Originally written by Amit Kumar, updated by Dibyajyoti Kabi. First published June 11, 2019. Updated October 24, 2026.
To fix “process com.google.process.gapps has stopped”, restart your phone, then clear the cache of Google Play services in Settings > Apps. If the error keeps coming back, update Google Play services and the Play Store, and reset your app preferences. One of these fixes it on most phones.
The error comes from Google Play services, the system app that most of your apps lean on. I’ll show you every fix in order, from the quickest to the last resort, with the menu paths for Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel phones.
Key points
- com.google.process.gapps is a process that belongs to Google Play services. When it crashes, Android shows this error.
- Start with a restart and a cache clear. They’re quick and don’t delete anything.
- Clearing Google Play services storage is a later step. Google says it can remove saved cards in Google Wallet and sign you out on the phone.
- On custom ROMs, the error usually means the wrong GApps package was flashed.
- A factory reset is the last step. Back up your phone first.
What does “com.google.process.gapps has stopped” mean?
It means a background process of Google Play services crashed. Play services handles Google sign-in, location, notifications and app updates for your other apps. When its process stops, Android shows the error, and on newer versions you may see “Google Play services keeps stopping” for the same problem.
The usual causes are a corrupted cache, a half-finished Play services update, a disabled app that Play services needs, or the wrong date and time. On a custom ROM, a GApps package made for another Android version causes it too.
The good news is that the error is almost never a hardware problem. It’s software, and you can fix it yourself.
Which fix should I try first?
Restart the phone first, then clear the Google Play services cache. Those two steps take two minutes and don’t delete any of your data. If the error comes back, work down the list below in order. Each step goes a little deeper than the one before it.
| Fix | Deletes data? | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Restart the phone | No | 1 minute |
| Clear Play services and Play Store cache | No | 2 minutes |
| Update Google Play services and the Play Store | No | 5 minutes |
| Reset app preferences | No, but resets app defaults | 2 minutes |
| Fix the date and time | No | 1 minute |
| Remove and add your Google account | Data on the phone, synced data comes back | 10 minutes |
| Clear Play services storage | Saved Wallet cards and sign-ins | 5 minutes |
| Factory reset | Everything | 30 minutes or more |
How do I clear the Google Play services cache?
Open Settings > Apps, show system apps, tap Google Play services, then tap Storage and Clear cache. Do the same for the Google Play Store. Clearing the cache only removes temporary files, so your accounts, cards and app data stay where they are.
On a Samsung Galaxy phone running One UI:
- Open Settings and tap Apps.
- Tap the sort icon next to Your apps and turn on Show system apps, then tap OK.
- Tap Google Play services.
- Tap Storage, then tap Clear cache.
- Go back to the app list, open Google Play Store and tap Storage > Clear cache.
- Restart the phone.
On a Google Pixel:
- Open Settings and tap Apps.
- Tap See all apps, then tap Google Play services. If you don’t see it, tap the menu and choose Show system.
- Tap Storage & cache, then tap Clear cache.
- Do the same for Google Play Store.
- Restart the phone.
Google lists the same steps on its Google Play services help page.
How do I update Google Play services and the Play Store?
Open Settings > Google > All services, tap System services under Privacy & security, then tap Google Play services and tap Update if it shows. For the Play Store, open the Play Store, tap your profile picture, go to Settings > About and tap Update Play Store.
An update often fixes the error on its own, because Google ships the fix for a crash in the next Play services build.
While you’re there, update every app that uses Google services.
- Open the Play Store and tap your profile picture.
- Tap Manage apps & device.
- Under Updates available, tap Update all.
Google explains it on its page about updating Android apps. Also check Settings > Software update > Download and install on a Galaxy phone, or Settings > System > Software updates on a Pixel, so the phone itself is current.
How do I reset app preferences?
On a Samsung Galaxy phone, open Settings > Apps, tap the three dots at the top right and tap Reset app preferences. On a Pixel, go to Settings > System > Reset options > Reset app preferences. It turns disabled apps back on and resets permissions, but it doesn’t delete any app data.
This one matters more than it sounds. If you ever disabled Google Services Framework, Google Play Store or another Google app to save battery, Play services can crash every time it tries to talk to that app.
After the reset, you may need to pick your default browser and launcher again. That’s the only downside.
Can the wrong date and time cause this error?
Yes. Google Play services checks secure connections against the phone’s clock, and a wrong date or time makes those checks fail. Turn on automatic date and time so the phone gets it from your network.
On a Galaxy phone, go to Settings > General management > Date and time and turn on Automatic date and time. On a Pixel, go to Settings > System > Date & time and turn on Set time automatically.
Should I remove and add my Google account again?
Try it if the error shows up when you open Gmail, the Play Store or Google Photos. Removing the account signs the phone out of Google, and adding it again builds a fresh sync with Google’s servers. Your mail, contacts and photos stay safe in your account and sync back.
- Open Settings and tap Accounts and backup > Manage accounts on a Galaxy phone, or Passwords & accounts on a Pixel.
- Tap your Google account, then tap Remove account.
- Restart the phone.
- Go back to the same screen, tap Add account > Google and sign in.
Contacts saved only to the phone don’t sync, so move them to your Google account first. Google covers both steps on its add or remove an account page.
When should I clear Google Play services storage?
Only after the fixes above didn’t help. Clearing storage wipes Play services’ saved data, and Google warns it can remove cards saved in Google Wallet and make you sign back into your Google account. It’s a strong fix, but it takes some cleanup afterward.
- Open Settings > Apps > Google Play services.
- Tap Storage, then tap Manage storage on a Galaxy phone, or Clear storage on a Pixel.
- Tap Clear all data and confirm.
- Restart the phone and sign back in when it asks.
Old guides also tell you to clear Google Services Framework data. I’d skip that one. Google doesn’t list it in its own troubleshooting steps, and the fixes above cover the same ground.
Why do I get this error on a custom ROM?
On a custom ROM, the error almost always comes from a GApps package that doesn’t match the ROM’s Android version or your phone’s CPU. Flashing GApps for Android 14 on an Android 15 ROM, or ARM GApps on an ARM64 phone, makes Play services crash right after setup.
The fix is a clean flash. Wipe Data in TWRP, flash the ROM, then flash the matching GApps package before the first boot. My GApps guide explains how to pick the right one, and my guide on installing custom ROMs with TWRP covers the whole flash.
Make a Nandroid backup first, so you can go back if something goes wrong.
Will a factory reset fix it?
Yes, a factory reset fixes the error in nearly every case, because it brings Google Play services back to the version that shipped with your phone. It also erases everything on the phone, so back up your photos, chats and files before you do it.
My guide on backing up Android without root shows how. Then reset the phone.
- On a Galaxy phone, go to Settings > General management > Reset > Factory data reset. On a Pixel, go to Settings > System > Reset options > Erase all data (factory reset).
- Tap Reset or Erase all data and enter your PIN.
- Sign in with your Google account during setup and restore your backup.
If the error comes back on a stock Samsung phone even after a reset, the firmware itself may be damaged. Flashing the latest stock Samsung firmware with Odin puts a clean copy back.
FAQ
Is com.google.process.gapps a virus?
No. It’s a normal process that belongs to Google Play services, which is part of Android on every phone with Google apps. The error means the process crashed, not that something harmful is on your phone.
Can I uninstall Google Play services to stop the error?
No. Google Play services is a system app, and Google says you can’t uninstall it or force stop it. Removing it would also break Gmail, Maps, the Play Store and most apps that use Google sign-in.
Will clearing the cache delete my data?
No. Clearing the cache only removes temporary files. Your accounts, photos, messages and app data stay on the phone. Clearing storage is the step that removes saved data, which is why it comes later in this guide.
Why does the error keep coming back after I close it?
Play services restarts on its own, so the error returns as soon as the process crashes again. Tapping Close only hides it. Work through the fixes in order until it stops, starting with the cache clear and the updates.
Related guides
- Download GApps for custom ROMs
- How to back up Android without root
- How to install custom ROMs with TWRP
- How to make a Nandroid backup in TWRP
- How to flash stock Samsung firmware with Odin
That’s it. Clear the cache, update Google’s apps and reset app preferences, and the error should be gone for good.
Still seeing it? Leave a comment with your phone model (like SM-S938B or Pixel 9 Pro), your Android version and when the error pops up, and I’ll help you track it down.
