The Chinese government does not allow Google products in China due to security concerns. This restriction applies to individuals traveling to China, those on business trips, and residents. You won’t be able to access the Google Play Store, any other Google product, or an app like Hangouts, G+, or Google Drive. This issue also exists on any smartphone you buy from China that has Chinese firmware running on it. Considering the recent sanctions on Huawei by the US government, the situation is getting even worse. The most famous Chinese smartphones are Huawei and Xiaomi. This guide will teach us how to download and install the Google Play Store on Huawei Nova 2.
If you are using a Huawei Nova 2 in China, you might have noticed that you can’t install or use other social network apps, such as Facebook, VK, or Twitter, apart from Google apps. Snapchat utilizes Google Play services to function. So, it won’t run until you have Google Play Store and Google Play services on your Huawei Nova 2.
Update 30th July 2025: The guide below is now obsolete. For downloading and installing Google Apps or services on your Huawei Device, please refer to this updated guide.
Guide to Download and Install Google Play Store on Huawei Nova 2 in China
Well, the workaround for this issue is pretty simple. I will go through all the possible ways that will allow you to download the Google Play Store on Huawei Nova 2 in China and abroad. Although you might have tried other ways to get into the Google Play Store, the most common error that occurs while trying is “Install core GMS package to use Google Service.”Â
Moving on to the fix, it’s pretty simple. All you have to do is install a VPN app on your phone. Please enable it to shift your network connection to another country, then download the Google Play Store APK and install it on your Huawei Nova 2.
You will need to perform or download some prerequisites before proceeding.
- Download the Google Play Store APK from here. Or you can find the latest Google Play Store APK version available from here.
- Download the VPN service from the App Store of your Huawei Nova 2. You can download a good VPN. Most VPNs that work are paid. Some VPN apps don’t work in China because the firewall is powerful, or most of the firewall’s DNS is blocked. So, I would recommend that you download ExpressVPN. It has 30 30-day trial as well. So you can use it for free for 30 days.
- The VPN that I used is called Robot VPN. You can download it from here. It is free.
Following is the step-by-step guide:
- Once you have got a VPN on your phone, please enable it. You have downloaded the Google Play Store APK on your Huawei Nova 2.
- Go to Settings -> Advanced Settings -> Security -> Enable Download from Unknown Sources.
- A warning message will be: “This file type can harm your device.” You can ignore it (it’s safe) and tap OK.
- Now, locate and open the Google Play Store and install it.
- After that, log in using your Google Account.
Also, check out the guide on installing Snapchat on Huawei Nova 2.
Now, you will be able to access all the apps present in the Google Play Store. After installation, search for Google Play Services and install them on your phone. It is required to run some apps like Snapchat on your Nova 2.
If you encounter any issues accessing the Play Store on your phone or have questions about the guide above, please let us know. You can ask us in the comments, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
