How to Fix Google Play Error 505 in Several Ways

Jason

By Jason

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Google Play Error 505

Mobile errors are an eyesore. When an error appears on our computers, it’s a lot easier to deal with, but smartphones are a different story.

Most recently, we’ve seen Android users complain about the Google Play error 505, which prevents certain functions from working effectively. The exact error that you might see is:

Unknown Error Code During Application Install: -505.

What causes this? We aren’t entirely sure yet. But we have seen that the large majority of users with the error effects were recently updating their device to Android Lollipop, Nougat, or Marshmallow.

It’s safe to assume this is a problem with Android rather than your device or internet connection. So, if you’re not able to install or update your apps, try some of these solutions.

What Causes Google Play Error 505?

Even though we’ve been unable to locate the specific cause of this error, we did find out a few potential reasons for this occurrence.

  • Whichever app you are trying to install is not compatible with the Android version. As a result of the recent major Android update, this is the most likely reason.
  • The app you are attempting to install has a previous installation on your device. When you try to install a new version of the APK, the old files prevent it from successfully being installed.
  • An existing app on your Android device is causing a conflict with the app you are trying to install.
  • Your Google account is experiencing problems and isn’t able to sync properly. This could be down to an internet connection issue, so try disabling and re-enabling your device’s Wi-Fi.
  • Your Android device has old cache data that forces the Google Play error 505 to appear.

All of this is taken into account; it’s much more likely that you will see the error because of the recent Android update. As such, your best bet is to try one of the fixes below until Google releases a new version that patches the problem.

PS: Switch to this if you have issues with your device that isn’t compatible with this version.

Fix #1 – Change Android Settings

First thing first – check your device’s settings. If you alter them, there are a few different Android settings that could stop installs and updates from succeeding.

Date and Time. When you download something through the Google Play Store, it checks your device’s date and time. An error will occur if your device’s time settings sync wrongly with the app store.

To fix this, go to “Settings > Date and Time” and disable “Automatic date & time.” Exit the settings app, return to the same menu and enable “Automatic date & time.”

Check Android Settings to Fix Google Play Error 505

Remount Your SD Card. Remounting an SD card is incredibly simple. All you have to do is remove the SD card and reinsert it afterward.

Enable the Android Download Manager. Not familiar? This Android tool is quick and easy to enable. Head over to “Settings > Apps/Application Manager >,” select “All Apps,” and then “Download Manage.” Make sure that you enable the setting that is shown.

If these aren’t handy to fix Google Play error 505, try another fix on the list.

Fix #2 – Uninstall Apps Causing Conflicts

Some apps that you have on your Android device could be conflicting. Generally, this only happens with utilities or tools, whereas games don’t cause conflict.

Uninstall Apps to Fix Google Play Error 505


For example, if you have two apps that enhance performance, uninstall one of them. Since a lot of utilities, especially those for improving device performance, are constantly running as a background task, two apps attempting to do the same thing will result in various errors.

Fix #3 – Re-Add Google Account

We’ve seen some users report that a simple “sign out and in” fixes the problem. You can do this with your Google account fairly easily:

#1 – Go to “Settings > Accounts > Google” and tap “Remove Account.”

Re-add google account to Fix Google Play Error 505

#2 – Turn the device off and then back on.
#3 – Sign in to your Google account again.

Fix #4 – Reinstall Google Play Store Updates

Like all other apps, Google Play Store requires updates every now and then. An outdated Play Store could lead to Google Play error 505. So, use these steps to ensure you use the most recent version.

#1 – Open “Settings” and go to “Application Manager” or “Apps.”

#2 – From the list, tap “Google Play Store” and select “Uninstall Updates.”

Reinstall Google Play Store Updates

#3 – Go back to the home screen, and when you open the store’s app, it’ll reinstall the most recent updates.

Not many people consider messing around with a system app’s settings, but it can help. In this case, you aren’t deleting the app store; you are simply reverting the update.

Fix #5 – Uninstall the Problematic Apps

You might only experience Google Play error 505 when updating certain apps. If so, consider completely uninstalling them before attempting to update again.

#1 – Go to “Settings” and select “Apps” or “Application Manager,” depending on your Android version.

#2 – Select the app that is causing the error. Clear the cache and app data, then uninstall it as you normally would (do this for all the apps that trigger error 505).

#3Restart your device and then reinstall all of the apps. If you don’t see the error again, then the most recent versions will install.

Sometimes there are app files that cause these errors, in which case, reinstalling is all it’ll take.

Fix #6 – Clear Google Play Store’s Cache

Still not yielding the results you were expecting? Try clearing the cache to fix Google Play error 505.

#1 – Open “Settings” and locate the “Apps” option.

#2 – For the apps “Google Play Store,” “Google Play Service,” and “Download Manager,” tap the settings “Clear Data” and “Clear Cache.”

Clear data and cache to Fix Google Play Error 505

#3 – Relaunch the Google Play Store application.

You should now be able to use the app without experiencing any issues. If there’s still an error, you can try one of the final two solutions.

Fix #7 – Use a Third-Party APK

Referring back to “Fix #5“, finding the apps which are conflicting might be a longer task than you’d expect it to be. If you have a lot of apps and don’t want to waste your time searching for possible conflicts, consider using Lucky Patcher.

Lucky Patcher

For those of you who root your Android devices, you’ll probably have an understanding of what Lucky Patcher is.

In terms of fixing Google Play error 505, you can use this app to identify which apps, if any, are causing conflicts. After locating the problematic apps, you can uninstall them and check if error 505 is still an issue.

Fix #8 – Perform a Factory Reset

Hopefully, it doesn’t come to this, but your only remaining option is to factory reset.

Alternatively, you can wait for an Android update, but it could be months before they release a fix.

#1 – Take a backup of your device’s data to ensure you don’t lose any personal data.

#2 – Open the “Settings” app and go to “Reset > Factory Data Reset.”

Reset > Factory Data Reset

#3 – Wait while your device completely wipes itself. It should take about 5-10 minutes for the factory wipe to finish.

#4 – Once your device finishes factory resetting, complete the Android setup process. As you make your way through these steps, you should be given the option to restore a backup.

Factory resetting can be worrying and sometimes results in data loss, albeit rarely, but it reinstalls the Android operating system, and therefore it’s often the best way to fix any issues.

Fix #9 – One Stop Solution to fix Google Play Error 505

To eliminate “Google Play Error 505”, you should try dr.fone – Android System Repair, which is the best tool for you.

Key features of dr.fone – Android Repair

  • Fix Google Play Error 505 with simple clicks.
  • Easy-to-understand specifications & instructions are provided on every screen.
  • Support all the latest Samsung smartphones, including Galaxy S10, S9, S8, etc.
  • World’s number one Android System Repair tool.

Note: As the Android repair process will flash the system firmware & delete your existing data on the Android phone, so please backup your personal data to prevent any data loss.

Step 1. Start to free download & launch dr.fone.

dr.fone

Step 2. Select “Android Repair” under the “System Repair” Menu and then tap on the “Start” button.

dr.fone - Android Repair

Step 3. Select your Android device information and confirm them to continue.

Select Device Info
Confirm to Erase all Data

Step 4. Boot the Android device in download mode. It will start to download the firmware for your Android phone.

Enter Download Mode

Step 5. Once the firmware is downloaded, dr.fone will start to repair your Google Play Error 505.

Downloading Firmware
Repairing Now

Step 6. The Google Play Error 505 disappeared.

How to Fix Google Play Error 505 with dr.fone

Fix #10. Fix Google Play Error 505 in one Click via ReiBoot for Android

ReiBoot for Android is another professional software that can help you fix your Android operating system issue for most Android devices with various problems, including Google Play Error 505.

Here is the Simple Guide to Fix Google Play Error 505:

Step 1. Get and install ReiBoot for Android, and then enable the USB debugging on your Android smartphone. Connect your phone to the PC & tick the ‘Repair Android System‘ as shown below.

Tenorshare ReiBoot for Android

Step 2. To repair the Google Play Error 505 issue, click the ‘Repair Now‘ button.

Tenorshare ReiBoot for Android Repair Now

Step 3. Put in your Android phone information & click on ‘Next.’ Reiboot will download the matching firmware package for your Android phone.

Download Firmware on Android

Step 4. Now, click the ‘Repair Now‘ button to repair your device’s Google Play Error 505 issue.

How to Fix Google Play Error 505 with Reiboot for Android

See, it’s really easy to fix Google Play Error 505 issue on your Android devices by ReiBoot for Android.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

FAQ 1: What is Google Play Error 505?

Google Play Error 505 is an error code that occurs when an app cannot be installed or updated due to incompatibility with the device’s Android version.

FAQ 2: Why does Google Play Error 505 occur?

Google Play Error 505 can occur due to conflicts between the app and the device’s Android version, corrupted installation files, insufficient storage space, or conflicts with other apps or system settings.

FAQ 3: How do I clear cache and data for Google Play Store?

To clear cache and data for Google Play Store, go to your device’s Settings, navigate to “Apps” or “Application Manager,” locate and tap on “Google Play Store,” select “Storage” or “Storage & cache,” and then tap on “Clear cache” and “Clear data.”

FAQ 4: Can I fix Google Play Error 505 without uninstalling the app?

In some cases, clearing cache and data for Google Play Store or updating Google Play Services may resolve Google Play Error 505 without requiring uninstallation of the app. However, if these methods do not work, uninstalling and reinstalling the app is recommended.

FAQ 5: How can I prevent Google Play Error 505 in the future?

To prevent Google Play Error 505, ensure that your device’s operating system and apps are up to date, download apps only from trusted sources, maintain sufficient storage space, and disable unnecessary background apps to optimize system resources.

To Conclude

We are very confident that one of these fixes will lead you in the right direction. It’s important that all of your apps are up to date – updates often include security fixes, and as such, not updating could put you at risk.

Similarly, you have to update your Android version, or you’ll be at risk too! If you start experiencing Google Play error 505, then we highly recommend fixing it quickly via the best tool – dr.fone – Android System Repair or ReiBoot for Android.

Not only will your games include the latest features, but your personal data will be secure. Expect another Android update that officially repairs the problem within the next couple of weeks.

Jason
Jason

Skilled software testing specialist with expertise in comparisons and research, passionate about blogging, reviews, and creating video tutorials.

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