HowTo: Install Google Play on original Jolla Phone (sbj)
asked 2014-02-28 02:59:23 +0200
This post is a wiki. Anyone with karma >75 is welcome to improve it.
Foreword
Do not install, if you do not trust Google ("do not be evil" – this was long ago ;-).
The following procedure limits the software installed just to the Google Play store, eliminating all other stuff most often accompanying the Play store installation.
Alternative to Google Play Store installation
Question HowTo: Download app installation (apk) files from Google Play Store points to a web address allowing to download the app installation file when you know the package name or Google Play URL. So, at least for apps you do not have to pay for in-store, this could be an alternative to a Google Play Store installation as described below. (This alternative may not be more trustworthy than Google itself, see the comments to that question. Also: No idea, how app updates will be handled when you have not installed Play Store.)
Got a Jolla C or Tablet?
If you are looking for instructions for installing Google Play on your Jolla C or Tablet, have a look at this guide instead.
Preparations
You need on your Jolla handset:
- Jolla Store access
- Internet access (WLAN/WiFi or mobile network)
- App "File Browser" from Jolla Store
- Since Sailfish OS 1.0.4.20 possibly: Installation of untrusted software being enabled. Set |- Settings | System | Untrusted software | "Allow untrusted software" = active -|. (I could not test this, installation may also work while this option is left inactive.)
Note: Linux file and directory names are case sensitive!
Procedure
- Make sure you have a Jolla account and the Jolla device can access the Jolla Store.
- Go to |- Settings | System Settings | Developer Mode -|.
Because your Jolla device can access the Jolla Store, a Terminal app is installed now. - Activate „Developer mode“.
- Activate „Remote connection” (either enter and [Save] a password or [Generate] it; if you generate it, you have to edit it slightly before the [Save] button becomes available).
- Using the Jolla device, open the browser and download ~https://lu4ndr01d.googlecode.com/files/gapps-jb-20121011-signed.zip~ instead try: https://storage.googleapis.com/google-code-archive-downloads/v2/code.google.com/lu4ndr01d/gapps-jb-20121011-signed.zip.
The file is downloaded to directory /home/nemo/Downloads - Open the Terminal app installed during step 2.
The SailfishOS command prompt will appear. You are logged in as user, the prompt is a "$". - Go to the download directory: Enter
cd ~/Downloads
[Enter]
In case of an English Terminal keyboard layout, the "~" key is the shifted "=" key. - Unzip the file: Enter
unzip gapps-jb-20121011-signed.zip
[Enter]. - Get root access: Enter
devel-su
[Enter]. - When requested: Enter your password (as specified during step 4) and [Enter].
The prompt changes from "$" to "#". Now, you have root access to the Jolla device! Be careful! - Go to the destination directory: Enter
cd /opt/alien/system/app
[Enter]. - Copy the following files one by one (you do not need all the other ones unzipped before):
cp /home/nemo/Downloads/system/app/Phonesky.apk .
(Do not forget the dot at the end of the line.)cp /home/nemo/Downloads/system/app/GoogleLoginService.apk .
cp /home/nemo/Downloads/system/app/GoogleServicesFramework.apk .
By now, your Terminal window will look like:bash-3.2$ cd ~/Downloads bash-3.2$ unzip gapps-jb-20121011-signed.zip inflating: (… many, many lines …) Inflating: system/usr/srec/en-US/symbols bash-3.2$ devel-su Password: bash-3.2# cd /opt/alien/system/app bash-3.2# cp /home/nemo/Downloads/system/app/Phonesky.apk . bash-3.2# cp /home/nemo/Downloads/system/app/GoogleLoginService.apk . bash-3.2# cp /home/nemo/Downloads/system/app/GoogleServicesFramework.apk .
- Reboot the Jolla handset (switch off and on using the power button).
Alternatively:- Restart Alien Dalvik service: Enter
systemctl restart aliendalvik.service
[Return]. - End root access: Enter
exit
[Return]. - End Terminal: Enter
exit
[Return].
- Restart Alien Dalvik service: Enter
- Open app "File Browser".
- Goto directory
/opt/alien/system/app
.
The File Browser opens in the /home/nemo/ directory. To get to the root directory you have to tap the 2 upper left dots, then you can go down to the app directory. - Tap file
Phonesky.apk
.
A new page opens with details of this file. - From the pulley menu select "Install".
The Google Play store is being installed, a corresponding icon placed on the launcher screen. - Using File Browser you may clean up the Downloads directory from all the files unzipped there and not required any longer.
- Start the Play app and log in to the Play store. Refuse all options you do not want (e.g. backup to the Google cloud).
You are done.
Google account
The google account is saved in
/data/system/users/0/accounts.db
.
If you wish to purge Google completely, then you can delete this file.
Delete accounts.db (or better renaming it to accounts_backup.db) helps also for the cannot connect problem.
The google account name is also saved into
/data/system/sync/accounts.xml
Helpful was: - http://www.jollatides.com/2013/11/29/jolla-how-to-access-google-play/
Edit by @Tanghus: Some apps also require Google Play Services in order to e.g. pay for tickets etc.In that case you'll have to install the apk mentioned in this answer
After doing that you will have to repeat the step with tapping at Phonesky.apk
to re-install it.
Don't ask me why :)
Excellent handholding guide. Did this a month back and a few steps had me scratching my head.
orjans ( 2014-03-06 03:35:59 +0200 )editOn step 13 you don't have to reboot your Jolla, you just have to restart Alien Dalvik:
Lcferrum ( 2014-03-06 08:43:29 +0200 )editsystemctl restart aliendalvik.service
.Thanks for this very detailed guide! Is it possible to download paid for apps already purchased on an android device with my account? (tomtom for example)
c.la ( 2014-03-06 10:16:01 +0200 )editI have only bought a few app through play store. They will download and before installing them Play Store will crash, but you can find the temp file in data/app-private. If you rename that temp file to .apk you can install it manually and it will work. At least mine did.
Ozymandias ( 2014-03-06 10:27:27 +0200 )editVery cool. I've got Google Play on my Jolla. When I tried to authenticate to my Google account over WiFi it could not connect to the Google server to authenticate. So I switched wifi off and switched to 3G. This enabled me to login. As soon as it logged in the PlayStore quit. So I reloaded it and it tried to load the Google play home page. It this point it says "Server Error" - retry. Switch back to wifi and retry and still see same error.
Any suggestions?
Kaustav
JupiterOrbit ( 2014-03-07 18:02:17 +0200 )editThe procedure did work for me (and probably others) – accessing a Google account that was there already. You may have to reset the Jolla, i.e. switch off and on again. This is a problem not only for Play Store but also other Android apps that refuse operating directly after download. (Alternatively, restarting Alien Dalvik service may help, in addition to the command mentioned above there is a Sailfish app available for this in Jolla Store.)
jgr ( 2014-03-07 18:34:56 +0200 )editI restarted aliendavlik from the terminal during installation procedure. I just restarted my Jolla and still get the same issue :-( I'll review my terminal history and triple check that I followed process properly.
JupiterOrbit ( 2014-03-07 18:37:58 +0200 )edit(Another) restart is necessary after installation (but you have done it meanwhile).
Make sure that you have these 3 files (file sizes according to Sailfish File Browser; files are most probably updated since installing the original files using the procedure above):
If so and you still have problems, I would guess, that you should be able to re-install Phonesky.apk. (Question is, whether the server error is a connection on hardware level problem or on software level, e.g. login.)
jgr ( 2014-03-07 20:12:17 +0200 )editHello, i encountered a problem. I followed the steps and installed it correctly and it was running. Then after a day or so, the google play store "app" is missing, but i got a Google Settings "app" instead. Do i need to reinstall or is it a bug anybody else has encountered?
motka ( 2014-03-11 13:40:57 +0200 )editWOW this method work better than the first one (like rsync -av –ignore-existing method) !! Thank you :)
cvp ( 2014-03-19 16:52:33 +0200 )editDoes google play still install flawlessly after 1.0.4.20 update?
c.la ( 2014-03-20 10:26:51 +0200 )edit@c.la: At least, it still works flawless, so I would expect it also installs flawless (on most Sailfish with Alien Dalvik installations).
jgr ( 2014-03-20 12:44:30 +0200 )editIt work's! Thanks a lot!
kunterkatha ( 2014-03-29 12:06:15 +0200 )editQuote: On step 13 you don't have to reboot your Jolla, you just have to restart Alien Dalvik: systemctl restart aliendalvik.service. /Quote
what about using the "Reboot" Button within the Killdroid App, should'nt it do the same?
breiti_oi ( 2014-04-28 08:47:44 +0200 )edit@breiti_oi: Probably it does -- just try. (Often you have several ways to go, but only one is described -- usually the one with the lowest requirements, i.e. no unnecessary apps, in this case.)
jgr ( 2014-05-04 23:40:34 +0200 )editIt is not necessary to "Allow untrusted software". It works just fine if you don't activate that function. Thanks for a good step by step manual.
Ronesen ( 2014-05-21 16:04:02 +0200 )editI got several small issues First, just restarting dalvikalien.service didn't work. I had to reboot my phone. Then, the Google Gallery stopped working so I installed QuickPics (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.alensw.PicFolder) Google Play is working perfectly now (Sailfish OS 1.0.8.19)
tomtom ( 2014-08-15 12:09:47 +0200 )editSadly I need to install google play because I do need a copule apps available only there.
Is there a way to feed empty addressbook / call history / sms / etc to Alien Dalvik (or just google play apk) so that they can not snoop on my data stored on sailfish?
thank you
c.la ( 2014-08-28 20:16:09 +0200 )edit@jjaone Thanks for this Jukka. Easy to follow and works brilliantly.
DavidJ ( 2015-02-01 18:44:49 +0200 )edit@DavidJ: jjaone did not provide any input on this subject, only did some retagging -- and suggests to delete this post (https://together.jolla.com/question/30926/howto-install-google-play/?answer=75358#post-id-75358).
jgr ( 2015-02-08 16:01:08 +0200 )edit@jgr and @jjaone I am unable to remove my previous comment (thanking jjaone) so I will simply say thanks to whoever originally came up with the routine and apologise for mis-directing my thanks previously. IMHO, in the absence of a plentiful supply of native Sailfish apps, the ability to easily download and use Android apps is essential for an ordinary, non-technical user like myself. It's a pity that so much time and effort goes into minor squabbles and disagreements that could be more profitably used in developing native apps. Users like me haven't got the necessary development skills to do so but it's obvious that many of the other subscribers on this and other forums have.
DavidJ ( 2015-02-08 17:11:15 +0200 )editOk, is there any way to do it WITHOUT the Jolla Store access? I've just installed Sailfish on my Nexus 7, and since it has no IMEI it's impossible to log in to Jolla account using it.
Edit: Ok, I've managed somehow to install Google Play (don't ask how, I don't remember), but it always crashes on start :( The same for Amazon Appstore.
szafirowy01 ( 2015-02-10 13:49:55 +0200 )editThanks to whoever made this howto. I'm not fond of having to use Google apps, but I have to use public transportation and do banking sometimes, and there's not a chance in hell they'll ever do anything but iPhone or Android apps.
Tanghus ( 2015-03-10 02:22:19 +0200 )edit@Tanghus Right play services is needed by many apps and it is stopping me from using some of good Android apps. Thanks for the update.
(OT: Hey long time how are you doing ;-))
copyninja ( 2015-03-10 05:47:15 +0200 )edit@copyninja Hey! Didn't realize it was you. All those aliases ;) Yes, long time. Been struggling with some ... things, so have been offline the better part of the past year. I'm at thomas at tanghus dot net now.
Tanghus ( 2015-03-10 06:08:08 +0200 )editBig Thanks! ) Works perfect on 1.1.2.16! After installing .apk from the @Tanghus link Google Play Services asked to update from Google Play Store. After that update no more problems.
rburkhanov ( 2015-03-16 14:27:29 +0200 )editQuestion: Could we list here or somewhere else all known apps which are (sadly) requiring the Google Play Services and therefore the Google Play Store? In my case I turned on logging for Dalvik and figured out that the application developers of Lovoo (current trending dating app...) rely on the featuers offered only by closed-source Google stuff and not the open Android-APIs.
hoschi ( 2015-03-31 13:43:53 +0200 )editDid anybody try the Clash of Clans synchronization with Google+, using this method ? Or perhaps, using this method combined with the installation of a
Axel ( 2015-04-03 16:14:09 +0200 )editcom.google.android.gms.xxx.apk
?"http://goo.im/gapps/gapps-jb-20121011-signed.zip" the current apk doesn't work. I used the one I had downloaded long back. Please fix it.
Rosemary ( 2015-04-20 09:34:35 +0200 )editHello guyz...i have a problem plz help...once i installed google play with this method and it worked fine but then i cleared my device 2 days ago...so i tried to install again but this time when i unzip gapps it says cannot open or find gapps...plz help..thankss
Sudhir Kumar ( 2015-05-10 17:35:39 +0200 )edit@Rosemary : Hi, I also cleared my device and don't have the file anymore. Could you upload it anywhere? Thanks!
trauftropf ( 2015-06-08 19:05:32 +0200 )edit@trauftropf I don't have it. Google Play services is just horrible, unnecessary crashes, memory leaks etc... I switched back to the Android stores provided by Jolla.
Rosemary ( 2015-06-08 19:10:41 +0200 )editUm... Guys, I don't think the link for downloading the gapps works anymore. I think this link is an alternative for those who continues the process of installing Google https://code.google.com/p/lu4ndr01d/downloads/detail?name=gapps-jb-20121011-signed.zip&can=2&q=
fenditsim ( 2015-06-21 09:39:12 +0200 )editAnyone issues with the installatie op version 1.1.6.27? I can install it through the procedure, but i cannot run the play store app after installation. I create a new account and then it stops working. When i use login to existing account i get a message could not sign in. (Can't establish a reliable connection to the server, when pressed next i got a unsupported action). Play store icon is visible after reboot of phone play store icon is gone.
Anyone an idea? Would be nice if i get the play store running
BoertjE ( 2015-06-23 14:10:00 +0200 )edit