See How to Download and Install the Google Play Store on your Android Phone

How to manually install the Google Play app on supported Android devices

If you uninstall or remove the Google Play app from your phone, you'll need to manually download and install the app. But before you can proceed, you'll need to make a permission adjustment for your browser.

Please note that if you have a Huawei or Honor device that is not officially licensed to use the app or Google Play services, there is a different method to install the app on it, which we show below.

Change Chrome installation settings

For Android smartphones that are officially supported by Google or Android, manually installing the app is quite simple and is done through Chrome or an alternative browser. However, first of all you need to enable permission for the browser in the settings. Follow the steps below:

1. Open the application Settings on your smartphone;
2. Select option Apps and notifications (can be called Applications or something similar, depending on the device);
3. Tap on the option See all apps (or All);
4. Scroll down and select Chrome;
5. Locate and select the option Install unknown applications;
6. Activate the option Allow from this source.

Download and install the APK from Google Play

Once you have set the above options, it is time to download and install the APK file or installer from Google Play. We recommend downloading the APK Mirrorbut you can find alternatives as long as you are careful to only download from trusted sources.

1. Using Chrome on your device, go to the APK Mirror website to download the latest version of the Google Play APK;
2. You may see a message warning you that “this type of file may harm your device”;
3. Open the APK file, read and accept the new permissions that the new version of Google Play requests, and then tap Install;
4. Please wait until the installation is complete.

For older versions of Android (before Oreo), you simply need to access the menu Settings, enable installation from unknown sources and then open the above link. You will be asked if you allow the download and installation. APKMirror It is a safe source, so it is okay to click on it. Yes.

How to Install Google Play App on Huawei or Honor Devices

Since many Huawei smartphones and tablets, and some Honor devices, don’t officially run Android, or aren’t licensed to have Google apps, installing the app from Google Play is different. However, it can still be done in just a few steps and doesn’t require any deep technical knowledge.

Install Google Play App using Gbox

On most Huawei devices, installing Google Play is done using Gbox, which you need to download from the AppGallery. Here's how:

1. Open the AppGallery on your Huawei/Honor device;
2. Search and tap Install Gbox;
3. Enable location permission to complete the installation and open Gbox;
4. Tap and hold the Google Play button and choose Create shortcut;
5. Open Google Play and sign in to your Google Account.

Install Google Play app for Huawei Pura 70 (P70) and Nova 12 and later models

If you have a newer Huawei device, such as the P70, or the Nova 12 and later models, there is an extra step you need to take before installing Google Play on it.

1. Open the AppGallery on your Huawei device;
2. Search and install WhatsApp Messengerif you haven't already;
   1. You need this to get the microG app services that accompany him;
3. Go to the apps list in settings and look for microG services;
4. Enable location permission and save to exit.
5. Similar to the first method, install the Gbox from the AppGallery to get the Google Play app.

Without Gbox on your Huawei or Nova device, you can still download some popular apps from Google Play by installing only WhatsApp as it comes with microG services. You need to install Gbox to get other apps.

How to install the Google Play app using a computer

If you don't have mobile data or a Wi-Fi connection on your device, you can download the app's APK from Google Play on your PC or laptop. The same process applies here, but you'll need a file manager app installed on your smartphone if your device doesn't come with one pre-installed.

1. Download a third-party file manager app if you don't have one, such as Files by Google. Allow it to install apps from unknown sources by following the same steps described for your mobile browser;
2. Using the browser on your computer, go to APK Mirror to download the latest version of the APK from Google Play;
3. Connect your device to your computer with a USB cable and copy the APK to your Android device;
4. Locate the APK using the file manager app;
5. Launch the APK, accept permissions and tap Install;
6. Don't forget to remove the unknown sources installation permission from the file manager app if you don't intend to sideload more APKs.

Observation: Depending on the type of device you have, you may need to root it to manually install Google Play, but that's a tutorial for another day.

Forcing the Google Play app to update

Once you reinstall the Google Play app, you don’t have to worry about manually downloading all the subsequent versions once again. But if you’re still facing issues or errors with it, there are fixes for that.

The most common issue is that the update is delayed and does not reach all Android devices. Fortunately, there is a new feature in Google Play settings to force the app to update.

1. Tap your profile picture in the Google Play app;
2. Select Settings;
3. Tap on the section On to expand it;
4. Tap the button Update Google Play;
5. If the app detects a new version, tap the button I understood.

Google Play version numbers explained

In the same section, you can also check what version and type of Google Play application you have on your device.

Google Play's version numbering system may seem a bit confusing at first, but it's easy to understand. If the distances between the numbers seem odd, that's simply because Google hasn't publicly released the intermediate versions. Additionally, Google differentiates builds for these specific product lines:

• (0) – For all devices;
• (5) – For Android Wear / WearOS;
• (8) – For Android TV.

Fix other Google Play app issues

If you’re still experiencing issues after downloading or updating your app, it’s time to do some additional troubleshooting. We have a dedicated article on Google Play Store issues and solutions, but for more common issues, try the following tip:

Clearing Cache to Fix Google Play App Error

The Google Services Framework is a crucial service that allows Google Play to communicate with apps on your device, allowing automatic updates, and so on. If these functions stop working or you're experiencing other difficulties, there may be a problem with the service.

In this case, you should clear the cache for Google Play and Google Play Services. To do this:

1. Open the application Settings;
2. Select option Apps and notifications (or Applications);
3. Tap the button See all apps (or All);
4. Scroll down to the Google Play and select;
5. Then tap on Storage and cache;
6. Tap on Clear cache;
7. After that, follow the same steps for the Google Play Services;
8. This should fix most of the issues you will have with Google Play.

What must-have feature do you want to see on Google Play? Did you like the latest update? Let us know in the comments section!

Article updated August 2024 with revised instructions. Older comments have been retained and may refer to previous versions of this page.