For once, I’m trying to buy an option for an app (background map for Hexatrek) and I get a laconic message “an error has occurred, please try again”.
Having never bought anything on my phone, I ask myself a question: do I need a Google account to validate a purchase?
Isn’t MicroG there (among other things) to prevent this?
I also notice that, although the Quick app for GoPro says it’s compatible with MicroG here, it says “Google Play service required (Google Play services may not be available on your device)” when I try to subscribe to their cloud.
In short, as soon as I want to buy something, I’m blocked.
Hence my question.
Note: Galaxy S8 under /e/OS 1.11 (MicroG 0.2.27). Advanced Privacy and Blokada disabled.
If the App developers decided to only use In-App purchases managed by the Google Play Store to sell optional stuff, then yes, you would need a Google account.
microG tries to mimic Google services as best as it can to let Apps believe the genuine Google services would be there so that Google-dependent Apps hopefully work without them being there. It isn’t so much involved in which activities you would need a Google account for or not.
If an App manages In-App purchases exclusively via the means of the Google Play Store, you will need a Google account to buy anything.
In order to not use the genuine Play Store itself you could try e.g. Aurora Store as an Open Source alternative client for the Play Store, but it will still need your Google account to enable you to buy anything.
You could ask the App developers whether they offer alternative means of payment and add-on distribution.
And do note that if the GoPro app has In-App purchases for additional items or subscriptions and those purchases are made via/through Google then that will not work at all without Play Store to handle it. Hence the error messages I believe.
microG does not nor has ever had facilities for that.
One can initiate the purchase of an app from Aurora Store and App Lounge. They will redirect you to the web version of Play Store. Once the purchase is made the app can be installed as long as you use your Google account within either store (no need for Google account system-wide unless needed for other functionality - rare).
If an app is a standalone “Pro” version then it should run fine, even on Google-free setups.
If an app does license checking then it will try to do so using Play Store. Failing to verify license will cause app to not run.
And once again, In-App Purchases usually require the Play Store.
Thank you very much for your answers, AnotherElk and marcdw.
I will contact the developer of the Hexatrek app.
Regarding the GoPro, I know you can subscribe to their cloud online, I just wanted to try it from the app to see. Especially as it’s certified to run under MicroG.
But in the end, I’m not interested in their subscription, it was just a test.
I’m still looking for an in-app purchase on eOS.
So I created a Google account. It appears in the accounts section of the system settings as “Google microG”.
I’ve uninstalled the app downloaded from the App Lounge and cleared the cache and user data.
I installed Aurora Store and downloaded the app again from there.
But there’s nothing I can do: when I want to buy the option, I always get the same error message…
I’ve seen that there can be a difference between an app from Aurora Store and one from Play Store. Is this true?
What’s more, the GoPro Quick app I’m using as a test always tells me “Google Play services required” if I try to make a purchase.
That’s weird.
Device registration with Google and Google SafetyNet are enabled, and MicroG’s self-check ticks all the boxes.
I don’t get it…
No one here has made an in-app purchase on eOS?
I thought I explained it pretty well why none of that will work, on any ROM (not just /e/OS), without the Play Store being present.
Yet you then go about trying everything all over again and wondering why In-App Purchases are not working.
Also, adding a Google account to your ROM has nothing to do with anything, thus unnecessary.
Certain items in the ROM share the same package name as their Google counterparts.
MicroG (com.google.android.gms) is the same as Play Services.
FakeStore / App Lounge Store (com.android.vending) is the same as Play Store.
Those need to be blacklisted in Aurora Store so as not to accidently try and update them. Updates will fail anyway since they are not actual Google products. Long press on the entries and you will see the blacklist option.
Regarding Play Store, hereafter Phonesky, I have touched on that also. Most recent post is this one I think. There is a Magisk module there.
A flashable zip is here…
I assume it will detect and remove an existing FakeStore if found. Have never tried nor had a need on /e/OS.
However, there is a big BUT now. For years the patched Phonesky worked fine. As of late it is now broken. Google normally updates Phonesky without user intervention. The nature of the patched version kept that from happening. This time something did. The app will crash when trying to do anything inside it. The main app page also changed showing huge icons (one per screen really).
Phonesky on my daily driver broke first. Then on another ROM. Cleared cache and data but still broken. Re-flashed but no go.
Only just now found this discussion so it is definitely a known issue.
I still keep it installed as its other duties still work, such as license checking.
I may test an In-App Purchase to see what else still works.
Oh, that was quick. Trying to do premium icon requests from several icon packs all failing with “Unable to load InApp Purchase products”.
Same packs I used to get /e/ icons made.
Same failure on the other device.
Google did a good job on this breakage.
It is not possible to do that. Aurora Store (and App Lounge) has worked in the past to get new apps, and hopefully it will do so again, when they have overcome the ‘This account is rate limited’ problem
Well, let me recap.
To buy an option in an app, you need the Play Store.
It’s not possible to install the Play Store on eOS.
FakeStore and App Lounge Store are equivalent to Play Store.
I can’t find FakeStore anywhere, but App Lounge Store is included in eOS, so why isn’t it recognized as the Play Store?
@piero I don’t want to buy a whole app, but an option in an app. The app is called Hexatrek, which lets you explore this trek with a map and points of interest. I’d like to buy the map of the entire trek.
I am sorry I did not mention this tidbit… App Lounge is the software one uses to install apps, as you know. App Lounge Store is FakeStore with a new label.
My previous links explain what FakeStore is and why you can’t ‘find it’. It is a system app that cannot be launched because it (actively) does nothing.
When an app is installed, information about how it was installed is shown near the bottom of its AppInfo. If it shows FakeStore or App Lounge Store then the apps will think they were installed from the Play Store. Some apps will fail to run otherwise.
For additional info please read the linked posts.
Aurora Store using root method and App Lounge before FakeStore rename
HexaTrek, the 3034 km hiking trail, connecting 14 of the most beautiful nationals parks and crossing France from the Vosges to the Pyrenees, https://en.hexatrek.com/, already has me day dreaming, but it does not engage me sufficiently to allow Google into my life or phone !
I see that GPX map(s) are available (various GPX viewers are available) in addition to the html Google_map presentation and this is only online.
I would also be looking for old school maps and local guides I imagine are available though the Association.
@marcdw : Thanks for these explanations, it’s clearer for me now.
On my system, Hexatrek is noted as installed from Aurora Store.
If I look at the GoPro Quick app I’m testing, I see that it’s installed from App Lounge Store. However, if I want to access their cloud offer, I get a message: Google Play service required.
@aibd : It’s a big challenge indeed. The app isn’t essential to get started, but it’s still a plus, if only for bivouac sites and sources of drinking water.
I’m in contact with the team to try to unlock the purchase of the map on eOS, but I’m not a priority, you think! There are only half a dozen of us in this situation.
So I alternate between here and there to sort things out. It’s not easy, but I’m not giving up hope!
As I say, it’s the first mountain on my Hexatrek!
I finally got around to checking that out. Same error message on a ROM with Play Store.
I expected that to not work, what with the recent breakage of Play Store on microG. As mentioned earlier I can no longer do InApp Purchases now. Not really a good test I guess.
Checked logs but I seriously can’t find anything that sticks out.
