No thanks to the still unresolved trade war between the U.S. and China, Huawei's most recent and upcoming smartphone models - the Huawei Mate 30 Pro, for instance - will not be able to use officially sanctioned Android apps. Sideloading is an option, but Google said doing so is not advisable for security reasons.
In a note, Google explained that the ban ordered by the U.S. government remains in place, and this means that new Huawei devices will not be permitted to use Google apps and services. The company said temporary access was granted but only for delivering security updates and covers only the handset models released prior to the prohibition.
"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," the statement from the company was reported by 9to5Google as saying.
In addition, the internet search giant addressed the concern that involves sideloading or the use of Google apps and services outside of the official channel. For example, the Huawei Mate 30 Pro was issued lacking the Google Play Store, but the service found its way to the device using the technique and instructions on how to do the process are available online.
This alternative will surely work, but according to Google, resorting to sideloading is not exactly problem-free. The Android environment that is unauthorized will not result in optimal mobile user experience, the company advised.
Then there's the question of possible security compromise, which Google said will be more likely for devices the make use of sideloading technique.
"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," the company said on its official guidance on the subject.
Unofficial Google apps could be loaded with contents that can be harmful to users such as an application that attackers can secretly use as a Trojan Horse to release malware. In other words, it is strongly recommended that users stick with the official apps and services from Google.
And to stay on the safe side, the Google guidance urged Android fans to just use devices with official certification, which is the first step to enjoy the Google ecosystem to the fullest and to ensure that breaches are avoided.
The Verge said it's best to first check if an Android-powered device Google-certified. To do this, simply launch the Play Store app and head to the Menu then tap Settings. There, it should be indicated that the device is certified by Google Play Protect.
