What Permissions Does Google Play Services Require

Google Play Services is one of the most important apps on whatever Android phone. Information technology 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 besides quite elusive. It doesn't annunciate its beingness on your telephone. That can crusade some bug when it comes to troubleshooting. Let's take a look at what it is and how information technology works.

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

QUICK Answer

Google Play Services is a software layer between the Android Os and your applications. It can practise many things, updates independently of Android, and helps developers brand amend 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 do 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 span to help developers create better, more optimized, more bombardment-efficient apps without unnecessary piece of work. In add-on, Play Services allows Google to add new features to Android without the need for Android OS updates.

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

There are dozens, if not hundreds, of other APIs that help developers do unproblematic tasks in a compatible manner. Navigation apps request for your location probably employ Play Services to do it. Retrieve of information technology as your phone's manager, sending you notifications, giving apps your location, and running processes in the background for optimal battery efficiency.

The nice function 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 together a new API to the Play Services library and and so update the app on your phone to support it. Many desirable features get rolled out to users this way every twelvemonth. Of form, the downside is that it can exist a real hurting to fix when Play Services starts interim upwardly.

How exercise I update Google Play Services?

Joe Hindy / Android Say-so

Information technology should update automatically in the background. It receives updates in the Google Play Store similar whatever normal application, so it should update when all of your other Google Play apps update. Nevertheless, if you want to check manually, here'south how to practise information technology.

The fast way

While on your telephone, tap this link. Information technology should take you to the Play Services folio on the Google Play Store.
Tap the Update button if necessary.

The official manner

Open up your phone'south Settings menu. Navigate to the Apps section, tap All apps, and coil down until you find Google Play Services. Tap it.
Scroll downwards until y'all run into App details and tap that.
The phone should open Play Services in the Google Play Store. If information technology needs an update, tap the Update push. Google Play volition update the app, and that's all.
If you tin can't find Play Services on the list, tap the 3-dot menu push button and choose the Show system apps pick.

The to a higher place process may vary slightly between devices. For example, Samsung doesn't require you to striking 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.iv. You know if your phone is Google Play-enabled if it came with the Google Play Store. However, some folks may want to download a specific version for specific needs, so we'll put the process of installing Play Services here.

Identify the proper DPI and architecture for your phone

At that place are virtually a dozen different versions of Play Services. You need to find the right one for your phone.
To start, download this app. We recommend downloading it from APKMirror because it doesn't require Google Play Services.
Install the app after y'all download it. If you're having trouble, utilize this tutorial to learn how to install third-party apps.
Once installed, open up the app. Under the Device tab, yous'll find your device'due south DPI. Write that number down. Slide over to the Arrangement tab and write down your CPU Architecture. Yous'll demand both of those.

How to download Google Play Services

The most reliable identify to download Play Services is APKMirror. Yous can detect the site'southward repository of Play Services here. Please note: There are separate versions of Play Services for Android TV and Article of clothing OS. Make sure you don't download those unless yous need them.
In the list, select the version you desire. You'll want to make sure to download the one that matches the architecture and DPI from the previous steps. If you tin't notice your DPI, you tin can go with the nodpi option, and it should work fine.

How to install Google Play Services

Play Services comes in APK format only similar whatever other regular Android app, and the process of installing it is the aforementioned.
If you lot demand additional help, you can follow this tutorial to larn how to install apps without the Google Play Shop.

Please note that improper installation, trying to install the wrong variant of Play Services, and not installing correctly can lead to failed installations. If your installation fails, outset at step one and perform the steps once again.

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

Joe Hindy / Android Authority

You tin can disable it if yous want to. However, be warned that doing and then can greatly and negatively affect how your device operates. We only recommend this for troubleshooting purposes or if you intend on going for a Google-free alternative for everything, and we mean everything.

How to disable Google Play Services

Navigate to Settings, and then to Apps. Tap the All apps option to prove a listing of full apps (not necessary on every phone).
Scroll down and select Google Play Services.
Tap the Disable push. It'll shoot you a alarm about how it'll affect device performance before it lets you disable it.
You volition almost certainly get a bunch of notifications well-nigh various apps or services no longer being able to office until you lot turn Play Services back on. This is normal considering Play Services handles a lot of background stuff.

How to re-enable Google Play Services

Perform the aforementioned steps as above, except hit the Turn On push.

How to remove permissions from Google Play Services

Once over again, follow the steps above to get to the Play Services app page in your Settings.
This time, tap on Permissions.
Tap the permission you desire to revoke. Tap the Don't allow option.
Your device will tell you lot that information technology may affect the functionality of some stuff. Hit Don't allow anyway to proceed.

Again, we recommend using the above methods only for troubleshooting purposes. Play Services is tied to the very core of Android, and disabling it (or its permissions) can have radically negative effects 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 access. Notwithstanding, if you did, a lot of stuff on your phone would cease to function correctly. Examples include carrier services, Android Machine, many apps that send notifications, most navigation apps, and others. You lot'll have to go new apps from sources exterior the Google Play Store.

Is it okay to articulate the Google Play Services cache and data?

Yes, you should be able to do both of those things without whatsoever adverse effects.

How practise I fix "Google Play Services non supported"?

At that place are but a scattering of fixes that piece of work. Endeavor clearing the Google Play Store cache. If you have Play Services installed, endeavour immigration its data and cache. If you are getting the error while installing, double-cheque that you lot take the correct variant and endeavor once more.

How do I set "Google Play Services has stopped"?

Endeavour the same methods above. Clear the Google Play Store cache and clear the Play Services cache and information. If you still experience bug, it may exist related to something specific to your device. A factory reset will almost certainly fix whatever problem, even if it's invasive.

Why can't I update Google Play Services?

Information technology'south usually simply a hiccup in the matrix. Try clearing the Google Play Store and Play Services cache, and so try once more.