How to Install Google Services Bundle Yourself

When I got my new Xiaomi phone, I wasn't prepared for the fact that installing Google Play and Google services would be this hard, because almost every youtube video, every blog, every technical article shows you that it is really simple to do so. All of them shows similar steps like this:

• Launch the Mi App Store
• Search for Google
• Scroll down to the bottom of the list and select this option:

• Install the Google Installer app from its icon, and follows the prompts for the rest of the steps.

This is the first thing that I did, however Google Installer app complains that my phone is not rooted yet, so it will not go any further.

Unlike other blogs, I don't thing the following are possible ways out:

1. Return the phone to sender and purchase a Global model
2. Unlock the bootloader and install a Global ROM

So the only option I have is to Install Google services myself. It looks really intimidating, but having done that, I realized that it is not a big deal at all, and will not be afraid to buy Chinese phone that don't have Google services pre-installed any more.

The phone that I have is a Redmi 10X 4g running MIUI 12. The steps will be similar for all Xiaomi/Redmi phones, and now I believe even for Huawei phones as well.

The most important trick is

• to installed with the correct minimum set of required apps,
• in the correct order
• and from the correct package with correct version

If any of above is not right, then you might not have a good installation in the end. So here is the log of my attempt that works in the end.

In short, install  the following  required services in this order:

• Google Services Framework,
• Google Account Manager,
• Google Play Services,
• Google Calendar Sync (must),
• Google Contacts Sync (must),
• and finally the Google Play Store.

All are available from

https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google-inc/

The only problem is that when you get to the above download pages, most people would be intimidated by the selection of device’s DPI, architecture, screen size, and other specs. Luckily, apkmirror has that covered as well:

How can I find out my device’s DPI, architecture, screen size, and other specs?

After trying numerous system info apps, we are currently recommending Droid Hardware Info. It contains the DPI (Device tab), architecture (System tab), Android OS version (Device tab) as well as a plethora of other info.

So get that installed first (com.dama.hardwareinfo.apk), and know your device. The rest will be easier.

The next problem is to choose & get the correct package with correct version. Here is mine. I believe it will work for all new Xiaomi/Redmi phones, and even new arm based Huawei phones as well. Here is the list, the package name, download url, and the actual .apk that I downloaded (which shows the architecture, dpi, and version).

• Google Services Framework, https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google-inc/google-services-framework/, com.google.android.gsf_10-6475670-29_minAPI29(nodpi)_apkmirror.com.apk
• Google Account Manager, https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google-inc/google-account-manager/, com.google.android.gsf.login_7.1.2-25_minAPI23(nodpi)_apkmirror.com.apk
• Google Play Services, https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google-inc/google-play-services/, com.google.android.gms_20.42.14_(120400-338133832)-204214037_minAPI29(arm64-v8a,armeabi-v7a)(nodpi)_apkmirror.com.apk
• Google Calendar Sync (must), https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google-inc/google-calendar-sync/, com.google.android.syncadapters.calendar_6.0.44-267540251-release-2016267990_minAPI21(nodpi)_apkmirror.com.apk
• Google Contacts Sync (must), https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google-inc/google-contacts-sync/, com.google.android.syncadapters.contacts_10-5771379-29_minAPI29(nodpi)_apkmirror.com.apk
• and finally the Google Play Store, https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google-inc/google-play-store/, com.android.vending_22.4.28-21_0_PR_338099147-82242810_minAPI21(armeabi,armeabi-v7a,mips,mips64,x86,x86_64)(nodpi)_apkmirror.com.apk

If you get everything right, then you will sure to have a good installation in the end.

One thing though, I was having a bit trouble installing Google Maps.

• The current default is called Google Maps to Go, and it runs only in the browser. It was super slow, even on my brand new phone of the latest module, and I read review people are also saying it is slow, and recommends the classic Google Maps instead.
• Thus I went with the classic Google Maps instead, however, it crashes by itself soon after it is launched. I read review and it is happening to other people as well.
• So I have to rely on apkmirror.com again for an older version of Google Maps.
• The first old version (2nd in total) that I tried, is version 10.50.4, but it crashes as well.
• Only when I went back to version 10.49.3, did it start without crashing.
• I.e., overall, the .apk that I kept is, com.google.android.apps.maps_10.49.3-1049301244_minAPI21(arm64-v8a)(400,560,480,640dpi)_apkmirror.com.apk

That's it.

Good luck!