How To Access Google Play Services Settings

Google Play Services is i of the most of import apps on any Android telephone. It helps connect everything, provides easy tools for app developers, and helps older Android phones get modern features without the need for Android OS updates. Google Play is likewise quite elusive. Information technology doesn't advertise its being on your phone. That can cause some issues when information technology comes to troubleshooting. Let'due south take a look at what it is and how it works.

Read more than: Google Play Store: A definitive guide for beginners

QUICK Respond

Google Play Services is a software layer betwixt the Android OS and your applications. It tin exercise many things, updates independently of Android, and helps developers make better apps.

JUMP TO KEY SECTIONS

What is Google Play Services, and what does it do?
How do I update Google Play Services?
How do I download and install Google Play Services?
How practice I disable Google Play Services?
FAQ

What is Google Play Services, and what does it do?

Joe Hindy / Android Authority

Play Services is a software layer between the Android operating system and your applications. It serves every bit a bridge to assist developers create improve, more optimized, more than battery-efficient apps without unnecessary work. In improver, Play Services allows Google to add together new features to Android without the need for Android Os updates.

Here is an instance of how it works. An app programmer has an app that needs to transport you a push button notification. Play Services has two APIs for that very part here. The programmer uses those APIs in their app. From in that location, Play Services sends push notifications when the app asks it to without any additional piece of work from the developer.

There are dozens, if not hundreds, of other APIs that assist developers do uncomplicated tasks in a uniform mode. Navigation apps asking for your location probably use Play Services to do information technology. Think of information technology as your phone's manager, sending you lot notifications, giving apps your location, and running processes in the background for optimal battery efficiency.

The overnice part of Play Services is that it lets Google add new features to phones without needing Android Os updates. All they have to do is add a new API to the Play Services library and then update the app on your phone to back up information technology. Many desirable features become rolled out to users this way every year. Of course, the downside is that it can exist a existent pain to fix when Play Services starts acting up.

How do I update Google Play Services?

Joe Hindy / Android Authorization

Information technology should update automatically in the background. It receives updates in the Google Play Store like whatsoever normal application, so it should update when all of your other Google Play apps update. All the same, if you want to bank check manually, here'southward how to do it.

The fast way

While on your phone, tap this link. It should take you lot to the Play Services page on the Google Play Store.
Tap the Update push if necessary.

The official way

Open your phone's Settings carte. Navigate to the Apps section, tap All apps, and scroll down until you find Google Play Services. Tap it.
Scroll down until you come across App details and tap that.
The phone should open up Play Services in the Google Play Store. If it needs an update, tap the Update push. Google Play will update the app, and that'south all.
If y'all tin't find Play Services on the list, tap the iii-dot menu button and cull the Show system apps option.

The above process may vary slightly between devices. For example, Samsung doesn't require you to hit All apps earlier showing you a full list of apps.

How exercise I download and install Google Play Services?

Joe Hindy / Android Authority

The service comes pre-installed on Google Play-enabled phones starting from Android four.4. You know if your telephone is Google Play-enabled if it came with the Google Play Store. Withal, some folks may want to download a specific version for specific needs, so we'll put the procedure of installing Play Services hither.

Identify the proper DPI and architecture for your phone

There are about a dozen different versions of Play Services. Y'all need to find the right one for your phone.
To start, download this app. We recommend downloading it from APKMirror considering it doesn't crave Google Play Services.
Install the app afterwards you download it. If you're having trouble, utilise this tutorial to learn how to install third-party apps.
Once installed, open up the app. Under the Device tab, you lot'll find your device's DPI. Write that number downward. Slide over to the System tab and write downwardly your CPU Architecture. You'll need both of those.

How to download Google Play Services

The most reliable place to download Play Services is APKMirror. You can find the site's repository of Play Services here. Please note: In that location are separate versions of Play Services for Android Television and Wear OS. Make sure y'all don't download those unless you need them.
In the list, select the version yous desire. You'll want to make sure to download the 1 that matches the architecture and DPI from the previous steps. If y'all can't find your DPI, you lot tin can become with the nodpi option, and it should work fine.

How to install Google Play Services

Play Services comes in APK format just like whatsoever other regular Android app, and the process of installing it is the same.
If you need additional help, y'all can follow this tutorial to learn how to install apps without the Google Play Store.

Please note that improper installation, trying to install the incorrect variant of Play Services, and non installing correctly can lead to failed installations. If your installation fails, start at step one and perform the steps once again.

How do I disable and re-enable Google Play Services?

Joe Hindy / Android Authorisation

Yous tin can disable it if you want to. However, exist warned that doing so can greatly and negatively affect how your device operates. We just recommend this for troubleshooting purposes or if you intend on going for a Google-free alternative for everything, and nosotros mean everything.

How to disable Google Play Services

Navigate to Settings, and then to Apps. Tap the All apps choice to show a listing of full apps (not necessary on every telephone).
Scroll down and select Google Play Services.
Tap the Disable button. It'll shoot you lot a alert about how it'll bear upon device performance before it lets you disable it.
You lot will almost certainly get a bunch of notifications about diverse apps or services no longer being able to role until you turn Play Services back on. This is normal because Play Services handles a lot of background stuff.

How to re-enable Google Play Services

Perform the same steps equally above, except hit the Turn On push.

How to remove permissions from Google Play Services

One time once again, follow the steps higher up to get to the Play Services app page in your Settings.
This time, tap on Permissions.
Tap the permission you want to revoke. Tap the Don't allow option.
Your device will tell yous that information technology may affect the functionality of some stuff. Striking Don't allow anyway to go on.

Over again, we recommend using the above methods simply for troubleshooting purposes. Play Services is tied to the very core of Android, and disabling information technology (or its permissions) can take radically negative furnishings on your device and its performance.

Read more: How to get a refund for apps purchased from the Play Shop

FAQs

What happens if I uninstall Google Play Services?

Yous really can't uninstall it without root admission. Nevertheless, if yous did, a lot of stuff on your phone would stop to function correctly. Examples include carrier services, Android Car, many apps that send notifications, most navigation apps, and others. You'll have to go new apps from sources outside the Google Play Shop.

Is it okay to clear the Google Play Services cache and information?

Yep, you should exist able to exercise both of those things without whatsoever adverse effects.

How practise I set "Google Play Services not supported"?

There are merely a handful of fixes that work. Endeavour clearing the Google Play Store enshroud. If you have Play Services installed, effort clearing its data and cache. If y'all are getting the mistake while installing, double-bank check that you take the correct variant and effort over again.

How exercise I fix "Google Play Services has stopped"?

Effort the same methods in a higher place. Articulate the Google Play Store enshroud and clear the Play Services enshroud and information. If you still experience issues, it may be related to something specific to your device. A factory reset will almost certainly prepare whatever trouble, even if it'south invasive.

Why can't I update Google Play Services?

It'southward normally simply a hiccup in the matrix. Try immigration the Google Play Store and Play Services cache, and and so try again.