Huawei Mate 30 Pro Side-loading Google Mobile Services

Recently Huawei has released its latest Mate 30 Series handset. As usual, their camera has always kept to its utmost quality and a reason I have been following closely.

As many have tried searching around, the way to sideload Google Mobile service isn't very direct and yes you do need some technical knowledge to do it. The original method of doing via one website has been discontinued but a backup of it has been floating around.

I have chanced upon and got hold of myself the phone and did my workaround.

Firstly, I followed the guide from here, and I must say it pretty decent and we have a fellow fan who blogs about a more detail method here.

I have created a backup for Windows and Mac with the APKs and a file to the APKs in case you do not need those provided or you choose to download the latest. Download here.

Since there are so many guides out there, I am just going to give you the gotcha as I did reset my set up three times to get it correctly. Especially if you are using Whatsapp backup to Google Drive and your contacts are also sync to Google.

1. Start with a brand new setup with stable internet WiFi.
2. Restore from HiSuite, once you have done that, restart your phone. Do note that your Folder that your point needs to be at least two-level to the backup files.
3. After you import all the APKs, on the phone and INSTALL ONLY, remember NOT to open any of them. You would only need Google Framework, Google Play Services, Google Play Store, Google Contact Sync. Google Device Policy is only needed if you use GSuite. I have placed the links to the APKs in the file in the zip. You can also download the latest or anytime you update Android OS and Playstore doesn't work.
4. For those Google services installed, you got to change all the permission and allow everything in the permissions.
5. Restart the phone after doing the above.
6. Run the LZPlay Tool, the one with the Purpose G icon and choose "Activate". Do not proceed further as it is normal to see a list of exclamation marks. Quite the app.
7. Restart the phone.
8. Sign in to your Google account via Google Play Store.
9. Download Contacts, Calendar, Drive, GMail, Maps, YouTube, and any Google Apps (if you play games, Google Play Game)
10. Change permissions for these apps especially for Contacts, Drive (you need this for Whatsapp restore), Calendar to Allow.
11. Open Google Contact and check that you are able to sync down your contacts. If it doesn't you will have to redo the above by resetting your phone.
12. Once when that is done, you can check the rest such as Calendar, etc. If you run the LZplay Tool, you should see fewer exclamation marks.
13. Now you can start with third-party apps such as Whatsapp.

Optional
If you are worried about the LZPlay tool. You can actually uninstall it. To do so follow the below:
1. Go to Settings
2. Search for Device Administrator
3. Enter into it Find LZPlay app, deactivate Administrator
4. Uninstall the app.

Hope this works fine for you.

Google Play Store: Changing Purchase Currency

I am based in Singapore and I wanted to purchase an app on Google Play Store.  The app is called WatchMaker which cost USD1.99 however I am seeing the price of SGD2.99 this is due to location and SIM card is bearing a Singapore number.

Making a calculation the exchange rate I am getting from Google for this app will be 1.5.  This is crazy.  At current my credit card company is only charging me 1.38 at worse.

Do note not all apps are using this exchange rate.  For example, I tried another app, Facer Watch Face which is showing SGD1.35 with my local Singapore SIM Card.

The app actually cost me USD1.00.  So in this case the exchange rate was 1.35 which is much lower than my credit card company.

So how can you change your currency of payment since if your SIM card is in Singapore the Play Store will always use SGD no matter where you are even when you are oversea roaming (Yes I tried that in US).

First I have actually set up my Google Wallet Profile account address in Singapore.  That makes Play Store always use SGD as my payment.  In order to change to USD, I have to change my address to a US address.  You can use any address you can find.

First Login to your Google Wallet .
Click the Gear Icon on the top right hand corner.

 

Next Edit your Home Address.  This will cost Google Play Store to make your payment currency in respect to the home address.  In my case, USD for a USD address.

Here I am going to use the app, Facer Watch Face as an example. you will see it is price at $1.35 (this is actually SGD because my SIM card is Singapore SIM).  Click on the Buy button, you will be shown the below:

The purchase will not be made till you confirm you payment method.  You can add or change them by clicking the arrow of the drop down list.  This shows all your payment method you have created in Google Wallet.  You will see that the cost here is now in US$1.00.  So now I will be charge USD1.00 instead of SGD1.35.

Do note that if after changing your Google Wallet, if you are NOT seeing this refection on your phone (on play.google.com that should already be working), you will need to go to your App Manager and do a uninstall of all the update and clear the cache.  This should be located in your Phone Settings menu, look for App or App Manager, etc.  After which restart your phone to also reflect this change on your mobile Google Play Store else it will always be showing SGD price even after clicking Buy button.

Of course to change back, you need to update your Account Home Address to a Singapore Address again and repeat the above for your phone setup.

I hope this tip will help you resolve your wondering.