Why are my Google apps on my HTC One M8 crashing everytime I open them?

[AC Question]

Hello.
Recently, my phone has started acting really strange. Whenever I try to open Google related apps such as Chrome and Youtube, this appears "Unfortunately, _____ has stopped". Also, whenever I try to go on the Google Play Store, this error appears as well,
"Couldn't sign in
There was a problem communicating
with Google servers.
Try again later."
I press next at the bottom and then it just crashes on me.
I tried rebooting and hard resetting my phone but this problem still persists.
Whenever I restart the phone, the first things that pop up are notifications that apps
are crashing. It's so frustrating. I can't even use my default internet app. It doesn't crash but it says there's no internet connection which is BS.
I can't use internet or mobile data.
However, I'm able to call and text and take pictures.
This is getting me really frustrated and I would appreciate any help at all.
Thank you.

 

[srkmagnus]

A hard reset should have fixed the problem. Did you root and modify the device in some way? If so, then that could be the reason why. I would again try a factory reset and don't install apps/data from your account. Skip that part of the setup process and see if the problem re-occurs.

 

[stone h]

Thanks for responding.
I did hard reset it and it still has the error notifications.
When I bought my phone, it was already unlocked and unrooted.
This problem only started recently. I think it might have to do something with me touching the apps section in
settings or something. That's the only thing I remember doing that could have messed with the phone.