Google Said to Be Blocking GApps on Uncertified Devices; Custom ROMs an Exception

Advertisement
By Sumit Chakraborty | Updated: 27 March 2018 15:24 IST
Highlights
  • Google is blocking access to its apps on uncertified Android devices
  • Android devices with firmware built after March 16 will be blocked
  • Google has made an exception for the custom ROM users
Google Said to Be Blocking GApps on Uncertified Devices; Custom ROMs an Exception

Google has reportedly begun to block access to its apps on uncertified Android devices. Google usually sets prior requirements that mobile manufacturers have to meet in order to be able to preload the Google Suite of Apps on their devices. However, the technology giant has decided to make things a little harder. Earlier, it was possible for unverified devices to use Google apps or GApps, but now the company appears to be taking on such devices while still allowing custom ROM users to use the apps.

Android is an open-source operating system, and it enables OEMs to distribute Google's official apps on their smartphones. As per an XDA Developers' report, access to Google's apps on uncertified Android devices whose firmware was built after March 16 will be blocked. This means if a device is not certified by Google it will not be able to access the apps. A device maker will now have to follow the Android Compatibility Definition Document to pass the Compatibility Test Suite.

Interestingly, according to the report, Google has been giving warnings to device manufacturers regarding the issue. Also, users, for a year, have been coming across the warning while booting their device. However, clearing data on Play Services seemed to resolve it until now. But this will not be an option anymore. It should be noted that older uncertified devices may not face any trouble as new devices are supposed to ensure they are certified.

While this comes as good news as it ensures more quality and compatibility, the move may cause a problem to users who run custom ROMs. Since they are usually nightly builds, it becomes an issue to run GApps. As a result, Google has reportedly made an exception for the custom ROM users who can register their device with their Android ID in order to run Google apps. Notably, there is a limit of a 100 devices per user. As XDA Developers points out, the Android ID can be obtained using the ADB command "settings get secure android_id". Further, users will have to insert it on the Google's site to get on the whitelist.

 

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.

Advertisement

Related Stories

Popular Mobile Brands
  1. Apple's M4 Mac Mini Price in India Drops to Rs. 49,999 With These Discounts
  2. Poco F7 Design Spotted in Leaked Renders; Battery Specifications Revealed
  3. Samsung Teases Galaxy M36 Launch; Phone Spied Online Alongside Galaxy F36
  4. OnePlus Pad Lite Design and Specifications Leaked, Could Launch Soon
  1. OnePlus Pad Lite Design and Key Specifications Leaked, Could Launch Soon
  2. Samsung's Upcoming Running Events Reportedly Hint at Galaxy Z Fold 7, Flip 7 and Watch 8 Series Launch Timeline
  3. Poco F7 Design Spotted in Leaked Renders; Battery Specifications Revealed via Flipkart
  4. Neuralink Device Helps Monkey See Something That’s Not There
  5. Apple's Mac Mini With M4 Chip Price in India Drops to Rs. 49,999 With Discounts on Amazon
  6. Samsung Galaxy M36, Galaxy F36 Spotted on Google Play Console; Galaxy M36 Launch Reportedly Teased via Amazon
  7. Google, Scale AI's Largest Customer, Said to Plan Split After Meta Deal
  8. SpaceX Launches 26 New Starlink Satellites, Expands Global Internet Network
  9. Aurora Alert! Northern Lights May Be Visible as Far South as New York on June 14
  10. New Island Forms in Caspian Sea as Water Levels Drop, Russian Scientists Confirm
Gadgets 360 is available in
Download Our Apps
Available in Hindi
© Copyright Red Pixels Ventures Limited 2025. All rights reserved.