If you have deleted a purchased Android app from your device, purchased a new phone, or wiped the memory of your existing phone, the apps you downloaded from Google Play will no longer be installed on the device. In most cases, you can re-download any free or purchased apps though. Just use these steps.
Option 1 – From Device
- Ensure you are logged into your device using the Google account that you installed or purchased the apps under. You can add users under “Settings” > “Users“.
- Open the “Play Store” app.
- Select the “Menu”
icon located at the upper-left corner, then choose “My apps & games“. - Swipe to the left to get to the “Library” area. All the apps you ever downloaded will be listed here including paid apps.
- Tap the “Install” button next to the app you wish to reinstall.
Option 2 – From a PC Browser
You can also initiate a re-download from the Google Play website. Just visit the My Android Apps page.
FAQ
I have a new device and the app doesn’t show up in the Google Play store anymore. Why?
The app is probably not compatible with your new device. The Google Play store filters any apps that are not listed as compatible.
John says
I payed for the ad removal in Idle Slayer on my old phone. When I installed it on my new phone the app showed up in my library, the purchase of ad removal shows up in my purchase history but the app is now back to asking me to pay to remove ads.
Steve says
I had an app on my old phone. It transferred over to new phone. I used the app but then it wanted to update and accidentally uninstalled it. Now it won’t reinstall on new phone. Play store shows its nit compatible with new phone. I just used it on here. How do I get it back????
Elaine says
This didn’t exactly help, but what I did was go to the Google Play store on my MacBook and installed the purchased apps through my browser. It asked for my password every time I had to install an app, but at least it allowed me to install the apps without asking me for money. The apps installed just fine.
Ray says
I have an odd situation where I’m using a “work” account or Gsuite managed domain account for my BYOD Android Pixel 3. I use a work profile on the device and downloaded a bunch of apps on that profile. After you delete the work profile or rename username it will remove all those same apps from the device. The apps are still saved in the accounts play store library for manually installing again if I re enable the work profile or restore the username for the profile. However, if I choose to rename the profile, why can’t I just reinstall all the same apps again from the play store since it’s the same account? If that is not an option, what methods can I use to transfer all the apps to the new domain account? There must be a bulk way to do this without an MDM if you have various users being managed.
Ian says
I downloaded an app and when started having issues with the app, I tried to reach the developer or support team.
so I went to Google Play store>updates>installed >library. but still couldn’t find it. I even searched and browse.
Stormy says
So I have purchased Terraria on another account, after that I got my other phone, then I added the account that I purchased it with, but it still shows the amount of money needed to buy it.
Allena says
I downloaded Five Night’s At Freddy’s 2 and Sister Location on my oppo phone,when i tri3d to install it back on my One Plus it just showed the buy option.I already bought it on another phone on the exact same account, Minecraft is ok but the other two dont let me re install
Jesus Osuna says
No this did not help at all I did exactly everything it said to do and it still sends me to the “buy” button
Dave says
This did NOT help. I start Google Play, search for (and find) the app. There’s an “install” button that when hit presents me with the list of permissions it requires. I accept these and am presented with a “buy” window (I already had purchased it some time ago). If I hit the “buy” button it asks me for my login password. I provide the password and hit “confirm”. I’m then presented with an “Error” window – You already own this item with ONLY an OK button. Nothing else happens. If I hit the OK button, the window just goes away.
I’ve tried clearing cache and data for both the Google Play Store (version 15.3.14) and Google Play services (version 17.7.85). I’ve stopped the Google Play Store app, cleared the cache and data for both apps, shut down the tablet and started it up again. Nothing seems to help.
This is trying to get Mobile Sheets Pro (re)installed on my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T tablet running (Jelly Bean?) version 4.2.1.
Any suggestions?
Pym says
i have lenovo 4 10 tab and today i uninstalled my kindle for android app. now i go to my apps and games ,library and see that is was uninstalled so i click install and it just says downloading and this is going on for 30 minutes. please help
Cody says
How can I get my it’s sanandreas and bully mobile purchases back if I have a new phone with new emails and don’t remember the email or password from the account that I purchased them under
abbey says
No, I need help. I tried so many things. I am having the above problem, just got a new phone and facotey reset the old one, finally was able to log into my account after being locked out for having a device that Google didn’t recognize, and now none of my previously installed apps are visible on the play store, including my paid apps. Google play store shows nothing in my library from before the factory reset and I am on the same account, I have the emails of my previous purchases. I have no idea what to do, I uninstalled, reinstalled, cleared chache, checked the browser version of play store for the account, nothing is working. My library shows no apps before the reset.
Susan Dennison says
I purchased Photo Studio Pro a couple of years ago on my then Galaxy S5. I then got a galaxy s6 but it never worked, as it kept telling me I must have an amazon store to do so!!!? it does not show up in my library. How do I get it back on my new Galaxy S7 phone, that I will be getting in the next couple of days?