There Was a Problem Communicating with Google Servers – How to Fix It

Plagued by the message saying There was a problem communicating with Google servers error? Here’s what you need to know this Google services and how you can resolve it the easy way on your Android phone or tablet.

Back when Android OS was still in the works as an operating system for digital cameras, Google looked at the mobile platform and saw great potential. After acquiring the company along with the team of developers that created it, Google chose to power up the operating system with its very own suite of apps and services, that we now call Google Services Framework. Finalized around the year 2008, users were allowed to make the most out of the entire Google ecosystem of apps such as Google Docs, Gmail, Google Play Store, Google Play Music, and many others.

A decade later, Google has established a platform for Android smartphones and tablets, allowing users that let you do everything right from your Google account. But the convenience of having all of your apps and services tied down to a single account can be just as much of a nuisance as well. Users all across the board have reported issues when it comes to accessing their Google account from an Android device, with one of the common and recurring issues being the error message in regard to the Google servers that seems to pop up on the screen when trying to sign in.

Fix: There was a problem communicating with Google servers

The Google Services Framework is prone to errors of all shapes and sizes, owing to the millions of different devices with varying configurations on which it is offered. However, this specific issue is known to affect older Android devices, where users are unable to sign in to their Google account, thus barring them from using vital apps and services such as the access to millions of apps and games on the Google Play Store, but email services from Gmail and plenty of others apps too.

After reviewing the complaints on several forums that users from the Android community at large have posted, we’re sorting out the most popular answers to the problem and reviewing them for you. So if you’re among those who aren’t able to access their Google account on Android and the services that it brings with it, check out the solutions offered down below:

Solution No. 1 - Disable 2-Step Authentication

A few years ago, Google added an essential security feature to Android OS and the entire ecosystem of Google apps. The 2-Step Verification option is designed to be an added level of protection, which requires the user to enter a verification code alongside the account password. However, the 2-Step Verification feature has been noticed to be one of the culprits behind the issue that prevents users from successfully signing into their Google accounts on Android.

1. From the home screen of Android device, head over to the Settings app.
2. Scroll down to find the Google tab in the Settings menu.
3. Find the Security tab and then find the “Signing in to Google” section.
4. Here you should be able to see the 2-Step Verification option.
5. Tap the Turn off button and confirm your action.

Solution No. 2 - Remove and Add the Google Account

Since the issue is obviously pertaining to the Google account, it is a safe practice to remove the Google account and then try to add it back from the Settings menu.

1. From the home screen of your Android phone or tablet, head over to the Settings app.
2. In the Settings menu, scroll down to find the Accounts tab and open it.
3. Among the accounts installed on your device, scroll down to find the Google tab.
4. Select the Google account that you are having trouble with and tap on the Remove Account button.

Once you have removed the account, reboot your device and attempt to add the Google account to your Android device again.

1. From the home screen of your Android phone or tablet, head over to the Settings app.
2. In the Settings menu, scroll down to find the Accounts tab and open it.
3. Scroll down to find the Add account button and then select the Google icon.
4. Enter the username and password of your Google account and sign in to see if the issue of There was a problem communicating with Google servers error has been resolved.

Solution No. 3 - Clear Google Play Services Cache

Several users who have reported this issue of signing into their Google account, have reported it to be tied to the instance of signing into the Google Play Store. Since Google Play Services encompasses not just the Play Store app, but other Google apps as well, clearing the cached data of the Google Play Services app from the Settings can help you wash out any temporary files that might be causing issues signing in.

1. Head to the Settings app on your phone using the app drawer or the gear icon in the notification menu window.
2. Scroll down to find the Apps section in the Settings screen. The menu might also be named Application Manager on certain Android devices.
3. With the list of all the apps installed on your phone on the screen, scroll down to find Google Play Services app.
4. Press the Clear Cache button and confirm your action by pressing the OK button.
5. Head back to the home screen and reboot your Android phone to see if the issue has been resolved.

Solution No. 4 - Remove Root Access

Users who have unlocked the bootloader of their Android device and have root permission installed, have reported the issue of Google to sign up appearing. While the methods above should help you get back on track, but in some cases, removing the root access entirely may be the only way out. If you have SuperSU installed on your Android device, the ability to unroot is offered right in the app itself, and here’s how you can use it:

1. On your Android device, open the app drawer and find the SuperSU app.
2. Swipe to the right side to view the Menu screen.
3. Tap on the Settings menu on the top-right of the screen.
4. Select the Full unroot button, which should display a pop-up window asking you to confirm your action, so go ahead and press the Continue button.
5. Confirm the process to install the boot image by pressing the Yes button on the pop-up button.

Once the process is complete, your phone will reboot with the root access removed, after which you can try to sign in to your Google account to see if the issue has been resolved.

Solution No. 5 - Wipe Device Cache

Apart from the Google Play Services app, there are probably dozens of other apps on your Android device that make use of the Google framework to function. With temporary files stored by third-party apps as well, it can cause the issue of There was a problem communicating with Google servers error to surface. A sure shot way to clear out all the broken temporary files is to wipe the cache of the Android device, which can be done from the recovery menu:

1. Press and hold the Power button to turn off your Android device.
2. Once the device is turned off, simultaneously hold the Power button and Volume Up button until the screen boots up.
3. This will launch the stock recovery mode on Android give you the ability to wipe device cache.
4. Using the Volume buttons for navigation, move down to select Wipe cache partition and wait for the Android device to reset.
5. Once the device cache has been wiped, restart your Android device.

Solution No. 6 - Factory Reset Device

Just as always, when nothing else seems to do the trick, the final solution that works more often than not is performing a factory reset on the Android device.

1. Turn off your Android device, and then press and hold the Volume Up and Power button together simultaneously.
2. Release the Power button when the Android logo appears, but continue to hold the Volume Up button.
3. On the Android recovery screen, use the Volume Down button to navigate down to Wipe data/factory reset and press the Power button to choose it.
4. Use the Volume Down button to select Yes — delete all user data, and then press the Power button to confirm your action.
5. Wait for the reset to finish and then press the Power button when prompted with the message to Reboot system now on the screen.

Final Words

All of the important apps and services that you need to make the most out of your Android device are tied down to your Google account directly or indirectly. So when a problem bars you from accessing the Google account, you’re left high and dry without being able to use your phone at its full potential. Using the tried and tested methods that we’ve highlighted above, you can resolve the problems that you’re facing when trying to sign in to your Google account.

Were you able to resolve the issue with the Google Play Services and get past the error message that says There was a problem communicating with Google servers on your Android phone or tablet? If you know a way to resolve this issue that works and we haven’t mentioned it in the list of fixes already, be sure to highlight it, and for any other queries, be sure to reach out to us in the comments section right down below.