We have told you that there are at least 3 known methods to install Google Apps (gapps) on a Xiaomi device without root (see: how to install Play Store on Redmi 5). One of them by is utilizing a special app called Google Installer. This article shows you how to correctly install Gapps using what-so-called Google Installer app. This app is not the Play Store or any other GApps itself but it acts as an installer; a medium to grab and install necessary packages to have Google services running on your device.
Before we proceed, please be understand that the installer works only on MIUI ROMs based on Android 7.0 / 7.1 Nougat. It should work on either MIUI 8 and MIUI 9. However, it won’t work if your phone already runs MIUI 9 based on Android 8 Oreo. Therefore, you have to make sure which one is yours beforehand.
Steps to Install
Step 1 – First thing first, you have to enable installation of APK from a third-party source. Simply go to Settings, on your phone, and then Additional Settings >> Privacy >> and enable the “Unknown Sources“. This will let you allow installation from unknown sources.
It will ask you for a confirmation. Simply tap “OK”.
“Your phone and personal data are more vulnerable to attack by apps from unknown sources….”
Step 2 – Now download Google Install v3 app. The file is compressed in a zip file. You can either use ES File Explorer to extract it or simply download it from a computer, extract, and transfer the .apk file to your phone.
Step 3 – Next, open up either ES File Explorer or default Explorer app and locate the apk file you transferred earlier.
Step 4 – Now follow the on-screen instruction to install. Once done, simply tap on “Open” to launch it up.
Step 5 – Go back to your home screen. You will notice a new app has been installed. Find the familiar Play Store icon with some Chinese characters and tap on it to launch it up.
Step 6 – The main interface of this app is written in Chinese. It does not necessarily to read and understand the whole text. Simply tap the big blue button at the bottom part.
Step 7 – Now wait for the installation process to finish. Once done, you will see another new Play Store icon being displayed at the home screen. That one is the original, main Google Play Store.
Step 8 – That’s it. t this point you can remove / uninstall the previously Google Installer (the one with Chinese text). Since you now have Play Store installed, simply launch it up to install other Google Apps like Gmail, Drive, Youtube, Duo, and so on.
The complete steps above will work on any Xiaomi devices running MIUI 8 or MIUI 9 based on Android 7.x Nougat.
Some other Gapps you might also like to find out: