How to Fix the Google Play Store Error Code -24 Issue

For anyone that has received the -24 error code on the Google Play Store, I’m going to take you through the step by step process on how to resolve the issue.

This particular issue generally happens when you are trying to download and install an application from the Google Play Store. The cause can be one of many things. I’ve heard about this happening with people that have a very unstable wireless connection. I’ve also heard about it from users that it just happens at random times.

More often than not the smartphone, or possibly even the Google Play Store application, just has a hiccup when it’s trying to install an application and this results in the Unknown Error Code prompt.

Unknown Error Code During Application Installation: -24

I have included a screenshot of what the error code prompt looks like. As always, I wish these error codes weren’t so vague and mysterious. I would most likely rather see this error code prompt say “something messed up during the installation” because that is what has happened. Something went wrong during the installation and it has left behind some files that it is unable to get rid of. At least, this is what seems to happen when I have come across this issue. The only way I have been able to get past this error code is by deleting some files with root access.

So that is the first thing you will need before you can fix this issue. You will need root access to your smartphone or tablet. If you need help rooting your device, feel free to send me an email and I will help if I can. Once you have root access to your device then we can proceed with the tutorial.

Fix Error Code -24

1. Download ES File Explorer
2. Open ES File Explorer
3. Expand the Left Menu
4. Tap on Tools(in the left menu)
5. Enable the Root Explorer Option
6. Grant Root Access to ES File Explorer
7. Tap on Local(in the left menu)
8. Tap on “/ Device”
9. Browse to /data/data/ by. . .
10. Tapping on the “data” Folder. . .
11. Then Tap on the Secondary “data” Folder
12. Locate the Folder for the App that Will Not Install
13. Tap and Hold to Select on the Folder
14. Tap on the Delete Button at the Bottom
15. Reboot the Smartphone or Tablet

Explanation

Basically what happened was the Google Play Store application tried to download and install an application or game but something caused it to abort the install. This aburpt cancellation of the the install ends up leaving some files and folders in the /data/data directory of your device and it prevents you from trying to install it again. Since the Google Play Store errors out before it can install properly, there is no way to uninstall it unless you have root access.

To get rid of these files and folders we need to use a file explorer(with root access) to access and delete them from the /data/data folder. The tough part here is to locate the folder that pertains to the application or game that you are trying to install. To do this, you will need to learn the package name of the application or game you are trying to install. Thankfully there is an easy way to find this. I’m going to use the ES File Explorer as an example. When we go to the application’s page on the Google Play Store’s web front we want to look at the information after the “details?id=” part of the URL.

In this example, the package name for ES File Explorer is com.estrongs.android.pop. So, if we were having an issue with ES File Explorer installing, then we would look for the folder named “com.estrongs.android.pop” that is inside the /data/data/ directory. This package name is different for each application in the Google Play Store so you need to learn this before you browse through the dozens(to hundreds) of folders inside /data/data/. So, you will need to find this package name for the application that you are having an issue with. I used the package name for ES File Explorer as an example. You will have to locate the package name for the app or game that gives you the Error Code -24 prompt.

This has worked for me in the past but it isn’t a surefire way to resolve the issue. This error can be caused by a variety of different reasons but this worked for me and hopefully it will work for you. If you still experience the issue after following this tutorial, or you have trouble with one of the steps in this tutorial, then leave a comment at the bottom of this article and I will try my best to help.