How to download Google Play Services in an Android emulator?

Question

I want to use Google Play Services API in my application, but when I open the emulator to test my application it sends me a message that says \"Google Play Services must be

Answer 1

This is how you make Android Google Maps API v2 work on your emulator.

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Create a new emulator

• for device choose "5.1'' WVGA (480 x 800: mdpi)"
• for target choose "Android 4.1.2 - API level 16"
• for "CPU/ABI" choose "ARM"
• leave rest to defaults

these are the settings that are working for me. I don't know for different ones.

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Start the emulator

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install com.android.vending-1.apk and com.google.android.gms-1.apk via ADB install command

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The longer answer is on my blog post about this issue https://medium.com/nemanja-kovacevic/how-to-make-android-google-maps-v2-work-in-android-emulator-e384f5423723

Answer 2

I know this is an old question, but I got here because I had a similar problem as everyone above. I solved it by just reading a little closer!

I hadn't noticed there were 2 possible system Images I could choose from, one that contained Google APIs and one that didn't (on my laptop the menu was too small for me to read the (with Google APIs) text appended.

It's a stupid thing to miss, but someone else might have a small screen like I did, and miss this :D

Answer 3

For api 21+ you can use system image with Google Play as I describe below.

For api 19+ (Android 4.4 Kitkat) you can use system image x86 with Google Api (I was able to use it).

For api 17+ (Android 4.2.2) you can TRY to use system image ARM with Google Api (It didn't work for me).

I was able to install Google Play and Google Services as separate apks to pure system image api 16 and 17, but they don't really work after that (services crush and play not opens). So seems like it is not possible to make them work on pure AVD image because they should be installed with root access. The same for updating Google Services on AVD system image with Google API preinstalled - can't update because of incompatible certificates, can't uninstall even using adb because don't have access.

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How to setup AVD system image with Google Play

Now even better solution exist: using AVD image with build-in Google Play Services. It will enable you to use Google Services including Google Play. Also you will be able update it without re-creating AVD image.

Open AVD manager and choose create new device. You should use device definition with play store icon.

Then choose system image for it. You should choose one with Google Play and NOT with Google API.

Then launch new device.

You can update Play Services as shown on screenshot, or manually on device..

Answer 4

I came across another solution to use the Google play services on an emulator. The guys at http://www.genymotion.com/ provide very fast emulators on which you can install Google play services. They just need you to sign up to begin downloading and you need Virtual box installed. At the moment they cater for Android 16 and 17 but more are on the way.

Answer 5

If your emulator x86 this method works your me.

Download and install http://opengapps.org/app/opengapps-app-v16.apk. And select nano pack

More info http://opengapps.org/app/

Answer 6

The key is to select the target of your emulator to, for example: Google APIs (ver 18). If you select, for example, just Jellybean 18 (without API) you will not be able to test apps that require Google services such as map. Keep in mind that you must first download the Google API of your favorite version with the Android SDK Manager.

This is a good practice and it is far better than juggling with most workarounds.