G9200 HK has pre-installed Google Play Store and other Google apps as like other Android phones, whereas G9200 China Open has no access to any Google apps, including Google Play Store. For Chinese G9200, the only way to download and install Android apps is to use the Samsung's Galaxy Apps or to use other Chinese 3rd party app stores.
In this article, I discuss how I can enable Google Play Store and other services on G9200 China model. This is based on Android 6.0.1, but it would work on 7.0 too.
Install G9200 HK stock firmware using Odin? Failed!
Unlike other variants which is able to install other region's stock firmware without any hassle using Samsung's official Odin program, G9200 China model doesn't allow you to install HK version firmware on it. Odin basically recognizes G9200 China as a totally different model from G9200 HK.When I tried to update G9200 HK firmware into G9200 China model through Odin, there is an error message on the G9200's download screen saying something like "SECURE CHECK FAIL : PIT". The error message basically indicates you cannot download this firmware onto the mobile phone because it's an incompatible model.
There is NO method to upload G9200 HK stock firmware to G9200 China device using Odin program. You might try to extract the PIT file from Chinese firmware and put into the HK firmware files, and then recreate a MD5 file for downloading. Be aware of playing with PIT file, because it is risky which can make your phone a brick.
Install OpenGApps using TWRP & Rooting
As the first method doesn't work, the only option is to install Google applications manually through TWRP recovery. Open GApps is an open source project providing a generic google apps installation method through TWRP-installable zip files.In order to use this method, you have to install TWRP recovery software substituting the stock recovery. In order to make TWRP working properly on Galaxy S6, you have to root the phone to disable some verification features from the stock kernel. This means, your warranty will be void once you install TWRP, or root the phone, so please follow it by your own risk. This is a step-by-step guide with troubleshootings.
1. Install CROM from Galaxy Apps
CROM is a protection mechanism on Chinese Galaxy models which prohibit you to install any custom ROM on Galaxy phones. Before you proceed to install TWRP and rooting, CROM must be disabled through Samsung's official CROM app. This app can be found on Galaxy Apps (Samsung's default app store) or through APK installation which can be found from Google.Once CROM Service App is installed, run it and disabled CROM service.
2. CF-Root through ODIN
CF-Root provides an easy rooting method for G9200 models using Odin. Simply download a CF-Root MD5 file from their official website: https://download.chainfire.eu/1109/CF-Root/CF-Auto-Root/CF-Auto-Root-zerofltechn-zerofltezc-smg9200.zipOnce downloaded, use Odin to download the CF-Root file into the mobile device. After rebooting, a new app called Super-SU will be shown on your mobile.
3. Install TWRP or other program to install GApps zip
For G9200 China model, finding a proper TWRP archive is not easy, because the model is so special that the official TWRP file for G9200 model is not really compatible with G9200 China. I guess the official TWRP is only for G9200 HK model. When I tried the official G9200 TWRP file (zerofltezt) on G9200 China model, the device was not booted up properly right after completing download.Instead, find a specifically modified TWRP for G9200 China model named "G9200-PC1-TWRP-3.0-PC1(0324).tar". Google is always your friend to find a specific file online. Although it is for Android 6.0.1, it might work on 7.0 version. Give it a go, and re-flash your device to 6.0 if it doesn't work.
Make sure your mobile is already rooted and dm-verity is disabled. Otherwise, you can encounter an infinite rebooting once you get into TWRP recovery mode by pressing VolUp+Home+Power button.
Instead of using TWRP, there are alternative ways to install GApps zip file onto your /system directory. Find out Flashify app or manual way for more information.
If the device is not properly booting, you have to flash the stock firmware through Odin to recover the device. After flashing the stock image, do rooting first (Step 2) and then install TWRP.
Make sure you can enter TWRP recovery with the hot key (VolUp+Home+Power) and no problem for booting after reboot. You might encounter often the infinite rebooting issue after running TWRP recovery once, which is caused by the denial of booting from Samsung's stock firmware.
If the problem persistent, try this method:
- Flash the stock firmware image using Odin and reboot normally.
- Flash CF-Root using Odin and reboot normally. It will take some time for CF-Root for rooting.
- Uncheck "Auto re-boot" option in Odin, and flash TWRP. Do NOT reboot after the download.
- Reboot by pressing VolDown+Home+Power, and quickly press VolUp instead of VolDown, in order to boot into TWRP recovery mode.
- The point is to get into TWRP recovery mode first before booting into the normal system mode.
- Once TWRP recovery is loaded properly, reboot and see if the normal boot working fine.
4. Download Open GApps zip file
Download GApps zip file from the official OpenGApps website: http://opengapps.org/Choose ARM64, your Android version, and a package variant. The smallest installation is 'pico' which installs simply Google Play Store and other basic files. If you want more Google features like face recognition, Google Now, or Gmail as a default application, check the package comparison and choose a right package. I think "pico" is enough for most users, and other apps can be downloaded later through Google Play Store.
Copy the downloaded zip file into your mobile to install later.
5. Delete files in /system directory to make more space
Google applications will be installed onto /system/ partition, but it has little available space. You have to remove some files from /system/ directory to make enough space for Google Apps.Install Root Explorer or any rooting-enabled file managers by downloading APK file from internet, and delete some 'deletable' files in /system/preload using Root Explorer or equivalent. OpenGApss "pico" needs about 100~200MB space so just delete a few apps from preload. Another GApps package might take more space in which case you have to check the size of GApps first.
6. Install OpenGApps through TWRP or alternative method
Boot into TWRP recovery mode, choose the top-left menu for installing a zip file, and select the copied OpenGApp zip file.If you choose not to install TWRP, use the alternative way to install OpenGApp zip file onto your /system partition.
Wipe cache/dalvik after installing the zip file.
7. Give all permissions to Google Play Store and Google Play Services.
Allow every permission for Google Play Store and Google Play Service apps in the application settings. If the proper permissions are not given, there will be many errors when opening Play Store such as a connection error, application stopped, unexpected termination, etc. Make sure all permissions are allowed for the two apps.8. Enjoy Google Play Store!
Troubleshooting
Q. I don't want to install a custom recovery (TWRP). Any other method to install GApps zip file?Flashify seems to be able to install Open GApps zip file onto the system partition without using a custom recovery. Try it and let us know if it works.
Q. TWRP is successfully installed, but touch screen is not working in TWRP recovery mode!
A. You installed wrong TWRP for another variant (e.g., for international G920F model). Find a correct TWRP file to install.
Q. After installing TWRP, mobile is turning off even before booting.
A. The TWRP installed is a wrong version (maybe for G9200 HK version). Find the one for G9200 China, and install again.
Q. Normal system booting is alright, but once entering TWRP recovery, mobile keeps rebooting.
A. Your stock firmware is refusing to boot up because it detects a non-samsung booting modules. Make sure the phone is rooted before TWRP installation. Also, boot into TWRP recovery mode first right after Odin flashing, before booting to normal, to enable TWRP to alter you stock firmware for bypassing the custom recovery detection.
Q. Google Play Store is installed, but there are errors to run it.
A. Delete cache/dalvik from recovery. Also, delete data and cache for both Google Play Store and Google Play Service on Application settings. Check the permission of both apps and allow every permission. If it still doesn't help, double check your Android version and install another package (nano or micro) from Open GApps.
