Upgraded to cm12 nightly. Getting a "Google Play Has Stopped Working" message every 10 seconds

I had the same problem when I updated to CM12 from CM11. A popup every few seconds telling me that Google Play has stopped. I tried flashing GApps multiple times, but to no avail.

I discovered that the cause of this is that the Google Play Store was installed, not as a system app, but as a user app. I speculate that this happened when installing CM12 over CM11, and not as a fresh install (wiping in recovery then installing).

The easiest way to determine if the app is installed as a user or system app, is to go into the app drawer and tap and hold on the app. If you can uninstall the app (by the Uninstall text at the top of the screen. If you just see App info, then it's a system app. Also please don't try and uninstall the app), then it is a user app.

I assume you're on the latest nightly and have the correct GApps installed.

To fix the problem, here's what I did:

  1. Back up all your data using Titanium Backup, and make a Nandroid backup (optional, but highly recommended)
  2. Using Titanium Backup, tap on the Backup/Restore tab
  3. Scroll down until you find "Google Play Store"
  4. Tap and hold "Google Play Store" until a menu pops up
  5. Tap on the Convert to system app option. This should be at the bottom of the list under the SYSTEM ROM title
  6. When Titanium Backup is done, reboot your device
  7. Try to open the Play Store

If you get a dialog or notification in Titanium Backup telling you "Not enough free space on system ROM." then you'll have to install CM12 as a clean install:

  1. Boot into recovery (I have TWRP, so the instructions will be for TWRP. If you have a different recovery, please look up counterpart instructions for that recovery)
  2. Tap Wipe, and slide the Swipe to Factory Reset slider
  3. Go back to the "home screen" (don't know what else to call it) of the recovery
  4. Tap Install
  5. Select the CM .zip file
  6. Tap Add More Zips
  7. Select the GApps .zip file. Note: The GApps package must be installed after the ROM has been installed. If the GApps are installed before the ROM, it will not work.
  8. Slide the Swipe to Confirm Flash slider
  9. Tap Wipe cache/dalvik, and swipe to clear the Cache and Dalvik Cache (optional: the Cache and Dalvik Cache should already be wiped by the recovery when you flash a new ROM. Wipe it if you really want to.)
  10. Reboot your device
  11. Try to open the Play Store. If you still get
/r/cyanogenmod Thread