Fix: Google Play services keeps stopping

Like with any OS, there are services on Android that are essential but you don’t run into them all that often. If you do notice them, it’s usually something wrong. It seems that Google Play Services keeps stopping for many users and this usually leads to performance issues or an inability to update or download apps. Not to mention that most Google apps won’t function without this service.

So, we made sure to offer a few solutions that should help you address this accordingly.

Table of contents:

1. Clear data from Google Play Services
2. Clear data from Google Services Framework
3. Uninstall Updates from Google Play Services
4. Update or rollback Google Play Services via an APK
5. Reset your device to factory settings

How do you fix Google Play Services keeps stopping?

There are multiple ways to tackle this problem. You should start by restarting your device. If the issue keeps reappearing, make sure to clear data from Google Play Services and Google Services Framework.

Alternatively, you can use an APK to roll back the Google Play Services version or, with some preparation, reset your device to factory values and start from scratch.

1. Clear data from Google Play Services

Let’s start by clearing locally-stored data from Google Play Services. Chances are that the data is corrupted, probably after a system update. There are more reasons for this occurrence, but they mostly apply if you are using a custom ROM with sideloaded Gapps. And that’s where we recommend flashing Gapps again or flashing the ROM after a clean format and then, and only then installing Gapps.

On the other hand, clearing data should help users with stock ROMs that experience Google Play Services stopping. Here’s how to clear data from Google Play Services on your smartphone or tablet:

1. Open Settings.
2. Select Apps & notifications (Apps).
3. Expand All apps (App manager or Manage apps).
4. Tap on the 3-dot menu and choose to Show system processes.
5. Open Google Play Services from the list of available apps.
6. Tap on Storage.
7. Tap Clear All data and confirm the selection.

2. Clear data from Google Services Framework

There are more than a few Google system services that work together to make your Android experience as fluid and intuitive as possible. Google Services Framework is, along with Google Play Services, in the middle of a whole lot of closed-source Google services that make Android what it is.

And, if there’s something wrong with Google Services Framework, this can result in Google Play Services issues. And vice versa. So, just like with the previous step, we’ll reset Google Services Framework by clearing data from it.

Here’s how to clear data from Google Services Framework:

1. Open Settings.
2. Select Apps & notifications (Apps).
3. Expand All apps (App manager or Manage apps).
4. Tap on the 3-dot menu and choose to Show system processes.
5. Open Google Services Framework from the list of available apps.
6. Tap on Storage.
7. Tap Clear Storage and confirm the selection.

3. Uninstall Updates from Google Play Services

If Google Play Services keeps stopping after you went through with the first two steps, there are a few more things to try. Obviously, you can’t reinstall Google Play Services. It can’t be removed or uninstalled. However, what you can do is uninstall its updates and restore the app to factory values.

Once the app auto-updates, the problem should be gone. Here’s how to uninstall updates from Google Play Services:

1. Again, navigate to Settings > Apps > All apps and, from the 3-dot menu, choose to Show System processes.
2. Locate and open Google Play Services.
3. Tap on the 3-dot menu and then select Uninstall updates.
4. Confirm the selection and restart your device.

4. Update or rollback Google Play Services via an APK

Now, if the issue persists, you can also update or roll back Google Play Services via an APK. For some reason, chances are that the current Google Play Services version is not compatible or has a certain bug that causes it to stop.

So, what you need to do is either update the app to a newer beta version or roll back to an older stable iteration of Google Play Services.

Follow these instructions to update or downgrade Google Play Services on Android:

1. Uninstall updates for Google Play Services.
2. Navigate to APK Mirror or use any other APK aggregator that you trust.
3. Download the APK. We recommend that the APK is not older than 3 months. You can also get a newer Beta or Alpha version. Basically, anything but the version you are currently running (the latest stable).
4. Run the APK and allow the installation of third-party apps (unknown sources) on your device when prompted.
5. Restart the device after the update/downgrade.

5. Reset your device to factory settings

Finally, if none of the previous steps were useful in dealing with the error at hand, we can only suggest resetting your device to factory settings. To be honest, this looks like a major system issue and, when does occur (important system services start crashing), a factory reset is usually the way to go.

Here’s how to perform a factory reset on Android:

1. Open Settings.
2. Choose System.
3. Select Reset options.
4. Tap Erase all (factory reset).
5. Tap Erase all.
6. Your device will restart and you’ll get to the initial setup screen.
7. From there, sign in to Google and/or to OEMs account and restore everything that’s backed up.

And that’s a wrap. Thank you for reading, follow us on social media (Facebook and Twitter), and leave alternative solutions or questions in the comments section below.