Fix Google Play Store error 505

The Google Play Store is the soul of the Android platform. The diversity and multitude of apps there allowed Android to take almost 90% of the mobile OS market. However, there are errors affecting the Google Play Store and undermining the foundation of Android. One of them goes by code 505 and it prevents users from accessing the Google Play Store.

If you’re experiencing this or similar Google Play Store errors, we suggest checking the solutions we enlisted below.

Solution 1 – Clear data from the Google Play app and Google Play Services

Let’s start with the solution which usually helps to address all kinds of Google Play Store errors. Of course, first, try restarting your device and accessing the Google Play Store again. Then, try updating it with an APK file (found on APK Mirror). Just don’t forget to navigate to Settings > Security, and enable installation from unknown sources.

If that doesn’t solve the problem, we’ll need you to clear all locally-saved data files from both the Google Play Store and Google Play Services.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Apps & notifications.
3. Open All apps.
4. Open the Google Play Store and choose Storage.
5. Delete data.
6. Do the same with Google Play Services.
7. Restart your device.

Solution 2 – Remove the Google account and add it again

This is another viable solution to traverse the “505” error code. Resetting the Google account usually won’t get you far when it comes to troubleshooting, but there are some hints that in this case, it resolved the error.

Here’s how to remove and set up your Google account again:

1. Open Settings.
2. Choose Users & accounts.
3. Select the Google account.
4. Remove the Google account and restart your device.
5. Add your Google account again and try accessing the Google Play Store.

Solution 3 – Check the connection

What makes this error rather peculiar is that, for some users, it only appears when using a Wi-Fi network. It works just fine on Mobile Data but that’s a mere workaround and not the permanent solution.

Although some affected users resolved it by disconnecting and re-connecting again to the same Wi-Fi network, this doesn’t apply to all. We suggest some additional network-related troubleshooting steps.

Here’s what to do to be secure your Wi-Fi network isn’t causing the problem at hand:

• Restart your device and router.
• Switch between the Wi-Fi and Mobile Data.
• Remove the current network and re-establish it again.
• Reset Network Settings.
• Switch between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz wireless frequencies.
• Check out our articles about Wi-Fi and data issues on Android for more solutions.

Solution 4 – Check the date and time

All OS services depend on your regional time zone and date. If those are misconfigured, most Android services won’t work as intended. So, to avoid that, we suggest you check your time and date settings and make sure they are properly set. The best way to avoid time discrepancy is to go with the Automatic settings.

Here’s how to enable them:

1. Open Settings.
2. Choose System.
3. Tap Date & time.
4. Toggle on both the Automatic date & time and the Automatic time zone.

Solution 5 – Reset apps preferences

After the installation and the initial setup which includes granting access permissions, an app is ready for use. However, changes in some default, pre-installed apps might affect how the main Android services work. To avoid that possibility, we suggest resetting app preferences to their default values.

Here’s what you need to do:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Apps & notifications.
3. Open App apps.
4. Tap on the 3-dot menu and choose Reset app preferences.

Solution 6 – Reset Google Play Store to factory values

If the current iteration of Google Play Store doesn’t fit your OS for some reason (and that seems to be the case for Marshmallow and older), you might as well reset it to factory settings. You won’t be able to keep it that way for too long, but this procedure is a reinstallation of a kind, as you can’t uninstall completely essential Android apps. It just might help you address the notorious 505 error.

Here’s how to reinstall Google Play Store:

1. Open Settings.
2. Choose Apps & notifications.
3. Open All apps.
4. Open the Google Play Store.
5. Choose Disable.
6. Restart your device and try accessing the Play Store again.

Solution 7 – Reset your device to factory settings

In the end, you can wait for some time for Google to update the Store and address the issue. Of course, if you’re in a hurry, there’s still one thing you can do.

If the issue is persistent, the only remaining thing we can suggest is resetting your device to factory settings. The absence of a fully-functional Google Play Store is a grave problem and this might be the only option remaining.

Here’s how to reset your device to factory settings:

1. Select Settings.
2. Open System.
3. Choose Reset options.
4. Tap Erase all data (factory reset).

That should do it. If you’re still bothered by the error code 505 in Google Play Store (or any other code, for that matter), share your questions or alternative solutions in the comments section. We’ll be pleased to hear from you.