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Sharing my experience with a Chinese version Mate 20 Pro

So I finally received my Chinese version Mate 20 Pro Emerald variant and I spent the last 24 hours setting it up, now it's finally getting into a more or less stock android feeling. I decided to write a post because man, I've never spent so much effort just trying to setup a new phone.
Ordering
I ordered the phone from Huawei T Mall store on Nov. 11th. I paid about 1250 CAD through Alipay for the phone and ~ 600 RMB having my friend sending it to me via DHL. I also had to pay some import tax getting it into Canada but it's just bad luck, plus the tax really depends on how much you declare the value to be.
First Impression
I had a Oneplus 5, I like the cleanness of its ROM, it's close to stock android and I was using the Rootless Pixel 2 Launcher which makes it essentially a stock Android device. The Mate 20 Pro is a bit heavier than the Oneplus 5 and it's just slightly bigger.
I started with applying the tempered glass screen protectors I bought also from Taobao when I ordered the phone. Sadly I can't seem to get it in the right place, and it's greatly affecting the screen responsiveness and accuracy. I ended up throwing them away.
Turning it on, and I'm already having issue with the initial setup process. First of all, I was asked to create a Huawei ID. But guess what -- I live in Canada but Canada isn't an available option in the region list, somehow US is. I mean, this phone is not even available in US, why would you provide that as an option but not Canada?
I went ahead choosing US as the region. It asked for phone verification, that worked for me because US and Canada share the same country code.
After that, I uninstall a bunch of pre-installed apps -- they are mostly popular apps in China, plus a few useless utilities made by Huawei. I uninstall about 25 apps during this process.
Then I tried to restore all my apps from the old phone, first step would be getting Google Play Service working. Surprisingly Google Play Service is pre-installed. but I wasn't able to update it through the Huawei App Store, because US Huawei ID apparently is not supported. In fact I can't use any of the pre-installed Huawei apps, they are all blocked. So I deleted my account and created a Chinese one instead.
I was able to access the app store and update Google Play Service, along with Play Store. Google backup apparently didn't work. I ended up using the Huawei "Phone Clone" app to transfer all my stuff to this phone. It does the job pretty well.
Getting third party launcher working on Chinese ROM (If you have a global version then this may not apply to you)
Spent sometime getting all the apps logged in and tweaking settings, I started to look into replacing the stock launcher. But then you can't change launcher on the Chinese rom, so I did some research and here is what I did:
1. Install a third party launcher. I chose Nova Launcher here. Never used it before but Rootless Launcher kept crashing and for Rootless Pixel 2 Launcher, there is an annoying security alert saying "Google is using microphone" that kept popping up.
1. Enable developer mode
2. Enable USB Debug
3. Connect the phone to PC
4. Access ADB shell
5. uninstall stock launch: pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.huawei.android.launcher
6. Reboot
A few notes on using this 3rd party launcher hack:
* I also installed the Nova companion app to have Google Feed panel access.
* You need to allow Nova companion to auto-launch in Settings -> Apps -> App Launch, otherwise rebooting the phone will make Google Feed panel disappear.
* If you select gesture navigation in system setting, swiping up from bottom may not work.
Getting Google Assistant to work
The phone has the Huawei voice assistant by default, and changing the default Assistant app to Google doesn't work. The shortcut still only bring up the Huawei voice assistant. The fix is to uninstall the app using the same process above. The package name is com.huawei.vassistant. After reboot, I was able to access Google Assistant using the home button (I still prefer three key navigation). "OK Google" doesn't work on Home screen though.
Make sure push notifications are working
I also noticed I don't receive push notifications most of the time. For example, I have Duo Mobile which is used as an authenticator at work. Having the screen on, I didn't receive the push notification. I had to launch the app manually to see the authentication request. Here is a workaround:
1. Settings -> Apps -> App Launch
2. Find the app you wish to receive push notification
3. Disable auto manage, it will ask you how you want to manage manually, choose Auto-launch and Run in Background at least
Known Issues/Todo list
Here are some of the things that I'm having issue with but haven't figured out a solution yet. Please let me know if you know a solution to any of them:
1. Google Pay Contactless does not work. This is almost a deal breaker. From what I've read, it seems to be just Chinese version doesn't work.
1. LastPass accessibility setting gets reverted to off randomly. This seems to related to when I close all apps using the trashcan button on recent apps screen.
2. Default Assistant app setting mysteriously gets reset to None. Still don't understand why.
3. Text in the notification just look so bad. Also not sure how to tweak that.
4. The security alert for app using microphone keeps popping up in Google Assist and Google Feed. I'm not sure how I should feel about that...
Things I like about this device
1. Chinese version supported dual SIM. I believe the global version does not.
2. photos in low lights are awesome.
3. charging is super fast! I also got the wireless charging thing.
4. I'm happy with its battery performance so far.
5. It's a faster device overall. The games I play run smoother on this phone comparing to Oneplus 5. I understand OP5 is an older phone but that's the only reference point I got.
That's what I had so far. I'm also keeping an eye on the progress of FunkyHuawei Mate 20 Pro support -- I'm looking forward to flash the global version ROM hoping it has better google integration and less chinese-oriented useless "features".
Hope it helps!

Thanks for sharing

Does the device show as being certified in the Google Play Store? If not, this would probably explain why contactless via GP doesn't work

Minotaur said:
Does the device show as being certified in the Google Play Store? If not, this would probably explain why contactless via GP doesn't work
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it shows as certified in playstore.

henexekrar said:
Yes it shows as certified in playstore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmmm interesting... is there an error message or such that might indicate why GPay doesn't work?

Minotaur said:
Hmmm interesting... is there an error message or such that might indicate why GPay doesn't work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
when attempting to enable contactless, the following messages appear in order:
contacting your bank...
your bank is verifying your card...
added feature cannot be setup. contact your bank to resolve this issue.
I called the bank and they said they didn't get the request so they don't know what error it is.
I contacted Google and haven't got a response.

Did you already have the card in your GPay wallet, and were re-verifying, or did you add it from scratch? Guessing it may not make a difference though.

Minotaur said:
Did you already have the card in your GPay wallet, and were re-verifying, or did you add it from scratch? Guessing it may not make a difference though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had the card in the wallet for a long time. Used it with my old phone without issue.

Does it support Band 66? Thanks
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I was in China last week and almost bought the Mate 20 Pro. After reading many reviews I decided to not buy the Chinese Version and pay a little more to get the Google version from Hong Kong

Any updates?
Were you able to find any way to get LastPass working properly?
Accessibility features keep resetting for me right away.

Hi, have your version finger-id? I bought a mate 20 pro red in aliexpress but i can't find the finger-id......

John_nl_74 said:
Hi, have your version finger-id? I bought a mate 20 pro red in aliexpress but i can't find the finger-id......
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The LYA-AL00 with 6 GM RAM and 128 GB storage has no fingerprint sensor. It only uses face, pattern, and password unlock.

Google Pay doesn't work after removing stock Apps from MIUI

Hi all...I have a little big problem...
Yesterday I started to remove the applications that come by default in MIUI and can not be uninstalled...I did it using MTKdroidTools. The fact is that I started to delete Apps like a crazy man and now I find a problem...I do not know what I uninstalled and what not, but now Google Pay does not work for me. The App is apparently perfect, but when I try to pay it's as if it doesn't work. It's not NFC because I try with other App Bank and I can make payments, but with Google Pay (in which I have another card) does not work. It's as if it didn't detect that the mobile wants to pay.
Do you have any idea what service or app I could uninstall that doesn't work?
The truth is that I don't have the slightest idea what it might have been...
I suppose that if I don't find a solution I will have to restore the phone from the factory...I hope that way all the services and default applications will be reinstalled. I don't have my phone rooted and the bootloader is lock.
Greetings and thanks.

Use HCE Wallet as payment method. If you use eu rom reflash it without delete nothing, it will work

[SOLVED] How to make Google Pay recognize terminal in stores

Hello,
It has been a week and I did not succeed to make Google Pay work. I gave all the possible permissions to the app, enabled autostart, removed MIUI battery restrictions, reinstalled the app...
When I approach my office pass or my credit card, the phone vibrates and propose to open apps such as Mi Wallet or NFC Tag Reader. It means that it is working and recognizes NFC tags from any screen on my phone.
But when I hold it above a terminal in a store to pay with Google Pay, nothing happens, even if I launched Google Pay.
Has anyone succeeded to make it work ? If someone succeeded I think I will simply go with a hard reset.
Cheers everyone
SOLVED:
Had to
Go to Settings → More and set Default wallet to Use HCE Wallet
Go to Settings → More → Tap & pay and set Payment default to Google Pay

Question Fully disable assistant?

I just got my Pixel 5a yesterday and immediately am annoyed by the Google stuff. I installed the Nova launcher but still get thrown back to the Pixel launcher or tossed into various assistant screens all over the place. Is there any way to truly turn this stuff off via normal settings? I don't really want to root or get custom firmware, but I despise these forced integrations between everything.
I don't want anything launching of its own volition or because I accidentally touch or look at the phone. I just want the apps to launch when I click them, the 3-button navigation to let me switch between tasks, and a simple homescreen to hold widgets and shortcuts I choose. The first reason I don't want the Pixel launcher is because it doesn't' let me remove the stupid search bar, but I also don't want any of the other hidden and implicit triggers that tie into the assistant.
I also find it annoying that the home button opens some search if I touch it while already on the home screen. Is this coming from the assistant too? I didn't yet find any settings in Nova to adjust the buttons.

I'm with you here. Installed Nova for the exact same reason as you. I do this next thing on all my Android phones: GO to settings > Apps & notifications > see all apps > Google = DISABLE... o some phones it can be uninstalled!
Personally I also disable "Google Play Services for AR" but that is personal choice. I also disable a number of other apps that I know I do not want/use.
I suppose I could use ADB to try and uninstall them, but once they're disabled that is usually good enough. The first one though, Google being disabled, "should" remedy all your issues. I too use the three button navigation and hate ALL assistants!

There's a program on here called 'adpappcontrol' that's great for removing anything you want via ADB.
It's basically just a gui for the command line program. It's worked great for me on at least three phones.
[TOOL] ADB AppControl 1.8.0 🚀 Ultimate App Manager & Debloat Tool + Tweaks
ADB AppControl 🚀 Root is not required. Works with any Android device. Can do almost everything you dreamed about with applications. ADB AppControl - the desktop program, that will allow you to easily manage applications on your android device...
forum.xda-developers.com
Highly recommend. Make sure you tip the dev, since he does it in his spare time.

jaseman said:
I'm with you here. Installed Nova for the exact same reason as you. I do this next thing on all my Android phones: GO to settings > Apps & notifications > see all apps > Google = DISABLE... o some phones it can be uninstalled!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I could have sworn I already did that, but just checked and it is enabled. Has yours stayed off? Would the automatic Google Play app updates cause this to be reenabled?

I also now found the Nova setting Gestures -> Home Button that was causing this other search to appear if I press the home button when already on the home screen. Setting it to None with the checkbox still set for Only on main home page seems to give me what I want there...

lightuser said:
I could have sworn I already did that, but just checked and it is enabled. Has yours stayed off? Would the automatic Google Play app updates cause this to be reenabled?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine has stayed disabled. I can't speak to whether auto updates may have reenabled it. I always turn auto updates off. I like to see what is being updated on my phone.

jaseman said:
Mine has stayed disabled. I can't speak to whether auto updates may have reenabled it. I always turn auto updates off. I like to see what is being updated on my phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
they wont turn it back on but i have found in the past that sometimes with a os update they will re-enable.

Question Questions about Vivo and OriginOS

I’m thinking about ordering a Vivo X Fold and just had a few questions about the OS.
1. How are the notifications? Are they received normally or would I need to fiddle with the settings to get them right?
2. Can I use the Google Messages app or do I need to use Vivo’s stock messaging app? I tried the Oppo Find N and they force us to use their stock app. So, I returned the phone.
3. Google Pay? Does it work properly?
4. The launcher, would I be able to change it?
5. Smartwatches. Would I be able to use a WearOS or Galaxy Watch on it?
Any help would be much appreciated.
Thanks!

azim.esmail said:
I’m thinking about ordering a Vivo X Fold and just had a few questions about the OS.
1. How are the notifications? Are they received normally or would I need to fiddle with the settings to get them right?
2. Can I use the Google Messages app or do I need to use Vivo’s stock messaging app? I tried the Oppo Find N and they force us to use their stock app. So, I returned the phone.
3. Google Pay? Does it work properly?
4. The launcher, would I be able to change it?
5. Smartwatches. Would I be able to use a WearOS or Galaxy Watch on it?
Any help would be much appreciated.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't have an answer but I'm also interested to know because I want to take the vivo x fold

Basing on previous devices (Vivo X70 pro plus) :
1) Notification: you have to set applications rights correctly as Chinese devices usually kill apps to save battery
2) Google message no problem
3) Google Pay works
4) You can change the launcher but you have to create a Vivo account
5) WearOs works if you install it from Vivo account Store, the one from Google Play Store doesn't work. Google Pay from the watch doesn't work.
Thinks that don't work:
- Android Auto
- Google backup
- OK Google voice activation
- Maps location history

maxant69 said:
Basing on previous devices (Vivo X70 pro plus) :
1) Notification: you have to set applications rights correctly as Chinese devices usually kill apps to save battery
2) Google message no problem
3) Google Pay works
4) You can change the launcher but you have to create a Vivo account
5) WearOs works if you install it from Vivo account Store, the one from Google Play Store doesn't work. Google Pay from the watch doesn't work.
Thinks that don't work:
- Android Auto
- Google backup
- OK Google voice activation
- Maps location history
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! What about the Galaxy Wearable app? I have a Galaxy Watch4. I don’t mind buying a new watch, but I’d prefer not to.

maxant69 said:
Basing on previous devices (Vivo X70 pro plus) :
1) Notification: you have to set applications rights correctly as Chinese devices usually kill apps to save battery
2) Google message no problem
3) Google Pay works
4) You can change the launcher but you have to create a Vivo account
5) WearOs works if you install it from Vivo account Store, the one from Google Play Store doesn't work. Google Pay from the watch doesn't work.
Thinks that don't work:
- Android Auto
- Google backup
- OK Google voice activation
- Maps location history
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, and would you be able to tell me if Microsoft "Link to Windows" app works so I can link my phone to my laptop??

azim.esmail said:
Thanks! What about the Galaxy Wearable app? I have a Galaxy Watch4. I don’t mind buying a new watch, but I’d prefer not to.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't know

azim.esmail said:
Oh, and would you be able to tell me if Microsoft "Link to Windows" app works so I can link my phone to my laptop??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It works

maxant69 said:
It works
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wonderful,
Thank you.

i have all my notifications working good you need to debload some apps via adb (i only kill battery saver app) all sound but still have problems with notifications on lockscreen(just show up and disapear after 1 or 2 seconds)

Feralt 91 said:
i have all my notifications working good you need to debload some apps via adb (i only kill battery saver app) all sound but still have problems with notifications on lockscreen(just show up and disapear after 1 or 2 seconds)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
but when you unlock the phone you see the notifications anyway?
do you know if wear os for connected watches works?

maxant69 said:
Basing on previous devices (Vivo X70 pro plus) :
1) Notification: you have to set applications rights correctly as Chinese devices usually kill apps to save battery
2) Google message no problem
3) Google Pay works
4) You can change the launcher but you have to create a Vivo account
5) WearOs works if you install it from Vivo account Store, the one from Google Play Store doesn't work. Google Pay from the watch doesn't work.
Thinks that don't work:
- Android Auto
- Google backup
- OK Google voice activation
- Maps location history
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Having the same problem with Google Pay on wearOS not working when connected to my chinese rom phone (Oppo Find N) - does anyone know why and if they can think of any workaround?

findnuser said:
Having the same problem with Google Pay on wearOS not working when connected to my chinese rom phone (Oppo Find N) - does anyone know why and if they can think of any workaround?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No way, security reason.

maxant69 said:
No way, security reason.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What's the security reason, it works fine on the phone so why not the watch?

findnuser said:
What's the security reason, it works fine on the phone so why not the watch?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because you use WearOs from Vivo Store and not from Play store

maxant69 said:
Basing on previous devices (Vivo X70 pro plus) :
1) Notification: you have to set applications rights correctly as Chinese devices usually kill apps to save battery
2) Google message no problem
3) Google Pay works
4) You can change the launcher but you have to create a Vivo account
5) WearOs works if you install it from Vivo account Store, the one from Google Play Store doesn't work. Google Pay from the watch doesn't work.
Thinks that don't work:
- Android Auto
- Google backup
- OK Google voice activation
- Maps location history​
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google maps no history? Why is supported by google

Feralt 91 said:
i have all my notifications working good you need to debload some apps via adb (i only kill battery saver app) all sound but still have problems with notifications on lockscreen(just show up and disapear after 1 or 2 seconds)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could you tell the name of tge apps u killed via adb ?

maxant69 said:
Because you use WearOs from Vivo Store and not from Play store
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Surely Google released it on the stores for Chinese market?
Does anyone know why the Play version doesn't work on Chinese ROM is it missing an Android component that allows it to run?

findnuser said:
Surely Google released it on the stores for Chinese market?
Does anyone know why the Play version doesn't work on Chinese ROM is it missing an Android component that allows it to run?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google is not present in China.
Chinese devices don't have a full Google services framework in their system

maxant69 said:
Google is not present in China.
Chinese devices don't have a full Google services framework in their system
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do we know which parts are missing and if they can be added somehow?

OrionBG said:
Do we know which parts are missing and if they can be added somehow?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No clue and even if you could know it's not possible as you can't get root access. If you buy a device sold in the Chinese market you should accept some compromise