How to Fix Error Code 7 on Google Play

‍What Causes Error Code 7?

The root cause of Error Code 7 is that Google Play detects the item in question as already owned by the user. This situation commonly occurs with non-consumable purchases (such as subscriptions or one-time purchases) when previous transactions are not properly acknowledged or consumed. During testing, the error may persist if the same item is repeatedly tested without resetting ownership data or consuming the item, creating conflicts within the billing flow.

Understanding this can help developers clear ownership data or adjust purchase flow to avoid errors.

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Common Scenarios for Error Code 7 - Item Already Owned

This error is frequently encountered in the following situations:

1. Testing Subscription Renewals: Attempting to re-purchase an active or non-consumed subscription item.
2. Repeated Testing of Non-Consumable Items: Non-consumable items like lifetime access or premium features trigger this error when purchased multiple times in the same account.
3. Unconsumed Purchases: Consumable items that haven’t been properly consumed in the app’s code can show up as “already owned” on future attempts to purchase.
4. Cached Ownership Data: Device or app caches may store outdated ownership data, causing the Play Store to return this error.

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Step-by-Step Solutions for Error Code 7

Solution 1: Consume the Purchase Programmatically (for Consumable Items)

• Purpose: Marking items as consumed allows them to be re-purchased in future transactions.
• Steps:

1. In the billing API implementation, call the consumeAsync() method for consumable items.
2. Ensure the consumption logic is correctly integrated so that each item purchase is finalized in code.

• Result: Successfully consuming the item lets the Play Store recognize it as available for future purchase.

Solution 2: Query Purchase History and Handle Ownership

• Purpose: Ensures that the app retrieves the most recent ownership data, allowing it to adjust the purchase flow accordingly.
• Steps:

1. Implement a purchase history query in the Google Play Billing Library.
2. Check whether the item in question is already owned based on the purchase history.
3. Update the UI to reflect the item’s owned status, avoiding redundant purchase attempts.

• Result: This approach clarifies ownership for the app, preventing unnecessary purchases and resolving potential conflicts.

Solution 3: Clear Google Play Store Cache and Data

• Purpose: Removes cached ownership data on the device, which may show outdated purchase states.
• Steps:

1. On the testing device, navigate to Settings > Apps > Google Play Store.
2. Tap Storage and select Clear Cache and Clear Data.
3. Restart the Google Play Store and attempt the purchase again.

• Result: This clears any outdated purchase information and ensures accurate status detection.

Solution 4: Cancel or Refund the Subscription Manually (for Testing)

• Purpose: Removes active subscription status from the test account, allowing retesting without encountering the “already owned” error.
• Steps:

1. In the Google Play Console, navigate to Order Management.
2. Locate the subscription purchase and cancel or refund it manually.
3. Retry the subscription purchase in the test account.

• Result: This resets the ownership status in test environments, making it possible to simulate new purchase flows.

Solution 5: Create a New Test Account

• Purpose: Ensures a fresh testing environment without existing purchase history.
• Steps:

1. Create a new test account in the Google Play Console.
2. Add the account to your test users and log in with it on the testing device.
3. Run the purchase flow again using the new test account.

• Result: A fresh account prevents any conflicts from previous purchases, allowing clean testing conditions.

Conclusion

Error Code 7 - Item Already Owned, is typically a result of unhandled ownership data or incomplete consumption in the app’s purchase flow. By implementing the above solutions—consuming items, querying purchase history, clearing cache, canceling subscriptions, and using fresh test accounts—developers can effectively resolve this error and optimize user experience.

With Nami’s low-code solutions, developers can bypass these issues entirely, allowing Nami to manage in-app purchases and updates automatically, so you can focus on building your app without billing-related headaches. Discover Nami’s solutions at NamiML.

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