Guide to Install Google Apps and GMS on Harmony OS 3

Over the past decade, Huawei has emerged as a notable player in innovative smartphones and cutting-edge devices. With the launch of HarmonyOS, Huawei’s operating system, the company sought to improve user experience in Android smartphones, particularly within the Chinese market. However, the HarmonyOS version, exclusive to devices in China, lacks support for essential Google apps and services, such as Gmail, YouTube, Google Pay, Google Maps, and the Google Play Store, which are integral for many smartphone users. This guide provides a functional method for installing Google apps and GMS on Harmony OS 3. Following these steps, users can also incorporate Google Play Services, crucial for other applications such as Uber and Snapchat.

The absence of Google apps poses a notable inconvenience for Huawei smartphone users beyond China. This article gives a comprehensive solution for installing Google apps and GMS on Huawei smartphones operating on HarmonyOS 3. It covers understanding the constraints of the lack of Google services and exploring alternative approaches and solutions. Following this guide, users can seamlessly integrate Google apps into Huawei’s ecosystem.

The guide below can be used to install GMS on HarmonyOS smartphones, which are as follows:

1. Huawei Nova 6 SE
2. Huawei Enjoy 20 Pro 5G
3. Huawei Nova 5
4. Huawei Enjoy 20 Plus 5G
5. Huawei Nova 5i Pro
6. Huawei Enjoy 20 5G
7. Huawei nova 5i
8. Huawei Enjoy 10S
9. Huawei nova 5z
10.  Huawei Enjoy 10 Plus
11. Huawei Nova 4
12. Huawei Enjoy 9S
13. Huawei nova 4e
14. Huawei Enjoy Z 5G
15. Huawei Maimang 9 5G
16. Huawei Maimang 8
17. Huawei MatePad 10.4 inches
18. Huawei MatePad 5G 10.4 inches

Install Google Apps and GMS on Harmony OS 3

Even though the guide might seem long, it will work. Following the steps carefully, you can use Google apps and services on your Huawei phone from China.

Pre requisites and downloadables:

Before starting with the guide, you must perform some steps on your Huawei phone to ensure everything goes smoothly.

Follow these steps to prepare your Huawei phone before installing Google apps:

1. Disable App Twin: Go to Settings > App and Services > App Twin and ensure it’s turned off. If it’s enabled, disable it.
2. Turn off Private Space: Navigate to Settings > Privacy > Private Space and ensure it’s disabled.
3. Set up a Lock Screen Password: Go to Biometrics & Password and enable the Lock Screen Password. You’ll need this password during the installation process.
4. Disable Navigation Dock: In Settings, go to System and Update > System and Navigation, and make sure the Navigation Dock is turned off.
5. Disable App Guard: In Settings, find and disable Enhanced Protection in App Guard settings.

Now that your phone is ready, you’ll need to download the necessary files to install Google apps on HarmonyOS 3:

1. Download the zip file from the provided link using the Huawei HarmonyOS default web browser.
2.  Once the download is complete, open the Files app (HarmonyOS’s default file manager).
3. Navigate to Files > Download > Browser to find the downloaded zip file.
4. Press and hold the zip file until selected, then tap “More” in the lower right corner.
5. Tap on “Extract to” > “Current Location” > “Okay.”
6. You’ll find two folders in the extracted folder: Huawei and GMS Folder. Press and hold the Huawei folder and select “Copy.”
7. Tap “Another Location” on the taskbar, then select “Internal Storage”. Tap the checkmark in the top right corner to paste the files.
8. You’ll receive a notification to merge the files on your phone. Select “Apply to All” and then tap on “Merge”.

Now that the files are preprocessed and downloaded, you can install Google apps and the Google Play Store on your Huawei phone running Harmony OS 3.

Steps to Install Google Apps and GMS on HarmonyOS 3:

Here’s a step-by-step guide to installing Google Apps, GMS, and Google Framework on your Chinese Huawei phone running Harmony OS 3:

1. Navigate to Settings -> System and Update -> Date and Time on your phone.
2. Turn off “Set Automatically” and manually set the date to 2019.
3. Return to the settings menu and choose “Backup & Restore.”
4. Activate external storage and grant permission when prompted by the phone.
5. Once the backup is activated, close and reopen the settings app. Select Backup & Restore, then tap the four dots icon at the top right corner.
6. In the menu, select “Restore from internal storage.”
7. Choose the local backup from the Local backup records.
8. Select the checkmark next to Apps & Data and tap on Restore. Enter the password, the same as the Password tip displayed on the screen.
9. Wait for the backup process to complete. You’ll see “Restore Complete” on your screen.

Install Google Services Assistant (谷歌服务助手)

Return to your Huawei phone’s main home screen. Look for an app with a “G” icon; this is the “Google Services Assistant” app, though its name may currently appear in Chinese. This app is essential for installing Google Apps, GMS, Google Services, and the Google Play Store.

1. Upon opening the app, you’ll encounter a screen prompting you to grant permission for seven actions. If fewer than seven actions are listed, it may cause issues later, so repeat the previous steps.
2. Ensure that all seven options are present: “Lock the Screen,” “Set Storage Encryption,” “Disable Cameras,” “Disable Features in Keyguard,” “Set App Categories,” “Set Permissions of Management Apps,” and “Set Super Trustlist.”
3. Tap on “Activate”. You’ll receive a Security Alert; proceed by checking the checkmark and tapping on “Activate anyway.”
4. Grant the app permission to access files on your phone by tapping on “Allow”.

You’ll then see the app screen with Chinese text and a blue button at the bottom. Now, you don’t need to tap the button; return to your phone’s home screen.

Install Googlefier and GMS on Huawei running on HarmonyOS 3

The subsequent and final step involves installing Google Services, GMS, and additional Google apps using the Googlefier application.

Procedure to Install Google Apps on HarmonyOS 3:

1. Navigate back to the directory extracted from the zip file and locate the GMS folder.
2. Install the Googlefier APK, granting necessary permissions during the installation process. Provide the screen password corresponding to the screen PIN established earlier in the prerequisites.
3. Launch the Googlefier app and select “Never mind, let me in.” Once you reach the app’s main screen, grant the required permissions as prompted.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions, divided into three self-explanatory steps.
5. Initiate the first step, which involves installing basic services. In case of unresponsiveness, tap multiple times.
6. The app will direct you to the Data and Time Settings menu. In Settings -> System & Updates -> Date & Time, set the date and time to automatic.
7. Return to the Googlefier app and retry the first step.
8. Install MicroG when prompted, entering the lock screen password to proceed.
9. Return to the home screen without opening the MicroG app. Then, revert to Settings -> System & Updates -> Date & Time to re-enable the automatic date and time setting.
10. Launch the MicroG app from the Googlefier app.
11. Add a Google Account by tapping “Account” and then “Sign in.”
12. Provide your Google account credentials. If the app crashes, try again. Return to the Googlefier app. At this stage, you can add a second Google account if desired. Proceed to step three, which will install GMS and Google apps.
13. Follow the on-screen instructions. Grant permissions and provide the lock screen password to install the Google Apps. Note that Googlefier will also install Google Services Framework and Google Play Store on your Harmony OS 3 Huawei device.
14. Upon completion, Googlefier will prompt you to force stop and uninstall MicroG. Uninstall MicroG from the App info section.

The process of installing Google apps on Harmony OS 3 through Googlefier is now complete. If you encounter any issues, you can use the uninstallation feature in Googlefier to remove all Google Services and Apps and repeat the process.

Installing Google Play Store on a Chinese Huawei Phone running on Harmony OS 3:

• Upon returning to the home screen after completing the installation process, locate the Google Play Store app.
• Attempt to open it to verify functionality. If it crashes or fails to work, proceed to install the Google Play Store from the APK file.
• Navigate back to the folder where the zip file was extracted. The Google Play Store APK can be found here. Tap on it to initiate the phone’s installation process.
• Once installed, open the Google Play Store and proceed to download and install all desired apps, including Google Apps tailored for HarmonyOS 3.

Troubleshooting the Google Play Store Installation Process on Harmony OS 3:

If the Google Play Store does not display anything upon opening, perform a restart on your Huawei phone.

1. If the issue persists after restarting, navigate to Settings -> Apps -> Google Play Store -> Storage -> Clear Data.
2. If you encounter the notification “Google Play Store is uncertified,” navigate to Settings -> Apps -> Google Play Store -> Notifications -> Disable Notifications.
3. In case the download progress of apps from Google Play Store, such as Gmail and YouTube, becomes stuck at one point, navigate to Settings -> Apps -> Google Play Store -> Storage -> Clear Data to resolve the issue.

If you’ve followed the steps outlined in this guide, you should now have Google Play Store, Google Apps, and Google Mobile Services (GMS) successfully installed on your HarmonyOS 3 device. We hope this guide has been helpful in bridging the gap between HarmonyOS and the Google ecosystem, allowing you to enjoy your favorite apps seamlessly. Should you encounter any issues or have further questions, don’t hesitate to reach out. Our team is here to assist you every step of the way, ensuring you get the most out of your HarmonyOS experience. We’re committed to providing ongoing support and updates as new solutions and improvements become available.