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Article from 18.08.20
Like some other current devices from the Chinese manufacturer, the Huawei P40 Pro also comes with Android, but without Google services. Here’s how you can still have a great time with your new Huawei smartphone.
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Current Huawei phones (here with contract) are shipped without Google services. This includes the entire P40 series and the brand new P50 series, among others. What can’t be explained away is that an Android smartphone without Google services can quickly become annoying. You are so taken with the otherwise all-around good Huawei smartphones that you still can’t say no? Below we show you how you can make your Huawei smartphone a loyal companion even without Google services.
Huawei without Google: The initial situation
Since summer 2019, trade agreements between the U.S. and China are in place that do not allow Google to do business with Huawei. Since then, every newly produced Huawei device is shipped without Google services. This has cost Huawei huge market shares worldwide in the meantime. That’s no wonder: An Android smartphone without Google services is simply a downgrade and presents its users with challenges that other manufacturers don’t even come up with.
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Nevertheless, it has to be acknowledged that Huawei still builds technically impressive devices. Besides a chic design, especially the built-in cameras of the top models can impress again and again. Cheaper models, on the other hand, impress with a very good price-performance ratio. Of course, the latter only applies if you are willing to do without Google services, replace them or install them via detours.
Huawei AppGallery: Extensive app store
One of the biggest drawbacks of having an Android smartphone without Google services is that you don’t have direct access to the Google Play Store. Google’s app store offers you a large selection of Android apps and is the first port of call for developers who want to publish an Android app. Most likely you will find a suitable app for your purpose there.
Unfortunately, things look quite different with Huawei’s AppGallery. Huawei’s in-house app store is supposed to serve as a replacement for Google’s Play Store. However, this is only partially successful: A large part of the apps that are popular in the West are missing. Besides the Google apps, you have to install apps like Instagram, Disney+ or Spotify in a different way. This can change constantly, similar to the Amazon Appstore. A look at the Huawei AppGallery can be worthwhile anyway.
Huawei Petal Search: Search for apps everywhere
To take the wind out of the sails of the dilemma with the non-existent apps a bit, Huawei resorts to a trick: Since even the devices without Google services still run Android, smartphones like the Huawei P40 lite are able to".apk"-Install and play files. This is a file format for Android apps. This way, apps can also be easily downloaded from elsewhere and installed via file manager.
Huawei Petal Search starts right there. In principle, this is a search engine that specifically searches for Android apps. And also outside the Huawei AppGallery. So, if you search for Spotify via Petal Search, the app will be shown to you. After one click you get the application and can usually even update it via Petal Search. Since the Huawei P40 Pro also runs Android-based, the Chinese manufacturer simply expands its app offering for the flagship smartphone this way.
Install apps via Huawei browser
Of course, thanks to the open Android operating system, there remains another option. Via the browser, you have the option of searching specifically for apps.apk"-files to search. For example, search for "instagram apk", the search engine of your choice spits out a few entries with providers that manage APK databases. Apps can be easily downloaded from other websites and installed via file manager.
It should be noted that in this case, security is such a thing. Depending on the website, there may no longer be anyone responsible for checking these apps for viruses or malware. This is how you can infect your smartphone under certain circumstances. If you want to install apps this way, you have to visit the security settings first. This usually happens automatically when you click on the downloaded file and you only have to tick it off.