Android Fix: App could not be downloaded due to an Error 497

Error 497 occurs when you try to update the applications installed on your smartphone usually via Wi-Fi. This usually doesn’t occur if you’re using the latest version of PlayStore, but if by any chance you encounter this “App could not be downloaded due to an Error 497” we have a solution for you.

Recently I have encountered this error 497 while downloading Instagram from google play store. Also lots of users have reported that this error occurred to them while they try to download or update some popular apps like Facebook, WhatsApp, Skype, SnapChat, Dropbox, Viber and some popular games like Angry bird, Candy crush saga, MotoRacing, Badland, Temple run. This solution should work on every “Download Unsuccessful” or “Installation Unsuccessful” 497 errors that occurs while downloading from PlayStore.

Clear PlayStore’s Cache and Data:
Wiping cache and data should eliminate this error and is also the foremost thing to do if any of your app start s to misbehave. To do so open up your Settings app and then go to Apps > All > Find Google PlayStore and Google Play Services and clear data of both app by clicking on Clear Data. Repeat this process for Download Manager and Google Service Framework too. Restart your device. You need to sign-in again with your Google ID. Now try to re-download the app. If it works – job well done, if it doesn’t continue reading this tutorial.

Unmount SD Card:
Sometimes the app that has been moved to SD Card has trouble updating even if you didn’t forcefully moved them (i.e. using Titanium Backup or other similar apps). Unmount SD Card before downloading an app to force PlayStore to install it on phone memory. To do so open up your Settings app and then go to Storage and tap on Unmount SD Card. After doing so retry downloading the app. In case you are updating the app (which is on your SD Card) which is already installed on your phone, you should try moving the app to phone memory first and then try to update it. To do so open up you Settings app and then open Apps. Slide over to All and find the app. Click on it and then tap Move to Phone Memory. If this solution worked you’re done, if now continue reading further.

Uninstall PlayStore Updates:
Sometimes the updates for PlayStore causes such problems. Uninstalling those updates might solve this problem. To do so head over to Settings > Apps > All > Google PlayStore and tap on Uninstall Updates. Repeat this for Google Play Service and Google Service Framework too (if there is any updates to be uninstalled). Sometimes the Uninstall Updates button is grayed out. In that case you cannot perform this solution. If this didn’t work either, next solution might fix it.

Re-install the App:
This is the last resort. You can uninstall the app and re-installed it from the PlayStore. Beware that doing this will wipe your app data. To do thi, open up your Settings app and then go to Apps > All > fid the app and uninstall it. Now you can re-download the app from the PlayStore without any issue.

For Rooted Devices:
If you’re having trouble updating a particular system app, you can delete the original APK and reinstall it from the PlayStore. To do so, go to the root of your device using Root Explorer or similar apps. Navigate to /System/app and tap Mount R/W and delete the app. Or to be save just rename the app like for example GoogleSearch.apk to GoogleSearch.apk.backup. Now reinstall the app from the PlayStore.

If none of the above solution worked for you, you can use alternatives to Google PlayStore. Amazon, Mobogenie, are some excellent choices.