Are you having trouble with in-app purchases? Whether you can’t subscribe to the pro version of any app or your in-game items are not getting added to your account, here’s everything you can do to fix in-app purchases on your Android phone or tablet.
Identify the Problem
First, let’s check what is causing the problem. This will allow us to troubleshoot the issue directly.
Start by checking the payment method used by the app. Most apps use Play Store’s payment method. However, some of them have their own payment method or a third-party option.
- Try making an in-app purchase on a different app. If it works fine, then the issue is with the original app itself.
- If other apps work fine, then the issue is with your payment method which can be Play Store or any other service according to the app.
- if the payment method shows up but you can’t complete the payment, the problem could be with your bank account.
Let’s start with some easy steps:
1. Force Stop and Restart
Sometimes, restarting the app can fix the issue. Close the app and remove it from the Recent Apps list. Now check whether the problem is solved. If not, try force-stopping the app before opening it again.
- To force-stop, open Settings > Apps and select the app.
- Here, tap on the Force stop option.
Restart the app and check if the issue is resolved.
2. Clear the Cache
Apps store cache to make the tasks faster in the app by keeping some pages, features, etc in the memory. But if this data is corrupted, it can make some features not work as intended. Here’s how to clear the app’s cache. You can repeate the same for the Play Store app.
- Go to Settings > Apps and select the app or Play Store.
- Tap on Storage and Cache and then Clear Cache.
3. Check for Network Connectivity
Payment cannot be made without an internet connection. You will see a message saying No Internet Connection if you are not connected to any network.
But the problem occurs when the network is slow. The payment page tries to load but can take a long time. So check whether the problem is with your network connection and its speed.
4. Check Date and Time
The app, payment method, and even the bank use the date and time on your device as one of the measures in the security checklist. If the date and time are not accurate to your location, the app may block some features, and the payment method may fail with an error message.
- On your phone, go to Settings > Date and Time.
- Turn on Automatic Date and Time and Automatic Time Zone if they are off.
Wait a few minutes and check if you can make in-app purchases. If you can’t find the settings, search for ‘date and time’ in your Settings app.
5. Check for Updates
If there are bugs that are causing payment issues on the Play Store, there may already be an update that fixes it. So check for app updates on the Play Store.
To update an app,
- Open the Play Store, and search for the app.
- On that app page, check for available updates.
To update the Play Store, open the Play Store app,
- Tap on your profile picture at the top right, and select Settings.
- Now tap the About option.
- In the drop-down, you should see the Update Play Store option under the Play Store version, tap on it.
You can also check if there are any updates for your Android OS.
6. Payment option is Unavailable
On the Payment page, there can be several reasons if you can’t select a payment option.
For subscriptions, some payment methods won’t work as they don’t support automatic monthly payments. Google will notify you with an ‘Unavailable for subscriptions’ message below the payment method.
It may also mean the card needs verification. Visit the Google Pay website and check the Payment methods tab. This verification is needed if Google detects a suspicious payment.
Visit: Google Pay
An expired card could also be the issue. You can update the card details on Google Pay website, head to Payment methods, and select the Fix option.
Either way, Google will mention why that specific payment option is unavailable.
7. Insufficient Funds
Some payment methods may not notify you properly that you have insufficient funds for the payment option you have selected. Check your account balance to make sure you have enough to complete the purchase.
8. Unable to Get OTP
Some payment methods need OTP to complete the payment. While there can be a chance that the server isn’t sending you the OTP to complete the payment, the problem may be on your side too. Check if the problem is with your text messages or if you are facing OTP issues.
9. Check if the Payment Is Already Completed
There’s a good chance your payment went through without showing a success message.
- To check, open the Play Store and tap your profile picture.
- Go to Payments and subscriptions > Budget and history, and see if the payment is listed.
If the app is using a different payment method like Paypal, you can check in its settings too.
10. Contact the App Developer
If you still cannot access the feature or product after a successful purchase, contact the app developer.
- Open the app page on the Play Store.
- Scroll down to App Support, and you’ll find their email, address, and website.
Most apps also have a feedback page where you can explain the problem, especially if you think it could be a bug.
