Quick Summary
Error code 505 on Android, particularly during Google Play installations, indicates a conflict between the app you're trying to install and another app or system file already present on your device. It often arises from duplicate permissions or conflicting installations from different sources.
Common Causes
- Duplicate Permissions/Conflicting Apps: Another app on your device may be requesting the same permissions as the app you're trying to install, leading to a conflict. This can happen when you have multiple apps performing similar functions, or if an older version of the app is conflicting with the new one.
- Conflicting System Files: System files, ROM modifications, or custom kernels on older Android versions can sometimes conflict with newer apps, leading to installation errors. This is more common on rooted devices or those with custom ROMs.
- Corrupted Google Play Store Data/Cache: Corrupted data and cache within the Google Play Store app itself can sometimes cause installation issues. This can be fixed by clearing the cache and data of the Google Play store app.
- Insufficient Storage Space: Although seemingly unrelated, if your device is critically low on storage space, it can prevent the Play Store from properly installing new applications. The installation process requires temporary space for downloading and extracting files.
Step-by-Step Fixes
Method 1: Clear Google Play Store Cache and Data
Step 1: Go to your device's Settings.
Step 2: Navigate to Apps or Application Manager.
Step 3: Find and select Google Play Store.
Step 4: Tap on Storage.
Step 5: Tap Clear Cache and then Clear Data. Confirm any prompts.
Step 6: Restart your device and try installing the app again.
Method 2: Uninstall Conflicting Apps
Step 1: Identify any apps that might be performing similar functions to the app you're trying to install. Consider recently installed apps.
Step 2: Go to your device's Settings and navigate to Apps or Application Manager.
Step 3: Select the suspected conflicting app and tap Uninstall.
Step 4: Repeat for any other potentially conflicting apps.
Step 5: Restart your device and try installing the app again.
Method 3: Check and Free Up Storage Space
Step 1: Go to your device's Settings.
Step 2: Navigate to Storage.
Step 3: Check the available storage space. If it's low (less than 500MB - 1GB), free up space by uninstalling unused apps, deleting unnecessary files (photos, videos, documents), or moving files to external storage or cloud storage.
Step 4: Restart your device and try installing the app again.
Method 4: Reinstall Google Play Services Updates
Step 1: Go to your device's Settings.
Step 2: Navigate to Apps or Application Manager.
Step 3: Find and select Google Play Services.
Step 4: Tap the three dots in the upper right corner (if available) and select Uninstall Updates. If you don't see that, you can try clearing Cache and Data here too.
Step 5: Restart your device. The Play Store will automatically update Google Play Services to the latest version.
Method 5: Factory Reset (Last Resort)
Warning: This will erase all data on your device. Back up your important data before proceeding.
Step 1: Go to your device's Settings.
Step 2: Navigate to General Management or Backup and Reset (the exact wording may vary depending on your device's manufacturer and Android version).
Step 3: Select Factory Data Reset.
Step 4: Confirm the reset and follow the on-screen instructions.
Step 5: After the reset, set up your device from scratch and try installing the app again.