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HowTo: Install Google Play on original Jolla Phone (sbj)

asked 2014-02-28 02:59:23 +0200

this post is marked as community wiki

This post is a wiki. Anyone with karma >75 is welcome to improve it.

updated 2018-05-06 23:07:49 +0200

jollajo gravatar image

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

  1. Make sure you have a Jolla account and the Jolla device can access the Jolla Store.
  2. Go to |- Settings | System Settings | Developer Mode -|.
    Because your Jolla device can access the Jolla Store, a Terminal app is installed now.
  3. Activate „Developer mode“.
  4. 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).
  5. 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
  6. Open the Terminal app installed during step 2.
    The SailfishOS command prompt will appear. You are logged in as user, the prompt is a "$".
  7. Go to the download directory: Enter cd ~/Downloads [Enter]
    In case of an English Terminal keyboard layout, the "~" key is the shifted "=" key.
  8. Unzip the file: Enter unzip gapps-jb-20121011-signed.zip [Enter].
  9. Get root access: Enter devel-su [Enter].
  10. When requested: Enter your password (as specified during step 4) and [Enter].
    The prompt changes from "$" to "#". Now, you have root access to the Jolla device! Be careful!
  11. Go to the destination directory: Enter cd /opt/alien/system/app [Enter].
  12. 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 .
  13. 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].
  14. Open app "File Browser".
  15. 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.
  16. Tap file Phonesky.apk.
    A new page opens with details of this file.
  17. From the pulley menu select "Install".
    The Google Play store is being installed, a corresponding icon placed on the launcher screen.
  18. Using File Browser you may clean up the Downloads directory from all the files unzipped there and not required any longer.
  19. 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 :)

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Comments

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 )edit
9

On step 13 you don't have to reboot your Jolla, you just have to restart Alien Dalvik: systemctl restart aliendalvik.service.

Lcferrum ( 2014-03-06 08:43:29 +0200 )edit

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 )edit

I 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 )edit
1

Very 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

17 Answers

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15

answered 2014-03-06 11:04:45 +0200

this post is marked as community wiki

This post is a wiki. Anyone with karma >75 is welcome to improve it.

updated 2014-03-09 22:47:22 +0200

jgr gravatar image

Paid apps

  • Paid app paid outside Play Store: Several users successfully installed Sygic Navigation.
  • Paid app paid inside Play Store: According to @Ozymandias they will download and before installing them, Play Store will crash. Then you can find the temp file in directory /data/app-private. If you rename that temp file to .apk you can install it manually and it will work.

Renaming a file, e.g.:

  • Use Android OI File Manager (from Yandex Store), mark the file and select "Rename" from the menu.
  • Use Terminal (see question above):
    • devel-su
    • cd /data/app-private
    • dir to list the current content of the directory. (Alternatively you may use ls.)
    • mv xxx.tmp xxx.apk (replace "xxx.tmp" by the current name of the file).
    • exit to end root access.

After renaming, use File Browser to install the app as shown with Phonesky.apk in the question above.

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Comments

Thanks for adding this.

orjans ( 2014-03-06 11:57:24 +0200 )edit
4

Thanks from me too. Saw it once but forgot the place I found it. I wonder though what actually happens when the store crashes. It should be doing some kind of secure validation of the purchase that fails so badly that it either quits or crashes. So what I'm curious about is whether this is some sort of API/functionality missing in the alien dalvik that could be fixed by jolla or if its some other deficiency/intolerance in the play store-app. Interesting to hear if any Jolla dev has any idea.

Larswad ( 2014-04-10 13:55:29 +0200 )edit

I had to change the permissions of the paid and failed package to 'chmod 777 xxx.apk' using the devel-su terminal session before I was able to inspect its contents with the excellent File Browser, helas the installation failed. I copied, as devel-su the apk-file into the Android storage space in the data area of some application, then I scanned for the applications with Clean Master for Android. The package appears now in the Backup section of Clean Master and installs nicely. Thanks!

canne ( 2014-04-12 22:40:59 +0200 )edit
1

What about apps that have in app purchases. I have this one word book app (Duden Wörterbuch) where you buy the word books that you want inside the app. App itself is free and you download the wordbook data after the in app payment. So has anybody tried if it is possible to reinstate your purchases?

Olli_K ( 2014-05-03 20:22:51 +0200 )edit

I've just renamed my downloaded .tmp file to a .apk file, and moved it from /data/app-private to /data/app, and now the app appears to be installed and running well.. didn't need to "install" the apk, or change permissions.. do you think this is a good workaround, or should I be installing paid apps another way?

starpollo ( 2014-05-20 12:17:57 +0200 )edit
8

answered 2014-03-20 22:02:54 +0200

Schturman gravatar image

I created a simple package (installer) based on this thread :) Thanks for instruction! https://openrepos.net/content/schturman/google-play-installer

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Sounds interesting.

"Dev mode should be activated and python installed.": Is this a precondition even you go this way: "1. From file browser as USER -> pull down -> install -> wait for notification."? If so, is it easier to install python than to install Google Play the way explained in the question?

jgr ( 2014-03-20 22:11:26 +0200 )edit

sorry, python added to the spec file, that mean when you will install my package from warehouseo and if you phone not have python it should install it..

Schturman ( 2014-03-20 23:20:43 +0200 )edit

how can i enable operator billing for paid apps? everytime i try to pay for a app using my phonebill it displays a error, and tells me to try again.. to no avail...

XiliX ( 2014-03-21 00:53:36 +0200 )edit

Are you sure that your operator supports operator billing in Play Store?

See https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/2651410?hl=en, heading "Direct carrier billing for apps and digital content"

jgr ( 2014-03-24 00:31:04 +0200 )edit

package no longer available on open repos

DarkTuring ( 2016-10-30 00:23:32 +0200 )edit
4

answered 2016-08-11 23:56:15 +0200

rob_kouw gravatar image

I just tried this procedure on a clean installation of Taalojarvi 2.01.11. I managed to log into Google. Then the Google Play window produced a "Server Error - Retry" message. Also after retrying the installation of Phonesky.apk, I kept getting the server error.

So I used a .apk file I found in 2015. It provides a more recent version of Google Play, and it will open up to all the apps. A zip with the .apk can be found here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/gz0u6h9pbgxyequ/Newer%20version%202015-07-09.zip?dl=0

Soon after installation it will upgrade to the newest version.

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Comments

Did not work for me - also a clean installation of Taalojarvi 2.01.11. Store installs fine, but crashes immediately and after reboot the icon is gone.

Seems like the gapps from the orginal link https://lu4ndr01d.googlecode.com/files/gapps-jb-20121011-signed.zip is no longer available. Any suggestions on an other source?

DNG ( 2016-08-30 01:48:37 +0200 )edit
2

@Nicole - Thanks a lot for the link - worked like a charm.

DNG ( 2016-10-26 00:05:56 +0200 )edit

@rob_kouw Also got "Server Error - Retry" message with 2.0.4.14 build. https://www.dropbox.com/s/gz0u6h9pbgxyequ/Newer%20version%202015-07-09.zip?dl=0 link is no longer valid.

Has anyone have a working version to download?

Vitaly ( 2016-11-10 21:18:03 +0200 )edit
3

answered 2016-11-27 19:49:51 +0200

Eminem gravatar image

File gapps-jb-20121011-signed.zip link doesn't work. Here is a new one. :)

https://minfil.org/r829q8b8b0/gapps-jb-20121011-signed.zip

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3

answered 2017-01-23 05:09:09 +0200

If you don't care about Google Services, can try the Yalp Store(https://tuxicoman.jesuislibre.net/2017/01/yalp-store-telechargez-les-applications-du-google-play-store-sans-google-apps.html) , download apps directly from Google Play, with no intermediates, with a hardware configuration compatible with Jolla (not C, on C I don't try), I don't know how, but works all aplications what I need: Whatsapp, Airbnb, Skype and others. I liked to much of the results and the simplicity, maybe a good alternative to Google Play.

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1

The point of installing Google Play is not really to get apps, but to make apps requiring Google services (e.g. Maps) working.

Sthocs ( 2017-01-23 11:50:34 +0200 )edit
1

@Sthocs, my point for installing Google Play was to get an easy access to certain needed domestic apps like my net bank app and my internet operators' apps, the providers of which are not the slightest interested in distributing the apps through any other channel.

teemu ( 2017-01-24 09:05:14 +0200 )edit
2

answered 2014-04-10 12:48:09 +0200

Kristjan gravatar image

updated 2014-10-14 11:25:24 +0200

Larswad gravatar image

is this safe? when sailfish was officially launched there was a warning that said if you are in a developer mode and you then update, your device would be broken.

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2

It seems to me that the new guide presented here is much less invasive, hence less dangerous. It simply adds / install a few .apk packages, it doesn't replace a whole hierarchy of files like the last one did. I'd say this method is very safe providing it is done right and the guide is followed correctly.

Larswad ( 2014-04-10 13:52:00 +0200 )edit
3

How can safely uninstall Google Play Services completely. Is it enough to uninstall these apps: Phonesky.apk GoogleLoginService.apk GoogleServicesFramework.apk?

Louis ( 2014-04-12 17:59:22 +0200 )edit
3

Yes I think these are the three .apk-files you have to remove. When you uninstall AndroidSupport-app (from Jolla Store) you can see that these are the only remaining files inside the /opt/Alien/-directory. When you want to have a new clean /opt/Alien/-directory:

  1. uninstall the AndroidSupport-app
  2. enter terminal and become root
  3. rm -R /opt/alien/*
  4. install again the AndroidSupport-app
alex ( 2014-04-13 01:08:20 +0200 )edit
4

Is there any way to delete google play market and google services without unistalling AndroidSupport-app?

nix ( 2014-11-23 18:13:43 +0200 )edit
1

answered 2016-11-24 06:08:53 +0200

sundeeseeyou gravatar image

The Gapps link is broken, and is this method still working?

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Comments

Or go to https://code.google.com/archive/p/lu4ndr01d/ » downloads » the last page (6), the zip is still there

Pheet ( 2016-11-24 12:43:29 +0200 )edit
0

answered 2014-10-02 19:14:00 +0200

shaan7 gravatar image

when i choose install from the pulley menu for PhoneSky.apk, nothing happens. i have all three apk files and followed the instructions step by step.

any hints on how to debug what might be wrong? i'm on sailfish 1.0.8.19

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I have this problem as well. I recently had to reset my phone (I made of mess of things when I formatted my SDcard). This worked perfectly the first time I did it, but now it fails when I ask it to install phonesky. It says "install launched. If nothing happens then the package is probably faulty." I have done everything twice now, and get the same results.

EDIT: Another user reported that turning off the phone and removing the battery worked for him. I tried it and it worked for me to. The app installed just fine after the battery had spent some time on the desk.

NevilClavain ( 2014-11-03 14:12:14 +0200 )edit
1

This is not an answer. Please convert it to a comment.

Tanghus ( 2014-11-23 18:05:06 +0200 )edit
1

Ok,but,acctually, here all the answers are not answers. And a question is not a question

nix ( 2014-11-23 18:09:24 +0200 )edit

True, but I chose not to comment on the other "answers" as they are pretty old. Thanks for applying to my request :)

Tanghus ( 2014-11-23 18:22:35 +0200 )edit

I have this problem, and removing battery does not give a result, how long need to remove?

Konrad ( 2014-12-16 12:43:44 +0200 )edit
0

answered 2015-02-14 20:44:45 +0200

kurdit gravatar image

help me pls step 11: bash-3.2# cd /opt/alien/system/app (enter) no such file or directory

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andoid support is installed and running?

rudi ( 2015-02-14 21:42:17 +0200 )edit

thks for ur answer.. i think no..it need running andro support? how mate? im newbie here

kurdit ( 2015-02-14 22:37:51 +0200 )edit

download and install from Jolla store, then you'll able to proceed here

rudi ( 2015-02-14 22:43:33 +0200 )edit

cant find alien dalvik on store any link?

kurdit ( 2015-02-15 00:17:33 +0200 )edit

on the phone, jolla store, android support

rudi ( 2015-02-15 01:06:10 +0200 )edit
0

answered 2015-03-06 17:58:22 +0200

zappAtom gravatar image

I have a question regarding updates! I guess the Google Play app will offer updates of applications I installed by it. What about these other solutions where I use the URL or just download an apk package. I guess you have to check for updates by yourself, or?

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It seems like Play Store remains in the system even if you uninstall it. For a confirmation consider removing it and look at available updates in Aptoide.
Dunno what would happen with updates distributed only through GP.

Odorobo ( 2015-03-06 18:06:04 +0200 )edit

thx for your answer. But my question was related to normal Android app updates. I guess you get this only with the respective store apps!?

zappAtom ( 2015-03-06 18:21:31 +0200 )edit

@zappAtom, you mean cracked ones?

Odorobo ( 2015-03-06 18:46:04 +0200 )edit

I mean Android apps that you installed via the Google Play store. If there's an update for it...do I receive that via the Play store? If I manually install an apk file, I probably need also to update manually, or?

zappAtom ( 2015-03-06 18:48:37 +0200 )edit

@zappAtom, i'll reply in a metaphor:
if you load a gun, you still need to pull the trigger for it to shoot
if you can make someone else to do all the job, you just ask

Odorobo ( 2015-03-06 18:51:26 +0200 )edit
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Asked: 2014-02-28 02:59:23 +0200

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Last updated: Jan 13 '20