If you have a phone with the Android Market missing, this post is for you. For some unexplained reason, some phones, even new ones, came without the Android Market. Mine did, and I was not happy. I found an easy solution, and hope that it will help other's in the same situation.
This thread applies to every Android phone, but specific information is based on the XPERIA X10 Mini. If you have another phone, please read this HOWTO fully before applying the steps.
THINGS TO NOTE:
- This howto explains how to install the missing Android Market. This is NOT for people who are having problems installing apps. If you have Android Market but are having problems with it, this post is NOT for you.
- This was done with Android 1.6.
- Do NOT upgrade to 2.1 before fixing your market issue as it may cause you to have to hunt down newer versions of software, which is more difficult to find.
- That said, this method should work on 2.1. People in this thread have reported that my method works with 2.1. I have also provided software options for both versions.
- This should work for any Android 1.6 or 2.1 phone, but you will need to find your own Vending.apk made specifically for your phone model and Android version. I have provided only Xperia X10 Mini and X10 Mini Pro Vending.apk files.
HOWTO:
- 1 -
First reboot your phone. Just turn it off, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on. Once on your home screen, wait 1 to 2 minutes for everything to load.
- 2 -
Charge your phone. I recommend having at least 50% battery power, 100% would be best.
- 3 -
Allow installation of foreign apps by checking "Unkown Sources":
Settings -> Applications -> Unknown Sources
- 4 -
Copy Android Market file (Vending.apk) to your phone's SD card.
Use the USB cable and select "Connect to phone" and mount it if it was not mounted already by dragging down the top notification bar and selecting "USB Connected" and hitting "mount".
Now copy Vending.apk using your favorite file manager from your computer to your phone. Unmount/eject your phone on your computer.
Unmount your computer by dragging down the top notification bar and selecting "Turn off USB storage" and hitting "unmount". Take out the USB cable from the phone.
- 5 -
a) If you are on Android 1.6:
Install UniversalAndRoot. Below is a direct link to 1.6.2beta5 (NOTICE: this may not be the newest version when you read this):
http://bit.ly/9wAKC5
b) If you are on Android 2.1:
Install z4root. Below is a link to a post. Read that first post and follow the directions on how to soft root your phone:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=833953
- 6 -
If you are using 1.6:
Soft root with Universal AndRoot. Launch Universal AndRoot and before you hit "Root phone", select the option "Soft root".
If you are using 2.1:
Follow the instructions in the z4root post linked above.
For everyone - both 1.6 and 2.1:
Soft root means that the root will only hold until you restart the phone. This is your best and easiest option. Otherwise you will have to got back and unroot your phone after you are done.
NOTE: read what it says when your soft root your phone. If it fails, try again. Mine failed the first time. Second time it worked. Just remember to select "soft root"!
- 7 -
Install SlideMe market place which you can find here:
http://slideme.org
- 8 -
Download and install AndRootFile from SlideMe. If you need help with SlideMe, just read their help section.
- 9 -
Open AndRootFile on your phone and gain root permission. You do this by clicking the "super user" icon.
Now find your the Vending.apk you copied previously and copy it to /system/app/ which you do by clicking on your Vending.apk file and selecting copy. Next you go to your root directory by clicking the [ / ] button. If this button is not available, just go up in the directory structure until you cannot go any further. You will see the /system/ and /sdcard/ folders. Now navigate to your /system/app/ folder and paste the file there.
- 10 -
Install /system/app/Vending.apk by clicking on it inside AndRootFile.
- 11 -
Exit AndRootFile and see if the Market app is installed. It should show up in your list of apps. DO NOT OPEN the Market app. If the Market installation was a success, restart your phone. Just turn it off, then turn it back on.
DONE!
BONUS:
For your convenience, I have provided the Vending.apk file for Android 1.6 that I know works. I have also provided a Vending.apk for Android 2.1. See the attachments below.
Just extract it from the provided .zip file. This Vending.apk file was copied from another X10 Mini phone which had it pre-installed. The provided Vending.apk files are for XPERIA X10 Mini and Mini Pro running Android 1.6 or 2.1 ONLY! If you have a different phone or Android version, you MUST get a Vending.apk made for your phone model and Android version.
PLEASE NOTE: I have not tested if the Vending.apk for Android 2.1 works. Use at your own risk. But multiple people have reported that it works!
WARNING:
The latest 2.1 update (2.0.2.A.0.24) DISABLES rooting!! If you install this version, you will not be able to root your phone. You will not be able to install the Android Market. DO NOT UPGRADE TO 2.0.2.A.0.24 before installing the Android Market!! Once you install the Android Market and it works, you can upgrade without problem.
Hope this helps all those people that received a phone without Android Market.