This is a tutorial on how to install Gapps (Google Apps) on Android 8.1 Oreo based custom ROMs. You need to install these Oreo GApps for the proper functioning of your Android device. Following the release of LineageOS 15.1, developers have started pumping out Android 8.1 Oreo custom ROMs to more and more devices. As most of these ROMs are built around AOSP, you have to separately flash Gapps to get important Google services functionality. This also done to minimize the overall size of the custom ROM. Fortunately, Gapps have been updated to Android 8.1 Oreo as well and you can get them from the link ahead. Along with download links, this tutorial will show you how to actually install Gapps on Android 8.1 Oreo custom ROM on any compatible Android device.
Gapps packages are available in couple of different variants. The main differences between each is the amount of apps it carries. The best, in our opinion, is the nano level package. This package gives you Play Store functionality along with other necessary Google apps. If you want the extra services such as Google News etc, you can proceed to the Play Store and install them from there.
How to Install LineageOS 15.1 GApps on Oreo ROMs
You can find the complete instructions below on how to can install Gapps (LineageOS 15.1) on your phone running Android 8.1 Oreo. It is essential that you have Android 8.1 Oreo running as these apps are targeted towards that version. Further, the installation is just like installing a custom ROM and requires a custom recovery installed on your device. Once you complete the installation of your custom ROM, follow the steps below.
Please read every line carefully and make sure you read the tutorial once before actually performing it on your Android device.
To Remember:
- You should have Android 8.1 Oreo custom ROM flashed already.
- You need to have a custom recovery installed.
- You can skip installation of Gapps and use your custom ROM but there wont be any Google apps or Google account support, especially the Google Play Store.
- This tutorial uses the same instructions as: How to Install Gapps on Android 7.0 Nougat ROMs
- For a complete collection of Google Apps (GApps), head over to the Download GApps page!
Complete Step-By-Step Instructions:
Step 1 – Download latest Android 8.1 Oreo / LineageOS 15.1 Gapps from the links below:
- ARM Devices: gapps-arm-8.1-nano.zip
This is the most popular 32-bit platform for mobile devices. - ARM64 Devices: gapps-arm64-8.1-nano.zip
This is the new 64-bit platform used on newer devices e.g. Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P and Pixel
Step 2 – Place the downloaded zip file to the root of your device.
Step 3 – Power OFF your device and boot into Recovery Mode [Read: How to Enter Recovery Mode on Any Android Phone].
Step 4 – In custom recovery, scroll down to “flash zip from SD card” and press the POWER button to select it.
Step 5 – Press the POWER button again and select “choose zip from sdcard”.
Step 6 – Now using your VOLUME keys, navigate to ZIP FILE and select it using the POWER button. Confirm the installation on the next screen and the installation procedure should start now.
Step 7 – After the installation completes, go to “Go Back” and reboot the device by selecting the Reboot option from the recovery menu. The device will boot now.
You will now have all the apps installed. You can view them in the app drawer and use them like normal apps.
These are crucial system apps and the normal user doesn’t have permission to uninstall them. Like we mentioned previously, to remove these apps you would need to factory reset and install the custom ROM again.
If you happen to use an Android device that is a Chinese variant and it doesn’t have Google Play Store or other Google apps, we can help you: How to Install Google Play Store on Android Phones.
