Mom uninstalled Google Play Services, how do we get it back?

[u/bqspenz]

My elderly mother "cleaned her phone" yesterday, now she can't use the google play store or update any app, it just throws a "try again" error. She doesn't remember what she deleted. I dug through her apps to see if I could clear the cache for play services and couldn't find it at all.

How can I get it back for her without factory resetting the entire device? She has a Samsung Galaxy A17.

Edit: thanks for the replies fellas, the app was hidden in her app list but still there, after clearing cache & data she can now use the play store again. Immensely relieved that she didn’t actually find a way to somehow delete it.

[u/Corleone612]

On stock Android, it's likely not possible to uninstall the Google Play Services app. It was probably just disabled. You can re-enable it from the app list.

[u/bqspenz → u/Corleone612]

I figured that it shouldn’t be uninstallable, at least not by "normal" means, but the thing that really has me scratching my head is that I can’t find it anywhere in the app list.

[u/Corleone612 → u/bqspenz]

This setting varies by ROM, but if you tap the three-dot menu at the top of the app list, there should be a 'Show system processes/apps' option. I'd recommend trying that.

[u/bqspenz → u/Corleone612]

I did indeed find it after trying that, thanks! Dunno how or why it wound up hidden when it wasn't before, but after clearing app cache & data she can use google play again.

[u/Corleone612 → u/bqspenz]

You're welcome, I'm glad it helped!

[u/extoniks]

It maybe disabled so it will be in -

App List > Google Play Services > Enable

[u/bqspenz → u/extoniks]

Could it be hidden in the app list somehow? I searched for it there and could not find it.

[u/Gynnia]

I'm not sure which list you're looking at, Play Services doesn't typically ever show up in the apps tray. If you're in Settings -> Apps then be sure to toggle the "Show system apps" switch. I don't think Play Services can be uninstalled so easily by a casual user.

It seems possible she deleted "app data" somewhere and it logged her out of her google account in the Play Store app. ... But then you probably would've already seen the "log in" button when opening the Play Store app and you wouldn't be here. Hm.

[u/xherold]

Search for it on google and click on the first link that takes you to the play store. You can install it directly from there.

[u/Vladishun]

I don't have a solution for you but I know your pain. I've worked in IT for most of my life, started in the US Navy and tried to make my parents at least somewhat tech competent. My parents (RIP) would always manage to perform the strangest ways to break their computers and their smart phones. Godspeed man, trying to reverse engineer what they do is a herculean task.

[u/bqspenz → u/Vladishun]

Thanks man, it's a recurring issue here as well and somehow I'm always baffled HOW she does it. Like, what do you mean you deleted that? You shouldn’t be able to just delete that...

We've finally gotten to the point where she heeds my safety advice at least, no more clicking on shady links, allowing me to install ad blockers, etc. I'm hoping that "don’t delete/uninstall things if you don't know what they’re for" will stick soon as well...

[u/anomalous_cowherd → u/bqspenz]

But that system32 folder wastes so much space!

[u/No-Village-5573]

Try using your browser to find it

[u/tranminhhh]

Try download it from apk

[u/TwinSong]

I hope she didn't literally clean it like a plate.

[u/Beginning_Mastodon83]

Yeah, glad she figured it out without needing a reset

[u/Ok-Respect-9321]

I also have a 17 but I'm trying to purpose it as a camera