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 )edit