Most Android devices have the Google Play Store pre-installed. However, you may encounter issues with the Play Store and want to uninstall it to fix the issue. Unfortunately, there is no direct way to uninstall the Google Play Store as it is a system app.
Those who still want to deal with it can try out some alternative approaches. i.e., disable the Play Store to fix any of the issues, uninstall the Google Play Store update, or reinstall the Play Store.
How to Disable Google Play Store
1. Go to Settings on your PC and select Apps menu.
2. Search for Google Play Store in the search bar.
3. Choose the app from the search result and select Disable option.
Once you disable it, the Google Play Store refrains from appearing on the home screen and app drawer.
How to Uninstall Updates in the Google Play Store
By uninstalling Play Store updates, your Google Play store will go back to its original or factory version. This helps in fixing any bugs. However, the app will still appear on your device, and you can use it normally, as you did before. To do so, follow the steps below,
1. Open Settings and Choose the Apps menu.
2. Search for Google Play Store and select the app from the search results.
3. Tap the three-dotted icon on the top right corner.
4. Hit the Uninstall Updates option from the menu.
How to Reinstall Google Play Store
To reinstall the app, you need to enable the disabled Google Play store or update to the latest version.
Enable Google Play Store
To enable the Google Play store, go to Settings → Apps → Google Play Store → Tap the Enable option.
Update Google Play Store
1. Launch the Google Play Store on your device.
2. Tap the Profile icon on the top right corner of the screen and choose Settings menu.
3. Hit the About option and then tap Update Play Store.
If a new version is available, the Play Store will start updating. If not, you will receive a pop-up message stating that the Play Store is updated.
Install Google Play Store Using APK File
You can install or update Google Play Store by installing its latest version using its APK from a trusted third-party app.
1. Go to Settings → Apps → Chrome → Install Unknown Apps → toggle Allow from this Source to download third-party APK files.
2. Visit the official website of APKMirror and hit the search icon.
3. Search for Google Play Store and select the latest version.
4. Scroll down choose the variant that is apt for you and click the Download APK Bundle option.
5. Once the app is downloaded hit the Install button.
Now, the latest version of the Google Play Store will be installed on your device.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, there is no option to remove the Google Play Store permanently. However, you can disable it and the app will not show on the home screen.