Chinese Huawei Phone? Install Google Apps on HarmonyOS 4

Huawei has stood out in the past decade with its innovative smartphones and cutting-edge devices. With the introduction of HarmonyOS, Huawei’s proprietary operating system, the company aimed to redefine user experience, particularly in the Chinese market. However, this unique operating system is only for devices in China. It lacks support for Google apps and services, a vital component for smartphone users accustomed to Gmail, Google Maps, and the Google Play Store on their Android Smartphones. This guide provides a step-by-step method to install Google apps on HarmonyOS 4. With this guide, you can also install Google Play Services, which are essential for many other apps.

For Huawei smartphone users outside China, the absence of Google apps is a significant inconvenience. This article will explore a comprehensive solution for installing Google apps on Huawei smartphones running HarmonyOS, from understanding the limitations imposed by the absence of Google services to exploring alternative methods and workarounds. This guide will allow you to integrate Google apps seamlessly into Huawei’s ecosystem.

Guide to Install Google Apps on HarmonyOS 4:

The guide is a bit lengthy, but it is guaranteed to work. If you follow the steps mentioned, you can enjoy Google services and Google apps on your Chinese Huawei phone.

Before we proceed with the guide, some preparatory steps need to be carried out on your Huawei phone to ensure the process goes smoothly.

Prerequisites:

1. Go to Settings > App and Services > App Twin to disable App Twin. If it is enabled, disable it.
2. Disable Private Space: Navigate to Settings > Privacy > Private Space. Ensure that Private Space is disabled.
3. Go to Biometrics & Password > Enable the Lock Screen Password. This password will be required during the installation process.
4. Navigation Dock: Ensure the Navigation Dock is turned off in Settings > System and Update > System and Navigation.
5. Disable App Guard: In Settings, locate App Guard > Disable Enhanced Protection.

Now that the prerequisites are done, the phone is ready. We need to download the Google Framework, which has all the files and Googlefier we will use to install Google Apps on HarmonyOS 4.

Downloadables:

1. Download the zip file from here using the Huawei HarmonyOS default web browser.
2. Once the download is complete, a pop-up will appear on the screen.
3. Once the download is completed, go to Files, HarmonyOS’s default file manager.
4. Go to Files -> Download -> Browser -> Here, you will see the downloaded Zip file.
5. Press and hold on to the zip file until it is checked. Then, you’ll see four dots in the lower right corner that say “More.” Tap on it.
6. Now tap on Extract to -> Current Location -> Okay.
7. You will see two folders in the extracted folder, Huawei and GMS Folder.
8. Press and hold the Huawei folder and copy it.
9. Now, on the taskbar, you will see “Another Location” followed by “Internal Storage”. Tap on the Checkmark in the top right corner to paste the files.
10. Now, you will get a notification to merge the files on your phone. Select “Apply to All” and then tap “Merge.“

Now that we have preprocessed the files and downloaded them, the next step is to install the Google Apps and Google Play Store on a Huawei phone running HarmonyOS 4.

Steps to Install Google Apps on HarmonyOS 4:

The following is a step-by-step guide for installing Google Apps on the HarmonyOS 4 operating system. It will also install the GMS and Google Framework on your Chinese Huawei phone.

1. Go to Settings -> System and Update -> Date and Time on your phone.
2. Switch off “Set Automatically” and set the date to 2019.
3. Return to the settings menu and select “Backup & Restore.”
4. Now, activate the external storage and grant permission when prompted by the phone.
5. Once the backup is activated, restart the Settings app by closing it, and then return to Settings. Select Backup & Restore, and tap the four dots icon in the top-right corner. You will see Restore from internal storage.
6. You will now see a local backup in the Local Backup Records. Select it to restore.
7. Select the checkmark next to “Apps & Data” and tap “Restore.” To restore the files, you will need to provide the password, which is the same as the one displayed on the screen as the Password tip.

Now, wait for the backup to be stored. You will see on your screen “Restore Complete.”

Google Services Assistant:

Head back to the main home screen of your Huawei phone. Here, you will see an app with a “G” icon; this app is called “Google Services Assistant,” although its name is currently displayed in Chinese.

We would use this app to install Google Apps, GMS, Google Services, and Google Play Store.

1. When you open the app, you will see a screen that asks you to perform seven actions. If fewer than seven actions are mentioned here, a problem may arise. Then, repeat the process above.
2. Ensure there are seven options, including“Lock the Screen,” “Set Storage Encryption,” “Disable Cameras,” “Disable Features in Keyguard,” “Set App Categories,” “Set Permissions of Management Apps,” and “Set Super Trust list.”
3. Now tap on Activate. It will display a Security Alert; check the box and tap ‘Activate anyway’.
4. Now, give the app permission to access files on your phone. Tap on Allow.
5. Now, you will see the app screen with some Chinese text and a blue button at the bottom. There is no need to tap on the button. Now, head back to your phone’s home screen.

Install GMS and Googlefier on Huawei running on HarmonyOS 4

The next and final step is to install Google Services, GMS, and other Google apps using the Googlefier app.

1. Return to the folder that was extracted from the zip file and navigate to the GMS folder.
2. Now, install the Googfier APK, tap ‘Allow’, and then install the app.
3. It will ask for a screen password; it will be the same screen pin that we set up above in the prerequisites.
4. Now open the Googlefier app and tap on “Nevermind let me in.”
5. Next, when you arrive at the app’s main screen, it will request multiple phone permissions. Give the permissions.
6. Now, there are three steps listed on the screen that we must follow. The steps are self-explanatory and are mentioned on the screen.
7. Tap on the first step, which is to install basic services. Sometimes, the app is not responsive, so you might have to tap on it several times.
8. Now it will say you must set the date and time to automatic. It will lead you to Settings> System & Updates> Date & Time. Here, enable the set automatically.
9. Return to the Googlefier app and tap the first step again. Once you have set the date and time to “Set Automatically,” the first step might become unresponsive.
10. So, you need to head back to Settings -> System & Updates -> Date & Time -> Disable’ Set Automatically’. Change the date to 2021. Once you set the date to 2021, the first step in the Googlefier app will be activated again.
11. Now, return to the Googlefier app and tap on the first step.
12. Now your phone will install MicroG. Give the lock screen password to proceed.
13. Return to the home screen of your Huawei phone without opening the MicroG app. Now, for the last time, go back to Date & Time -> Enable the Automatic Set date and time. Otherwise, you won’t be able to log in to your Google account.
14. Go back to the Googlefier app and tap ‘Open’ to launch the MicroG app.
15. Now tap on the account to add a Google Account.
16. Tap on Sign in and log in with your Google Account. It might crash the first time, but you can try again later.
17. Give your Google account username and password.
18. Now go back to the Googlefier app. You can log in using the second step if you have a second Google account. This is the only opportunity during the process to add a second Google account; you will not be able to add another one later.
19. Now jump to step three, and it will install GMS and Google apps. Just follow the on-screen instructions.
20. It will install several Google Apps on your Huawei phone. Just permit the installation of the apps and provide your lock screen password. You will notice that Googlefier will also install Google Services Framework and Google Play Store on your Chinese Huawei phone running on HarmonyOS 4.
21. Now, Googlefier will ask you to force stop and uninstall MicroG. Open MicroG’s App info, where you can uninstall the app.
22. The whole process of installing Google apps on HarmonyOS 4 is finished via Googlefier. If you have any issues or errors during the process, you can use the last option in Googlefier to uninstall all the Google Services and Apps and repeat the process again.

Google Play Store on Chinese Huawei Phone running on HarmonyOS 4

1. Now, if you return to the home screen, you will see the Google Play Store app.
2. Open it and see if it works. If it does not and crashes, we must install the Google Play Store from the APK file.
3. Go back to the folder where you extracted the zip file. The Google Play Store APK is there. Tap on it to install it on your phone.
4. Now, you can open the Google Play Store and download and install all apps, including Google Apps, on HarmonyOS 4.

Troubleshoot Google Play Store Installation Process on Chinese Huawei Phone

1. You need to restart your Huawei phone if you don’t see anything when you open the Google Play Store.
2. If the Google Play Store still does not work after restarting, go to Settings> Apps> Google Play Store> Storage> Clear Data. 
3. If you see an error in the notification bar, “Google Play Store is uncertified,” there’s nothing to worry about. You can go to Settings> Apps> Google Play Store> Notifications> Disable Notifications.
4. If, while downloading apps from the Google Play Store, such as Gmail and YouTube, the download progress becomes stuck at a certain point. Return to Settings -> Apps -> Google Play Store -> Storage -> Clear Data. 

This guide explains how to install Google Apps on HarmonyOS 4. Using this guide, you can install Google Play Store and all other Google Apps on your Huawei Chinese phone. The process is somewhat lengthy, but it is generally straightforward. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or are unsure about the process outlined above.