Install Play Market on Xiaomi Redmi 4: 3 working methods (2026)

Xiaomi Redmi 4 is still a popular budget smartphone, but many users are faced with the lack of preinstalled Google Play Market, which is due to the fact that the device was sold in two versions: global (with Google services) and Chinese (without them). If you get a machine without GMS (Google Mobile Services, installing an app store turns into a non-trivial task – especially for beginners.

In this article, we will discuss three proven methods of installing Play Market on Redmi 4/4X/4A, including bypassing common errors like error 927 or device is not certified. Importantly, the procedure does not require unlocking the bootloader or obtaining root rights, but requires careful attention during the stage of setting up access rights. We will also consider how to update Google services after installation and what to do if applications do not load.

Why isn’t Redmi 4’s Play Market out of the box?

The reason lies in the policy of Xiaomi and the peculiarities of the market:

• 📦 Chinese firmware: Devices for the domestic market of China are supplied without Google services due to local regulatory requirements. instead of Play Market, the branded Mi App Store is used.
• 🌍 Global version: In official firmware for the international market (e.g, MIUI Global) Google services are pre-installed, but such devices often cost more.
• 🔄 Bastom firmware: If the previous owner had a phone search (for example, on LineageOS), Google services could have been removed or damaged.

Even if you bought Redmi 4 with Russified firmware, it does not guarantee the presence of the Play Market - many sellers install localized versions of MIUI without GMS. Check the current firmware can be in the Settings menu → About Phone → MIUI version.

Method 1: Installation through APK-files ROOT)

The most common method suitable for most versions MIUI. You will need to download and install 4 key APK-file-in-order:

1. Google Account Manager (Account Management)
2. Google Services Framework (a framework for services)
3. Google Play Services (Main Services)
4. Google Play Store (app store)

⚠️ Attention: Download APK Versions must be based on the Redmi processor architecture. 4 (arm64 for 4/4X, arm 4A). Installing the wrong version will lead to errors like com.google.process.gapps has stopped.

Download APK-file|Installation from unknown sources|Disable Mi Optimized Battery for Google Services|Restart the phone after installation-->

Step-by-step:

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Privacy → Special Access Rights → Installation from unknown sources and allow installation for your browser or file manager.
2. Set the files in the order specified, after each confirming the request for access to contacts / storage.
3. After installing Google Play Services, restart your phone.
4. Start Play Market, sign in to Google account and wait for sync (can take up to 10 minutes).

Method 2: Mi Account (official method)

If your Redmi 4 is running an official global firmware (e.g. MIUI Global 12.5) but the Play Market is not available, you can try to restore Google services through your Mi Account:

1. Go to Settings → Accounts → Mi Account and log in.
2. In the Sync section, enable the option to Restore Google Services (if available).
3. Confirm the recovery and wait until the process is complete (a stable Wi-Fi connection is required).

This method does not work on all firmware, but if the option is available, it is the most secure way, as it uses official Xiaomi servers. After recovery, it is recommended to update all Google applications through the Play Market.

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If the option “Restore Google Services” is not available, check the region of your Mi Account. to appear, you may need to change the region to “Russia” or “Global” in your account settings.

Method 3: Installation via TWRP (for power users)

If the first two methods didn’t work, you can install Google Apps (GApps) through the custom TWRP recavator.This method requires an unlocked bootloader and is only suitable for users who are ready for possible data loss.

You will need to:

• 🔓 Unlocked bootloader (instructions on the official Xiaomi website).
• 📱 Established recaveri TWRP Redmi 4 (the version must be modeled!).
• 📦 Open GApps (select Pico or Nano for minimum weight).

Instructions:

1. Download the appropriate Open GApps package from opengapps.org (arm64 architecture, Android 7.0 for Redmi 4/4X).
2. Reboot the phone to TWRP (clip Power + Volume up).
3. Make a backup of the current firmware (Backup option in TWRP).
4. Press Install, select downloaded ZIP-file with GApps and confirm installation.
5. After completion, run the Wipe → Dalvik/ART Cache and reboot.

⚠️ Warning: An incorrectly selected GApps package can lead to a bootloop ( looped reboot). 4A (With a Snapdragon 425 processor, use packages for the arm architecture, not the arm. arm64!

Solving Common Errors After Installation

Even after a successful installation, the Play Market may not work properly, and consider the most common problems and solutions:

Critical detail: if after installing Play Market requires you to update Google Play Services, but the update ends in an error, download the APK version manually from APKMirror and install it on top of the existing one.

How to update Google Services after installation?

Once the Play Market is successfully installed, you need to update all of Google’s components to the latest versions in a few steps:

1. Open Play Market and go to My Apps & Games → Updates.
2. Update Google Play Services, Google Play Store and Google Services Framework.
3. Reboot your phone – this is a must for application of service kernel updates.
4. Check the operation of the main functions: login to the account, downloading applications, synchronizing contacts.

If updates are not automatically available:

• 🔄 Check your internet connection (Wi-Fi is preferable to mobile network).
• 🕒 Wait 10-15 minutes – sometimes Google servers need time to recognize a new device.
• 📥 Download. APK the latest versions manually with APKMirror and install them.

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After updating Google services, be sure to turn off battery optimization for Google Play Services and Google Play Store apps in MIUI settings. Otherwise, background processes will be blocked, which will lead to synchronization errors.

Play Market Alternatives for Redmi 4

If installing Play Market has proved too difficult or unsuccessful, consider alternative sources of applications:

• 🛒 Mi App Store: Xiaomi branded store with optimized for MIUI The disadvantage is a limited catalog and the lack of many popular services.
• 🌐 Aurora Store: Open-source client for Play Market, not requiring Google services. APK Directly, but without automatic updates.
• 📦 APKPure: Catalogue APK-Files with virus testing, convenient for manual installation of applications, but requires caution when downloading.
• 🔗 F-Droid: Open source. Suitable for free apps, but most popular services (like YouTube or Gmail) are not available.

When using third-party stores:

• Always check the hash (MD5) of the downloaded APKs for compliance with the original files.
• Disable the installation from unknown sources after the procedure is completed.
• Update your antivirus (such as Malwarebytes) regularly to scan your installed files.

FAQ: Frequent questions about installing Play Market on Redmi 4