Google Explains Why New Huawei Smartphones Don't Come With Google Play Apps
Google has provided more details on the reason any new Huawei phones, such as the Mate 30 Pro, don't have access to its services.
On May 16, 2019, the US government placed Huawei on its Entity List. This government action prohibits all US companies, including Google, from collaborating with Huawei.
According to Tristan Ostrowski, Android & Play Legal Director, Google is prohibited from working with Huawei on new device models or providing Google’s apps including Gmail, Maps, YouTube, the Play Store and others for preload or download on these devices.
"Due to government restrictions, Google’s apps and services are not available for preload or sideload on new Huawei devices."
Ostrowski says that Google has continued to work with Huawei, in compliance with government regulations, to provide security updates and updates to Google’s apps and services on existing devices, and that the company will continue to do so as long as it is permitted. "US law currently allows Google to only work with Huawei on device models available to the public on or before May 16, 2019," he said.
The Google Play Store, Google Play Protect, and Google’s core apps (including Gmail, YouTube, Maps, and others) are only available on Play Protect certified devices.
Play Protect certified devices go through a security review and compatibility testing process, performed by Google, to ensure user data and app information are kept safe. They also come from the factory with our Google Play Protect software, which provides protection against the device being compromised.
This has been Google's approach to user security and privacy and is applied consistently across all device manufacturers.
Ostrowski says that due to the government restrictions, new Huawei device models made available to the public after May 16, 2019 have not been able to go through this security process nor will they have Play Protect preloaded. As a result, they are considered “uncertified,” and will not be able to utilize Google’s apps and services.
Ostrowski also warned customers saying that sideloaded Google apps "will not work reliably because we do not allow these services to run on uncertified devices where security may be compromised." Sideloading Google’s apps also carries a high risk of installing an app that has been altered or tampered with in ways that can compromise user security, Ostrowski aded.
While Huawei had hinted at replacing Android with its own OS, it's continuing to use Android, and replaced Google services with those of other companies like TomTom, for maps and navigation.