Question P50 Pro in the USA. Update: Working GMS

[jmikepr]

Hello guys.

The forum for this device was a bit quiet so i figured I'd jump in.

My P50 Pro should arrive here in the states in a couple days. Ordered the CN model from WondaMobile.

Currently using a P40 pro without any Google hacks. Other than micro G to make notifications work on a few apps. Along with YouTube vanced.


I'll update this post once i get the device in. I'm really excited though. I'm still semi new to Huawei devices and I can't believe I've been missing out this whole time.

Anyone else have any experiences importing the Chinese model in? I've imported and used China model Xiaomi phones on CN ROM without issues in the past. My P40 pro is a global model though. Id imagine it's as simple as setting to English and deleting Chinese bloat.

 

[Shymmy]

You'll be now a target for secret services !!! )
A new traitor ... ) Hahaha ...
On Huawei phone(s) is not so much bloatware, maybe just few preinstalled sugestions for apps; on global models, I don't know about CN models ...
I bought Huawei (global) models since the Ascend P6 (P6, P7, P9, P10 lite, Mate10 pro, P40 pro, Mate40 pro).
Is not such a big deal without GMS, we can live without it very good. Since the ban, I bought P40 pro (I had installed GMS on it from the start) and Mate40 pro (nothing about GMS here).
Yes, we have few limitations without GMS, but I think we can live with them like so.
MicroG, YouTube vanced, Curve or iCard for banking apps substitute ... is not ideal, but we can go further.

 

[jmikepr]

Well guys. I'm going to a longer write up when I get some time. But here are just a few quick thoughts


Camera specifically pictures are great.
I banged my head for a while trying to get microG to stay active in background for my notifications on apps from Aurora store.

Micro G + Aurora and really don't miss Google very much. Apart from Google photos which is going to be a process b


I also purchased a Matebook 14s, Free buds pro and Watch 3.

Matebook and phone integration is honestly superior to Apples in my opinion. Freebuds switches between the two incredibly intuitively and fast.


That's about all for my initial thoughts for now.

 

[jmikepr]

I ran into a really weird issue. I had micro G installed for push notifications initially it kept dying in the background despite battery optimization being turned off as well as being locked in the drawer.

I noticed the "app launch" setting wouldn't allow me to manage micoG core manually and let it autostart etc. It literally didn't appear even when selecting show system process.

I installed, uninstalled over and over. I tried different forks etc


One time I added stock MicroG via repo on Fdroid and BAM it showed up in the app launch settings to control it manually and allow autostart. IT WORKED FLAWLESSSLY. Stable notifications from that point forward.


Well I screwed around and factory reset my phone for another reason. Now I cannot get MicroG core to show up under app launch to allow it to be manually managed. Therefore it keeps dying in the background. Does anyone have any clue how I made it work the first time around? and why it won't show up to manage manually anymore in the "app launch" setting??

 

[jmikepr]

Alright guys I banged my head on this wall for a LONG time but I've done it. I've got stable 95% working GMS on this p50 pro kirin chip model. No micro G BS. Full GMS.

I basically used Average Logs guide on youtube to install Googlefier and the Chinese looking Google install app. BUT after that I stopped following his guide and just followed the actual Googlefier steps.

Playstore opens, and lets me download everything. LOTS of apps give a play protect warning but goes away and lets you open the app. Then you can disable Google Play Protect notifications in the notification settings for each individual app. Once you disable it most apps work complete fine, although some are bit turbulent and slow getting started for the first time you launch them. Some of them have some quirky behavior as well.

But the following APPs are working for me, to the point where they either function completely normally or 95% normally.

Google App
Youtube (wants you to update play services to Cast videos to my Google Home which I don't want to do in fear of breaking my set up)
Youtube Music
Youtube TV
Google Voice
Google Photos
Gmail (although it pesters you a bit a pop in app that can be dismissed and functions fine)
Google Chrome
Google Messages works fine (I've almost got RCS working as well but it seems hung up at connecting)
Google Dialer.
Google Drive
Google Maps signed in works but has a consistent occasional play protect warning that doesn't hinder use.

I cannot get Google TV app to open at all
Google Home seems like a complete no go.
Google Assistant will open and let you tinker a bit but can't respond to queries nor reach the server.


Overall I'm pretty happy. Phone is great. Notifications are completely stable. and most google apps work without issue.

Let's hope the next harmonyOS update doesn't break it. Also disable autoupdates on Google Play services because I think a newer version will break it.

 

[papi8]

hi. can you please tell me if your system haptics are working fine?
i mean on the dialer when you press numbers, do you have vibration feedback or only sound?
and on which firmware version are you?
thanks

 

[jmikepr]

hi. can you please tell me if your system haptics are working fine?
i mean on the dialer when you press numbers, do you have vibration feedback or only sound?
and on which firmware version are you?
thanks

When I push buttons on my dialer I only get sound. No vibration. But I think there was a settings toggle to enable it. I don't remember. I'm on 2.0.0.235

 

[papi8]

When I push buttons on my dialer I only get sound. No vibration. But I think there was a settings toggle to enable it. I don't remember. I'm on 2.0.0.235

thanks for answer
the same here. no option to turn it on. i think is some kind bug. on my p40 pro with haptics on on dialer there was vibration

 

[jmikepr]

To update my thread, even though it's a ghost town. Sad because this is a great device.

I was able to get RCS Chat working today with the Google Messages app.

Two days ago I was an IDIOT and cleared all data on Google Play services trying to get Google Home to work (Despite the fact I barely use it instead I use HASS)


Somehow it ended up updating my Play services which broke everything. I then redid the Googlefier method and it completely installed GMS without any issues. THIS Time however it completely installed GMS with ZERO play protect pop ups. Which sounds great right? Completely stable GMS right?

Well the problem is now notifications were completely broken. I'd rather have have the 90% working GMS AND push notifications than 100% working without PUSH.

So after tinkering for a bit I got it back to the way I had it prior to. Most Google apps work completely fine after the first play certified warning. Then you can silence those. And push notifications work fine. It's something to do with the Google Framework Services step on Googlefier. You have to actually mess up the proper instructions. Not sure what specifically at this point.

 

[liamou3]

Thanks for the various updates. I have been using a P50 Pro since September and am really happy with it. However, to me, the various options for installing GMS are a bit like trying to crack a nut with a sledgehammer. And even after all of the installation etc. you have to freeze play service which effectively turns off app updates, so that seems to take away most of the benefit of all that hard work?

The simplest option (for me at least) was to use GSpace and just clone any apps that I needed (really just Google Photos and a few others that use the maps api) into the GSpace area. You can even create homescreen shortcuts. You can also achieve the same with Vmos.

Everything else works just fine within Harmony OS and no problem with any notifications for all other apps like WhatsApp, Twitter, Instagram etc. Curve works well in Harmony OS as an alternative to Google Pay. Various app updates via APK Pure.

But no matter how you approach it, it's still a great phone!

 

[papi8]

hi
did any one of you received firmware updates ever? and which country you have set in the phone?
i see that in china new firmware is rolling out.

HarmonyOS 2.0.1.195 SP5 update​

 

[liamou3]

I set up the phone in Europe. and have had a few updates (maybe 2 or 3?) Currently on HarmonyOS 2.0.0.235 but presume the update you refer to will roll out over the coming week or so.

 

[Flying Fox]

Thanks for the thread here. My question: I do not know if I installed micro G correctly. Main problem for now is that I use a gmail account for my contacts and calendar. The synchronization does not work for me. That mean, I get my contacts only by importing them to my smartphone. Should this work with micro G? I also can not find a good tutorial eg on Youtube or maybe I'm doing something wrong.
Got my P50 pro today; in itself completely thrilled.
Thanks for your help!

 

[papi8]

hi. anyone received this new firmare update?

 

[Shymmy]

@Flying Fox: you have to import your contacts on the Huawei ID.
If you have an old Huawei with GMS it's easy, you can login with your Huawei ID on it, import your contacts from gmail account to your Huawei ID, then you can login with your Huawei ID on the new phone and sync your contacts.
Be sure you will add the new contacts into your Huawei ID (on your new phone).
If you don't have an old Huawei to do that, you can save contacts on the old phone as vCars, export that file on the new phone, then import contacts from vCard file on the Huawei ID.

 

[Flying Fox]

@Flying Fox: you have to import your contacts on the Huawei ID.
If you have an old Huawei with GMS it's easy, you can login with your Huawei ID on it, import your contacts from gmail account to your Huawei ID, then you can login with your Huawei ID on the new phone and sync your contacts.
Be sure you will add the new contacts into your Huawei ID (on your new phone).
If you don't have an old Huawei to do that, you can save contacts on the old phone as vCars, export that file on the new phone, then import contacts from vCard file on the Huawei ID.

Thank you very much for your help. The problem is that appointments and new contacts are not synchronized. I think therefore rather to create a new email account, eg outlook or protonmail.
However, I think that micro g does not work for me. Currently I am trying to transfer my signal account (from my Oneplus 6 pro). This also does not seem to work. Or can it be that this does not work at all.... ? Thx!!

 

[Flying Fox]

btw, does anyone know a tutorial for installing micro g that works under emui 12.01? On youtube I found a very good one in german, only it doesn't seem to work for me...

 

[Shymmy]

You can uninstall all you have about vanced and microG.
Then, on vancedapp.com, you can find Vanced manager. Install it, open it and find there YouTube vanced and Vanced microG.
Install both without open them.
Then, into phone settings - apps -apps - microG settings, you can turn off Cloud messaging first, then turm off Cloud device registration. Open YouTube vanced and login with your account.
Now you must have usable YouTube vanced and microG.
On Mate40 pro, without GMS aswell, I use Yahoo mail for gmail and yahoo accounts, and Business calendar pro for events.
Try that way ...
LE: you have contacts imported on Huawei ID allready and doesn't sync ? (and in the phonebook set to show your Huawei ID contacts)

 

[Flying Fox]

You can uninstall all you have aboit vanced and microG.
Then, on vancedapp.com, you can find Vanced manager. Install it, open it and find there YouTube vanced and Vanced microG.
Install both without open them.
Then, into phone settings - apps -apps - microG settings, you can turn off Cloud messaging first, then turm off Cloud device registration. Open YouTube vanced and login with your account.
Now you must have usable YouTube vanced and microG.
On Mate40 pro, without GMS aswell, I use Yahoo mail for gmail and yahoo accounts, and Business calendar pro for events.
Try that way ...
LE: you have contacts imported on Huawei ID allready and doesn't sync ? (and in the phonebook set to show your Huawei ID contacts)

Thank you very much. However, I did not mean youtube vanced, but the installation of microG (i.e. GmsCore and MicroG Framework) for the functionality of various apps, push notifications and account synchronization. Thanks anyway!!!

 

[__gryph0n__]

Full GMS working now
no problem