Not sure if this is the correct section so could someone move it if needs be.
I've been a lifelong iOS user but finally got bored and ordered an Android phone. I know all about jailbreaking, but know absolutely nothing about rooting and I've been told this is where I'll find whatever info I need.
I have a few general questions and would appreciate if someone could shed some light as I need to get around the basics before I start messing with rooting etc.
I ordered a Nubia z7 Mini which looks like an amazing bit of kit for the price but since it's a Chinese phone there's a few things I'm unsure of.
Would it come with Google Play Store installed? If not, how do the Chinese get their apps?
Also, I've seen that you have to root the phone to install Google apps. What Google apps, and why do you need it?
Lastly, if you need to root the device to install these items, is there a way to unroot it afterwards and keep the newly installed apps? The reason I'm asking is because on an iPhone, certain apps won't work if it's jailbroken(like the Barclays banking app which is essential), so just wondering if it's the same with Android devices.
Thanks for any help.
1- it depends on the seller you buy from . some will install the gapps for you and some not . but don't worry it's so easy to install
the Chinese have their own app stores
2- The Google Apps (or GApps as they are commonly referred to) are the proprietary applications by Google included in many Android devices. Most of the applications can now be found and updated via the Google Play Store.Some of the apps include the Google Play Store itself, Google Talk, Google Sync (for adding and synchronizing Google accounts), Google Backup Transport, Car Home, Gmail, Google Maps, YouTube, Google Search, Google Voice Search, Google Music, and Google Docs.
Wiki quote
3- i think you can unroot z7 mini using the supersu app , i see the unroot option .
check this thread
http://forum.xda-developers.com/general/rooting-roms/zte-nubia-z7-mini-root-recovery-google-t2846520
eLcTrOn said:
1- it depends on the seller you buy from . some will install the gapps for you and some not . but don't worry it's so easy to install
the Chinese have their own app stores
2- The Google Apps (or GApps as they are commonly referred to) are the proprietary applications by Google included in many Android devices. Most of the applications can now be found and updated via the Google Play Store.Some of the apps include the Google Play Store itself, Google Talk, Google Sync (for adding and synchronizing Google accounts), Google Backup Transport, Car Home, Gmail, Google Maps, YouTube, Google Search, Google Voice Search, Google Music, and Google Docs.
Wiki quote
3- i think you can unroot z7 mini using the supersu app , i see the unroot option .
check this thread
http://forum.xda-developers.com/general/rooting-roms/zte-nubia-z7-mini-root-recovery-google-t2846520
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the explanation. I've got my phone and slowly getting the hang of it.
So why can you not install gapps on a Chinese phone without rooting it? And if I unroot it, will gapps disappear or stay behind?
Reason I'm asking is because I need to use apps which won't work on rooted devices, but I don't want to loose gapps.
Hello All,
Fellas (many many many fellas) like me are out there who have installed Google Account Manager, Google Play Services, Google Services Framework, and Google Play Store in order to enjoy all the Gapps and other apps that use Play Services and the apps that are not available in Amazon appstore. I am pretty sure, many of us would already have come across the issue mentioned in title, including myself. Google Play Store stops responding (only settings in Play Store app is accessible, but content of Play Store don't show up), many apps that use Play Services stop working (Hangout, Duo, Maps, Tweeter, etc.). That, is, not a happy day, when you find this out first thing on a sunny morning.
Please note that the Amazon Fire Phone that I have is a factory unlocked and I only had above 4 apks installed to be able to enjoy Google's facilities. I was on Fire OS 4.6.6.1 (466001420) when I faced the issue.
Anyways, I decided to play with Play Store and Play Services a bit to see if I can get things to work.
Since you all (most, but I will take the liberty to say "all" ) have Google Account Manager, Google Play Services, Google Services Framework, and Google Play Store in your phone, I assume you are aware of the process that is most of us used to get these Google goodies in first place. They are all over the forums. A few examples are:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/fire-phone/help/guide-fire-phone-fireos-google-apps-t3206603
http://forum.xda-developers.com/fire-phone/general/fire-phone-how-to-install-google-play-t2977237
http://spinyourfire.com/fire-phone-tips-and-tricks/amazon-fire-phone-google-play/
Basically, you just install apk files of Google Account Manager, Google Play Services, Google Service Framework, and Google Play Store in your Fire phone (in that specific order).
When the issue occurred, I had Google Play Store 7.1.15 and Google Services Framework 4.0.4-338691 on my Fire phone. I am not sure about Google Account Manager and Google Play Services. You may have different versions.
Here is what led me to success. Hope that helps some of ya'll out there, too!
I just downloaded the newer version of above 4 apk files from apkmirror. However, here is the catch: Not all of the most recent versions of 4 files work. I started with the most recent versions of 4 apk files available today (20 Nov, 2016) and started working my way backward to check which files were able to be installed on Fire phone. Go ahead and download below four files and install them in below mentioned order:
http://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google-inc/google-account-manager/google-account-manager-4-4-4-1227136-release/google-account-manager-4-4-4-1227136-android-apk-download/
http://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google-inc/google-play-services/google-play-services-10-0-84-release/google-play-services-10-0-84-030-137749526-android-apk-download/
http://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google-inc/google-services-framework/google-services-framework-4-4-4-1227136-release/google-services-framework-4-4-4-1227136-android-apk-download/
http://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google-inc/google-play-store/google-play-store-7-1-25-i-all-0-pr-137772785-release/google-play-store-7-1-25-i-all-0-pr-137772785-android-apk-download/
Above files are Google Account Manager 4.4.4-1227136 no dpi, Google Play Services 10.0.84 (030-137749526), Google Services Framework 4.4.4-1227136 and Google Play Store 7.1.25.I-all.
Steps:
Download above for files to your Fire phone in Download folder (or any other folder that your prefer).
Uninstall previously installed Google Account Manager, Google Play Services, Google Services Framework, and Google Play Store from Fire Phone.
Restart the Fire phone.
Install the newly downloaded files in this order (Uninstall Google Account Manager, Google Play Services, Google Services Framework, and Google Play Store from Fire Phone.).
Open Google Play Store. It should now ask for your Google Account ID and PW, indicating that the Google goodies are back, to serve you. Upon logging in, your apps will show up and "Installed" apps and they will begin auto-updating (if you allowed such in settings and if updates are available). Other apps in your Fire phone that use Goole Play Services will also start behaving normal.
I came across this solution as trial and error. During the process, If you come across any observation that may be useful to others and myself, don't hesitate to voice yourself; post what you see and help all!
Also share if you were able to find any other (and possibly easier) solution to this issue.
Till then, Enjoy!
Thanks. Those apks worked for me.
This works; but My Cloud stored personal music tracks are not showing up any more.
yugz5 said:
Hello All,
...
...
[/LIST]
http://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google-inc/google-play-store/google-play-store-7-1-25-i-all-0-pr-137772785-release/google-play-store-7-1-25-i-all-0-pr-137772785-android-apk-download/
Above files are Google Account Manager 4.4.4-1227136 no dpi, Google Play Services 10.0.84 (030-137749526), Google Services Framework 4.4.4-1227136 and Google Play Store 7.1.25.I-all.
Steps:
Download above for files to your Fire phone in Download folder (or any other folder that your prefer).
Uninstall previously installed Google Account Manager, Google Play Services, Google Services Framework, and Google Play Store from Fire Phone.
Restart the Fire phone.
Install the newly downloaded files in this order (Uninstall Google Account Manager, Google Play Services, Google Services Framework, and Google Play Store from Fire Phone.).
Open Google Play Store. It should now ask for your Google Account ID and PW, indicating that the Google goodies are back, to serve you. Upon logging in, your apps will show up and "Installed" apps and they will begin auto-updating (if you allowed such in settings and if updates are available). Other apps in your Fire phone that use Goole Play Services will also start behaving normal.
I came across this solution as trial and error. During the process, If you come across any observation that may be useful to others and myself, don't hesitate to voice yourself; post what you see and help all!
Also share if you were able to find any other (and possibly easier) solution to this issue.
Till then, Enjoy!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This works.. but My Google Play personal tracks from the cloud (uploaded using Music Manager) are not showing up.
In a twist, very curiously those show up and work perfectly when I do the same things on my Kindle HD6; I use the exact same hack that I use for my fire phone. Both used to work perfectly. After this Play service Issue, and the subsequent fix, both are back again with the exception of the personal tracks issue only on the fire phone.
Fireinthebelly said:
This works.. but My Google Play personal tracks from the cloud (uploaded using Music Manager) are not showing up.
In a twist, very curiously those show up and work perfectly when I do the same things on my Kindle HD6; I use the exact same hack that I use for my fire phone. Both used to work perfectly. After this Play service Issue, and the subsequent fix, both are back again with the exception of the personal tracks issue only on the fire phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wonder if you uninstall Play Music, restart the phone, and reinstall Play Music from Play Store, and see if that gets you fixed up. Another thing you might try is somehow trigger the Media re-scan.
Just some thoughts.. Disregard if you've already tried or post your findings if you end up trying...
Thanks.. That didn't do it.
yugz5 said:
I wonder if you uninstall Play Music, restart the phone, and reinstall Play Music from Play Store, and see if that gets you fixed up. Another thing you might try is somehow trigger the Media re-scan.
Just some thoughts.. Disregard if you've already tried or post your findings if you end up trying...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yugz5.. Thanks. I'd done the re-install, but not power down. I tried it with powering down after re-install. Same result.
I can't find any option for media re-scan by itself. But switching accounts should do pretty much the same. Switching between my accounts where I have some tracks saved all give the same "null" result. The tracks themselves are there and safe as I can access them from non-fire devices, browsers on the PC's, and even from an Amazon kindle tablet (Play app) as I mentioned before.
Fireinthebelly said:
Yugz5.. Thanks. I'd done the re-install, but not power down. I tried it with powering down after re-install. Same result.
I can't find any option for media re-scan by itself. But switching accounts should do pretty much the same. Switching between my accounts where I have some tracks saved all give the same "null" result. The tracks themselves are there and safe as I can access them from non-fire devices, browsers on the PC's, and even from an Amazon kindle tablet (Play app) as I mentioned before.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea, I guess, switching between the account should have the same effect as Media re-scan. I suggested that coz in android, some players were used to non-recognize the files and clearing the cache of media scanner was a known fix..
As far as powering it down, you said you did the restart, but that was after the reinstallation. I meant to say, perform a restart "between" uninstallation and reinstallation.
yugz5 said:
Yea, I guess, switching between the account should have the same effect as Media re-scan. I suggested that coz in android, some players were used to non-recognize the files and clearing the cache of media scanner was a known fix..
As far as powering it down, you said you did the restart, but that was after the reinstallation. I meant to say, perform a restart "between" uninstallation and reinstallation.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I understood your intent. That's exactly what I'd done -- i.e. power down between uninstallation and re-installation. But I'd mis-typed it in my last post. Didn't solve it.
Anyways.. this gets me 99.9% of the ways there for me, and this minor irritation I can live with.
It is nice to know that the same fix -- the same files -- work for HD 6 and the new HD 8 also. I am not sure how many people know this. After self-updating, Google slaps some minor variants of the same version files that are different than the ones for the fire phone -- presumably because of the hardware variation.
Fireinthebelly said:
Yes, I understood your intent. That's exactly what I'd done -- i.e. power down between uninstallation and re-installation. But I'd mis-typed it in my last post. Didn't solve it.
Anyways.. this gets me 99.9% of the ways there for me, and this minor irritation I can live with.
It is nice to know that the same fix -- the same files -- work for HD 6 and the new HD 8 also. I am not sure how many people know this. After self-updating, Google slaps some minor variants of the same version files that are different than the ones for the fire phone -- presumably because of the hardware variation.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I assume so, too...
yugz5 said:
Yea, I guess, switching between the account should have the same effect as Media re-scan. I suggested that coz in android, some players were used to non-recognize the files and clearing the cache of media scanner was a known fix..
As far as powering it down, you said you did the restart, but that was after the reinstallation. I meant to say, perform a restart "between" uninstallation and reinstallation.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am happy... I am happy... I am happy...
When I subscribed to the Google Play Music 4 months free offer, it went through some machinations, complained about something not being right, and when I logged out and logged back in.. voila.. all the tracks are back. When I checked the versions of the 4 files, they were all the same. So I thought this should be something fixable.. and sure enough.. now I see the "Refresh" option under setting. Not sure how I missed that or if I missed that.
Any way, all engines go now.
Thanks for all the brainiacs on the thread here.
Fireinthebelly said:
I am happy... I am happy... I am happy...
When I subscribed to the Google Play Music 4 months free offer, it went through some machinations, complained about something not being right, and when I logged out and logged back in.. voila.. all the tracks are back. When I checked the versions of the 4 files, they were all the same. So I thought this should be something fixable.. and sure enough.. now I see the "Refresh" option under setting. Not sure how I missed that or if I missed that.
Any way, all engines go now.
Thanks for all the brainiacs on the thread here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
:laugh:
I have download Google account manager APK Version : 7.1 (25) but have issue
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"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
Any idea what I could do now?
Thank you it still works
Can you tell me how to Uninstall previously installed Google Account Manager, Google Play Services, Google Services Framework, and Google Play Store from Fire Phone.
Don't know what I'm doing wrong, got Gmail, play store ,and all Google apps and they sync. When I downloaded Google contacts it tells me to sign in , when I try to it says already signed in but when I go to Google app everything shows as synced but there isn't even a contact icon showing up so what did I do wrong. Please help the mate 20x is awesome just can't get my Google contacts on.
Sorry, I can't help but can you tell me if you have the China or the International version?
xxfirerican said:
Don't know what I'm doing wrong, got Gmail, play store ,and all Google apps and they sync. When I downloaded Google contacts it tells me to sign in , when I try to it says already signed in but when I go to Google app everything shows as synced but there isn't even a contact icon showing up so what did I do wrong. Please help the mate 20x is awesome just can't get my Google contacts on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google contact sync is already baked in the rom. You probably need to do it all over again since the framework and sync adaptor probably got messed up.
If you have the china version,
factory reset the phone,
go into app gallery,
change country to China,
Search for Google Play Store
Google Play store will have an Update status, click it
After updated, click open and the usual setup will start
After that, you should have contact already synced.
Worked thanks this phone rocks now!!!
Glad that it worked!
So is it the Cina version? if yes, are you facing any problems because of that?
xxfirerican said:
Worked thanks this phone rocks now!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wicked! :highfive:
Jwan said:
Glad that it worked!
So is it the Cina version? if yes, are you facing any problems because of that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No once i got google on it the chinese version is fine. Tons of bloatware but u can delete all of it. Doesnt allow a different app launcher from what i can tell but i just dragged and dropped all my apps so they were in order. Battery is insane
xxfirerican said:
No once i got google on it the chinese version is fine. Tons of bloatware but u can delete all of it. Doesnt allow a different app launcher from what i can tell but i just dragged and dropped all my apps so they were in order. Battery is insane
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Perhaps try Twisted Home Manager app, some people have said that it could work.
xxfirerican said:
Don't know what I'm doing wrong, got Gmail, play store ,and all Google apps and they sync. When I downloaded Google contacts it tells me to sign in , when I try to it says already signed in but when I go to Google app everything shows as synced but there isn't even a contact icon showing up so what did I do wrong. Please help the mate 20x is awesome just can't get my Google contacts on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No need to factory reset. All I did was install the Google Contact Sync v 9 from apkmirror then reisntalled the Contacts app... and voila!... it had the option to choose an account from the hamburger menu.
ohthree said:
No need to factory reset. All I did was install the Google Contact Sync v 9 from apkmirror then reisntalled the Contacts app... and voila!... it had the option to choose an account from the hamburger menu.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did this and it worked perfectly without resetting anything!
Found an easy solution at 4pda to enable contact sync on Chinese Mate20x, without resetting your phone:
1) uninstall Play Store
2) download Play Store from apkmirror
3) install
4) sync will work right away
Hope this helps someone
Stefan / Germany.
Thanks everyone for Your service!
My Redmi Note8T doesn't synchronize my contacts to the Google cloud.
As contra measures to excessive advertising I deleteded all system updates and didn't create a Miui account.
The latter I read could be the cause for my contacts not to sync into the Google cloud. I have tried to work around that by installing the Google contact synchronisation app from the Google Play Store but it didn't download at all. So I tried APKMirror where the app was available in several 6+ and 10 versions with nothing in between to match P9 (according to Droid info my system software at hand).
I chose the latest 6+ version but cannot locate the executed app nor do the contacts sync with Google now …
Thanks so much for Your help.
Stefan
Lodidol said:
Stefan / Germany.
Thanks everyone for Your service!
My Redmi Note8T doesn't synchronize my contacts to the Google cloud.
As contra measures to excessive advertising I deleteded all system updates and didn't create a Miui account.
The latter I read could be the cause for my contacts not to sync into the Google cloud. I have tried to work around that by installing the Google contact synchronisation app from the Google Play Store but it didn't download at all. So I tried APKMirror where the app was available in several 6+ and 10 versions with nothing in between to match P9 (according to Droid info my system software at hand).
I chose the latest 6+ version but cannot locate the executed app nor do the contacts sync with Google now …
Thanks so much for Your help.
Stefan
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Regards the ads, you have in settings on every app (or almost) the ads/personalize ads to choose from showing or not.
Regards the contacts issue, enter to /Settings/Google/Settings for Google app/Google Contacts sync and check that all is correct there.
SubwayChamp said:
Regards the ads, you have in settings on every app (or almost) the ads/personalize ads to choose from showing or not.
Regards the contacts issue, enter to /Settings/Google/Settings for Google app/Google Contacts sync and check that all is correct there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately I have neither succeeded in even finding possibilities to personalize apps like contacts, calendar, file-management, playstore that all showed advertisements before deleting their updates nor could I find anything wrong with the settings for Google sync …
Lodidol said:
Unfortunately I have neither succeeded in even finding possibilities to personalize apps like contacts, calendar, file-management, playstore that all showed advertisements before deleting their updates nor could I find anything wrong with the settings for Google sync …
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you face the first setup, you have to see from the 5 items (all checked) at least 3 items related with ads, you have to uncheck. After that, take for example the Miui Music app, from the settings you can find an option to disable ads, the same happens with the Miui Files and so on. When I spend the time waiting to unlock bootloader always I do that, and I don't have annoying ads disturbing me all the time, we have to get apart from that, browser behavior, it's a different thing, some ads don't rely on Xiaomi itself, TBH.
Actually I'm running a custom ROM based on AOSP, but in the path that I gave you can see, the number of contacts that's synchronized, I have to guess that you're doing something wrong, can you share some screenshot from this path? To see what's saying.