Develop Bugs

Google play services crashing

I have been happily running google services on my phone (fireos 3.6.8). However, Google released an update to Play Services (version 7.3) yesterday (4/15/2015), which crashes. Has anyone else started getting popups saying "Google Play Services has stopped" constantly? Does anyone have a workaround or does anyone know of a way to keep Play Services from updating automatically? I am able to reinstall 7.0.99, which works, but the app immediately downloads the update and installs itself automatically.

I am having the same problem. Installed the previous version but was automatically updated.

I'm also having the same problem and would like to find a workaround or a temp stop too keep these messages from popping up. It makes the phone nearly unusable.

works okay on 4.6.1
I had the same problem, suddenly play services was crashing continually. Just updated to FireOS 4.6.1, and google play services is no longer causing trouble. On the other hand, Google Play Store just hangs. I can downgrade to an older version that works, but it keeps automatically updating. So pick your poison: On 3.6.8 the services will crash, and on 4.6.1 the store will crash. I think the services crash was worse.

No troubles here with newest Services or Store on 4.6.1.

Thanks. I updated to 4.6.1 and everything is much better.

apo383 said:
I had the same problem, suddenly play services was crashing continually. Just updated to FireOS 4.6.1, and google play services is no longer causing trouble. On the other hand, Google Play Store just hangs. I can downgrade to an older version that works, but it keeps automatically updating. So pick your poison: On 3.6.8 the services will crash, and on 4.6.1 the store will crash. I think the services crash was worse.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try deleting all Google services,play store,account manager and framework and reinstall

Also noticed google play store wont load after update
Also Clash of Clans refused to open. Uninstalled everything google, and now clash opens but wont sync to my google+ account because I cant get google services to actually open, so I've lost all my progress.
All in all, happy its not giving me the stopped working message but irritated google services is acting so crazy. Also cant get gmail to open because of all this.

rich8511 said:
Also noticed google play store wont load after update
Also Clash of Clans refused to open. Uninstalled everything google, and now clash opens but wont sync to my google+ account because I cant get google services to actually open, so I've lost all my progress.
All in all, happy its not giving me the stopped working message but irritated google services is acting so crazy. Also cant get gmail to open because of all this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you uninstall and go back to the older version of google play services, none of the google apps will run. They REQUIRE the danged update.

Lots of folks using many different phones are having issues with the latest version of Google Services. Might not just be the Fire phone having issues then. My services is still 7.0.99 even after updating the OS. Play store still reports that's the latest version for me so maybe they froze the update. I think I may set that file to read only until this is sorted out.

after using my phone with the updated OS for a few days now, I've also experienced some more issues. some apps don't open or stall on opening such as Redfin and some open, but don't seem to work such as Pandora (opens, but music won't load).
anyone else?

Downloaded and installed this,
Google Play Store 5.4.12
still not working acts like it can't see phone
installed tab and if you try to install just spins.
worked yesterday made the mistake or resetting and trying again.

rbeavers said:
Downloaded and installed this,
Google Play Store 5.4.12
still not working acts like it can't see phone
installed tab and if you try to install just spins.
worked yesterday made the mistake or resetting and trying again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same thing here. I uninstalled play store and installed older version 4.1.10. I can then open up the store and update applications, but the next time I open Google auto updates (despite settings not to) it to the latest version that just spins on a white screen. At least this is a work around to keep other apps updated while we wait for a fix.

It looks like Google Play Services 7.3.29 was just released this morning. I have fireos 4.6.1 installed, my play services auto updated, and Play Store and Gmail now appear to work without hanging! Google hangouts still does not let me send messages.

Well, I spoke too soon. Play Store and Gmail open, but they don't refresh properly. That's frustrating.

I am not very technical, I did manage to sideload the play store with someone from this forum's easy to follow directions a few months back. That being said today I am having the issue with google services crashing non stop, can't load gmail and this phone is virtually useless because I have to keep replying 'ok' to the crash...
I'm on 3.6.8 and it says I'm up to date, no new updates to download ... how can I get the newer version of 4.6.1 so I can solve this crashing issue? I'd appreciate it if someone has easy to follow directions for the somewhat technically challenged... (me!)
I'm running it with T-Mobile's network and I'm in the USA.
I don't know what version google play services I use (or how to check for that matter).
Thanks!!

mjp123 said:
I am not very technical, I did manage to sideload the play store with someone from this forum's easy to follow directions a few months back. That being said today I am having the issue with google services crashing non stop, can't load gmail and this phone is virtually useless because I have to keep replying 'ok' to the crash...
I'm on 3.6.8 and it says I'm up to date, no new updates to download ... how can I get the newer version of 4.6.1 so I can solve this crashing issue? I'd appreciate it if someone has easy to follow directions for the somewhat technically challenged... (me!)
I'm running it with T-Mobile's network and I'm in the USA.
I don't know what version google play services I use (or how to check for that matter).
Thanks!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Updating wont help the google play store not working at lest for long.

same issue. don't see fire os update
Google play services crashing even after multiple uninstalls and updates. I don't see the fire OS update available for me yet, still showing 3.6.8 as the latest. Any ideas to try?

rbeavers said:
Updating wont help the google play store not working at lest for long.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks! Are you saying that even if I updated to the latest Fire OS I'd still get these 'Google play services has stopped' errors constantly? Also do you know if Google play store is having issues with other phones and OS's and if they are working on a fix? (it's so annoying.. can't get to gmail and the error is constant)... thanks everyone!

not just us
mjp123 said:
thanks! Are you saying that even if I updated to the latest Fire OS I'd still get these 'Google play services has stopped' errors constantly? Also do you know if Google play store is having issues with other phones and OS's and if they are working on a fix? (it's so annoying.. can't get to gmail and the error is constant)... thanks everyone!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
go look at google play services on the google play store. Everyone is having problems and giving it 1 star (including me). Multiple phones are having the issue:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.gms&hl=en

4.6.1 Bugs - Caused by Play Services

OK, I've been playing around with different combinations of Google apps and Play Services. My phone is the unlocked 32 GB version with the AT&T update installed. In order to get everything going, I reverted the Play Services back to 7.0.97. Now my Maps, GMail, Hangouts, Google Now, etc. all are working for me. Until it updates.
http://www.apk4fun.com/apk/43197/ - I can't vouch for this website BTW.
Just note that the first time I ran Google Settings it hung for about 30 seconds before coming up.

I haven't been able to get the Google Play Services to stick to the an old version. It will generally update itself to the latest version, breaking everything again.
That said, this workaround works until Google Play Services updates itself.

SanjiWatsuki said:
I haven't been able to get the Google Play Services to stick to the an old version. It will generally update itself to the latest version, breaking everything again.
That said, this workaround works until Google Play Services updates itself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm, I haven't seen that happen yet. I was running older versions of Play Services and Maps, which doesn't auto update (it asks you though). Might be one possible workaround, but it doesn't support Hangouts.
Edit: Spoke too soon, it updated and broke.

It seem that if I don't install the Play Store, Play Services won't update on its own. So I guess I can sideload apps for now.

I installed google with no issues on 4.6.1 att update. Some apps didnt function , such as google keyboard(the keyboard was offscreen)
Here are the apks, that I used to get google play working.

[Q] Snapchat for Fire OS 4.6.1

I recently sideloaded 4.6.1 for Fire Phone and got the necessary files for Snapchat, yet when I try to sign it, it does not sign in. It does not even load, the circle spins for infinity.
On the previous public OS, I had snapchat, but kept getting the Google Play services has stopped message, which is why I updated my phone. The message no longer appears, but I can't sign into Snapchat.
I updated my phone as of yesterday. Help??

Is there a reason you want the play store version as opposed to the amazon app store version? Some apps that are offered on both seem to misbehave unless you choose the amazon one.
Sent from my SD4930UR using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

matsnackson said:
Is there a reason you want the play store version as opposed to the amazon app store version? Some apps that are offered on both seem to misbehave unless you choose the amazon one.
Sent from my SD4930UR using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Since I have noticed the same, that some apps that are offered on both stores seems to misbehave unless you choose the amazon one, I think that is preferable to install the APPs from the Amazon APP Store...
However, I also have noticed that almost all the APPs updates first on the Google-Play-Store!

The app should update via the store it was downloaded from, amazon updates are specific for the amazon environment.
Sent from my SD4930UR using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Snapchat is not available on the Amazon App Store.
Can anyone offer some advice??

I don't mean to be rude or anything, but can someone please respond? Is anyone else having this issue?

Sorry for triple post, but I noticed the update on the play store makes the play store have a white screen? I kind of doubt it's connected to the snapchat issue

There's a bunch of threads about this issue already. There is a problem with the Google Play Service. Snapchat uses the Google Play Service so that's why it stopped working.
You can get Snapchat to temporary work by doing something like this:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=60266619&postcount=21
But it won't stay working forever since your Google Play Service will keep trying to update to the bugged one.

But I won't be able to even sign in because of the message "You need Google Play Services" will pop but, not allowing me to close it. Also, note that I am on 4.6.1, while that is a fix for 3.6.8
Has this been confirmed by anyone who's tried to use Snapchat?

JHowell1158 said:
But I won't be able to even sign in because of the message "You need Google Play Services" will pop but, not allowing me to close it. Also, note that I am on 4.6.1, while that is a fix for 3.6.8
Has this been confirmed by anyone who's tried to use Snapchat?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. I also have the same problem. I am also on 4.6.1.
I will say it again. There is a bug with Google Play Service right now. There's a bunch of threads about this right now. Snapchat only works if you are able to get an old version of Google Play Service with an old version of Google Play Store on your phone. There is some tricks to get your Google Play Service to not update which is mentioned in the other threads. If you have a white screen or the "You need Google Play Services" notice popping up, that means you have the latest version of Google Play Service which has the bug. It will not work on your phone until Google fixes this problem.

My apologies I could have sworn I saw that on there
Sent from my SD4930UR using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Got SnapChat working on 4.6.1 OS
Okay, I have no clue why what I did made everything work, but it did. I got SnapChat, YouTube, Hangouts, everything working on 4.6.1. I'll explain everything I did since I have no clue what exactly made it work, but I'll explain everything up to when it started to work.
1. First you'll need to download an app in the appstore called "Advanced Permissions Manager".
2. You wanna download the usual Account Manager > then Google Play Services 7.0.99 > then Google Services Framework > then Google Play Store 5.4.12.
3. As soon as you sign into Google Play Store, you wanna go into settings and turn off "App Installation" so the Google Services doesn't update.
4. Go on the app you downloaded in step one called "Advanced Permissions Manager", then go to All Apps > SnapChat > then uncheck "find accounts on the device" (located under "Your accounts").
5. Push Save & Re-Install. (May need to hit uninstall and install again on the window that might pop up, if nothing pops up then ignore these parenthesis.)
6. Hold the power button for about 5 seconds and hit restart.
7. Once you load back up and try SnapChat, it shouldn't ask you to update Google Services and will let you sign in as usual.
***I seen that doing this broke Google Play Store, but that's the only thing different I've noticed. You can always download 1mobile and get the apps you need afterwards off of there I'd assume.

Cole2266 said:
Okay, I have no clue why what I did made everything work, but it did. I got SnapChat, YouTube, Hangouts, everything working on 4.6.1. I'll explain everything I did since I have no clue what exactly made it work, but I'll explain everything up to when it started to work.
1. First you'll need to download an app in the appstore called "Advanced Permissions Manager".
2. You wanna download the usual Account Manager > then Google Play Services 7.0.99 > then Google Services Framework > then Google Play Store 5.4.12.
3. As soon as you sign into Google Play Store, you wanna go into settings and turn off "App Installation" so the Google Services doesn't update.
4. Go on the app you downloaded in step one called "Advanced Permissions Manager", then go to All Apps > SnapChat > then uncheck "find accounts on the device" (located under "Your accounts").
5. Push Save & Re-Install. (May need to hit uninstall and install again on the window that might pop up, if nothing pops up then ignore these parenthesis.)
6. Hold the power button for about 5 seconds and hit restart.
7. Once you load back up and try SnapChat, it shouldn't ask you to update Google Services and will let you sign in as usual.
***I seen that doing this broke Google Play Store, but that's the only thing different I've noticed. You can always download 1mobile and get the apps you need afterwards off of there I'd assume.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did everything you said, now when I go to log into Snapchat, it closes itself... better than infinite loading I suppose.

Play store issue fixed?!!

I just forced an update of the play store to version 4.6.17 with the latest buggy play services installed. Play store now working fine, can update and install software like before. Need to test some of the other bugs but at least I have a working Play store now on the latest version of the Fire OS.
Google Maps still not working for me now, just clocks trying to load location like before. My guess is they need to update the apps that have dependencies on the Play services to fix these bugs. Maybe the fix cant all be done in Play services.

Just an update. So far it seems that this version of the Play Store does not force an update to Play services when opened. I deleted the latest version of Play services and reinstalled the older version, and after several hours of going back into the Play store it has not updated. Now Maps and Pandora are back to working fine. So far everything is working and back to normal for me.

Xyth said:
I just forced an update of the play store to version 4.6.17 with the latest buggy play services installed. Play store now working fine, can update and install software like before. Need to test some of the other bugs but at least I have a working Play store now on the latest version of the Fire OS.
Google Maps still not working for me now, just clocks trying to load location like before. My guess is they need to update the apps that have dependencies on the Play services to fix these bugs. Maybe the fix cant all be done in Play services.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Xyth,
Thanks for the information and partial fix!
I currently have apparently the lalest Google-Play-Store v5.4.12 installed in both of my Fire Phones, and you said:
"I just forced an update of the play store to version 4.6.17 with the latest buggy play services installed"
Do you men, that we have to use the latest "buggy" Google-Play-Services v7.3.29 with the Google-Play-Store v4.6.17 an older version?
Please Could you post, if available, the download links of both files?

Sorry for the confusion. I found that using an older version of the Play Store (4.6.17) and the older version of Play Services (7.0.99) together seems stable and is not auto updating either version when using the Play Store. In the past, it always seemed to update both the Play store and the services when I used the store.
Sorry, i do not have an account to link the files, but they are linked in other threads on this forum.

Have u restarted ur phone to see if that did anything?

I have not rebooted if that's what you mean. I wanted to see if it remained stable for at least a day. I will reboot tomorrow and report.

Xyth said:
I have not rebooted if that's what you mean. I wanted to see if it remained stable for at least a day. I will reboot tomorrow and report.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please Xyth, let us know tomorrow how it works, after you reboot and restart again the Fire-Phone?

ulises.rodriguez said:
Please Xyth, let us know tomorrow how it works, after you reboot and restart again the Fire-Phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This combination survived a reboot
I rebooted and waited a while to see if anything was auto updated. No updates happened so it seems this combination is stable across reboots. Play Store can be used to install and update applications without Play services being updated.
At this point I don't have any issue with any applications I use not working properly, but I don't use Hangouts and others that might not like this combination. At least for now, The upgrade the android 4.4.4 is complete and stable. If anything changes I will post.
Again, the files used are:
1. com.google.android.gms version 7.0.99 (7099036) aka Google Play services
2. Google Play Store.apk version 4.6.17
Both should be available on this forum as that's where I got them. After work I can see if I can located them. I hope others can replicate this on their phone.

Hangouts is the one probably
Hi,
I have tried to not start Hangouts, and this keeps the play services from being updated.
Even though the play store got updated to the latest version it seems to work fine to install all new apps or update apps
The play services seems to stay at 7.0.99.
I tried to play with it .. if I open hangouts that is when the play services get updated and have to redo the uninstall install to get things working again.
IMO hangouts is the one which needs the updated play services and forces the update.
May be someone else can try and confirm this.

http://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google...ices-7-0-99-1809214-036-android-apk-download/
That is the link for Google Play Services 7.0.99.

ractar28 said:
http://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google...ices-7-0-99-1809214-036-android-apk-download/
That is the link for Google Play Services 7.0.99.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And the link for the version 4.6.17 of Play store can be found here: https://onedrive.live.com/?cid=73036323a69e3cf1&id=73036323A69E3CF1!1484&ithint=folder,.apk&authkey=!AIVXLFXAOWDeM0Q
Its been about 18 hours and so far neither Play store nor Play services have auto updated despite using play store 20+ times and a reboot. Seems very stable.

So just to confirm, you had the accounts manager and frameworks already and left them alone...then u uninstalled services and the play store and installed those two files you pointed to. First services and then play store. What Google apps do you currently use? I do use hangouts but I will avoid it to try your process.

Here's what I did to get the only app I cared about, which was Clash of Clans (which was stuck at a black screen upon opening since play store update):
Uninstall all Google stuff: the account manager, services framework, play services, play store, and clash of clans
Go through the usual process:
1. Install Account Manager
2. Framework
3. Play Services
4. Play Store
5. Open Play store, sign in, download clash of clans
6. Open clash of clans, it tells me I need to update play services
7. follow prompt, download and update play services
8. re-open clash of clans, connect to my account, download village
9. go out, uninstall play services, then install the 7.0.99 version from this thread
10. immediately uninstall play store and then when I opened clash, it still works
11. I tried rebooting phone to make sure it would still work. It still does.
12. cross fingers and hope it'll work forever.. I have vowed to not install the play store until it play services gets fixed
13. I have noticed in clash, I'm not connected to google+ or facebook, and I plan on leaving it this way
14. I have bluestacks and clash installed on my pc, and I noticed both pc and firephone villages are linked together and will update/save village everytime I play, which tells me firephone clash is still saving my data to the cloud
Hope this helps, if something breaks, I'll post followup

Xyth said:
And the link for the version 4.6.17 of Play store can be found here: https://onedrive.live.com/?cid=73036323a69e3cf1&id=73036323A69E3CF1!1484&ithint=folder,.apk&authkey=!AIVXLFXAOWDeM0Q
Its been about 18 hours and so far neither Play store nor Play services have auto updated despite using play store 20+ times and a reboot. Seems very stable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used ur files without using hangouts and it still updated. Not sure if it's cuz my phone connected to WiFi at some point...

I haven't had google play services update on me for the day. I'm using the newest play store with the working version of services installed. I was able to log into Google+ for clash of clans and other apps work properly now. I made sure I had hangouts uninstalled before I did any reinstallation because that seems to be the main culprit which updates services.
Don't install hangouts and don't open the play store after reinstalling services and everything should be working, until something forces an update

ddarkraven said:
I used ur files without using hangouts and it still updated. Not sure if it's cuz my phone connected to WiFi at some point...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you have play store installed when it updated?

I tried using the older versions of both play services and play store as mentioned in this post but both got updated in spite of having auto updates turned off. Thinking of getting new phones for me and my wife. We can't stand the amazon fire os ecosystem and can't afford to not have Google apps or services. (Feel bad being a hostage but that's the truth)

srismart said:
I tried using the older versions of both play services and play store as mentioned in this post but both got updated in spite of having auto updates turned off. Thinking of getting new phones for me and my wife. We can't stand the amazon fire os ecosystem and can't afford to not have Google apps or services. (Feel bad being a hostage but that's the truth)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well for the most part, once you install Nova Launcher (or launcher of choosing) and Google Apps, it isn't really much different from any other manufacture-skinned Android. But yeah not being able to reliably use Google Apps is pretty terrible. Especially if you're using a Fire Phone on a data-only plan and a GV # with Hangouts. Well I guess forwarding calls to another # like Talkatone might have to work for now.

Not sure if this is the reason my Play Store and Play services don't auto update when I open the play store but I have "allow non Amazon app installation" turned off. Makes sense if the play store made a request for and update that the Fire OS would block it with this option toggled.

Xyth said:
Not sure if this is the reason my Play Store and Play services don't auto update when I open the play store but I have "allow non Amazon app installation" turned off. Makes sense if the play store made a request for and update that the Fire OS would block it with this option toggled.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok I'm 4 hours in running this way and still good. Running hangouts also.
Update... spoke too soon. It's down now.

Google Services Issue

Hi there,
I left my phone on (i927, CM11, 4.4.4) when I was away and when I returned, I noticed that there are multiple error messages. They appear all the time, even after a reboot.
These are the errors I am getting:
Unfortunately, Google Play services has stopped.
Unfortunately, the process com.google.process.gapps has stopped.
Unfortunately, Google Services Framework has stopped.
Also, when I try to log into Google Play , it says Authentication Required and won't let me retry to login.
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Many thanks in advance!

azwindsor said:
Hi there,
I left my phone on (i927, CM11, 4.4.4) when I was away and when I returned, I noticed that there are multiple error messages. They appear all the time, even after a reboot.
These are the errors I am getting:
Unfortunately, Google Play services has stopped.
Unfortunately, Google Services Framework has stopped.
Also, when I try to log into Google Play , it says Authentication Required and won't let me retry to login.
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Many thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Go into settings apps and find and open Google play settings.
Try to uninstall updates of it then reboot and open Google play again.
#
Sent from my LG-H815 using XDA Labs

steadfasterX said:
Go into settings apps and find and open Google play settings.
Try to uninstall updates of it then reboot and open Google play again.
#
Sent from my LG-H815 using XDA Labs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Many thanks for the quick response! It seems that less errors are popping up, but they still do. Google Play still doesn't work.

azwindsor said:
Many thanks for the quick response! It seems that less errors are popping up, but they still do. Google Play still doesn't work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which gapps do you have inatalled?
Sent from my LG-H815 using XDA Labs

I also had this problem since the beginning of February IIRC. I figured out what happened with logcat: libgmscore.so crashes the gapps process due to an illegal instruction. Asus TF101 users also report this issue. That tablet uses a Tegra 2 SOC, like our phone, and it doesn't support neon instructions, which the latest versions of the Play Services apparently use without bothering to check for proper support in the CPU. So, at least for now, the solution is to downgrade and prevent updates to play services. See this thread for details: https://forum.xda-developers.com/ee...to-fix-crashing-google-play-services-t3557521
It's been working fine for me since I did that, but I'm kinda appalled that Google is so reckless.
Edit: the right variant for our phones, if you're still on a 4.0 ROM, is 034. You don't need a system app remover, just uninstall updates for Google Play Services.

Wr4i7h said:
I also had this problem since the beginning of February IIRC. I figured out what happened with logcat: libgmscore.so crashes the gapps process due to an illegal instruction. Asus TF101 users also report this issue. That tablet uses a Tegra 2 SOC, like our phone, and it doesn't support neon instructions, which the latest versions of the Play Services apparently use without bothering to check for proper support in the CPU. So, at least for now, the solution is to downgrade and prevent updates to play services. See this thread for details: https://forum.xda-developers.com/ee...to-fix-crashing-google-play-services-t3557521
It's been working fine for me since I did that, but I'm kinda appalled that Google is so reckless.
Edit: the right variant for our phones, if you're still on a 4.0 ROM, is 034. You don't need a system app remover, just uninstall updates for Google Play Services.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This sounds very promising, many thanks for sharing your experience and the fix! I will try it and post the results here.
I will also try to find out what gapps I have installed just in case.

Have this problem too
Wr4i7h said:
I also had this problem since the beginning of February IIRC. I figured out what happened with logcat: libgmscore.so crashes the gapps process due to an illegal instruction. Asus TF101 users also report this issue. That tablet uses a Tegra 2 SOC, like our phone, and it doesn't support neon instructions, which the latest versions of the Play Services apparently use without bothering to check for proper support in the CPU. So, at least for now, the solution is to downgrade and prevent updates to play services. See this thread for details: https://forum.xda-developers.com/ee...to-fix-crashing-google-play-services-t3557521
It's been working fine for me since I did that, but I'm kinda appalled that Google is so reckless.
Edit: the right variant for our phones, if you're still on a 4.0 ROM, is 034. You don't need a system app remover, just uninstall updates for Google Play Services.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had this problem too. I was running a custom ROM - Omni ROM 4.4. I also observed that everything was fine if I didn't update Play Services. However, some apps (eg current Gmail app) require it.
I have since gone back to stock ROM (ICS 4.0.4). The problem now is syncing issues. Not every Google service can sync. EG- Contacts, Keep, Calendar. _ they can't sync. WhatsApp and SwiftKey also cannot connect to my google account. That's where I'm at now. But at least, the phone is usable. It's the syncing problem that I was searching for a solution for and I saw this thread.

TheoFitchner said:
I had this problem too. I was running a custom ROM - Omni ROM 4.4. I also observed that everything was fine if I didn't update Play Services. However, some apps (eg current Gmail app) require it.
I have since gone back to stock ROM (ICS 4.0.4). The problem now is syncing issues. Not every Google service can sync. EG- Contacts, Keep, Calendar. _ they can't sync. WhatsApp and SwiftKey also cannot connect to my google account. That's where I'm at now. But at least, the phone is usable. It's the syncing problem that I was searching for a solution for and I saw this thread.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Late reply, but if you use Google Play services 10.0.84, as in the post I linked, sync will work again.

Update: According to this post, the issue will be fixed properly by Google soon. So get ready to delete those directories to allow Play services to update themselves.

use beta gps from here:
http://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google-inc/google-play-services/google-play-services-10-5-48-release/

Hi all, many thanks for all of your responses. I didn't get to try Wr4i7h's suggested fix, but updating Google Play to the latest version today has solved the problem!