If you’re here desperately trying to find a solution for error code 505 when you try to download an app from the Google Play Store for Android, then you’re in the right place. There are a couple of solutions you can try to get rid of this problem. This article will cover the reason behind this error and a list of descriptive solutions you can try to eliminate this error. Here’s how to fix Error 505 on Google Play Store, or fix Unknown error code during application install – 505.

What is error code 505

Error 505 is a permission error that occurs when two similar kinds of apps are looking for similar permissions. This causes conflict and thus the Play Store gives out error 505. While this error is common on older versions of Android, the newer versions like Android 9 or 10 may have come a chance on getting this error.

Reasons behind Error 505

The reports say that this error is commonly seen when trying to install apps like Weather App, SBI, Adobe Air, We Chat, Epic Game, Read Team, etc. So why are you seeing Error 505 – Unknown error code during application install?

  1. The Google Play Store might not be up to date.
  2. Outdated system software.
  3. Cached memory corruption or outdated cache.
  4. The application is not compatible with your device or Android version.
  5. Duplicate app permissions.

Fix Error 505 - Unknown Error code during Application install: "-505"As reported, most of the Adobe Air-based apps are having the problem of working with the Lollipop and Marshmallow version, especially in the Samsung, OPPO, Nexus model tablet. The popular apps, such as Epic game, RedTeam, Bingo Blitz, Evernote, Weather App, ITV, Adobe Air 15, SBI, We Chat have their icons missing after being updated to Android 5.0 Lollipop, and show the error 505 code while trying to install them again.

The symptom of error code 505

The app’s icons will vanish. When you go to the play store, it will show you the ‘install’ option, which suggests the apps are hidden (if not uninstalled) from the device. Any other method, such as using the app uninstaller option also proves the app is not working. After you tap in the ‘install’ option, error 505 occurs.

Fix Error 505 on Google Play Store

Solution 1: Clear Cache and Data

This is the first and the easiest solution you can perform to try and fix this error. It’s simple. Just follow the steps below.

Step 1: Head over to Settings. You can access it from tapping on the gear icon on the notification bar or tapping the settings icon on the app’s launcher.

Step 2: Scroll down and find Apps / Application Manager. The name might differ according to the device. Tap on it.

Step 3: Find Google Play Store. Tap on it.

Fix Error 505 - clear data google play store

Step 4: Clear cache and Clear data. On newer versions of Android, the Clear Cache and Clear Data button will be inside Storage.

Step 5: Repeat Step 4 for Google Play Service and Download Manager.

Step 6: Reboot your device.

Solution 2: Adjust Time

Check if the time and date settings are correct. Sometime, for some reason, the date and time settings might be altered.

Step 1: Go to Settings. You can access it from tapping on the gear icon on the notification bar or tapping the settings icon on the app’s launcher.

Step 2: Select Date and time.

Step 3: Enable Automatic date and time.

automatic date and time

Solution 3: Enable Download Manager

The download manager might be disabled. To fix Error 505, you’ll need to enable it again. Follow the steps below.

Step 1: Open Settings. Access it from tapping on the gear icon on the notification bar or tapping the settings icon on the app’s launcher.

Step 2: Scroll down and find Apps / Application Manager. The name might differ according to the device. Tap on it.

Step 3: Tap on the 3-dot menu icon. Select Show all apps.

Step 4: Scroll down and find Download Manager. Tap on it.

Step 5: You will see an Enable button. Tap on it. If you see Disable, then you do not need to do anything.

Step 6: Reboot your device.

Solution 4: Reinsert SD card.

If your device has an external microSD card slot and you are using a microSD card as expanded storage, that might be causing Error 505. You need to remove the card from its tray, gently blow inside the slot, clean the microSD card and reinsert it.

Solution 5: Google Account

You might be able to fix this error by re-configuring your Google account. Follow the steps below.

Step 1: Head over to Settings. You can access it from tapping on the gear icon on the notification bar or tapping the settings icon on the app’s launcher.

Step 2: Scroll down and select Account. Tap on Google.

Step 3: Choose the Google account and then hit the Remove Account button. You can access it from the 3-dot menu on the top right corner.

remove google account

Step 4: Restart your device.

Step 5: Go back to Settings > Account. Re-add your Google Account.

Solution 6: Uninstall corrupt apps

If you started getting Error 505 after you installed a certain app, whether it is from the Google Play Store or from any 3rd party source, you might want to remove that app.

Step 1: Open Settings. Access it from tapping on the gear icon on the notification bar or tapping the settings icon on the app’s launcher.

Step 2: Scroll down and find Apps / Application Manager. The name might differ according to the device. Tap on it.

Step 3: Find the app that you recently installed.

Step 4: Clear the cache, data, and then uninstall the app. On Newer versions of Android, the Clear Cache and Clear Data button will be inside Storage.

Step 5: Restart the device.

Solution 7: Rollback Play Store updates

The Google Play Store updates might be the reason for this error. It might not have installed properly.

Step 1: Open Settings. Access it from tapping on the gear icon on the notification bar or tapping the settings icon on the app’s launcher.

Step 2: Find Apps / Application Manager. The name might differ according to the device. Tap on it.

Step 3: Find Google Play Store. Tap on it.

Step 4: Tap on Uninstall Updates. Confirm the action.

Step 5: Open the Google Play Store app. The app will automatically update.

Step 6: If Google Play Store doesn’t update automatically, slide the side menu by sliding your finger on the screen from left to right. Or just tap the hamburger menu button on the top left corner.

Fix Error 505 - play store updates

Step 7: Tap on Settings.

Step 8: Scroll down and look for Version.

Step 9: You will be notified if there is an update and it will start automatically.

Solution 8: Factory Reset

If nothing works, the only option left is to factory reset your device. All your data will be lost so make sure you back up.

Step 1: Head over to Settings. You can access it from tapping on the gear icon on the notification bar or tapping the settings icon on the app’s launcher.

Step 2: Tap on Backup and Reset. If you’re On Android 10, go to System, there you will find Reset option.

Step 3: Select Factory Data Reset. Confirm your action. If you’re on Android 10, select Erase all data (factory reset).

android 10 reset

Additional solutions to Error 505 for older Androids

  • If the error 505 still persists after having the factory reset after the update, or in case you haven’t reset your device and using it suffering the updates, you can try the next method. If you are using the Adobe Air 15 version, and it is showing the error, try using Adobe Air 14 and create the APK with captive runtime. This will most probably help you solve your problem.
  • If you are familiar with the Android Debug Bridge, use it to uninstall the apps (if they are just hidden and not uninstalled), and afterwards try to install the app again from the Play Store. Useful for you: How to Install Android Debug Bridge (ADB).

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35 COMMENTS

  2. Booted into CWM, performed a backup to sd, did a factory reset from CWM, cleared cache from CWM, Restored backup and Reboot, Have been in reboot with lollipops whirling for about a hour now, ???

      • It did not work what a mess , lol phone went into a soft brick I quest lollipops whirling no way to stop I tried resets backup restores nothing worked, Finally hat to use root toolbox to flash stock image then after I got it up after boot I did factory reset then let Google restore my last backup that they had , overall with some computer space issues in order to unzip the file for the image I was with out my phone for over 20 hours lol, and guess what I’m right back where I started 505 error still can’t install tasker so I can figure out how it works with utter, so it’s got to be something with the Google image file going around that there pushing, factory reset no go. I did exactly as it said as soon as image was done after first boot did the reset lol almost thought I was going to buy new phone still might. Do you know what its like to use a converted HD2 windows phone to android haha

  3. This is not an incompatibility issue by the app. You make it sound like developers are to blame. This is an Android bug that google needs to fix. Android lollipop is calculating a different sha1 from the certificate than KitKat did and thus not allowing the app to install. Developers cannot change certificates of existing apps so it is out of their hands. The solution is to do an adb uninstall of the app that won’t update but then the app data will not persist.

  4. I Finally got time to try adb and still get duplicate permissions when using install over adb, if I try uninstall the error is just a internal error like it can’t find the file. File attempted adb install tasker.4.5u1.apk

  5. Same problem here for Verizon GS5 running stock. After taking it to the store and getting hokey resolution (buy another battery and ‘just don’t use gps with any of the other radios’ advice) I have been racking my brain to fix. Have nearly all Tasker plugin out there. Apparently the problem has to do with pebble taskwatch and tasker. Try uninstalling taskwatch and then installing Tasker to see if that fixes the issue. Currently under lollipop they both cannot be installed on your device at the same time. I didn’t find out this suggestion until after another solution that worked for me. I did a factory reset. During the restore wizard I chose NOT to install any apps (I didn’t know which ones were causing the 505 error at that point) and only let the restore install basic data. After the restore wizard completed, I could easily go into play store and install tasker with no issues. The only caveats with this solution is that I can’t install Pebble Taskwatch (non-issue since I only really use AutoPebble) and I think I have to manually re-install all the other 658 apps I had on my phone before Verizon and Android screwed me over. Overall impression- Lollipop aint too sweet, but at least I got Tasker back.

  7. So, I found a workaround to get past the -505 error, but it requires a few things: a rooted device, a custom recovery that can install zipped apps, and the app2zip app available on the play store (should be free).

    Here’s what I did:
    1. Install Tasker first.
    2. Run the App2Zip app, and have it back up the app you installed.
    3. Uninstall Tasker, and install Utter.
    4. Repeat the backup procedure using App2Zip.
    5. Boot into your custom recovery, and install both zipped apps.
    6. Boot back into your OS after the installs finish, and you should have both Tasker and Utter installed.

    It is sad that this is still an issue, but hopefully this will help as a workaround until they fix this issue in 5.x

    • Technically you should be able to do this with any offending apps, but you need to know what apps you already have installed that cause the 505 permission error first. If you can find a zipped version of that app online (preinstalled and zipped after) all the better.

    • Thanks very much for this – I had the identical problem, and was going crazy trying to understand what was going on. As an alternative to App2Zip, Titanium Backup also has the ability to convert an app or apps to an update.zip file.

  8. Mystery solved on Error Code 505!!! I discovered from Samsung tech support that the reason I was getting this error when trying to install a mobile banking app was that I already had a similar app installed – even though it was from a different bank. It will allow only one app of that type to be installed on the phone at once. Those apps are competing for the same settings. Also, it is a security measure to prevent viruses from reaching your phone.

    I had to uninstall the app from the first bank before installing the second one. I’ll have to take turns between the two apps installing and uninstalling so that only one is active at a time.

    Hallelujah for the solution (because I really needed to make a deposit immediately). Maybe this applies to other types of apps as well.

    • Hey! Beverly Glover!

      Do you think that this is a permanent solution? What if I need to use both the apps installed simultaneously in the Samsung phone?

    • My Dad just came to me and said that every time i try to re-install Facebook (after uninstalling it due to the fact it wouldn’t update or open the app) it downloads the app the app from the play store and gets so far into installing it and then says ERROR -505 cant install the app any ideas on a way round it ?

  9. What i did was Cleared data and flashed Euphoria rom 5.1 June/02 release, skipped gapps and then downloaded play games from playstore. Then it asked to update google play services and updated that too. Everything is fine now.

    We are such slaves to games that i lost lots of data and time in this whole process 🙁

  10. I got this error too, icon & widget disappears. I simply reapplied the widget, adding it back on homescreen. Icon in applications still doesn’t work and looks different, as if app has been deleted. But if I copy that same icon, to the homepage, it also works, altjought, it’s appearance stays same. The widget is fully operational.
    I’m not ready to try factor reboot.
    I don’t think I need the update that bad, maybe I’ll wait until someone in charge fixes the bug.

  11. I tried uninstall, reinstall, and nothing. The same crap. Error 505 and no icon. But I could play the game and it was updated. Day or so later the icons reappeared on their own. So idk, maybe do nothing and see what happens. Maybe it will correct itself like mine did.

  13. For root user with SuperSU, working solution for error code 505.
    1. Google the apps com. name (eg. com.candycrushsodasaga)
    2. Install “Terminal Emulator” from play store.
    3. Open apps, and enter following command on Terminal Windows:
    su

    (enter, SuperSu promt to “Grant” access)
    4. Enter another 2 command:
    adb shell
    pm uninstall com.candycrushsodasaga

    (This should remove all installation cached from your device. Goto play store and reinstall the apps.)

  14. First of all it’s not client side error, it’s developer’s side error. If a developer has uploaded 2 or more applications with same signature then it is impossible to install even two of them. Best solution for you is to uninstall any other app you have from the same developer and install the installation you were trying before.

    For developers: You need to change your app signature in every application which is different from other. But if you are just publishing an update to, make sure just change the version number not signature.

  17. Still can’t download Google play games because if the error 505. I used the local SKK lollipop version 5.01 aAndroid so I can’t play coc on may phone since I can’t switch may account

  18. NONE OF THE ABOVE: had both MS Word & Messenger working just fine in Lolipop 5.1 untill it says they have to update. Then 505 error, and, Icon disappeared, so It really has nothing to do with resetting or fac update
    I’ve been using Messenger & Word right up until this bad update. Has nothing to do with Lolipop, if it did I wouldn’t have been using Messenger this past year. It’s these constant unnecessary updates by poor coders wanting to change something that’s not broke, that’s the problem. #Dumb

  20. Excuse me I know the perfect cause why this error505 occurs. Let me explain. I have downloaded gangster vegas which is a Gameloft game and later I tried to download six guns then this annoying thing showed up. This is because both the packages have the same name ie., Com.gamloft.GNMP or something else. So to avoid this you need to move one app to sd card so the package also transfers. If the error perror persists again it means there may be junk folder in Android/obb. If you delete it then everything thing will be fine.
    Thanking you
    If you want further help please reply.

    PRANEETH

  22. Here it is. I have got the final solution. These developers are using same certificates for all of their apps. so you can not install 2nd app from the same developer if u have an app already installed from the same developer. Just uninstall the previous app and there u go. Now u can install ur desired app, just only one from the same developer.

    • Please how do I go about this? I use a Hauwei y6 pro. I’m trying to download the WPS + PDF app. How do I find out the apps that are from the same developer or have same certificates? Thank you.

    • Please how do I go about this? I use a Hauwei y6 pro. I’m trying to download the WPS + PDF app. How do I find out the apps that are from the same developer or have same certificates? Thank you

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