How To Repair Very Large Gapps From Separating Retaining Walls

Download and install the latest GApps: Open GApps, NikGApps, FlameGApps, and more than!

GApps (short for Google Apps) packages are essential in the Android aftermarket development community. They are peculiarly crafted optional add-ons for custom ROMs that can be used to become Google apps such as Google Play Services and the Play Shop on your device. If you're wondering how to pick and install the right GApps package on your device or on ane of the best Android phones, this guide should aid you with that.
Table of Contents:

Why GApps?
Variants of GApps
Popular GApps Distributions
- Open GApps
- NikGApps
- FlameGApps
- BiTGApps
- MindTheGapps
How to install GApps
- Download and Grooming
- Flashing GApps from TWRP
- Validation

In instance you don't run into your favorite GApps distribution mentioned hither, ship a message to Skanda Hazarika (SkandaH on the forums) with the necessary details.

Why GApps?

Google requires every Android device maker to follow the Compatibility Definition Document (CDD) to pass the Compatibility Exam Suite (CTS) and then they can be allowed to pre-load their devices with Google apps and services. Custom ROM developers withal tin can't hands bundle these Google apps and services with their builds. As these apps are non using the Apache or GPLv2 license, bundling them within the ROM presents legal challenges.

This is exactly where the GApps packages come up in. The GApps maintainers rely on build scripts that permit for the automated creation of new updated packages at regular intervals. ROM developers, on the other hand, unremarkably build the custom ROMs in such a way that an finish-user can wink a tertiary-political party GApps distribution on top of their builds and seamlessly gain the ability to use the Google Play Store or whatsoever other applications that require Google Play Services.

Keep in heed Google apps are non required to boot or run most custom ROMs. However, many users find them beneficial to take full advantage of the Android ecosystem.

Variants of GApps

For a regular user, a bunch of commencement-political party Google applications have gradually become integral to Android'south functionality or look and experience. So come up those who prefer an absolute minimalistic setup and consider most everything equally bloatware.

Since it's really difficult to come with a mutual solution for all, the GApps maintainers usually offering several variants of their builds. That'south the reason y'all tin can notice GApps packages with "pico", "bones", "full", and similar tags. Of course, the Play Store, along with obligatory Play Services and related libraries, are the common components between them, just the number of arranged first-party Google applications is the cardinal differentiating factor out in that location.

Compatibility with older Android versions is another interesting aspect of the GApps scene. Not all devices can run the latest and greatest version of Android even with the help of custom ROMs, which is why it's necessary to maintain support for older releases. Moreover, some low-level libraries are dependent on the CPU architecture, so mainstream maintainers sometimes offering architecture-specific builds as well.

Popular GApps Distributions

Throughout the years, many different GApps distributions accept gained popularity. Beneath you can detect some of the most well-liked and actively maintained GApps offerings from the aftermarket development customs.

Open up GApps

Perchance the most popular choice to download Google Apps on custom ROMs, the Open GApps project started its journeying back in 2022 as the spiritual successor to the ParanoidAndroid GApps. The codebase of this distribution has been forked numerous times, all thank you to the projection'due south versatility, extensive documentation, and rich support for legacy Android builds.

Download Open GApps

XDA Discussion Thread on Open up GApps

Android Version Support: Android four.iv KitKat to Android 11. The maintainers likewise offer exam packages for Android 12 and Android 12L.
Platform Support: ARM, ARM64, x86, and x86_64.
Variants:
- Pico: This package is designed for users who desire the absolute minimum GApps installation bachelor.
- Nano: This package is designed for users who want the smallest Google footprint possible while yet enjoying native "Okay Google" and Google Search support.
- Micro: This package is designed for users of legacy devices with pocket-size arrangement partitions or those who prefer a minimalistic approach.
- Mini: This bundle is designed for those who use limited Google apps or prefer to install apps on their own.
- Full: If you prefer the pick to utilise stock/AOSP apps, this package is designed for you.
- Stock: This package includes all the Google Apps that come standard on the Pixel smartphones.
- Super: This parcel is for those who want to have all Google Applications. Information technology includes all Google Apps that were e'er shipped on a Google device.
- Scent: The Odour packet is a special version of the regular 'Super' packet, merely with a graphical front-finish that will permit you to select which specific applications to install (or not) without having to manually write a gapps-config file.
- TVStock: This parcel is for Android Tv devices. It includes all the Google Apps that come standard on the Nexus Player.
- TVMini: A smaller set of Google Apps for Android Boob tube devices, similar to what Mini has compared to the Stock variant.

NikGApps

NikGApps is another characteristic-rich GApps distribution that offers extensive customization options for power users. Created past XDA senior member Nikhil, 1 of the most distinguishing features of this GApps project is it comes with a dedicated Android Get bundle for low cease devices. Unlike other distributions, information technology also allows you to dirty flash the package anytime you lot want.

Download NikGApps

XDA Discussion Thread on NikGApps

Final but not to the lowest degree, users can upload their custom configurations to the project's repository to create a personalized build.

Android Version Support: Android 10 to Android 12. At that place is no official support for Android 12L still.
Platform Support: ARM64.
Variants:
- Cadre: The minimum Google Apps set required to run Play Store.
- Basic: Everything from Core, plus Google Carrier Services, Google Dialer (Replaces AOSP Dialer), Google Messages (Replaces AOSP Messages), Google Contacts (Replaces AOSP Contacts), etc.
- Omni: Everything from Bones, plus Gmail (Replaces AOSP Email), Google/Pixel Setup Wizard, Google Photos (Replaces AOSP Gallery), etc.
- Stock: Everything from Omni, plus Google Sound Recorder, Google Markup, Google Sounds, Google Wallpaper, etc.
- Full: Everything from Stock, plus Google Chrome (Replaces AOSP Browser), Google Assistant, Android Automobile, etc.
- Get: Meant for low-finish devices. A slightly enhanced version of the Cadre variant.

FlameGApps

Formerly known equally "ExLiteGApps", the FlameGApps project is the brainchild of XDA senior member ayandebnath. Thanks to the modular design of the distribution, finish users tin can install diverse components like Pixel Launcher with Device Personalization Services, Google Search with Assistant, and Device Personalization Services using official add-on packages.

Download FlameGApps

XDA Discussion Thread on FlameGApps

Android Version Support: Android ten to Android 12. For Android 12L, you demand to modify the latest Android 12 release before flashing until official support arrives.
Platform Support: ARM64.
Variants:
- Basic: Includes the core GApps like Google Play Services (GMS), Google Services Framework (GSF), Google Play Shop, and other essentials.
- Full: Includes all the necessary core apps with more useful ones like Google Dialer, Google Contacts, Google Messages, etc.

BiTGApps

With less than 90MB size, BiTGApps from XDA senior member TheHitMan is a distinctive minimalistic distribution. Besides the minimalism, it likewise offers a handful of unique features, such as enabling battery optimization for all Google apps, the ability to install directly from a booted system, and installing in a systemless fashion every bit a Magisk module.

Download BiTGApps

XDA Discussion Thread on BiTGApps

Android Version Back up: Android Nougat (7.one.ii and seven.ane.one) to Android 12. There is no official support for Android 12L all the same.
Platform Back up: ARM, ARM64.
Variants:
- - Minimal: The goal is to stick with a minimal setup that tin can provide proper Google Services functionality. There are no other variants.

MindTheGapps

Maintained past LineageOS correspondent Alessandro Astone, AKA XDA senior member aleasto, MindTheGapps is even so some other meaty GApps distribution. This one is specially known in the customs for existence the officially recommended GApps solution by the LineageOS team for its custom ROM.

Download MindTheGapps (Mirror)

Android Version Support: Android ten to Android 12L. The official mirror also hosts legacy packages for Android nine Pie and Android viii.i Oreo.
Platform Back up: ARM, ARM64, x86.
Variants: None. There's only a single variant with no customization options. It provides everything required to brand use of Google systems and no more than.

How to Install GApps

Download and Preparation

Earlier installing a GApps package, you demand to selection the version that matches the CPU architecture of the target device and the Android base of your desired custom ROM. Keep in mind some OEMs deliberately ship ARM32 firmware on ARM64 devices, so consult with the custom ROM maintainer to determine platform compatibility. In instance you lot're going to flash a custom ROM that ships with integrated Google apps, then you don't demand to install a standalone GApps package.

To know the CPU compages, run the following control using a terminal emulator app on your device:

          getprop ro.product.cpu.abi

Crudely speaking, if you have a smartphone that's fairly recent and you're planning to install a custom ROM based on Android 12, download ane of the ARM64 GApps for Android 12 from the aforementioned list.

For the actual flashing process, we'll assume you have a custom recovery like TWRP installed and (optionally) have root admission. If not, we accept guides on how to root your Android device and how to install TWRP.

Flashing GApps from TWRP

Warning: In near cases, the GApps bundle must be flashed before booting into the custom ROM for the first fourth dimension! It'southward always recommended to factory reset and format information to articulate out any possible residuum of a previously installed GApps distribution.

Make sure your calculator has ADB and Fastboot. Setup instructions can be found here.
Download both the custom ROM package and the matching GApps package on your reckoner.
Reboot the target device into recovery fashion using the advisable central-philharmonic or using ADB:

          adb reboot recovery

At present tap on Wipe, Factory Reset, and finally Format Data to continue with the cleanup procedure. This volition remove encryption and delete all files stored in the internal storage.
Render to the principal menu.
Sideload the custom ROM Nada package:
- - On the target device, select Advanced, then ADB Sideload to begin sideload.
On the host car, sideload the package using:

          adb sideload filename.zip

Without rebooting, tap on the back button, and then repeat the same procedure for the GApps package.

          adb sideload gaaps.zip

The TWRP screen on the target device should prove the installation progress.

Once you have installed everything successfully, tap on the Reboot Organisation button.
Voila!

Validation

If everything goes right, you should get the Google apps and services ready to employ in one case you reboot.

LineageOS xviii.one with GApps

Almost GApps distributions and custom ROMs support OTA survival, which ways it's non necessary to re-flash a GApps package when you install a ROM update. A major version update is some other story though, as y'all accept to locate the advisable GApps bundle for the new Android base and if necessary, make a clean install.

What is your preferred GApps bundle of choice? Let us know in the comments beneath!