Hi,
I've got my hands on a cheap chinese phone from a brand called "V7". The model is "Zyro". Unfortunately, the phone didn't come to me with pre-installed Google Play store. Nor is it rooted or flashed with custom recovery like TWRP. I wanted to install some apps on it via transferring data from PC to the phone. I've sourced apps such as Youtube, Facebook, Messenger, Google Internet Services, Google Play Store etc. from a trusted website apkmirror. Unfortunately, most of the apps seem to cause errors while attempting to install. The errors state that the apps are not meant "for this device". I've tried versions designed for numerous architectures such as 32 and 64 bit, as well as arm64-V8a based CPUs. I can't understand why is this happening as majority of those apps state in the description that they are either universal or are expected to work since Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. I have problems installing GBoard (Google Keyboard) and Samsung Keyboard on the device as I'm stuck with some chinese virtual input called "Sogou". I've tried to flash the device with custom recovery but unfortunately didn't find a version of TWRP which would be compatible with my device. The same happened when I've tried to find any sort of custom rom or even official, android stock rom. I would like to ask you:
1. What are possible causes of such majority of apps being not compatible with this device despite the fact that it seems to be a generic android phone?
2. Why universal input apps such as Google's Gboard crash after a while or do not install at all?
3. How can I safely flash the device with a custom recovery?
Thanks in advance
Eva
Related
Every time I flash a new ROM on my phone, whether it was my old Galaxy S2 or my current Galaxy S4, Google Play recognizes that it is the same device as before and installs all the apps I previously installed on the phone.
My android stick computer (Minix Neo X5) does not behave this way. Every time I flash a new ROM, regardless of whether it is an official ROM from the developer (Minix) or a custom ROM with CWM, Google Play does not recognize that it is the same device as before and I have to go through the arduous process of installing all previous apps.
Is there a file or folder that I could backup on my stick computer and restore after flashing that will let Google Play recognize it properly? build.prop?
chewyfood said:
Every time I flash a new ROM on my phone, whether it was my old Galaxy S2 or my current Galaxy S4, Google Play recognizes that it is the same device as before and installs all the apps I previously installed on the phone.
My android stick computer (Minix Neo X5) does not behave this way. Every time I flash a new ROM, regardless of whether it is an official ROM from the developer (Minix) or a custom ROM with CWM, Google Play does not recognize that it is the same device as before and I have to go through the arduous process of installing all previous apps.
Is there a file or folder that I could backup on my stick computer and restore after flashing that will let Google Play recognize it properly? build.prop?
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Try Titanium Backup or Nandroid Manager (both available on the Play Store). They can change the Android device id to match the previous, there are also dedicated apps if you google "change android device id".
Pojiku said:
Try Titanium Backup or Nandroid Manager (both available on the Play Store). They can change the Android device id to match the previous, there are also dedicated apps if you google "change android device id".
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Thanks for the post. I was wondering what I could search on Google to potentially find my answer.
I will try out these methods and report back. I was unaware that Titanium/NAND backs up the device information (I thought it was just for apps and app data)
My parents bought a tablet (Toshiba AT200) that doesn't come with all the google apps. I would like to install Google Plus and Play store on it but I think I need to flash all gapps onto the device, not just Google plus or the play store apk. I've done it many times on my phones and tablets but I'm wondering is it safe to do so on this device knowing that the ROM the device comes with is not stock nor one of the well-known mods.
I checked the Android version is 4.0.3.
Thanks,
What is the fundamental difference between stock, preinstalled Google Apps that you would find on your newly bought phone versus the google apps package that you flash over to the phone when installing a custom rom like CM?
I realize that the GAPPS are installed into a system directory as opposed to where all other apps are installed. I don't understand why all GAPPS that come on a new phone are updateable even though they are in the system directory as you can "Uninstall Updates" while with GAPPS that are flashed over with a custom rom are not. Are the GAPPS that you flash after a custom ROM updateable via the Play Store?
Blazing Hornet said:
What is the fundamental difference between stock, preinstalled Google Apps that you would find on your newly bought phone versus the google apps package that you flash over to the phone when installing a custom rom like CM?
I realize that the GAPPS are installed into a system directory as opposed to where all other apps are installed. I don't understand why all GAPPS that come on a new phone are updateable even though they are in the system directory as you can "Uninstall Updates" while with GAPPS that are flashed over with a custom rom are not. Are the GAPPS that you flash after a custom ROM updateable via the Play Store?
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Me, also have the same question. Hoping they were updateable via play store
Blazing Hornet said:
What is the fundamental difference between stock, preinstalled Google Apps that you would find on your newly bought phone versus the google apps package that you flash over to the phone when installing a custom rom like CM?
I realize that the GAPPS are installed into a system directory as opposed to where all other apps are installed. I don't understand why all GAPPS that come on a new phone are updateable even though they are in the system directory as you can "Uninstall Updates" while with GAPPS that are flashed over with a custom rom are not. Are the GAPPS that you flash after a custom ROM updateable via the Play Store?
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Downloadable gapps you can choose which versions i.e standard all Google Apps and core would be basic stuff like playstore and file size would be a lot smaller... As for updating I've never ran into any issues
I've never run into update problems with GAPPs. They are built off of Google's source, so they should be just like any pre-installed app. However, they don't come pre-installed on aftermarket ROMs because of licensing issues. Also, many devs, for example the Slim team, modify their GAPPs so they will respond to the "Dark Slim" or similar toggles. Stock GAPPs won't respond to theming. Oh, many of the aftermarket ROMs are de-odexed and as such, so are the GAPPs packages that go with them.
I believe I understand it now. Correct me if I am wrong. GAPPS include the Play Store and other apps for example Gmail and Maps etc. depending on if it is a standard or core package. All of these will update with newer versions as they are released in the Play Store. Things like the Dialer and Calendar are apps that come with the ROM and are not update able unless the ROM itself is updated.
Why is it then that people download standard packages and not just a core package with the Play Store so that they can immediately download the newest Google Apps?
Blazing Hornet said:
I believe I understand it now. Correct me if I am wrong. GAPPS include the Play Store and other apps for example Gmail and Maps etc. depending on if it is a standard or core package. All of these will update with newer versions as they are released in the Play Store. Things like the Dialer and Calendar are apps that come with the ROM and are not update able unless the ROM itself is updated.
Why is it then that people download standard packages and not just a core package with the Play Store so that they can immediately download the newest Google Apps?
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I think you're a bit confused. Most gapps packages are already somewhat "core" packages and have very few elements extra. If you check Cyanogenmod gapps you'll see them sometimes remove the apps that are available via the Play Store in their changelog.
As for updating, they can update just fine. What you're confusing though probably is on a rom upgrade. When you download a stock OTA update, they contain the updated gapps at least for the core functionality that would "break" the phone if they weren't updated. The others update via Play Store.
On a custom rom update from let's say Android 4.3 to Android 4.4, rom maintainers do not package the gapps with the rom itself for various reasons, one of them being not wanting to get picked on by Google like Cyanogenmod was in the past. They used to have them packaged, but Google didn't want that and the community came to an agreement to provide them separately.
Hope this helps
polobunny said:
I think you're a bit confused. Most gapps packages are already somewhat "core" packages and have very few elements extra. If you check Cyanogenmod gapps you'll see them sometimes remove the apps that are available via the Play Store in their changelog.
As for updating, they can update just fine. What you're confusing though probably is on a rom upgrade. When you download a stock OTA update, they contain the updated gapps at least for the core functionality that would "break" the phone if they weren't updated. The others update via Play Store.
On a custom rom update from let's say Android 4.3 to Android 4.4, rom maintainers do not package the gapps with the rom itself for various reasons, one of them being not wanting to get picked on by Google like Cyanogenmod was in the past. They used to have them packaged, but Google didn't want that and the community came to an agreement to provide them separately.
Hope this helps
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Thanks for the explanation
I am still a green beginner when it comes to making a custom firmware but I basically only do it for my personal needs and offer the result for everyone.
However, there is one thing really nagging me ith the X96 and that is to get updated GAPPS to work properly and with all Google apps.
The basics like Playstore, Framework and Play Services and managed to get going but only by disabling some "features" in the firmware and with the box showing up as uncertified.
Real problem is to get the TV GAPPS working at all.
No matter how I spoof the build.prop, disable services and manully add permissions, the TV Gapps claim be on an unsupported device and demand dowgrade / removal of updates.
For a chinese phone I would simply flash an internation rom and be done with it but not so much on a chinese TV box
What I tried so far for the TV GAPPS:
Using custom roms claiming to work for several boxes including the X96.
Here the rom either fails to boot unless I modify it or if it boots then nothing, and I mean nothing all works.
Funny enough that some user of a X96 say they have no problem with the same rom...
Next was to clean the original firmware from all Google related apps, services, scripts and libraries, then manually installing the TV GAPPS.
For this I always get the error that the device is not compatible.
Even if in the build.prop a Mibox or Nvidia Shield is spoofed together with ro.build.characteristics=tv.
Last but not least the Open GAPPS TV version.
Flashing works just fine and with no errors, on a cleaned and on a standard rom.
After that it is all over.
Setup Wizard crashes, if disabled or removed the other Google apps and services crash, usually starting with the TV Wizard and TV Customisation.
TV Playstore again claims the device is not compatible in the rare case it does start otherwise I get an error that the Play services are missing on the device.
But of course all is installed completely....
What I would love to know is how and where these chinese roms disable the Google compatibility.
Here is what I think I found so far that does not make much sense to me:
The supplied Playstore is signed with different key than anything else on the system partition.
The same version number from APKMIRROR fails to install or work if replaced in the rom.
I tried signing with the Amlogic platform, test and release keys to no avail.
Both by zip aligning before or after the signing.
Other apps I sign with these keys perform just fine.
Just to be able to use the Open GAPPS through TWRP I had to disable a PPoE apk that runs presistent - with that active no open Gapps pack works (claiming device is incompatible or simply crashing).
There are a bunch of additional certificates installed in the ETC folder than when removed or renamed cause the system to fail - I had no time so far to do a one on one check to figure out for what each cert might be used.
When comparing fstabs with other roms it seems the X96 has lot more than what would be required but my understanding of all that is still too limited.
I guess the big question is:
Does anyone know what is causing all these problems in chinese roms and how to fix it without flashing a firmware for different TV box?
Update:
On my X96 I am slowly making progress with the GAPPS.
Found a PPPoE app and service that are set to run persistent.
According to some funny Google translations from chinese websites using persistent services to block genuine Google stuff is one available option.
By disabling the PPPoE persistent stuff and only leaving the normal PPPoE stuff active Ethernet and WiFi still work fine but now the Open Gapps installation actually works.
Well, not fully but at least the Nano package works flawless.
With that it is not problem to install the missing Google apps through the Playstore, including Google TV and Music.
Sync and backup works fine too.
Only downside is that without spoofing the device will be listed as uncertified - but all updates and installs so far went with no problems.
But even the Google NOW and Pixel launchers can be installed and used if someone likes them.
Different story though for the TV Gapps, wether modified or not.
Build.prop mods and fakes, using the latest and older versions of the playservices and framework - they all fail.
I managed a few times to find combinations that at least booted into the leanback launcher and that were usable except for the Google stuff but it was no fun.
No matter how I try to spoof or change the installation the setup wizard never works, which indicates the services fail to work.
In the rare case where I get somewhere I am told that I should unistall all updates as this version of Plastore or services is not compatible.
Will do some more digging on services and apps that should not be there but the chinese really like to disguise things they don't want anyone to see LOL
Hi. I have the same box and installed latest official firmware android 9.
My problem is that is not possible to update the Google play store, stuck on version 13. All other apps are updated by the stor with no problems.
But i cant find a way to updaye the play store.
When i try to update it, always give package error, simple instalation fail.
I have not found a working twrp for it, so no gapps for now.
Do you know of a solution ?
Many boxes from China do not have certification from Google, that's why you cannot run native TV apps on them. If you want these TV apps, buy those boxes labelled with "Google certified", which are of couse more expensive and with inferior hardware--certification needs extra cost, man.
You can try install magisk, whill will tell u Safenet test failed and some CTS failure, that's what I said above.
Hello,
I have a GOME C71 as a secondary phone which i use for my work as a test bench (mainly website development)
When i bought it on facebook, there was already all the google stuff installed, but the UI randomly crashed when I pressed the "running app" buton. So i decided to flash a stock firmware (found at needrom.com)
The flash was ok, but now, there is no GAPPS anymore (even if the ROM description says GAPPS included). Tried everything (some Google apps installer : didn't download anything, Installed manually the framework, the services and all other google apps : launch but stuck in verifying information)
So, if someone have a trick to make GAPPS available on this phone, or if someone has a custom ROM with GAPPS, please tell me as i really need google services for testing stuff.
Thanks
Could you kindly share this ROM if you still have it.
franco2mada said:
Hello,
I have a GOME C71 as a secondary phone which i use for my work as a test bench (mainly website development)
When i bought it on facebook, there was already all the google stuff installed, but the UI randomly crashed when I pressed the "running app" buton. So i decided to flash a stock firmware (found at needrom.com)
The flash was ok, but now, there is no GAPPS anymore (even if the ROM description says GAPPS included). Tried everything (some Google apps installer : didn't download anything, Installed manually the framework, the services and all other google apps : launch but stuck in verifying information)
So, if someone have a trick to make GAPPS available on this phone, or if someone has a custom ROM with GAPPS, please tell me as i really need google services for testing stuff.
Thanks
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