Does Google Play Services Need To Run In Background

Google Play Services is one of the most important apps on any Android telephone. Information technology helps connect everything, provides easy tools for app developers, and helps older Android phones get modernistic features without the need for Android OS updates. Google Play is likewise quite elusive. It doesn't annunciate its existence on your telephone. That tin can cause some bug when information technology comes to troubleshooting. Let's take a look at what information technology is and how information technology works.

Read more: Google Play Shop: A definitive guide for beginners

QUICK ANSWER

Google Play Services is a software layer between the Android Bone and your applications. It can exercise many things, updates independently of Android, and helps developers make better apps.

JUMP TO KEY SECTIONS

What is Google Play Services, and what does it practice?
How exercise I update Google Play Services?
How exercise I download and install Google Play Services?
How do I disable Google Play Services?
FAQ

What is Google Play Services, and what does it practise?

Joe Hindy / Android Authority

Play Services is a software layer between the Android operating system and your applications. It serves as a bridge to assistance developers create better, more than optimized, more than bombardment-efficient apps without unnecessary piece of work. In addition, Play Services allows Google to add together new features to Android without the need for Android OS updates.

Here is an example of how information technology works. An app developer has an app that needs to send you a push notification. Play Services has 2 APIs for that very office hither. The developer uses those APIs in their app. From there, Play Services sends push button notifications when the app asks it to without any boosted work from the developer.

There are dozens, if not hundreds, of other APIs that help developers do simple tasks in a uniform way. Navigation apps asking for your location probably utilise Play Services to do it. Think of it as your telephone's manager, sending you notifications, giving apps your location, and running processes in the background for optimal battery efficiency.

The nice role of Play Services is that it lets Google add new features to phones without needing Android OS updates. All they have to do is add a new API to the Play Services library and so update the app on your telephone to support information technology. Many desirable features get rolled out to users this way every year. Of course, the downside is that it can be a real pain to gear up when Play Services starts acting upwardly.

How exercise I update Google Play Services?

Joe Hindy / Android Authority

It should update automatically in the background. It receives updates in the Google Play Store like whatever normal application, so it should update when all of your other Google Play apps update. However, if yous want to check manually, hither's how to exercise it.

The fast way

While on your phone, tap this link. It should take you to the Play Services page on the Google Play Store.
Tap the Update button if necessary.

The official way

Open your phone's Settings bill of fare. Navigate to the Apps section, tap All apps, and curl down until you find Google Play Services. Tap it.
Gyre down until yous see App details and tap that.
The phone should open Play Services in the Google Play Shop. If it needs an update, tap the Update push button. Google Play will update the app, and that'southward all.
If you tin can't observe Play Services on the list, tap the iii-dot menu button and choose the Evidence system apps pick.

The above process may vary slightly between devices. For example, Samsung doesn't require y'all to hit All apps before showing yous a full listing of apps.

How do I download and install Google Play Services?

Joe Hindy / Android Dominance

The service comes pre-installed on Google Play-enabled phones starting from Android 4.iv. You know if your telephone is Google Play-enabled if it came with the Google Play Store. Still, some folks may want to download a specific version for specific needs, then we'll put the process of installing Play Services here.

Identify the proper DPI and architecture for your phone

In that location are near a dozen different versions of Play Services. You demand to notice the right one for your phone.
To beginning, download this app. Nosotros recommend downloading information technology from APKMirror because it doesn't require Google Play Services.
Install the app after you lot download information technology. If you're having trouble, use this tutorial to acquire how to install 3rd-political party apps.
Once installed, open the app. Under the Device tab, you'll find your device's DPI. Write that number down. Slide over to the System tab and write downwardly your CPU Architecture. You'll need both of those.

How to download Google Play Services

The about reliable identify to download Play Services is APKMirror. You tin can find the site'southward repository of Play Services here. Please note: There are separate versions of Play Services for Android TV and Wear OS. Make certain you lot don't download those unless you need them.
In the list, select the version y'all want. You'll want to make certain to download the one that matches the architecture and DPI from the previous steps. If you tin't observe your DPI, you can become with the nodpi option, and it should work fine.

How to install Google Play Services

Play Services comes in APK format but like any other regular Android app, and the process of installing it is the same.
If you need additional aid, you tin can follow this tutorial to learn how to install apps without the Google Play Store.

Please note that improper installation, trying to install the wrong variant of Play Services, and not installing correctly can pb to failed installations. If your installation fails, first at step 1 and perform the steps once more.

How practise I disable and re-enable Google Play Services?

Joe Hindy / Android Authorization

Y'all can disable it if you want to. Yet, be warned that doing so can greatly and negatively impact how your device operates. Nosotros only recommend this for troubleshooting purposes or if y'all intend on going for a Google-free alternative for everything, and we mean everything.

How to disable Google Play Services

Navigate to Settings, then to Apps. Tap the All apps option to testify a list of full apps (not necessary on every phone).
Scroll down and select Google Play Services.
Tap the Disable push. It'll shoot you a warning nigh how it'll impact device performance before it lets yous disable it.
You will virtually certainly get a bunch of notifications almost various apps or services no longer being able to function until you lot turn Play Services back on. This is normal because Play Services handles a lot of background stuff.

How to re-enable Google Play Services

Perform the same steps as above, except hit the Plough On button.

How to remove permissions from Google Play Services

One time again, follow the steps higher up to go to the Play Services app folio in your Settings.
This time, tap on Permissions.
Tap the permission you want to revoke. Tap the Don't allow choice.
Your device will tell you that information technology may impact the functionality of some stuff. Hit Don't allow anyway to continue.

Over again, we recommend using the above methods only for troubleshooting purposes. Play Services is tied to the very cadre of Android, and disabling it (or its permissions) can have radically negative effects on your device and its functioning.

Read more: How to get a refund for apps purchased from the Play Shop

FAQs

What happens if I uninstall Google Play Services?

You lot actually can't uninstall it without root access. However, if y'all did, a lot of stuff on your phone would cease to part correctly. Examples include carrier services, Android Car, many apps that send notifications, about navigation apps, and others. You'll accept to get new apps from sources exterior the Google Play Shop.

Is it okay to clear the Google Play Services cache and data?

Yes, yous should be able to practice both of those things without any adverse effects.

How do I fix "Google Play Services not supported"?

At that place are only a handful of fixes that work. Try clearing the Google Play Store enshroud. If you have Play Services installed, attempt clearing its data and cache. If you are getting the fault while installing, double-bank check that you have the correct variant and try again.

How practise I fix "Google Play Services has stopped"?

Endeavor the same methods higher up. Clear the Google Play Store cache and articulate the Play Services cache and data. If you still experience issues, it may be related to something specific to your device. A mill reset will almost certainly fix whatever problem, fifty-fifty if it's invasive.

Why tin can't I update Google Play Services?

It'due south usually just a hiccup in the matrix. Effort clearing the Google Play Shop and Play Services enshroud, and and so try over again.