Hi, I just got myself an HTC One M8 today. Bought it here in Beijing, China, at a China Unicom store. Turns out they call it M8w, but it should, as far as I know, be very similar to the official Asian version (it has a 2.5 GHz CPU and both FDD-LTE and TDD-LTE). Google Play Store was not installed, so I'm trying to get it installed.
I tried installing Google Play Store using the "Google installer" app by Eric Xiang, mostly used for Xiaomi phones, but basically it's an app to download APK files manually and install them.
So far I've gotten Gmail and Google Translate to work without problems after installing it from the Google installer, but Google Play Store fails to start with a message saying "No connection" and a "Retry" button. This is probably because Google Services Framework (a dependency of Play Store) crashes after installation.
Any suggestions on what I should do? Do I need to root and put in a non-Chinese ROM?
Thanks in advance!
For the M8t, there is a easier way for Google Play service (gmail, map... etc),
Just search "GMS安装器" from HTC App store or Baidu App store. Then you are good to go.
For anybody that's interested, I didn't manage to get all Google apps running properly, so several months ago I flashed in this system dump instead. (I unlocked the bootloader and flashed it in using a utility I don't remember the name of, but I will look it up and update this post if I remember it.)
Haven't noticed any issues so far except for that I don't seem to be able to update anything OTA. But I guess that might be normal?
dataviruset said:
For anybody that's interested, I didn't manage to get all Google apps running properly, so several months ago I flashed in this system dump instead. (I unlocked the bootloader and flashed it in using a utility I don't remember the name of, but I will look it up and update this post if I remember it.)
Haven't noticed any issues so far except for that I don't seem to be able to update anything OTA. But I guess that might be normal?
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hey i have the m8w but with google play installed i bought it reconditioned but the camera isnt all that clear. can you help me out
Hi, i have a Chinese Galaxy Note 8.0 (Android version: 4.1.2), and because of that, I have problems obtaining apps. I am using aptoide, but not being a savvy user, it's a bandaid at best (much better than the samsung store, anyway).
So i decided to install it. Coming from here:
http://www.androidpit.com/forum/589877/how-to-install-google-play-store-if-it-is-not-pre-installed
I arrived at this thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2547054
The rooting part went very easy, and now my tablet is rooted. But when it comes to installing the Google Play, i just can't. I did it in both manners: first copying all the apks to the system/app folder and restart, but after that following the order provided in the kindle thread.
I experience some problems i've read also in other kindle threads: several apps stop working (for some reason, Viber, which i downloaded from aptoide), Google Services Framework stops working too, and as soon as i run the google play store, i get the "no net" error. I've done it also previously uninstalling all the google-related apps like maps and chrome. Still nothing.
Anyone can shed some light into what's happening? Thanks.
Hi buddies,
1. Do you have any success regarding installig Google apps on Chinese version (M9wp)?
2. May be someone knows how to replace chinese search engine Hidi with google search?
Hi,
Download this GMS from the stock app market (see photo)
Install
Run the app, let it download the package and install it (without SD card)
Reboot the phone
After the reboot I had all the Gapps but most weren't working because the G play services version was not updated,
I downloaded the latest version, installed it than something weird happened, using a VPN of course, I wasn't able to download all the updates of the Gapps while I was able to download any other app from the play store, this for a couple of days while I was looking for a solution, than the third day, without me doing anything I was able to download them and now I have the play store version for all the Gapps and they work
About G search I just put a widget on the home and hid the Chinese hidi
Sent from my HTC M9pw using XDA Free mobile app
Thank you very much for a detailed information.
What do you think will I need vpn anyway while I'm already in Europe now?
( Already solved this issue)
I have installed GMS. After first run also.downloaded 190mb app package and when I'm trying to open app again to install google apps some chinese warning are popping up.
Well since Google is blocked nowhere but China you shouldn't need a VPN connection, cannot say more than that since haven't used mine outside China,yet.
the first pop up says that you have downloaded the package and asks you if you want to install it,
The second tells you that you have to restart the phone to complete the installation.
Great!
Everything works as you promised.
Is there a way to install the Google Play Store on a Chinese Note 7? Or some way to download the apps i've purchased from Google Play Store? I've tried going to the the Play Store site but my phone's not recognized since i can't add my Google account to the phone...
I read on a Chinese forum that people suggested loading the stock Hong Kong firmware for the Note 7 to get Google Play working and that it'd work fine on the Chinese model (and wouldn't break knox). Is this safe to do?
(and for reference, this is the page i was referring to: http://bbs.ngacn.cc/read.php?tid=9875562&pid=193800403&to=1)
I'm just speaking from experience on my China model of s6edge, flashing the HK firmware on that phone was definitely ok, I had no problems with the phone since going on the HK firmware. I haven't looked too deeply into the note 7 but you'll have to make sure the hardware is exactly the same, as well as the partition table of the two versions or you'll get an Odin fail.
Wait you cant have Google Play Store on a Chinese Note 7?
NIKKOTUASON said:
Wait you cant have Google Play Store on a Chinese Note 7?
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Nope, there's no Google anything by default on the Chinese market phones, some sort of falling out between Google and China. You'll need to flash the Google framework yourself.
NIKKOTUASON said:
Wait you cant have Google Play Store on a Chinese Note 7?
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Yeah Chinese Android phones don't have Google Apps or anything on them because the Chinese government won't let them.
Code:
tom0927 said:
Nope, there's no Google anything by default on the Chinese market phones, some sort of falling out between Google and China. You'll need to flash the Google framework yourself.
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acheney1990 said:
Yeah Chinese Android phones don't have Google Apps or anything on them because the Chinese government won't let them.
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Ouch! Thanks for this little info. Is it illegal or not ideal for one to have Google softwares on their phones there? Hmm I wonder if this will affect travels to China?
NIKKOTUASON said:
Ouch! Thanks for this little info. Is it illegal or not ideal for one to have Google softwares on their phones there? Hmm I wonder if this will affect travels to China?
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It used to be that all Google apps won't work in China, even gmail. But I think they loosened up the policy recently.
Thanks for the info, i'll try flashing it on there this evening. And a couple years back Google services were hit or miss, lately everything is blocked. Sites like this also have trouble loading because they use files hosted at googleapis.com (such as jquery), which are also blocked and a lot more annoying. So i've gotta use a VPN to view the site properly. It's not illegal, just inconvenient. My previous phone was a Chinese Vivo phone and i could install a package from the Vivo app store that installed the Google stuff for me (and use a VPN to access the Google Play Store). The Galaxy App Store is basically empty and doesn't have anything like that. I've tried installing the Google apps individually but it's still not working.
The Chinese and Hong Kong models are both "SM-N9300", i'm pretty sure the hardware is the same (and i know they also use the Snapdragon processor), is there any way i can check these things for sure?
chickndude said:
The Chinese and Hong Kong models are both "SM-N9300", i'm pretty sure the hardware is the same (and i know they also use the Snapdragon processor), is there any way i can check these things for sure?
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Trial and error? The only thing I did was read up on the chinese forums for other people's success or failure stories. Once I saw numerous reports that they were successful, I felt more confident to do the same on my phone. Having an understanding of Odin and emergency restore also helps.
I just tried and my 电信 card doesn't work anymore. It's got Google Play though. Now i'm not sure which is better (assuming i can get the card to work), having the phone loaded with Google's stuff which doesn't work without a VPN or not having any of my purchased apps or easily download/update them but being able to actually use the phone... I might just switch back and wait for another method to pop up to enable Google Play on Chinese phones.
chickndude said:
I just tried and my 电信 card doesn't work anymore. It's got Google Play though. Now i'm not sure which is better (assuming i can get the card to work), having the phone loaded with Google's stuff which doesn't work without a VPN or not having any of my purchased apps or easily download/update them but being able to actually use the phone... I might just switch back and wait for another method to pop up to enable Google Play on Chinese phones.
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Both voice and data doesn't work? or just data?
tom0927 said:
Both voice and data doesn't work? or just data?
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Neither work, i can't make phone calls or use data. I've got another card with a different company (China Unicom or China Mobile, i can never remember which) but it's too large to fit in the simcard slot, i'll see about getting it cut tomorrow and testing that.
Alternatively, i stumbled across this thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/note-7/development/recovery-official-twrp-galaxy-note-7-t3458413
I might just try using that to root it and then installing something like Open GApps.
luck
Sorry, i don't understand what you're asking. Why would i want what? I just want to be able to access the apps i've purchased through the Play Store on my old phones with my new phone. The apps aren't even available to purchase in the app stores in China and Chinese app stores generally only keep Chinese apps (like QQ, WeChat, Taobao, Alipay, etc.) up to date. I could just find a free way to get them (easy enough in China), but it makes updating more of a pain.
Anyway, gonna revert it back tonight to the original firmware and try installing TWRP with Open GApps.
EDIT: i've flashed it tons of times now and just finished flashing the Chinese firmware back on (again). I tried installing Open GApps but it just crashed the phone. I rooted the phone but it refused to install any APKs for some reason, not sure what exactly i've done to cause that. I just reflashed it again and am going through setup now, hopefully it'll be fixed. I'm not sure if it's got something to do with TWRP complaining about being unable to mount /data. It's too late to check into that tonight though.
EDIT2: Everything's working fine now on the stock firmware again, gonna try rooting it again tomorrow and see if i can manually install the Google Play Store.
chickndude said:
Sorry, i don't understand what you're asking. Why would i want what? I just want to be able to access the apps i've purchased through the Play Store on my old phones with my new phone. The apps aren't even available to purchase in the app stores in China and Chinese app stores generally only keep Chinese apps (like QQ, WeChat, Taobao, Alipay, etc.) up to date. I could just find a free way to get them (easy enough in China), but it makes updating more of a pain.
Anyway, gonna revert it back tonight to the original firmware and try installing TWRP with Open GApps.
EDIT: i've flashed it tons of times now and just finished flashing the Chinese firmware back on (again). I tried installing Open GApps but it just crashed the phone. I rooted the phone but it refused to install any APKs for some reason, not sure what exactly i've done to cause that. I just reflashed it again and am going through setup now, hopefully it'll be fixed. I'm not sure if it's got something to do with TWRP complaining about being unable to mount /data. It's too late to check into that tonight though.
EDIT2: Everything's working fine now on the stock firmware again, gonna try rooting it again tomorrow and see if i can manually install the Google Play Store.
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I'm having the same issue. I've tried manually downloading the play store, services framework, play services and google login apks. Tried installing manually through sideloading. Tried copying to /system/app. In all cases both the play services and google services frameworks crash constantly. The play store itself is a white screen, with VPN enabled (from China).
If this method isn't going to work, where can I find an HK firmware version?
---------- Post added at 06:30 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:46 AM ----------
Psytric said:
I'm having the same issue. I've tried manually downloading the play store, services framework, play services and google login apks. Tried installing manually through sideloading. Tried copying to /system/app. In all cases both the play services and google services frameworks crash constantly. The play store itself is a white screen, with VPN enabled (from China).
If this method isn't going to work, where can I find an HK firmware version?
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Just to add, I have rooted with SU.
If you have a working Google Play (outside china), a VPN while within China should allow you to update the apps. Please note, Oculus Store is also not accessible.
Boy Bisaya said:
If you have a working Google Play (outside china), a VPN while within China should allow you to update the apps. Please note, Oculus Store is also not accessible.
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Yes, however I cannot install any of the google apps on this device. All attempts, including using google installer apks, manual installs, flashing Gapps, ,etc, all result in crashing apps. It almost seems aggressive.
My latest attempt to flash Gapps results in "Unfortunately the setup wizard has stopped" endlessly, essentially bricking the phone. I cannot get to any screens unless using the multitasking icon, and even then homescreen etc are inaccessible.
Try installing the APKPure app. Its pretty much just like the playstore (For free apps). And lets you update etc. And it doesnt require root.
Psytric said:
Yes, however I cannot install any of the google apps on this device. All attempts, including using google installer apks, manual installs, flashing Gapps, ,etc, all result in crashing apps. It almost seems aggressive.
My latest attempt to flash Gapps results in "Unfortunately the setup wizard has stopped" endlessly, essentially bricking the phone. I cannot get to any screens unless using the multitasking icon, and even then homescreen etc are inaccessible.
Click to expand...
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That's the same issue i had with Gapps. I could press the menu button to bring up a list of open apps and use those, but going to the main homescreen just repeatedly prompted me with the setup wizard stopping dialog.
Google apps works with the Hong Kong version (comes preinstalled) so you should be fine with that. I think i flashed N9300ZHU1APGI, but i think that's the oldest version. The newest seems to be N9300ZHU2BPI5. If it has ZHU in the middle, that's for Hong Kong. ZCU is for China (TGY is the region code for Hong Kong, if you see that). The issue i had with that is that then everything is Google Apps and thus blocked in China, maps in WeChat use Google Maps instead of Baidu Maps for example. If you don't care about that, then i suggest trying to flash a Hong Kong firmware. It worked for me.
EDIT: I also forgot to mention that at first i couldn't use my SIM card, but later i'm not sure what i did, i think i booted into Recovery mode or something, but after that it worked. I'm not sure what it did.