Several users are not able to download PhotoScan through Google Photos

For quite long, Google Photos users have complained of encountering an incompatibility error with PhotoScan in Google Photos.

If you are not familiar, PhotoScan is a separate app made by Google, which allows users to scan physical pictures. Google Photos has incorporated PhotoScan as a built in feature. In order to enable this feature in Google Photos, one has to download the app using Google Play. But, users report they get an incompatibility error when they try to download the PhotoScan app.

First reported on November 16, 2016 users still complain to face this error. Pixel XL and Nexus users note that the link to PhotoScan app on Google play either says “Your device is not compatible with this version”, “the app you purchased cannot be found” or “No eligible device for app install”. Whereas, for some users the app didn’t show up in play store.

A screen shot shared by one of the users clears the picture:

An expert from Google Products confirmed on November 29, 2016 that this is a device compatibility issue which Google is aware off.

“Some people are getting this error on larger screen devices such as the 6P or Pixel XL, however others have downloaded it without issue. The problem has been reported to Google”.

Furthermore, she suggested

“In the meantime, you can sideload it by downloading the app from the APK Mirror”.

There’s no update since then.

It is clear that PhotoScan incompatibility issue does bother large screen devices like Pixel and Nexus. Google despite being aware of it, is yet to entertain those troubled. Meanwhile, if you want to try some user-suggested workarounds that we have picked from multiple forums:

1. Clear cache and data of Google Play> Restart the device> Try to install Photo scan app again.
2. Go to Settings> Display> Change the screen size back to default> clear Google play cache> Reboot> Install the app
3. Sideload the app from APK mirror

Source 1| Source 2| Source 3 | Source 4