topic Re: Restore Google Play after factory reset in Android

Restore Google Play after factory reset

Anonymous — Mon, 25 Dec 2017 12:38:48 GMT

I have a Samsung Galaxy S2 with Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread. Recently my data was being used up after only a few days into the month. I couldn't find the app responsible so I did a factory reset which solved the problem However, after the reset I noticed that Google Play was missing from the phone so I cannot restore any apps. When I tried to download Google Play from Google I had a message saying that my operating system was too old (or words to that effect). I then downloaded a file called PlayStore_v8.5.37.W-all.apk to my phone SD card (from a 3rd party website via my laptop) but I can't get the phone to load it.

How can I restore Google Play back on my phone?

Re: Restore Google Play after factory reset

MI5 — Mon, 25 Dec 2017 12:44:01 GMT

You need a minimum of ICS now for most of the android apps due to security issues with older firmware.
What exactly is happening when trying to install the apk you have downloaded?

Re: Restore Google Play after factory reset

Cleoriff — Mon, 25 Dec 2017 12:51:09 GMT

@AnonymousIf you look at this old article and scroll down to Hovsep's answer, there is a fix in that. Whether it works now remains to be seen...https://www.makeuseof.com/answers/cant-run-google-play-store-galaxy-s2/

Re: Restore Google Play after factory reset

Bambino — Mon, 25 Dec 2017 15:09:47 GMT

Might be time to buy yourself a belated Christmas present, @Anonymous, and get yourself a new phone.:smileywink:

Re: Restore Google Play after factory reset

MI5 — Mon, 25 Dec 2017 15:59:53 GMT

A free custom ROM will fix it.
There's loads available on XDA for the S2

Re: Restore Google Play after factory reset

jonsie — Tue, 26 Dec 2017 00:01:00 GMT

To be honest I'm surprised the phone is still working with the age of it. Nice one Samsung 😩

Is there not an older pk available?

https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google-inc/google-play-store/variant-%7B"minapi_slug"%3A"minapi-9"%7D/

Re: Restore Google Play after factory reset

Anonymous — Tue, 02 Jan 2018 10:12:56 GMT

I just don't seem able to move the apk file from the SD card to the right file on the phone. I don't know enough about it.

Re: Restore Google Play after factory reset

MI5 — Tue, 02 Jan 2018 10:20:46 GMT

You shouldn’t need to move it.
Once downloaded you just tap it to install it.

Re: Restore Google Play after factory reset

MercedesS — Thu, 04 Jan 2018 15:21:13 GMT

Hello @Anonymous,

Happy New Year! Did you get it fixed? Please let us know if there’s anything else we can do to help!

Thanks @jonsie, @Bambino, @Cleoriff and @MI5 for all

Re: Restore Google Play after factory reset

Anonymous — Thu, 04 Jan 2018 16:44:51 GMT

I tried that but I get a "Parse Error" message saying "There is a problem parsing the package".

I think it is time to buy a new phone.

Thanks for your help.

Re: Restore Google Play after factory reset

MI5 — Thu, 04 Jan 2018 17:44:04 GMT

That error means the .apk you have isn't compatible with your software.

Re: Restore Google Play after factory reset

Anonymous — Thu, 11 Jan 2018 11:13:18 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I have a Samsung Galaxy S2 with Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread. Recently my data was being used up after only a few days into the month. I couldn't find the app responsible so I did a factory reset which solved the problem However, after the reset I noticed that Google Play was missing from the phone so I cannot restore any apps. When I tried to download Google Play from Google I had a message saying that my operating system was too old (or words to that effect). I then download a file called PlayStore_v8.5.37.W-all.apk to my phone SD card (from a 3rd party website via my laptop) but I can't get the phone to load it.
How can I restore Google Play back on my phone?

@Anonymous Android Gingerbread was used back 2011. So if you try to install Google Play v8.5.37 it won't work because of compatiblity issue. Download an older version i.e. 3.8.15. It must work

Re: Restore Google Play after factory reset

Anonymous — Tue, 16 Jan 2018 11:11:59 GMT

Thanks I came to that conclusion.

I have discovered that Google stopped supporting Android 2.3.3 (Gingerbread) in Nov 2016. Subsequent versions of Google Play will not be compatible with Gingerbread and therefore will not download. I will need to find Google Play version 10.0 x or earlier to be compatible with my operating system. However, that version will probably be no good for downloading modern apps.

The learning point is do not do a factory reset on an old phone!

In summary therefore, I have a phone without apps. As someone who grew up in the time of rationing after WW2 I am reluctant to throw away things but I have decided to treat myself to a new Samsung Galaxy S8.

Thanks for everyone's help on this topic.

Craggy.

Re: Restore Google Play after factory reset

MI5 — Tue, 16 Jan 2018 11:29:42 GMT

It is the only option unfortunately.

Re: Restore Google Play after factory reset

Cleoriff — Tue, 16 Jan 2018 11:38:58 GMT

Also @Anonymous a great choice of new phone....

Re: Restore Google Play after factory reset

jonsie — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 00:36:26 GMT

Out with the old and in with the new!

Enjoy the Samsung S8. ....now when is my birthday?😕