How to download Android apps on Huawei smartphone

Since the US sanctions, some Huawei phones no longer have the right to access the PlayStore, which nevertheless contains so many useful applications.

But don’t panic because even without PlayStore, you can still access Android apps on your Huawei phone. There are even several very effective methods available.

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But before, it would be better to update your phone, just to make sure that you have the latest version of the operating system, it can help. To do this, follow the steps below

Open the Settings app found in the apps menu

Then scroll down, and tap on “System and updates”

In the new window, press “software update”, an automatic update page will appear.

From there, your phone will check for updates. If there is one available, the phone will download it. Just make sure your phone has enough charge and your internet connection won’t let you down.

When the update is complete, return to the home screen and continue reading below.

Method 1: Use Huawei App Gallery

Huawei App Gallery is already installed on your Huawei device. This is the Huawei PlayStore and it is the main way to download apps on your Huawei smartphone.

To access the Huawei App Gallery, open the phone’s apps menu and look for a red bag logo.

Tap it and you should be in the app gallery.

You will arrive on the main page.

Search for the app you want by tapping the search bar at the top.

Once your app appears, click on its list entry. This should then load the app page.

At the bottom of the screen should be a blue “Install” button.

Tap on it and wait for the app to install.

Once the installation is complete, the blue button will say “Open” Tap it and you should be in your newly installed app.

Method 2: Use Huawei Petal Seach

Huawei Petal Search is a Huawei-owned portal that provides access to company-related news, images and applications. Petal Seach is to Huawei what Google Search is to Google.

If you have a Huawei P40 series device or the Mate 40 Pro, Petal Search will be pre-installed. If you are using an older device like our Mate 30 Pro, you will need to install the app through Huawei App Gallery.

Find in method 4 how to install Huawei Petal Search.

Here’s how to get your apps through Petal Search.

Upon opening the application, the “For you” page will be displayed. Tap on the search bar and type the app you want to install and hit enter.

When the search results appear, tap the “Apps” tab to narrow the listings to just apps.

Tap the desired app. This will then display the app page from the app gallery or a third party.

  Find and tap “Install”. If necessary, press “Download”. Wait for the phone to install the app.

Then there will be an “Open” button. Tap on it to open your newly installed app.

Method 3: Use Huawei Phone Clone

Huawei’s Phone Clone app is a great way to transfer apps from a Google Play-enabled device.

However, it will not work with all applications.

All Huawei smartphones have Phone Clone already pre-installed, so no need for App Gallery. What you will need is a device with Google Play installed.

Find the Phone Clone app on your Huawei device in the apps menu and tap its icon to open it.

The app will ask for file storage permissions. Accept them to allow the phone to transfer and receive data from another device.

Select “This is a new device” to allow the phone to receive data. Accept the permissions for that too.

You will then have the option to choose the platform of your separate device. To do this, select “Other Android device”.

On your separate device, open the Google Play Store and search for Phone Clone. Tap Install. Once installed, click Open.

Once opened, accept the required permissions and scan the QR code of the Huawei device with the phone having Google PlayStore.

Make sure the details on the screens match and if so, tap “Connect”.

On the separate device, you should see a list of apps and tools.

Select the desired items with the checkboxes and press the “OK” button at the bottom of the screen.

Then tap Transfer at the bottom of the screen.

Let phones transfer and receive data. Once complete, the device with Google PlayStore will display “Sent”, while the Huawei device will display “Transfer complete”.

Tap “OK” and “Finish” on the respective devices to complete the operation.

Method 4: Download and install the APK of the application

Installing applications via an APK sounds difficult, but it’s actually quite simple. There are two ways to do this: by downloading through your phone’s browser, and also through a Windows PC.

Many websites offer APKs for millions of apps, just make sure you choose one that is secure. The one from Amazon is one of the best.

Download via your phone’s browser

     Open your phone’s browser and navigate to the APK website of your choice.

From there, find the app you want.

Tap the APK page and tap the download button to start downloading.

Accept storage permissions to enable downloading.

Your app’s APK will now be in the Do

Download via Windows PC

You will need a Windows PC with an internet connection, a USB cable to go from your phone to the computer, and the Huawei phone itself.

On your PC, open your internet browser and go to the website where you can download the APK of your choice.

Find your desired app using the site’s search bar.

Click Download and select the desktop as the download destination.

  Connect your Huawei device to the computer via the USB cable. Once plugged in, select “File Transfer” from the context menu of the Huawei phone.

  On the Windows PC, open “This PC” via the Start menu and double-click on the Huawei device.

Click until you come to a page with a Downloads folder.

Open this folder, then drag and drop the downloaded APK file from desktop to phone.

When finished, close all File Explorer windows on your computer.

Now disconnect the USB cable from the phone and the computer. Your file has been transferred successfully.

Now let’s install the transferred APK

From the home screen, open the app menu and find the Files app.

If you are opening it for the first time, accept the permissions.

Tap on “Internal storage” then on “Download”. You should now see your “.apk” file in there.

Tap the file, then tap “install” at the bottom of the screen. Let it settle.

Once done, you have two options. You can close or open the application. Either way, your app has been successfully installed

These are the four methods you have to install an Android app on your Huawei phone. Remember that Huawei App Gallery is the best, because it is the easiest, safest and fastest. However, some applications are not yet available there, hence the possible use of other methods.

Read also:

• Regular Huawei Mate Xs 2 problems and their solutions

• Frequently encountered problems on Huawei P40 and their solutions