Hi all,
When buying your S2 in China, you while probably have the bad surprise to discover Google Play is not installed on the device.
Even by installing some .apk downloaded from the web doesn't solve the issue.
I managed to got mine working. Here's how i did.
I find the hint here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1351283
You'll need to Root your device first
Here's how it goes:
1) Install GoogleServicesFramework.apk
This seems to be the issue, as when you install it you can see the permissions Google requires, and pretty much says it can access ALL the data in your phone, even the private stuff. You've been warned. (what did you expect? it's still Google after all)
2) Install Google Play with any .apk you can find, as system app (see bellow):
Instructions (Thanks to Bandage)
-1. Transfer the .apk files to your Kindle Fire via PC / Mac (remember where you put them)
- 2. Open Root Explorer App, and navigate to the transferred .apk files
- 3. Select the GoogleServiceFramework.apk and install
- 4. When complete, click "Done" and return to the file location for Vending.apk
- 5. Long-press Vending.apk and select the "Move" option on pop-up menu
Navigate to /system/app folder
- 6. Change mount option from RO to RW (read-only to read-write)
Paste Vending.apk into the /system/app folder
- 7. Long-press Vending.apk and select "Permissions" from pop-up menu
Change permissions to match all other apps in this folder (rw-r--r--)
- 8. Install Vending.apk
- 9. Reboot device
3) Launch Google Play
You should now be able to input your account and login.
For the first login, you will probably need to turn on both Wifi and APN (also can try turning off Wifi and only use APN).
You can now browse the market, but still can not install any apps.
Final step: You'll need to send some e-mail to Google (go to google play web site -> help). Explain the problem, they need to allow Play to be used by your device.
Took me a couple e-mail to get it right. The google team was very kind open to help (unlike samsung).
Go ahead and install any app you want
I recommend starting by installing Market Unlocker (especially for those in China). It lets you get the market as if you where in another country.
Hope this has been useful.
And don't forget to press the Thanks button
I actually did this a while ago (I wanted to try it out first before sharing). So i may be forgetting some specific points. Let me know how it turns out for you so i can update this How To.
Cheers
Chewee
May the force be with you
Thanks!
I tried many other ways, but they just would not work on my I9100G!
Just now I have tried this simple method and it works perfectly.
For me the final step is not necessary.
Thanks again!
Thanks for the reply. I really appreciate.
Glad i could be of any help
I did add all google services on my chinese G in november, i basically have all google services working, including calendar sync, and still on stock GB.
What i did was to take all the google apps from CM and put them in the system app folder with correct permissions.
But i remember i did setup gmail sync before getting google market (now play store) to work correctly.
For the calendar, only the sync adapter is needed, do not replace other apps, it's not needed.
chewee133 said:
Hi all,
When buying your S2 in China, you while probably have the bad surprise to discover Google Play is not installed on the device.
Even by installing some .apk downloaded from the web doesn't solve the issue.
I managed to got mine working. Here's how i did.
I find the hint here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1351283
You'll need to Root your device first
Here's how it goes:
1) Install GoogleServicesFramework.apk
This seems to be the issue, as when you install it you can see the permissions Google requires, and pretty much says it can access ALL the data in your phone, even the private stuff. You've been warned. (what did you expect? it's still Google after all)
2) Install Google Play with any .apk you can find, as system app (see bellow):
Instructions (Thanks to Bandage)
-1. Transfer the .apk files to your Kindle Fire via PC / Mac (remember where you put them)
- 2. Open Root Explorer App, and navigate to the transferred .apk files
- 3. Select the GoogleServiceFramework.apk and install
- 4. When complete, click "Done" and return to the file location for Vending.apk
- 5. Long-press Vending.apk and select the "Move" option on pop-up menu
Navigate to /system/app folder
- 6. Change mount option from RO to RW (read-only to read-write)
Paste Vending.apk into the /system/app folder
- 7. Long-press Vending.apk and select "Permissions" from pop-up menu
Change permissions to match all other apps in this folder (rw-r--r--)
- 8. Install Vending.apk
- 9. Reboot device
3) Launch Google Play
You should now be able to input your account and login.
For the first login, you will probably need to turn on both Wifi and APN (also can try turning off Wifi and only use APN).
You can now browse the market, but still can not install any apps.
Final step: You'll need to send some e-mail to Google (go to google play web site -> help). Explain the problem, they need to allow Play to be used by your device.
Took me a couple e-mail to get it right. The google team was very kind open to help (unlike samsung).
Go ahead and install any app you want
I recommend starting by installing Market Unlocker (especially for those in China). It lets you get the market as if you where in another country.
Hope this has been useful.
And don't forget to press the Thanks button
I actually did this a while ago (I wanted to try it out first before sharing). So i may be forgetting some specific points. Let me know how it turns out for you so i can update this How To.
Cheers
Chewee
May the force be with you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
HI I followed the steps but at stage 3 after reboot I open google play it 'force closes' automatically. I cannot open play app. What may be the issue. This is Chinese phone, i also tried one of the market unlcker.. is there any specific version you can suggest ?
Ok now it opens google play and displays 'loading' but nothing appears. Funny that when I try to install it from website it says 'app will be sent/installed on your phone shortly' but nothing happens
I installed a market unlocker (some random one which configured my China phone for USA T-mobile - there are other countries i can configure for too)
Any guess what could be problem ?
It's not the right way!!!
It seems to work properly, but it may cause some problem, frequent FC for example. And some apps even can't work, such as Foursquare, which you can have a try.It's not only the Google Play but also the whole gapps that are not included in the Chinese ROM. The GoogleServicesFramework.apk and GooglePlay.apk are just part of it, so this problem can't be solved by simply installing some apks.
The right way is to download the right gapps from this page: goo.im/gapps and flash it from CMW.To do that, you must flash a kernel first, such as superatoms, lucir.
Or, you can simply root your phone and decompress that zip file and move it to your phone to the right folder.Never forget to fix the permission. You'd better do that through adb.
I can't agree with what you're saying. I have a chinese G and installed all google apps from Cyanogen wiki, with the exception of goggles, everything else work perfect ! Including Gmail with full sync, contacts with full sync,calendar with full sync, music working, books working etc ... Stock zcki1 rooted.
Sent from my GT-I9100G using XDA
Edit
Ta
Thanx for the walkthrough. I got the market working but can't download. Will be contacting Google help soon.
ICS 4.0.4
They just released the ICS 4.0.4 ROM for China, that one also does not have any of the GAPPS, in addition some
service providers actively block Google services so installing GAPPS will do no good unless you set up a VPN
chewee133 said:
Hi all,
When buying your S2 in China, you while probably have the bad surprise to discover Google Play is not installed on the device.
Even by installing some .apk downloaded from the web doesn't solve the issue.
I managed to got mine working. Here's how i did.
I find the hint here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1351283
You'll need to Root your device first
Here's how it goes:
1) Install GoogleServicesFramework.apk
This seems to be the issue, as when you install it you can see the permissions Google requires, and pretty much says it can access ALL the data in your phone, even the private stuff. You've been warned. (what did you expect? it's still Google after all)
2) Install Google Play with any .apk you can find, as system app (see bellow):
Instructions (Thanks to Bandage)
-1. Transfer the .apk files to your Kindle Fire via PC / Mac (remember where you put them)
- 2. Open Root Explorer App, and navigate to the transferred .apk files
- 3. Select the GoogleServiceFramework.apk and install
- 4. When complete, click "Done" and return to the file location for Vending.apk
- 5. Long-press Vending.apk and select the "Move" option on pop-up menu
Navigate to /system/app folder
- 6. Change mount option from RO to RW (read-only to read-write)
Paste Vending.apk into the /system/app folder
- 7. Long-press Vending.apk and select "Permissions" from pop-up menu
Change permissions to match all other apps in this folder (rw-r--r--)
- 8. Install Vending.apk
- 9. Reboot device
3) Launch Google Play
You should now be able to input your account and login.
For the first login, you will probably need to turn on both Wifi and APN (also can try turning off Wifi and only use APN).
You can now browse the market, but still can not install any apps.
Final step: You'll need to send some e-mail to Google (go to google play web site -> help). Explain the problem, they need to allow Play to be used by your device.
Took me a couple e-mail to get it right. The google team was very kind open to help (unlike samsung).
Go ahead and install any app you want
I recommend starting by installing Market Unlocker (especially for those in China). It lets you get the market as if you where in another country.
Hope this has been useful.
And don't forget to press the Thanks button
I actually did this a while ago (I wanted to try it out first before sharing). So i may be forgetting some specific points. Let me know how it turns out for you so i can update this How To.
Cheers
Chewee
May the force be with you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can someone please explain where and how to change permissions!
What permission are you talking about?
If you are talking about the root, their are a lot of threads talking about how to do it on xda, and all over the web.
chewee133 said:
Hi all,
When buying your S2 in China, you while probably have the bad surprise to discover Google Play is not installed on the device.
Even by installing some .apk downloaded from the web doesn't solve the issue.
I managed to got mine working. Here's how i did.
I find the hint here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1351283
You'll need to Root your device first
Here's how it goes:
1) Install GoogleServicesFramework.apk
This seems to be the issue, as when you install it you can see the permissions Google requires, and pretty much says it can access ALL the data in your phone, even the private stuff. You've been warned. (what did you expect? it's still Google after all)
2) Install Google Play with any .apk you can find, as system app (see bellow):
Instructions (Thanks to Bandage)
-1. Transfer the .apk files to your Kindle Fire via PC / Mac (remember where you put them)
- 2. Open Root Explorer App, and navigate to the transferred .apk files
- 3. Select the GoogleServiceFramework.apk and install
- 4. When complete, click "Done" and return to the file location for Vending.apk
- 5. Long-press Vending.apk and select the "Move" option on pop-up menu
Navigate to /system/app folder
- 6. Change mount option from RO to RW (read-only to read-write)
Paste Vending.apk into the /system/app folder
- 7. Long-press Vending.apk and select "Permissions" from pop-up menu
Change permissions to match all other apps in this folder (rw-r--r--)
- 8. Install Vending.apk
- 9. Reboot device
3) Launch Google Play
You should now be able to input your account and login.
For the first login, you will probably need to turn on both Wifi and APN (also can try turning off Wifi and only use APN).
You can now browse the market, but still can not install any apps.
Final step: You'll need to send some e-mail to Google (go to google play web site -> help). Explain the problem, they need to allow Play to be used by your device.
Took me a couple e-mail to get it right. The google team was very kind open to help (unlike samsung).
Go ahead and install any app you want
I recommend starting by installing Market Unlocker (especially for those in China). It lets you get the market as if you where in another country.
Hope this has been useful.
And don't forget to press the Thanks button
I actually did this a while ago (I wanted to try it out first before sharing). So i may be forgetting some specific points. Let me know how it turns out for you so i can update this How To.
Cheers
Chewee
May the force be with you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think I may need an 'idiots guide' to all this because I have no clue and no idea what flash and all thats means.... I brought my S2 online and had no idea it was coming from China and that it won't have Google Play on there.
I have tried the above steps but can't even get the 1st one right.. :/
I have tried downloading 'Google Service Framework.apk' from my phone and computer but everytime it tries to install it, it finishes by saying 'Application Not Installed'. Really getting very confused and need urgent help. Please can you let me know where I am going wrong? Many thanks.
Seems you didn't root your phone.
But before doing anything, you should learn a little bit what you are about to do. There are several threads on root issues, or guides for begginers.
Also, double check if you have the i9100 or i9100G version. It's important when you root.
Sent from my GT-I9100G using XDA
chewee133 said:
Seems you didn't root your phone.
But before doing anything, you should learn a little bit what you are about to do. There are several threads on root issues, or guides for begginers.
Also, double check if you have the i9100 or i9100G version. It's important when you root.
Sent from my GT-I9100G using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks very much. Its the i9100. I'll try that. I used to think I was good with phones but after reading all this, I don't actually know jack all about them, lol!
chewee133 said:
Seems you didn't root your phone.
But before doing anything, you should learn a little bit what you are about to do. There are several threads on root issues, or guides for begginers.
Also, double check if you have the i9100 or i9100G version. It's important when you root.
Sent from my GT-I9100G using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just wondering about kernel version number too. Mine says '2.6.35.7-I9100'. Does this seem right? Thanks
You are checking the android version. That's not what's important. What you need to check is to take the same kernel version and rom version called basedband version (may be the similar with the build number). For example i have the i9100gzcle2 version. There are some threads about this around here.
Sent from my GT-I9100G using XDA
chewee133 said:
You are checking the android version. That's not what's important. What you need to check is to take the same kernel version and rom version called basedband version (may be the similar with the build number). For example i have the i9100gzcle2 version. There are some threads about this around here.
Sent from my GT-I9100G using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have been a great help. Thank you SO much!
Help with some Apps after ICS
lorinkundert said:
They just released the ICS 4.0.4 ROM for China, that one also does not have any of the GAPPS, in addition some
service providers actively block Google services so installing GAPPS will do no good unless you set up a VPN
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Guys help me here plz.. I have a couple of issues,and cant find relevant info.
Background. I am usgin SGS2-I9100G (Chinese) flased with ICS 4.0.4 (baseband-I9100GZCLPG/kernel-3.08 [email protected] #2) (rooted with temp CWM)
1.Followed the above to get Google play working. Installed Market enabler (dint help much, just says market configured to t-mobile USA but still google play website shows China-unicom) I am not able to install many apps because of this
-Google My tracks
-FX currency converter
many others that I would like to use alternative apps are also giving same issue.
2.I am not able to get google account in the contacts. When I go into
Contacts > Properties > accounts> Add accounts I see only skype, tango, whatsapp. The same under "add accounts" It is not listing google. Is it supposed to in first place ?
if yes how can I get it?
3.I am not able to install Viber and Voxer even with Apk. It keeps saying "Application not installed" They both dint work on GB too.
---------- Post added at 04:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:50 PM ----------
toctan said:
It seems to work properly, but it may cause some problem, frequent FC for example. And some apps even can't work, such as Foursquare, which you can have a try.It's not only the Google Play but also the whole gapps that are not included in the Chinese ROM. The GoogleServicesFramework.apk and GooglePlay.apk are just part of it, so this problem can't be solved by simply installing some apks.
The right way is to download the right gapps from this page: goo.im/gapps and flash it from CMW.To do that, you must flash a kernel first, such as superatoms, lucir.
Or, you can simply root your phone and decompress that zip file and move it to your phone to the right folder.Never forget to fix the permission. You'd better do that through adb.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
@toctan can you plz help me with this.. which folder do u mean when you say "the right folder" ?? I am running ICS and my phone is rooted.
shivaraman said:
Guys help me here plz.. I have a couple of issues,and cant find relevant info.
Background. I am usgin SGS2-I9100G (Chinese) flased with ICS 4.0.4 (baseband-I9100GZCLPG/kernel-3.08 [email protected] #2) (rooted with temp CWM)
1.Followed the above to get Google play working. Installed Market enabler (dint help much, just says market configured to t-mobile USA but still google play website shows China-unicom) I am not able to install many apps because of this
-Google My tracks
-FX currency converter
many others that I would like to use alternative apps are also giving same issue.
2.I am not able to get google account in the contacts. When I go into
Contacts > Properties > accounts> Add accounts I see only skype, tango, whatsapp. The same under "add accounts" It is not listing google. Is it supposed to in first place ?
if yes how can I get it?
3.I am not able to install Viber and Voxer even with Apk. It keeps saying "Application not installed" They both dint work on GB too.
---------- Post added at 04:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:50 PM ----------
@toctan can you plz help me with this.. which folder do u mean when you say "the right folder" ?? I am running ICS and my phone is rooted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi shivaraman.
I'm not sure i understand exactly what is your problem. Do you have Play installed? Can you install some apps with it? If yes, you're all good.
Market enabler is only going to help.you once you get Play working correctly. Market Enabler doesnt fix Play. It only simulate you are from another country, as if you changed your sim card.
I figured out this methode using android 2.3.6. There is no guaranty it works on ICS. I would suggest trying swiching back to 2.3.6 (if possible, it might be the hatdest part) and try the methode again. Play stays installed when upgrading to 4.0.4
A lot of apps are blocked due to the chinese ROM. Seem the bootloader is posing the problem and is locked. I still didnt find any solution for that. A couple month ago Odia started posting he may had a solution. But he never told what it was.
Sent from my GT-I9100G using xda app-developers app
I have installed the apps such as Adfree and Adaway on my rooted 4x phone, I find that these apps not working properly. Because I restart the device for taking effect of the local hosts file, all previous setting still remains unchange as same as before. I have read some article that state if the security mode is on (e.g. HTC phone), it will make disable for these apps. For now, what can I do? or how can make the security mode off on my device?
hosamuel01 said:
I have installed the apps such as Adfree and Adaway on my rooted 4x phone, I find that these apps not working properly. Because I restart the device for taking effect of the local hosts file, all previous setting still remains unchange as same as before. I have read some article that state if the security mode is on (e.g. HTC phone), it will make disable for these apps. For now, what can I do? or how can make the security mode off on my device?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try Airblocker for the notification ads, it works great at mine, and i always used Adfree
Hi All,
Need help with resolving the issue on my rooted phone not allowing any settings to be persisted.
I rooted my Moto X 2013 XT1053 using the below guide: (still on stock rom)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-x/general/how-to-how-to-root-5-1-unlocked-t3140217
Issues:
App settings are lost after reboot/restart
Cant save settings for most apps (whatsapp, ES Explorer, Uber, CF.Lumin etc..)
Cant recieve or send attachments in whatsapp
Behaviour observed: - Most issues are observed on apps that are updated or are not system apps.
ES File Explorer File Manager - I have the old free version of it installed and it can store its settings without any problem. But if I install the latest version, it cant save any settings and cannot do any write operations. CF.lumin - save the settings but looses them when ever I restart/reboot my phone. WhatsApp - downloads backup, and allows regular chats, but cannot download or upload any attachments. And looses all configuration when phone is restarted. have to start form scratch and reconfigure my account each time.
I have searched for a while now to resolve this issue, installed FolderMount, Mount /System RO/RW, edited the platform.xml file... but none resolved the issue.
Can some one please help me with a working solution that I might have missed.
Thanks,
aquaboyin
Is this the way it"s supposed to work ? On MM's Modules page, pressing the yellow + FAB goes straight to DropBox, rather than presenting a standard file picker. This is on my S5. It gives a file picker on my J3.
Also, Magisk Manager will crash if DB is not installed.
MM does have all the permissions that it asks for.
[update] It appears that my S5 doesn't <i>have</i> a file manager, so Magisk is just invoking whatever it sees as a File Manager. I've now installed Total Commander and it all works sanely now.
As far as I know, the Manager uses whatever file explorer you have as default... Check if you have the Dropbox app set for some default setting.
Didgeridoohan said:
As far as I know, the Manager uses whatever file explorer you have as default... Check if you have the Dropbox app set for some default setting.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. It's not that. DB isn't set as the default for anything. I've just updated to 16.7ß and this odd behavior remains.
How do I check for what the default FM is ? None of my other apps do this when picking a file
Ah. It appears I didn't have a file manager at all! Do you really need a whole file manager app just for a file picker dialog ? Anyway, I pointed it at TC, and all is OK now.
samsung note 8 system applications can not be updated to the new version from the apk file (the original manufacturer file from apkmirror) the system shows the application not installed without any information about the error. It does not install any updates from Samsung Apps. My applications - empty, does not detect anything. Same Google Play. For example, the camera version 7.62.2 in the phone, and the new one is 8.50, you can not update it, so do the other system.
How to add News Republic to Bixby screen.
Note8 SM-N950FXXU5CRHA Android 8.0 Samsung Exp. 9.0. No root. Fully Stock from fabric.
No idea what you are trying to say honestly. Are you unable to update phone ?
when i run apk file and want update installed application form apk file, android show me shows the application not installed without any information about the error. When i check updates in Samsung Apps /My Apps/Update- it does not install any apps- white screen.
Cannot update any system app from file allways see :this apk not installed. I change any settings and any privilege to app and nothing.
Odin modd and reinstalled system not helped me.
Sorry for previous message is haotic.
2.how add News Republic to bixby screen to reading news.
sandeepkumar0153 said:
No idea what you are trying to say honestly. Are you unable to update phone ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He meant, some of the Samsung system apps doesn't show updates available in the Galaxy Apps store or Play Store. There are updates to certain apps, like the camera and dialer on APK Mirror, but when you download them and try to install them, it gives an error and says the app wasn't installed. That is his issue, that he can't update some of his apps.
HTCCM11/2 said:
when i run apk file and want update installed application form apk file, android show me shows the application not installed without any information about the error. When i check updates in Samsung Apps /My Apps/Update- it does not install any apps- white screen.
Cannot update any system app from file allways see :this apk not installed. I change any settings and any privilege to app and nothing.
Odin modd and reinstalled system not helped me.
Sorry for previous message is haotic.
2.how add News Republic to bixby screen to reading news.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some of the apps you're trying to update, like the camera, can't be updated by side-loading or downloading an APK, because it's a system app. You can't update system apps. In the case of the camera, I wouldn't want to update that anyway, because even though it's a higher version, it's not necessarily meant for the Galaxy Note 8, because the "newer" versions remove the ability to use the optical 2x zoom, which I'm sure isn't supposed to happen. I think those are updated camera APKs for different models, maybe like the A- or J-series.
What you could do, if you are rooted, is to just replace the system APKs with the updated ones you downloaded, but I wouldn't recommend that, because sometimes the updates to system apps might also depend on updates to other library files which you don't get with the APK or can't download and then might cause some problems and issues.
As far as your question about Bixy and News Republic: I have no idea. I don't use Bixby, so I don't even know how it works.
HTCCM11/2 said:
when i run apk file and want update installed application form apk file, android show me shows the application not installed without any information about the error. When i check updates in Samsung Apps /My Apps/Update- it does not install any apps- white screen.
Cannot update any system app from file allways see :this apk not installed. I change any settings and any privilege to app and nothing.
Odin modd and reinstalled system not helped me.
Sorry for previous message is haotic.
2.how add News Republic to bixby screen to reading news.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For the 2nd question, have you tried opening Bixby, go to Settings, then go to Cards, then ensure news republic is toggled on (assuming it's installed on your phone in the first place)?
no is not working that, i not see this app in screen.
HTCCM11/2 said:
no is not working that, i not see this app in screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm if you have the app installed and it doesnt show up there in Bixby, then maybe that app is not compatible with Bixby yet?