Play store no longer installs apks or is super slow

[sdowney717]

Few days ago I installed an app. It did not appear on my phone until the next day.

This am I used play store to install mightytext, it never installed. In the past, these installs would happen in moments, very quickly.

So I went to apkmirror download site and manually downloaded mightytext and it runs.

What is going on with the play store??

 

[sdowney717]

tested on my wifes phone, play store installed mightytext immediately. So my phone has an issue.
My internet works fine on my phone.

I noticed under settings, security, the installing from trusted and unknown sources check mark was off.
Does the play store bypass this as the setting makes little sense as written.

Title header 'unknown sources'
Text 'Allow installation of apps from both trusted and unknown sources.'

I would assume the play store is a TRUSTED source, see the text is confusing. They way this is written sounds like needs to be checked to allow trusted and unknown sources to install apks. Although I can understand they are just adding in 'unknown sources' to install apps. Regardless my play store issue is not resolved.

 

[Hadron]

The key word in that sentence is "both". If you untick it it will allow installation from trusted sources only.

I assume this wording is your manufacturer's doing. All of my previous devices just said "allow installation from unknown sources", and my current one (Pixel 2, Android 8) does it completely differently (you grant individual apps this privilege, rather than system-wide), so I've not encountered this particular phrasing. But it has to be the usual setting, just phrased differently.

 

[Daniel Fernandes]

You can do stuff like clear cache of Play Store, and make sure your internet is fine (because you said some app got installed on the next day...)

Do you close play store after hitting the "Install" button?
I have noticed that if I hit "Install" and once the app starts downloading, I can't close play store or I can't even check something else in play store, I have to be on that apps page otherwise, the "downloading" notification just disappears and the app never installs... I don't know why...

Are you getting any notifications like "Cannot install app" or "Download failed"?

 

[sdowney717]

You can do stuff like clear cache of Play Store, and make sure your internet is fine (because you said some app got installed on the next day...)

Do you close play store after hitting the "Install" button?
I have noticed that if I hit "Install" and once the app starts downloading, I can't close play store or I can't even check something else in play store, I have to be on that apps page otherwise, the "downloading" notification just disappears and the app never installs... I don't know why...

Are you getting any notifications like "Cannot install app" or "Download failed"?

No messages like that. In the play store, it sees the phone, says compatable, I click install, it then says this app will be installed, then the button says installed.

I am doing this in Google Chrome from a PC with my account linked to my phone.

 

[sdowney717]

I just tested using my phone, not the PC, and it downloads and runs apps ok.

 

[sdowney717]

The key word in that sentence is "both". If you untick it it will allow installation from trusted sources only.

I assume this wording is your manufacturer's doing. All of my previous devices just said "allow installation from unknown sources", and my current one (Pixel 2, Android 8) does it completely differently (you grant individual apps this privilege, rather than system-wide), so I've not encountered this particular phrasing. But it has to be the usual setting, just phrased differently.

Verizon branded s4 phone with android 5.1

 

[Hadron]

I wondered whether it would be a Samsung - they modify everything, so changing the wording of that setting would be very much their style. But yes, it's the usual setting, and it does just mean allow installation from unknown sources as well as trusted sources (which are always allowed).

 

[Daniel Fernandes]

I am doing this in Google Chrome from a PC with my account linked to my phone.

I think that is the problem... You can try disabling background data restrictions (Settings >> Data Usage >> Play Store [and] Play Services >> Unckeck "Restrict Background Data or a similar setting)

Note that if you use WiFI, make sure it's not set as a metered connection (Settings >> Data Usage >> Three dot menu >> Network Restrictions >> Uncheck your WiFi

Also, for battery saving, if you use things like Greenify, turn aggressive doze off.
In WiFi Settings, set "Keep WiFi on during sleep" to Always...
Make sure your phones battery saver is off...

Mostly, the cause is that the phone doesn't sync properly... There could be many reasons why this can happen. Most of the times it's because of background data restrictions, or power saving modes etc.

I think you better install apps from the phone only instead...

 

[sdowney717]

I will look into those settings, but it has always worked fine before. And is designed by google to work like that. At least I can stay in the play store by using the phone to do the installs. I was not used to doing it that way. all my apps for all my phones i have been using the play store on the pc, it is easier to research apps using a pc.