you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to share them with us in the comments section below.