Recently, I switched to the HUAWEI Mate 30E and wanted to install Google apps, including YouTube and Google Play. However, I have been unsuccessful so far. Either the apps crash after installation or they don't install properly. Initially, I thought it was due to the issue of accessing the internet freely, but later I discovered that switching to the Chrome browser allowed me to access them normally. After some research, I found out that the reason for this is that my phone lacks GMS (Google Mobile Services). Only Android smartphone manufacturers who have obtained permission from Google can legally install GMS on their devices. The reasons why Huawei did not obtain Google's permission are widely debated online, but it seems to be related to the sanctions imposed on Huawei by the US government. Today, I tinkered with it at home and found a solution, which I will share below:
- Access the internet freely
Although GMS is crucial, accessing the internet freely is still a prerequisite. There are many methods to access the internet freely, including using VPN, Shadowsocks, V2Ray, etc. Currently, I directly purchase Just My Socks, which costs around $6 per month. It is convenient and affordable. Last year, I purchased Bandwagon, a VPS in Los Angeles for $50 per year, and set up Shadowsocks myself. Although it was slightly cheaper in terms of cost, on one hand, it required effort to set up each time, and on the other hand, it needed regular maintenance. If the IP address was blocked, it would be troublesome. Therefore, I still recommend directly purchasing Just My Socks. The method of purchasing and configuring Just My Socks can be found in the article "2021 Latest JustMySocks Purchase Tutorial."
- Install GMS
- Currently, it is not easy to download the GMS installation package, and it is not advisable to use unofficial websites. However, today I found an alternative method on the Tencent App Store: OurPlay. Refer to the image below.
- After installing OurPlay, a prompt box like the one shown in the image below will appear. Your eyes will light up, "GMS is here!"
- Click "Agree," and you will see that GMS and the Google Play Store suite start installing automatically, as shown in the image below:
- Wait for a moment, and you will see that Google Play Store is installed.
- Enable internet access on your phone, launch Google Play Store, follow the prompts to enter your Google account, and then restart Google Play Store. You will be able to log in normally. I tried installing YouTube and Coursera, and I could see the icons for YouTube and Coursera in the original Google Play Store location. See the image below:
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If you exit OurPlay at this point, you won't find YouTube and Coursera on your phone. Therefore, it can be seen that OurPlay acts as a virtual environment for overseas apps, and this virtual environment does not require root access on your phone. If OurPlay is uninstalled, all overseas apps will be uninstalled as well.
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I must mention another powerful feature of OurPlay—playing overseas gaming apps. I will use League of Legends (LOL) as an example. The mobile version of LOL in the Chinese server will finally be released this year, aiming to compete with Tencent's Honor of Kings. However, the Taiwanese and international versions of LOL were actually released before the Chinese version. By using OurPlay, you can download the Taiwanese or international version in advance and experience the mobile version of LOL. Search for LOL in OurPlay, download the international version (which currently supports Traditional Chinese), and then launch it normally. The ten kills are waiting for you. Last but not least, OurPlay is designed for overseas games, and you don't need to access the internet freely when playing LOL!
