Unable to install paid Google Play Apps on FP6 /e/OS/ 3.5

Using /e/OS Troubleshooting
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phone427Ă—374 173 KB

Hello forum members,

Let me do a brief introduction to my /e/OS/ experience.
I bought a Murena FP6 with /e/OS/ some months ago for a gift. Unfortunately, /e/OS/ was not able to run some mandatory apps. To circumvent this, I successfully installed the FP6 Android Stock but I had the bad idea of locking the bootloader. Consequently, the phone became bricked. I sent it to Murena support but they can only restore /e/OS/ and not Android Stock. I can understand.
I decided to buy a FP6 with Android Stock to replace the gift and keep the /e/OS/ one for my own usage.

My Murena FP6 came back from support with system version “3.5-a15-20260211580868-official-FP6”.

A long time ago, I bought several apps on Play Store. I uninstalled them from my previous Android phone and want to install them on my new FP6 /e/OS/.

I have been able to install costless apps in anonymous mode from AppLoundge.

Unfortunately, I cannot find the right way to install already paid apps.

I have connected my Google Account in the AppLoundge and microG. I have cleared cache from App Loundge and microG.

In this configuration (Google Account), I am no more able to install costless and paid apps from AppLoundge.

In the list of apps, a button INSTALL is available for costless apps and a button with their price for paid apps.

If I click on INSTALL nothing is done except rename INSTALL to CANCEL. If I click on the price, a dialog box proposes to buy the App. Even if I confirm, nothing is done.

Another strange behaviour, if I click on the icon of an App to get its detailed description, it opens an empty page. It works in anonymous mode.

Last information, my FP6 /e/OS is strangely known as a “Fairphone Pixel II” in the Google Play Store.

It would be nice if somebody could tell me how to configure microG and AppLoundge parameters to achieve my goal.

Thank you in advance for your help.

2

The whole purpose of an eOS phone is to not use your google account. So you are trying to do something that is the opposite of what the phone eOS is designed for.

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Hi @Jets,

It is not for pleasure that I use my Google account with AppLounge. I would have preferred to remain anonymous to install the paid apps.
However, AppLoundge displays the following message when I try to install an already paid app in anonymous mode: “Paid apps cannot be installed in anonymous mode. Please log into your Google account to install paid apps.”

4

Somebody has reported the same issue on the detailed description for another kind of phone than FP6 but same /e/OS/ version.

5

Is it not possible to download the paid app by other means, like a PC then manually transfer the app to phone. I see I can go to the playstore on my Linux PC (Firefox). I am curious if this is possable.

I don’t have a google account so can’t test for myself.

1 Like
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I have the same issue on my Murena FP5 running e/OS 3.5.

Free apps from Google install fine in anonymous mode, as do open source apps. The problem only comes when logged into Google and trying to install paid apps.

I’ve tried Aurora Store, but that reports that the paid apps aren’t available for my app.

I’ve turned off all advanced privacy settings and clear store data/caches, but no difference.

I agree with @Jets that we don’t want to use Google, but some apps, including paid apps, are only available there. Also, Murena do sell these phones on the basis that Google apps will be available when you need them. It’s a source of constant frustration.

7

Three days ago, I opened a ticket to the support team.

They replied that this problem is supposed to be fixed in /e/OS/ 3.6, which will be available soon.

8

@danner_uk need to correct you, eOS does not claim all google app will work on their phone. Nor do any other android open source OS. It’s not a constant source of frustration for me and most other eOS users.

9

I have installed /e/OS/ v3.6 on my FP6 and it fixed this issue. App Loundge works fine with my Google Account.

For me the problem is closed.