Latest update causes Google Play Store not to open/load. Shows only a white screen.

[JessicaRandall]

Since the last update, the Google Play Store will not open/load.  It just shows a white screen.  A notification also shows up in the notification bar at the top of my screen that says that the Google Play services requires an update, but doesn't do anything but try to open the Play Store when I click it.  It is updated, as are all of my apps.

[Snn5]

Very common issue.  Go to settings-app manager-Google play store-uninstall updates and clear data.  Reboot, go back to Play Store and it should auto update correctly.

[JessicaRandall]

This did not work.

[Snn5]

May be a bug, or you may need to factory reset.  I have noticed many Gapps force closing or not opening, but all have been repaired this way except Google Voice mail through Hangouts on speakerphone.

[JessicaRandall]

I was afraid of that.  I will probably be visiting a Verizon store tomorrow to fix this.

[SuperBeagle]

Any success?

[JessicaRandall]

I took it to Verizon and since the customer representative couldn't use the playstore to update any apps, he couldn't get my phone to sync to Verizon Cloud.  He tried to back everything up on the computer, but for some reason couldn't.  He told me to try on my computer and then to do a hard reset and put everything back.  I haven't done it yet.  I just got home, but I will let you know if it fixes the problem.

[Snn5]

OMG...that's ridiculous.

[stef7]

did you try logging out of your google account, rebooting the phone, and logging back in?

can you play youtube videos and browse the web?

[ingrids]

I've been having SAME DANG problem - white screen with Play Store. 

Anything that requires authentication from Play Store doesn't work... YouTube, Play Music, Map Account Info, etc.  Even with the paid apps purchased via Play Store, I cannot use it - becausssseeeee the cell cannot access Play Store.  However, the Gmail is synching... the phone contacts JUST updated after a week of not being updated on the server (i.e. a phone number I edited last week in contacts wasn't updated until the last day or so.)  And pics uploaded in the last day... though it should have updated on the server over a week ago when Lollipop was updated... because that's when I had additional pics/screen captures taken.  (So of course, no updates can occur, no downloads can happen, and I cannot fix apps that Lollipop broke.)

In trying to resolve the issue (though it was ALL unsuccessful), I cleared cache and data and uninstalled updates. Rebooted.  Tried it all over again with Safe Mode.  Play Store update never occurred.  Went to another APK site and downloaded the file for Play Store onto my PC and transferred the file over to the cell... installed it through File Manager... tried it all over again... and still nada. Logged out of Google throughout the process.  Dealt with the dang missing Widgets from the Home Screen (after going into Safe Mode... unresolved issue from a reported bug several years ago.)  And also did the same with Google Play Services... clearing cache, data, and uninstalled updates... and then re-installed (after transferring file from computer.) 

Note:  for some reason, the date for Google Play Store (in App Manager) is 04/22/1970... and the only thing I found online is that it's the date Earth Day was created.

I can view the web but unable to download files using Chrome.  I have to open up Firefox to download or use the Wireless Storage app to transfer files from my PC.

Still grasping at everything BEFORE resorting to factory reset... though now that I think about it... I REALLY don't want to do a factory reset because of too many customizations on the cell... but with the Lollipop upgrade, I'm sure I will have to make customizations anyway.

[vzw_customer_support]

ingrids,

I can definitely understand your frustration. I see you have done some great troubleshooting already. Try deleting the Gmail account and adding it back. Retest and keep us posted. If the issue persist you may need to perform the hard reset.

JohnB_VZW
Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

If my response answered your question please click the �Correct Answer� button under my response. This ensures others can benefit from our conversation. Thanks in advance for your help with this!!

[ingrids]

Yes... JohnB_VZW, I tried removing the Gmail account... did so a couple of times.  And still didn't work.

Stef7, yes... I hadn't tried that yet... was too afraid to revert Play Services after what happened when I reverted back to Playstore... though I guess if reverting Play Services doesn't work or makes it worse (as the Play Store update removal made it worse), I will do a factory reset as JessicaRandall suggested.

Thanks everyone... I'll post back once I get to it... after I complete my taxes today

[ingrids]

I should have mentioned... Play Services is version 7.0.99 and Play Store is now (after my manual update) 5.4.11.  But still dealing with white screen when trying to launch Play Store.

[stef7]

From another thread where a person got help at a VZW store.

I presume you saw this.... 

He put the phone into safe mode, cleaned out the google play cache and data, then went into goodle play services, cleaned cache and stopped the app.  Soft booted the phone and tried downloading on app at a time in Google Play Store.  It worked!  It worked for me. I don't know if others will find relief in this.

[stef7]

Don't know if this will be helpful...

https://youtu.be/vVFL87iv3-s

Maybe reverting the Google Play Services to older rev then updating it as shown in this video?

[JessicaRandall · Accepted solution]

After taking my phone to Verizon and them telling me that they were out of ideas, I took it home and backed up all of my information onto my laptop.  I then did a hard reset on the phone.  After completing the hard reset, the phone updated again and now everything works great!  The reason that I had to back everything up on my computer is because some of my apps, such as the Verizon Cloud was not updated and I could not update it since the Playstore wasn't working.

The customer service representative at Verizon told me that he has had several people come into the store with this same problem.  With the Lollipop update, Google Services is not recognizing the updated software on the phone, therefore still using the old Google software and it's not compatible.

Answer to problem:  1. Back up phone 2. Hard reset on phone 3. Restore phone with your information.

I hope this helps anyone else that has this problem!

Jessica

[Snn5]

We suggested a factory reset near the beginning of this thread over a week ago.

[ingrids]

Yesss SNN5... I've read your repeated comments to do so.  It's OK if I post my questions though... that's what this forum is here for.  I'm trying to do everything to NOT do a factory reset. Too many customizations.

[Snn5]

Sorry, you might have misread the user I was replying to.