How to fix a stuck download on your Android device

Android is the most popular mobile operating system out there. Google’s OS powers hundreds of millions of smartphones on the market. Google has been improving Android for years to compete directly with Apple iOS. One of the best things when it comes to Android lies in its customization options.

With an Android phone, you can do a lot of things ranging from changing the UI to adjusting app icons. However, Android operating system has its own issues that may ruin your experience. In reality, a number of Android users have recently reported that they cannot download apps from the Google Play Store. They add that the download gets stuck in the middle of the process.

If you are among those users who have been hit by the issue, then try rebooting your device. Once your device finishes booting up, then go the Play Store and download your app. If the problem is still present, make sure you read on to find out more.

In the section below, we are going to show you how to fix a stuck download on your Android device. Before we dive in, make sure you now have a modern version of apps on your phone. If there is an update available for your phone, then download and install it. Keep in mind that a new software update usually comes with fixes for bugs and errors, so it may do the trick.

  1. Download Manager

Android includes a dedicated Application Manager that allows you to take a better control of your apps and services. It’s also where you can locate your downloaded files. If your download gets stuck, then you can use Application Manager to fix it.

To access Application Manager on your Android, you simply need to open the Settings app, then select Application Manager and you should see a list of apps. You will be presented with four columns including SD Card, Running, All, and Downloaded.

The Running section gives you a look at all apps that are running on your device, so you turn off some unnecessary apps. Keep in mind that too many apps running in the background slow down your device. Therefore, it’s a good idea to disable apps and services you no longer use to boost your device’s performance.

From the list of all running apps, you simply need to find Google Play Store and then tap on it. Doing so will present you a number of options, including Clear cache, Clear data, and Force Stop. Hit the Force Stop option will close the Google Play Store. Once done, re-launch the app and then re-download it to see if the problem is fixed.

  1. How to fix a stuck Android download on older devices

If you now have an old Android device with outdated software updates, then you can perform some actions to fix the problem. If you cannot download an app from the Google Play Store, then you can use Android Market.

To fix a stuck download on an older Android device, open Settings on your device, then hit Applications and tap Manage applications to bring up a list of all your apps. After that, tap Market, then tap Clear Cache and then hit Force Stop. If you don’t see the Android Market app, then tap on the menu icon > Filter > All.

If the above process fails to work for you, then make sure you get the latest software update on your device. A modern version of Android update may include the fix for the stuck download issue.

  1. Force stop Google Play Services app

If the problem still persists, then you can perform a force stop on Google Play Services app. The process is pretty simple and we will show you how. To do this, open the Settings app on your Android device, then scroll down and tap Apps. Once you are in, swipe right to access All section. From the list of options, you simply need to select “Google Play Services” and then force stop it.

If none of the above-mentioned solutions work for you, then bring your device to a local support center. Before proceeding, try performing a factory reset of your phone. Following this method, you will wipe all your data and your phone goes back to its default settings. This means that you need to set up the whole thing from the scratch.

These are 4 solutions that help you fix a stuck download on Android device. Hopefully, they work for you.

Got any questions? Let us know in the comments below.

About Gavin

Editor @ android-fix.com. Gavin is a mechanical engineer by trade, but he's also a tech enthusiast. He spends his time working on Android-Fix and enjoys blogging about the latest trends in the mobile industry. His hobbies include cooking, traveling, and playing soccer with friends.