How can I download Android apps which are "incompatible" in my country?

[NewChinaHand]

I'm a US citizen living in China. When I was home in the US I was able to download all the Android apps I needed. But now I'm back in China, and after having to erase my Android and start over to try to solve its battery problem, I'm finding that several of the apps I want are not available to me through Google Play, because I'm in China.
These include: The New York Times, Slate, and The Guardian.
Even when I use my VPN on my Android, I still can't download these apps.
Is there any other way to fool my phone, or Google Play, into thinking I'm in the US and not China, and thus letting me download the apps I want.

 

[!on]

Have you tried using Orbot / Tor network?

 

[codesplice]

There used to be a few apps that would "spoof" your country location so that you could install apps not normally made available to your country/carrier, but I believe Google finally closed up the loopholes that they used.

Alternatively, you may want to try using the Amazon App Store instead. It looks like you should be able to access apps through Amazon.cn, and you should be able to access the App Store installer at Install Amazon Appstore

Hope this helps! :thumbup:

 

[vosg]

If spoofing the playstore didn't do the trick, I have sent you a pm with a link to the 3 apps you want. If you need anything else, pm me.

 

[mikedt]

I'm a US citizen living in China. When I was home in the US I was able to download all the Android apps I needed. But now I'm back in China, and after having to erase my Android and start over to try to solve its battery problem, I'm finding that several of the apps I want are not available to me through Google Play, because I'm in China.
These include: The New York Times, Slate, and The Guardian.
Even when I use my VPN on my Android, I still can't download these apps.
Is there any other way to fool my phone, or Google Play, into thinking I'm in the US and not China, and thus letting me download the apps I want.

Try this:
www.tekshanghai.com/change-country-google-play-store/

BTW I'm seeing the NY Times, Slate and Guardian apps as being available from the Chinese Play Store, however content maybe blocked unless using a VPN.

 

[mikedt]

Have you tried using Orbot / Tor network?

TOR doesn't work in China, unless using a VPN, as the Great FireWall can detect TOR packets. It would not spoof the Play Store anyway. Besides if TOR did determine Play Store location, you'd probably end up with the Russian one or something.

 

[mikedt]

There used to be a few apps that would "spoof" your country location so that you could install apps not normally made available to your country/carrier, but I believe Google finally closed up the loopholes that they used.

Sure they've done that to appease the rights holders, i.e. RIAA, MPAA, Hollywood, etc. Basically to ensure they're not distributing restricted copyrighted content outside the countries they're licensed for. Bummer for expats and international travellers though, being denied access to the things one has legitimately paid for.

 

[fa1988]

I thought and found two the best solution. 1- goto Google website and search how you can download APPs from Google Play by Chrome Adds-on. I'm sure there's a way to download it from your PC. 2- use non-free VPNs so that you can turn the limition better.

 

[chadwick108]

xposed has a module that will allow all apps in the play store if you are rooted also

 

[funkylogik]

xposed has a module that will allow all apps in the play store if you are rooted also

Which module is that mate?

 

[chadwick108]

Which module is that mate?

https://mega.co.nz/#!nVx0iAQK!aYytWL-gGkhgdW8915D0CDPJfSgb3zBagmeVFsBfjfM

http://repo.xposed.info/module/de.robv.android.xposed.mods.playstorefix

 

[funkylogik]

Playstorefix. Thanks mate :beer:

 

[chadwick108]

Playstorefix. Thanks mate :beer:

Glad I could help!

 

[mikedt]

Here's a possible solution that seems to be working for me at the moment, I'm now using the US Play Store even though I'm in China. Try using a VPN on your PC. Login to Play from your PC and you should then get the country that the VPN is going into, e.g. US, UK, etc. Reset the Play Store on your Android device, clear data and cache. And you should then be able to install items that were showing as incompatible or not available in this country.

 

[Riche101]

https://mega.co.nz/#!nVx0iAQK!aYytWL-gGkhgdW8915D0CDPJfSgb3zBagmeVFsBfjfM

http://repo.xposed.info/module/de.robv.android.xposed.mods.playstorefix

That doesn't fix the issue all it does is shows all the apps with or without your DPI settings

 

[funkylogik]

That doesn't fix the issue all it does is shows all the apps with or without your DPI settings

Is that right mate? I cant test it because all my devices are running on ART now but i remember there was another mod with a different name that spoofed Play into thinking you were using stock DPI

 

[Riche101]

Is that right mate? I cant test it because all my devices are running on ART now but i remember there was another mod with a different name that spoofed Play into thinking you were using stock DPI

Yes it just enables all apps no matter what Dpi. It says it in the info


" If you have set a custom DPI, Play Store stops showing some of your apps because Google thinks they are incompatible with your phone. This module tries to avoid that by making Play Store think it had a "normal" DPI and transmitting the same to Google's servers."

Its got nothing to do with apps from different countries there is An app called Market Enabler but it doesn't always work.

Google Playstore is set to the country you said when you set up account.

I Get UK even when abroad

 

[funkylogik]

Cool thanks mate :beer:

 

[NewChinaHand]

Thanks for all the responses.

Let me add my own response since I figured out a way around this problem.
All I had to do was add my US-based credit card to my Google Wallet account. Once it had that, it let me download any apps I would be able to in the US.

 

[mikedt]

Just to let everyone know, the VPN method using a PC is still working for me. I did actually register a UK credit card with UK billing address to Google Wallet a while ago, but Play was still insisting I'm in China.