Installing the Google Play Store is a common practice for Chinese smartphone buyers. Why? These smartphones often have custom versions of Android and rely on internal stores.
The most famous is undoubtedly Xiaomi, which in the software versions designed for the Chinese market does not put the store Google. Even the Xiaomi Mi5s we reviewed suffers from this problem, which fortunately is easily solved.
In the past, we showed you how to install the Play Store on Chinese smartphones via root. Since this is not a straightforward procedure, we believe it is appropriate to examine the subject in greater detail, proposing an alternative.
Therefore, today we will show you how to install the Google Play Store on a generic smartphone or Android tablet without using root permissions or other modding techniques.
What you need to know before installing the Google Play Store
To avoid getting and exploiting root permissions you will need to enable the installation of unverified applications. For the guide in question, it is to use a secure file and tried by thousands of users before you. Unfortunately, nowadays there are many Google Play Store APKs– only a few of them are safe.
Since I really care about security, I strongly recommend re-enabling the option once the procedure below is followed. It’s really easy to tap the wrong link/banner and get the phone infected.
Before proceeding with this guide it is good practice to copy the most important files to a secure medium. There are no particular risks but getting used to making a regular backup of your smartphone or tablet is a great practice!
Installing the Google Play Store without root- the necessary steps
- Access the APK Mirror portal to download the latest version of the Google Play Store. The file will have the extension .apk, the acronym that characterizes all Android applications.
- In case you have downloaded from a PC, transfer the file to your phone. I suggest you put it in an easily visible folder, for example, Download. Alternatively, via a File Manager app, you can easily find the Google Play Store APK.
- Go to Settings> Security and look for an entry similar to Enable unknown sources. Once found, press on it. A message may appear in which you are reminded that it is an unsafe procedure. As mentioned above, the files are safe but, after installation, I recommend you re-enable this security option.
- Locate the APK file of the Google Play Store using a file manager on your smartphone or tablet. Tap the previously downloaded file.
- Click on Install. In case you did not see this writing immediately you will have to scroll through the messages that tell you the potential risk of unverified apks.
- Wait for the operation to complete.
- Once you have finished the operation you will see the Play Store among the applications on your Android device– as promised the root permissions are not served! Launch it and start downloading apps from the Google store!
