How to Fix Google Play “Authentication Is Required” Error Message

You can solve and fix Google Play “Authentication is required” error with the various tips and solutions mentioned ahead. Most Android smartphones, if not all, ship with Google Play Services and Play Store app pre-installed. These two back-end frameworks are essential for providing a wholesome Android experience. You get to install Android apps and keep them up to date through the Play Store and Play Services manages your Google account, behind the scenes. As crucial as they are, if one starts to form an error, it is quite annoying. In this guide, we will be taking a look at how to fix Google Play Authentication is required error.

This error message usually pops up when you install a new service or app. The Google framework thinks your account is unauthorized and it doesn’t get the correct permissions. The reasons are numerous for this error to pop up and they vary from device to device. However, if you follow our solutions ahead, you would most probably end up fixing it in no time.

How to Fix Google Play Authentication Is Required Error

This error arises on a variety of Android devices, both tablets and smartphones. The solutions ahead try to point out universal procedures which can be implemented easily.

Solution #1 – Reboot Your Android Device

Before actually jumping into the Settings or playing around with data, the first thing you should try is a proper reboot. You can easily reboot an Android tablet or smartphone with the steps given below.

1. Press and hold your device’s Power button.
2. Tap Power off.
3. After your phone turns off, press and hold the Power button until your phone turns back on.

Solution #2 – Delete your Google Account from the Device

The problem pertains to wrong permissions or missing information. To solve this, delete your account from the device and set it up once again. Hopefully, once you set it up as new, the error will no longer be there.

Follow these steps to remove your Google account and re-add it:

1. Open the Settings app
2. Tap Accounts > Select Google
3. If you have multiple Google accounts, remove the Primary one.
4. Once removed, reboot.
5. After rebooting, open up Play Store and add your account.

Try installing a new app and see if the error remains.

Solution #3 – Clear Play Store Cache and Data

If you had no luck after removing your account and re-adding, try removing the data directly from the Play Store app along with its cache. Do note, removing data from Play Store doesn’t mean removing any apps installed.

Follow these easy steps to delete Play Store data and cache:

1. Open the Settings app
2. Tap Apps & notifications > See all apps
3. From the list, look for the Play Store app and tap on it
4. Now tap Storage and then tap Clear Cache button
5. From the same menu, tap Clear Data as well.

Open up Play Store and install an app to confirm the error is gone.

Solution #4 – Uninstall Updates for Play Store

It is plausible that a recent update crashed your system. To remedy this, simply try to remove any new updates that have been installed.

1. Open the Settings app
2. Tap Apps & notifications > See all apps
3. From the list, look for the Play Store app and tap on it
4. Now tap on the Three Dots placed on the top-right of the screen and then tap Uninstall Updates button

Once the updates have been removed, test to see if the error is gone. Further, you can download the latest available Google Play Store from this guide: Download Google Play Store APK

Solution #5 – Factory Reset your Device

This the last solution which you can implement. Factory resetting a device will erase all user data and applications. Once you boot up your device after the reset, it will take you through the initial setup wizard just as it was brand new.

1. Open the Settings app
2. Scroll down and tap on System and then Reset options.
3. From the list, tap on Erase all data (factory reset) and then finally, Reset Phone on the next screen.
4. If there is a security passcode / pattern setup, it will ask for that and then you can tap on Erase Everything.

Set up the device once it is done resetting and check if it still throws Authentication is required error,

We hope you got to fix the annoying Authentication is required pop-up message. If you have further solutions in mind, let us know in the comments.