So, because a purchased app from Google Play Store requires the user to be authenticated with the google account used for purchase, and /e/ is ungoogled, there is an obvious obstacle here.
I’d like to know if there is a “safe” way (read it as “minimum data leaking”) to use purchased apps from google play store.
…I managed to contact some developpers of apps that I purchased, asking them for another method of validation than through playstore…
Some gave me access to an non google-obstrusive method, generally via e-mail, with a lickable link for confirmation. Some others replied “sorry, only by google-means”…
Not too much of an obstacle. You use your Google account only within Aurora Store (not system-wide) to download purchased apps. /e/OS remains ungoogled. All good.
Very few devs/publishers offer alternatives. With the loss of XDA Labs the alternatives got smaller.
By the way, one can also use Aurora Store, and Yalp Store before it, to save the apks for archiving and installing at a later date if need be.
Keep in mind, some apps do license checking. These will never work without the Play Store present to handle the checks. Less common are apps that technically will run fine but they will check to see if they were installed via the Play Store first. Sort of a piracy check. Those are dealt with by using Aurora Store in root mode (where it utilizes the included FakeStore that has the same package name as Play Store - com.android.vending). FakeStore is present in /e/OS and most microG-based installations that don’t include the patched Play Store (NanoDroid and MinMicroG-Standard f.i.). It does nothing and can’t be launched. It just sits there providing the Play Store package name.
The system keeps track of how an app was installed. “App installed from FakeStore” means Play Store as far as an app being launched is concerned.
Why does aurora allow to sign in with a google account, if it does not do any good? (Or does it? Then what?)
I try to use c-map app (nautical navigation and charts), but I cant make a subscription, even I was logged in to my google account when installing, and while trying to subscribe.
Well, I think I understand this. It’s something I have to live with for now, using e/os/.
Aurora Store with Google account allows you to install your purchased apps, nothing more.
Historically, license checking, subscriptions, and In-App Purchases (IAP) are handled by Play Store. There was no other way.
Now, however, microG can handle that. I have one ROM with microG 0.3.2 that so far has handled license verification and previous IAP quite well. No Play Store on the ROM.
The section in microG for this is ‘Play Store services’. There are two toggles: Google Play Licensing and Google Play Billing.
I have yet to experiment with doing a new IAP though. I"d have to find an app I actually want if I’m gonna spend money testing. 
Hi ,
I made an IAP subscription on eOS 2.1 ( µG 0.3.2 I think) and it worked beautifully .
Totally amazed by the work done by the µG team
We still need to overcome this " not installed by playstore" think , but I guess this should be easy
Nice to see the IAP worked. Great.
As long as the apps are installed via App Lounge or Aurora Store (root method) then things are fine.
There have been calls/requests for FakeStore (microG Companion) to be usable by other installers [or 3rd party installer devs to make use of it] but haven’t seen anything happen on that front.
For sideloading an app that checks installation, maybe KingInstaller GitHub / IzzyOnDroid might work. I do believe it requires root though.
I archive APKs, heeping at least the last two versions. Sometimes when setting up a ROM I might sideload one of those complaining apps. Only because I don’t want to search for it in the app store later. A not latest version.
Later I will go into the app store where an update to the sideloaded app is ready to be installed and run without issue.
Some app like
Were not running in 2.1 , it starts now on 2.2 and the app is said to be installed by Microg companion which trick the app ?
Again incredible work to overcome all the Goodroid establishment
Yep.
Depending on build of /e/OS or custom ROM with old or newer FakeStore, if an app shows it was installed by one of the following…
…then it would think it was installed from Play Store and shouldn’t complain. 
I don’t think so
I tried on 2.1 installed via Applounge and it did not launch , because it was installed by a different package name than play store
All three of those examples use the package name com.android.vending (same as Play Store) so a basic installer check should pass.
There was a time though when folks were getting hit by another snag. Some apps, even though free and no IAP, would also look for a certain Play Store function. Failing to get a response from the fake stores would result in an app not launching. That was eventually fixed though.
Weathernetwork fails to run with Latest OS up date - Using /e/OS / Applications - /e/OS community
There was always something but little by little things are getting better.
Thanks , it seems I’m missing something here because App lounge is declared as a package foundation.e.apps and I’m pretty sure in 2.1 , apps appeared in the setting to be installed by this package ( and now by microg companion )
I will check again but anyway this obstacle ha fallen has fell !
I totally understand.
The app store is as you stated. App Lounge ( foundation.e.apps ).
At some point the /e/ folks felt the need to change the FakeStore label to App Lounge Store.
I was caught off guard and confused. I don’t use App Lounge. Used Aurora Store in root mode.
At some point I noticed apps that were listed as installed by App Lounge Store. Thought no way, that’s not possible. Then I discovered that FakeStore was renamed.
IMO a poor naming choice.
If things haven’t changed much from my old posts and using /e/ Apps it was like…
a. Installed by App Lounge: apps pulled from F-Droid or other non-Google source(?).
b. Installed by App Lounge Store: apps pulled from Play Store.
Note that my last /e/OS version was 1.14-r so I am not familiar with current behavior.
This topic was automatically closed after 31 days. New replies are no longer allowed.
