[Android 13] [GApps] NikGApps [ARM64]

[Nikhil]

Will someone point me to step-by-step documentation for how to change which packages are installed via NikGapps? I've read All about NikGapps.config carefully several times and still don't understand. While I am very well versed in *nix desktop and server system administration, I am just getting into Android and obviously don't have enough contextual knowledge to understand specifically what to do from the link.

My philosophy is to always start minimal and install things as needed rather than install the world and try to cut back. So I installed LineageOS 20 and NikGapps Core (specifically NikGapps-core-arm64-13-20230218-signed.zip) and they are working. I'd like to now modify which packages are installed.

If I understand correctly, I need to create a directory at /sdcard1/NikGapps and install (and modify) nikgapps.config. I'm then supposed to reflash the zip I used originally (the one specified above I believe). The commands I original used are

$ adb reboot sideload
$ adb sideload lineage-20.0-20230223-nightly-fajita-signed.zip
$ adb sideload NikGapps-core-arm64-13-20230218-signed.zip

then rebooted from the bootloader. Do I need to repeat the first and last steps in order to reflash after I've set up nikgaps.config?

$ adb reboot sideload
$ adb sideload NikGapps-core-arm64-13-20230218-signed.zip

Yes that is correct. More details on how to install NikGapps can be found here.

I hope you know you don't specifically need to keep nikgapps.config in /sdcard1/NikGapps. It's one of many locations that you can choose based on your preference.

Once you define your config for daily use, you can also use the same config to create your own build by following this.

 

[osm0sis]

I decided to grab a logcat for us to see what the exact issue is. It reads kinda interesting, kinda confusing, like something wrong with the download itself: "Unknown source", permissions issue somehow still?

Yeah it's like I said, something with the Google account appdata restore seemed to break it for me. Haven't clean flashed again yet since the last one I reported on (0309), just dirty flashed 0311 and now 0319, and poking around to see what I can get working. GBoard is enabled in my config yeah, I just missed srec in there when looking through.

I figured it out!

The Google account appdata restore brought over system settings which disabled WiFi/Mobile data access permissions for Private Compute Services, Settings Services, Speech Services by Google, and Recorder. Flipping it on for them got language packs downloads instantly working!

Not sure if there's a way to guard against this for all users with a permissions xml or something, but glad I've got everything functional finally. Thanks for bearing with my troubleshooting.

Edit: It got Live Caption working too!

 

[Nikhil]

I figured it out!

The Google account appdata restore brought over system settings which disabled WiFi/Mobile data access permissions for Private Compute Services, Settings Services, Speech Services by Google, and Recorder. Flipping it on for them got language packs downloads instantly working!

Not sure if there's a way to guard against this for all users with a permissions xml or something, but glad I've got everything functional finally. Thanks for bearing with my troubleshooting.

Edit: It got Live Caption working too!

That's great news! Now on to the next challenge, QPR2

 

[Maverickiller]

Thanks for reporting, I will take a closer look at Pixel Launcher after I update my op7 pro with next LineageOS 20 build which is due in next 2 days. Meanwhile, can you screenrecord and show how it is behaving?

Same problem here.
Wallpaper and style doesn't work,too.

 

[Nikhil]

Same problem here.
Wallpaper and style doesn't work,too.

Dirty Flash? I'm going to release a canary build with updated apks that fixes the random crashes I got after dirty flashing, those were fixed with clean flash so it seems, March Security Update cannot be upgraded without clean flash.

Recents is still broken, still working on the fix. Avoid flashing Pixel Launcher meanwhile.

 

[Maverickiller]

Dirty Flash? I'm going to release a canary build with updated apks that fixes the random crashes I got after dirty flashing, those were fixed with clean flash so it seems, March Security Update cannot be upgraded without clean flash.

Recents is still broken, still working on the fix. Avoid flashing Pixel Launcher meanwhile.

Clean flash,always.
Thanks for your hardworking, looking forward to the next update.

 

[Extreme_Ninja2099]

New Stable Release is up - 19th Mar 2023 (Android 10-13)

Changelog:
- Fixed the incorrect naming convention of addonlogs
- Fixed the debloater not surviving OTA update in some scenarios
- Enable pixel launcher animations
- Update the Go apps to latest available versions
- Update NikGapps Logo in recovery
- Minor Script Improvements

Note:
- Clean flash is recommended!

Happy Flashing!

Would the 20230319 nikgapps version debloater work for ROMs with March patch/QPR2?

 

[ephemunch]

I've read through the FAQ several times now, but I still don't get it (was Gapps user).

So I have LineageOS 20 with the core variant. Flashed normally via fastboot. I have done nothing with nikgapps.config.
Let's say I want to install later for example Android Auto or other Google Apps. The installation via Google Play Store is not recommended and I would have to make additional Google Apps always manually via nikgapps.config or even must reflash?

 

[AEALO12]

installing google photos from this package would let me have the unlimited google photos backup?

 

[netra3441]

Hello @Nikhil ,

here writes you netra3441, I am a normal user from Germany, not a programmer or technician.

I have a Samsung Galaxy S7 Exynos, and I'm using LineageOS from 18.1.

Of course, always with NikGapps so far - and I take the opportunity to thank you very much for your honorable and valuable work!

Under LOS 20 (Android 13) there are now more problems with the battery, the Samsung Galaxy S7 consumes far too much power even in idle mode, and now it has been said that it could be due to NikGapps, there have been more problems with it lately.

Could you please comment on that @NiKhiL ?

Because apparently you are the only gApps provider who also offers for Android 13, and since I have only had good experiences with NikGapps so far, I would also be grateful for your opinion.

Thanks in advance and best regards
netra3441

 

[Nikhil]

Would the 20230319 nikgapps version debloater work for ROMs with March patch/QPR2?

Yes. Debloater is independent of security patch updates.

 

[Nikhil]

I've read through the FAQ several times now, but I still don't get it (was Gapps user).

So I have LineageOS 20 with the core variant. Flashed normally via fastboot. I have done nothing with nikgapps.config.
Let's say I want to install later for example Android Auto or other Google Apps. The installation via Google Play Store is not recommended and I would have to make additional Google Apps always manually via nikgapps.config or even must reflash?

You have two three options.

1. Flash core, Flash Android Auto aur whichever addon you need. There are addons available on Sourceforge.net.
2. Flash the variant that covers all the apps you need and disable the ones you don't need using nikgapps.config - simply by setting the value of the unwanted package to 0
3. Create your own custom build that has NikGapps core + Android auto and you can call it whatever you want - recommended

Let me know if you need more details on any of the approach

 

[Nikhil]

installing google photos from this package would let me have the unlimited google photos backup?

In some cases, you need spoofing support from rom. I suggested you flash NikGapps core and Google Photos addon and check.

 

[Nikhil]

Hello @Nikhil ,

here writes you netra3441, I am a normal user from Germany, not a programmer or technician.

I have a Samsung Galaxy S7 Exynos, and I'm using LineageOS from 18.1.

Of course, always with NikGapps so far - and I take the opportunity to thank you very much for your honorable and valuable work!

Under LOS 20 (Android 13) there are now more problems with the battery, the Samsung Galaxy S7 consumes far too much power even in idle mode, and now it has been said that it could be due to NikGapps, there have been more problems with it lately.

Could you please comment on that @NiKhiL ?

Because apparently you are the only gApps provider who also offers for Android 13, and since I have only had good experiences with NikGapps so far, I would also be grateful for your opinion.

Thanks in advance and best regards
netra3441

Hi,

There are plenty of reasons which can be responsible for battery drain. To name a few

1. Spoofing your device to make it look like pixel leads to battery drain as it makes google execute processes that are exclusive for pixel and ends up failing because your device is not pixel
2. Any app that acquires wake lock continuously drains the battery, sometimes it's the kernel that's responsible behind it.
3. A lot of location accessing apps - they run in the background and eat up the juice and we keep wondering what's going on.

To summarize, one cannot hold any gapps package to be responsible for battery drain without evidence (logcat showing gapps spamming that doesn't happen with any other gapps)

I suggest, you flash the smallest package - NikGapps core and observe your experience with no mods and just basic apps.

The over time, keep on adding stuff and determine the root cause.

 

[netra3441]

Hi,

There are plenty of reasons which can be responsible for battery drain. To name a few

1. Spoofing your device to make it look like pixel leads to battery drain as it makes google execute processes that are exclusive for pixel and ends up failing because your device is not pixel
2. Any app that acquires wake lock continuously drains the battery, sometimes it's the kernel that's responsible behind it.
3. A lot of location accessing apps - they run in the background and eat up the juice and we keep wondering what's going on.

To summarize, one cannot hold any gapps package to be responsible for battery drain without evidence (logcat showing gapps spamming that doesn't happen with any other gapps)

I suggest, you flash the smallest package - NikGapps core and observe your experience with no mods and just basic apps.

The over time, keep on adding stuff and determine the root cause.

Thank you @Nilkhil

I had tried today a few Gapps with LOS 19.1 and 20 - only your NikGapps could be installed without errors and without trouble later during setting up my Samsung Galaxy S7 with LOS.

I have installed NikGApps Core.

In fact I have installed a navigation app - have now switched of its location accessing, and only will use it, when sit in a car.

 

[Extreme_Ninja2099]

Yes. Debloater is independent of security patch updates.

Well I meant that the debloater/Nikgapps restore should work like normal even with any changes done by QPR2.
From Last Dec QPR1, it changed things and Nikgapps didn't work as well for ROM OTA updates

 

[Nikhil]

Well I meant that the debloater/Nikgapps restore should work like normal even with any changes done by QPR2.
From Last Dec QPR1, it changed things and Nikgapps didn't work as well for ROM OTA updates

The last remaining issue with debloater ota update is resolved and will be part of next release. I suggest you wait for the next release and all should be good.

 

[Afarsiman]

Hi,
I installed lineageos 20 in my s8 with nikapps full for Android 13. Now I can't update Google chrome because after download finish in play store in installing will stop and says: can't install and see error.
Please help me

 

[Nikhil]

I use the full version. It`s possible that yesterday`s LineageOS 20 build had Android 13 QPR2 merged. Pixel Launcher runs, but the recents panel is broken.

Same problem here.
Wallpaper and style doesn't work,too.

Can you guys try flashing this addon? it fixes the crash and recents issues with QPR2.

 

[Nikhil]

Hi,
I installed lineageos 20 in my s8 with nikapps full for Android 13. Now I can't update Google chrome because after download finish in play store in installing will stop and says: can't install and see error.
Please help me

can you grab a logcat?