Help How to get U.S. only play store apps on a Canadian phone?

[karl32]

Is there a way around getting US only apps as a Canadian in the play store? Over on IOS I made a US Itunes account and was able to access anything using a vpn in the US Itunes store. I can't seem to find a way to do this on the Google play store.

For example the IHeart Radio app is available to the US but not Canada and when I look it up on my computer in the Play store it says it's not available to me since it knows my provider and phone is Canadian, and it says no available app to install when I try. I can't even see the app on my phone because I guess I'm in the Canadian play store.

Is there any way to do this? Thanks.

 

[Vigasan]

Is there a way around getting US only apps as a Canadian in the play store? Over on IOS I made a US Itunes account and was able to access anything using a vpn in the US Itunes store. I can't seem to find a way to do this on the Google play store.

For example the IHeart Radio app is available to the US but not Canada and when I look it up on my computer in the Play store it says it's not available to me since it knows my provider and phone is Canadian, and it says no available app to install when I try. I can't even see the app on my phone because I guess I'm in the Canadian play store.

Is there any way to do this? Thanks.

Go to google website on your phone, type in the app name then apk. So "iHeart Radio apk" download the file and install it. Works with pretty much any app.

 

[BlueBiker]

Go to google website on your phone, type in the app name then apk. So "iHeart Radio apk" download the file and install it. Works with pretty much any app.

Whoaaaaaa, that's a recipe for picking up malware!

Don't ever install an APK from any source unless you're absolutely sure it's legitimate and untainted, such as from the developer's own website. It's very common for malware authors to take widely used software, inject their own malware, and re-release the infected APK for unsuspecting users to install.

There's a reason that Android phones come from the factory with the ability to install from "Unknown sources" disabled: It's to prevent these types of infections.

 

[jwither]

Have you checked the Samsung and Amazon app stores?

 

[Digital Controller]

The Amazon app store would probably be a good alternative.

Just like the member above me suggested.

 

[karl32]

The Amazon app store would probably be a good alternative.

Just like the member above me suggested.

The Amazon app store is not available to me because of geographical restrictions. The Samsung store doesn't have much of what I'm looking for.

That's why I was hoping for a solution to get US apps in the play store, like I did on Itunes.

I don't want to install unknown apk app files, so I'm still looking for a way to get into the US play store if anyone has any suggestions I would appreciate it.

 

[karl32]

I managed to get the Amazon App Store working, so thanks for that suggestion!

I would still like to get the Google Play store working if I can since Amazon doesn't have everything I'm looking for.

Is there a way to sign into the Google play store with a different account than the one I use now, which is my main account? I don't want to lose the sync settings like calender, email, etc, that I have now by adding a new account. Is this something I can do without causing me problems, does anyone know? Thanks

 

[Digital Controller]

I managed to get the Amazon App Store working, so thanks for that suggestion!

I would still like to get the Google Play store working if I can since Amazon doesn't have everything I'm looking for.

Is there a way to sign into the Google play store with a different account than the one I use now, which is my main account? I don't want to lose the sync settings like calender, email, etc, that I have now by adding a new account. Is this something I can do without causing me problems, does anyone know? Thanks

You can create a new account and use the playstore with that one yes.

The playstore will allow multiple accounts.

 

[phillyundead]

I download apk apps all the time. If you use lookout it scans for viruses. I've never had an issue once and I download many paid apps as apks.

 

[jhawkkw]

Though not every apk that is sideloaded is pirated, but lets be careful not to dip into that universe.

 

[BlueBiker]

I download apk apps all the time. If you use lookout it scans for viruses. I've never had an issue once and I download many paid apps as apks.

Well I'm glad you've been lucky so far, and Lookout does look impressive, but sooner or later playing with fire will burn you.

Anti-virus programs aren't foolproof, and in general they can't protect against new strains of malware until the developers have had a chance to obtain samples of it and written and released corresponding detection signatures.

 

[jwither]

Well I'm glad you've been lucky so far, and Lookout does look impressive, but sooner or later playing with fire will burn you.

Anti-virus programs aren't foolproof, and in general they can't protect against new strains of malware until the developers have had a chance to obtain samples of it and written and released corresponding detection signatures.

The only time I've ever considered doing it was for Flash on my Tab, when the download came from adobe.com, and if it was a link provided by someone on xda, with enough time having passed for problems to be reported in the same thread.