• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

PlayStore MISSING!

A

Abdulmatin

Lurker
Two phones just purchased from china market.
(a) Samsung A5 (2014) ----------------- Android v5.0.2
(b) Coolpad Note 3 (8298-A01) ------- Android v5.1
On both phone, there is no PlayStore.
-
I installed it PlayStore through apkmirror. Installed but cannot open.
Any idea?
 
As you've discovered, no Google in China! And just sideloading the Play Store APK won't work. You'll either have to change the ROMs completely to international, or find a way of flashing an appropriate Gapps package via a custom recovery. Could have a look at our Samsung A5 forum, might not be much though, AF has nothing for the Coolpad, however XDA Devs is definitely worth a look though.
http://androidforums.com/forums/samsung-galaxy-a5.2971/
http://www.xda-developers.com/
 
I'm curious I've never seen a Android from China, especially with no Google firmware installed on it. What type of browser does that A5 and Note 3 come stocked with if any?
Also what happens with those devices when you login to your Google account from the devices if you tried?
If I can get answers to these questions, there maybe other routes to take on obtaining Google Play Store and other important services from Google.
 
Last edited:
Phalon4 said:
What type of browser does that A5 and Note 3 come stocked with if any?
Also what happens with those devices when you login to your Google account from the devices if you tried?
Click to expand...
In the list of all apps. I can see "Android System WebView" but cannot create any shortcut from there.
Default browser's name: "Internet". no other name I can find. Maybe its Baidu browser.
-
I didn't login with any google account. I added an IMAP email account (custom domain email google server based).
-
After I search on the net, I believe Baidu is the alternative they use (Search engine, App store, browser).
 
Phalon4 said:
I'm curious I've never seen a Android from China, especially with no Google firmware installed on it. What type of browser does that A5 and Note 3 come stocked with if any?
Click to expand...

Samsungs usually come with their own S Browser, I assume what's it's called, their own apps are usually "S" something. :D And the Coolpad will have it's own browser as well. Coolpad is a Chinese maker and their website is only in Chinese, so I'm not sure how widely they're available elsewhere. May only officially be available in China. There are other Android devices that don't have Google and are not Chinese, e.g. Amazon's devices, they have their own Amazon stuff on them instead.

Phalon4 said:
Also what happens with those devices when you login to your Google account from the devices if you tried?
Click to expand...

Well you can't, that's it. In fact in China you can't really use anything Google unless you got a VPN, because it's blocked otherwise. Google maintains a small presence at google.cn which is basically Maps and Translate, and not much else. Can't even do Gmail without a VPN.

That's all you get from Google in China... :thumbsupdroid:
cn.jpg

Search directs to Google Hong Kong, but doesn't work in the mainland without a VPN.

Companies such as Baidu, Tencent and Alibaba have basically taken Google's place for Android, with things like app stores, IM, social networks, music, movies, etc. etc.

Phalon4 said:
If I can get answers to these questions, there maybe other routes to take on obtaining Google Play Store and other important services from Google.
Click to expand...

The only ways really for the OP's China devices, are what I've already stated, either find an appropriate international ROM, which may not exist for the Chinese Coolpad, or root and custom recovery, again the Coolpad will be a problem. Samsung A5, there's probably something on XDA Devs or SamMobile for it.
 
Last edited:
Phalon4 said:
http://www.androidauthority.com/how-to-install-google-play-store-312812/
Click to expand...

I just tried that on my no-Google Oppo R7 Plus China phone. Doesn't work, crashes immediately. Which I thought it would, because usually you can't just sideload Play like that as a user app. It has to be installed as system via root or custom recovery, or actually baked into the particular ROM. And in fact they state, Do keep in mind that this will not work on Amazon Kindle Fire devices. That’s an entirely different process which may also require you to root your device. Amazon's "Fire OS, based on Android" devices are quite Googleless as well, just like the China ones. :thumbsupdroid:

No Google here!
Screenshot_2016-05-22-20-46-44-59.jpg

Market, Game Center and Theme Store are Oppo's own app stores, which come with the phone.
 
Now I'm not trying to pry in anybody's business but what was the point of purchasing an Android device from China when it didn't come stocked with what you want on it. Or are you just a soft and hardware Enthusiast some what like myself that likes to tinker with devices that we're totally clueless about?
 
Phalon4 said:
Now I'm not trying to pry in anybody's business but what was the point of purchasing an Android device from China when it didn't come stocked with what you want on it. Or are you just a soft and hardware Enthusiast some what like myself that likes to tinker with devices that we're totally clueless about?
Click to expand...

Usually because they're cheap and people think they're getting a bargain, but often don't know about their shortcomings if they need Google service, as most Android users do. It is a bit of a FAQ here on AF as well. :thumbsupdroid: Either they've bought one in China while on vacation and brought it home, bought it online from China, or from a local bazaar or night market somewhere.

These things often come with a lot of stuff that's really only any use in the PRC, and can't be removed without root or flashing an international ROM.

Want to go somewhere in Jinan?
waybook.jpg



Looking for something to eat? This is Oppo's stock contacts app.
eat.jpg

We do love pizza! And the late Bruce Lee is now a fast food restaurant.

BTW I'm actually British, but live, work and play in China. :thumbsupdroid:


Have a look at my dead Android avatar, it's about cheapo Androids from this country.
 
Last edited:
I love the cheap Chinese androids! They are so wonderfully cheap - you can even get what they call the "GooPhone"

It's an iPhone android clone! - MADE IN CHINA - by the finest slaves known to man! :)


Amazing the closeness hey ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom