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Sunday, 7 December 2014

How to install the Google Play Store manually

Lots of people pick up tablets and smartphones that don't have the Google Play Store pre-installed on them. Perhaps you've just granted yourself root access and accidentally deleted the Play Store from your new Nexus 6, or flashed a custom ROM and don't want all of Google's apps. Fortunately it's super easy to get Google's app market place running on your device, so you don't have to worry about missing out on all the Play Store has to offer. Here is our guide on how to install the Play Store manually.
androidpit google play store 2
Find out how you can install the Play Store manually. / © ANDROIDPIT

How to install Google Play Store APK

The simplest method is one that should already be quite familiar to you if you're an avid follower of AndroidPIT: just install the Play Store APK manually. An APK is the Android version of a exe program on your computer. Instead of downloading an app from the Play Store, you simply load it yourself without the Play Store's help. This is of course very useful when it is the Play Store itself you want to install!
You can always pick up the latest version of the Google Play Store APK on XDA Developers forumor at Android Police, who always do great teardowns of the new features when new updates appear.
androidpit google play store teaser
An Android device isn't really an Android device without the Google Play Store. / © AndroidPIT

Direct sideload from your device

Now, there's two ways to get the APK installed on your device: directly or from your computer. We'll do the easy option first. Just follow one of the links above or do a Google search for the latest Google Play Store version and download the APK file to your Android. Next, you need to have ''Unknown Sources'' enabled in your device's security settings. Don't be alarmed, unknown sources are simply locations outside of the Play Store. Once you've completed the process you can disable ''Unknown Sources'' again just to be safe.
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Before you can install APKs, you need to enable Unknown Sources in your settings. / © Android PIT
So, depending on which device you have, you want to go to your Settings and find the Security section. From here scroll down until you find the ''Unknown Sources'' check box and make sure it is enabled/checked off. Now, just go to your downloads folder or click the completed download notification in the notifications drop down shade, and launch the APK. You'll be prompted to read permissions and accept then the app will install. Google Play will automatically install Google Services Framework, which is what Google uses to keep the Play Store communicating with your apps, so it knows when to update them. And that's it, create a Google account or log in and you're golden. The same sideloading process works for all APKs.
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Once you've got any APK on your device (Flash Player here), just launch it and you're done / © Android PIT

Sideload from your computer via USB

If this method doesn't work for you, you don't have a data or Wi-Fi connection on your Android or you'd simply like to run an anti-virus check or something on the APK first before installing it, you can download the APK to your computer instead. Then the same process applies: enable ''Unknown Sources'' and then connect your device to your computer with a USB cable and copy the APK over to your Android, from where you do the same steps as above, just launch it, accept permissions and log in.
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Sideloading from your PC with a USB cable can sometimes avoid install problems with APKs. / © AndroidPIT
If, for some reason, the Google Services Framework doesn't auto-install, you can do it manually yourself too. Just check the same sources mentioned above for the Google Services Framework APK and install it as well. Make sure you install any APKs from trusted sources and that you have read the feedback on those sites to ensure the app is functioning well before installing them, just to avoid any headaches. Note: depending on what type of device you have, you may need to be rooted to manually install the Play Store, but that's a tutorial for another day.

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