Galaxy Store not found -> Deactivated by Google Family Link - Samsung Galaxy S8+ Questions & Answers

Issue:
After initial setup of Samsung S8+ phone, I cannot find Galaxy store Icon.
Missing Galaxy Store on the phone will prevent lots of Samsung Built In Apps to get the updates !!!
Debug:
I tried to solve this in tens of ways
-> install Galaxy Apps apk from internet
-> find it in disabled apps
-> find it in hidden icons from launcher
-> find it in system apps (I could find it)
-> delete app data / cache
-> wipe cache partition of pone
Finally I ended up with factory reset, but this did not solved it completely... see below
Root Cause:
Google Family Link was disabling Galaxy Store
How I realized this:
I wanted to install the phone for my son, who is monitored via Google Family Link.
This monitoring SW allows the parent to set Google Play apps restrictions in terms of Age -> my settings for my son account were pegi 12.
When setting up family link supervised account on a phone, one of the step is that the app will ask the parent to confirm what apps he will keep on the phone and show all apps categorized by "pegi class".
I could find Galaxy Store disabled and there was not possible to toggle the switch to enable -> even if Galaxy Store was rated pegi 3 and my son permissions were pegi 12
Solution:
Prior to setting up a new phone / new family link supervised account on a samsung phone, you need to set your child app restrictions to "Unlimited" for the time you setup the phone.
After setting this, restart the phone setup or account setup and you will be able to keep Galaxy Store on the phone
After this, you can setup the app permissions back to pegi xx as you want, as Galaxy Store will not be disabled.
NOTE: If your phone is already setup, but you don't want to do a factory reset, there is a simple solution
- remove the Family Link supervised account from the phone
- set your child Google Play app permissions to "Unlimited"
- add again your child account on the phone
- set your child Google Play app permissions to pegi xx as you want
Hope it helps you!
Please like the post if it solved your issue, so that other people would find it easier.

Solution not works for me unfortunatelly

In case it helps anyone, Galaxy Store is actually called S Suggest on my child's family link account. I had disabled S Suggest thinking it was samsung bloatware app which is why galaxy store was hidden/disabled in my case.

Franky007 said:
In case it helps anyone, Galaxy Store is actually called S Suggest on my child's family link account. I had disabled S Suggest thinking it was samsung bloatware app which is why galaxy store was hidden/disabled in my case.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you. Your answer should be the first to this thread. It's a situation that had been bothering me (and my kid) for a long time, and although I looked through this thread several times, brcause your answear was so short and simple, I've missed it. Million thanks, again

Franky007 said:
In case it helps anyone, Galaxy Store is actually called S Suggest on my child's family link account. I had disabled S Suggest thinking it was samsung bloatware app which is why galaxy store was hidden/disabled in my case.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you! I was tearing my hair out with this until I found your enlightening info.
S Suggest... so obvious... NOT! Silly Samsung.

PS The reason I needed the Galaxy App Store is that the version MS Office there works on the Samsung Galaxy S7. The version on Google Play Store is incompatible. Just mentioning this here in case anybody else finds themself treading thee same irritatingly bumpy path as me.

Related

Us play store accessed from uk finally

I noticed many people had had trouble recently from accessing the US Play Store from other countries, after apps such as Market Access and Market Enabler stopped working. I also found that people had trouble using VPNs.
I finally managed to find Pandora, a US-only app in the Play Store, meaning that it worked.
Essentially, I think Google can detect whether you've paid for apps already from a non-US source already on your current Google account. So basically I created a new Google account, moved my IP to a US server using Tunnelbear (available in Google Play), and emulated my SIM to T Mobile US using Market Access (just to be safe). I then went through the normal process of clearing data and force stopping Google Play Services and Google Play Store. Then I opened Play Store and it automatically went to my primary Google account.
All I had to do thereafter was switch to my newly created account and I searched Pandora and found it. I also searched Hulu Plus and found it.
I can also confirm that you can get Google Wallet from the Play Store via this newly created Google account. I emulated my SIM to Sprint US, VPN to the US of course, and edited my build.prop to emulate a Galaxy Nexus. I searched Wallet on the Play Store after clearing data and force stopping and downloaded the latest version. I lost all sound from my phone after emulating a Galaxy Nexus (I am on the i9300), but I found that sound was fine after restoring my build.prop and installing Google Wallet. It now works fine with my original build.prop but just make sure you install it when you're still emulating a Galaxy Nexus.
Hope this helps at least some people.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Thanks !
I'm still trying to find a method for accessing the us store from my old account though....
Would be great if Google would adopt the Apple - Itunes system and allow us to change through any country we desire...
bungadudu said:
Thanks !
I'm still trying to find a method for accessing the us store from my old account though....
Would be great if Google would adopt the Apple - Itunes system and allow us to change through any country we desire...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I know that would be ideal.
Also I can't find any way to access it through my primary Google account. But I'm not too worried about that because it only takes a matter of seconds to switch accounts. I just have to make sure I always use my original account for UK apps and new one for US apps.
Perhaps you could try wiping all payment information from your current Google account? But I don't know if that will work because Google will probably still have a backlog.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium

Verizon disables PayPal fingerprint payment

Can anyone confirm this?
http://www.techtimes.com/articles/5517/20140413/verizon-disables-paypal-fingerprint-payment-support-in-addition-to-download-booster-in-samsung-galaxy-s5.htm
This is now working, follow the directions in THIS POST
Where did you get the source?
Um, from the link I posted? Here's another, mentioned from the previous link.
http://www.droid-life.com/2014/04/11/verizon-disabled-paypal-fingerprint-support-on-the-galaxy-s5-google-wallet-works-though/
Well - I downloaded and installed just to see. The only log in options are "Email and Password" or "Mobile phone and PIN". I don't see fingerprint as an option anywhere....
It has apparently been hacked, so perhaps for the better.
jpmcnown said:
Can anyone confirm this? Is Verizon going to start blocking cows from crossing roads in Nevada next?
http://www.techtimes.com/articles/5517/20140413/verizon-disables-paypal-fingerprint-payment-support-in-addition-to-download-booster-in-samsung-galaxy-s5.htm
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. you are right.
From 3 days ago..
PayPal announced that its fingerprint-based authentication system was live in 25 countries. Users will be able to authenticate their digital purchases on PayPal by swiping down on the home button. The idea is a novel way of extending the functionality offered by the fingerprint sensor. However, it looks like all carriers are not going to have this feature enabled. Droid-Life discovered that the PayPal authentication feature was disabled in Verizon’s version of the Galaxy S5. It is unclear as to why Verizon would disable this functionality, given that it is the only carrier who seems to have removed this feature. users trying to install a fingerrint-based authentication client on Verizon’s Galaxy S5 are being shown a message that says “this application will not work on your device.”"
Accessing the stock "Samsung Apps" through the "Galaxy App" widget directs to a completely different, unsearchable store. Why why why Samsung? See Attached screenshots (one searchable, one not)
To clarify the steps that I used to install Paypal, and link fingerprinter verification to it,
1> To get an actual searchable Samsung App Store, download the "Samsung Apps Mobile" from the phone via www.samsungapps.com or HERE (This BS is what was holding me up)
2> Install the PayPal app via the Samsung App Store (first uninstall the Paypal app if previously installed via Google Play Store)
3> Search and install NNL from the Samsung App Store
4> Open Paypal>Settings>Login Options>Register Fingerprint.
Not sure if this is going to work, but here are some backup .apk's I just made from my phone, and put em on Google Drive.
Searchable Samsung App Store APK
PayPal App from the Samsung Apps Store
Nok Nok NNL app
Great... Step by step. It's succeed.. :good::good:
Just got done doing this. I can confirm this worked on my Verizon s5! Thanks!
Did NNL find a way around it not working or did Verizon change their minds?
Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
briantacker said:
Did NNL find a way around it not working or did Verizon change their minds?
Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldn't hold your breath on getting an explanation as to why it seemed clearly being blocked before, but a work around is now available. I never personally observed an active blocking to install the NNL app as documented on several sites, I simply wasn't able to search for the app that ties the fingerprint function to Paypal, and by the time I found the NNL app in the Samsung App store(not found in Google Play Store), I ran into no problems installing it.
Yes it works perfectly.
Can anyone post the apk of the PayPal app and nnl app of the
Samsung app store?
Thanks
telis12 said:
Can anyone post the apk of the PayPal app and nnl app of the
Samsung app store?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Open either of the links this post, FROM YOUR PHONE, and you'll be directed to where you can install the Samsung Apps store. Then from that installed Samsung App Store, you'll be able to search for both Paypal and NNL, and install the apps. Both apps need to be installed from the Samsung store, NOT Google Play.
Or if you prefer, HERE is a link to the Samsung App Store apk on my Google Drive. You may need to enable "unknown sources" in Settings>Security first.
Thanks for the reply but I haven't a usa account in samsung app
Store
For this reason I need the apk
telis12 said:
Thanks for the reply but I haven't a usa account in samsung app
Store
For this reason I need the apk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your best bet would be to peruse the TMobile S5 threads, and find someone willing to backup the apk from their rooted S5, and see if you can download and install it. If you can, I'm sure many more would be grateful if you can then post a link over here too. Thanks
I updated the install instructions post HERE. I was able to create installable backup apk's from my Verizon phone of the apps needed, and host em on Google Drive.
Thanks
So T-Mobile S5 is rooted? And why we are not?
Worked!
This worked. Thanks!
Thank you! Works great.

Gear manager immediate force close

I can't find anything on this.
So I'm trying to pair my Galaxy S5 with the Gear2 - it can see the Gear 2 on bluetooth, but there's no prompt to pair.
Gear Manager pops up an error message very quickly and force closes.
I don't particularly want to have to sign up with a samsung account and/or use their app store on my phone - is there any way around this?
cmdrogogov said:
I can't find anything on this.
So I'm trying to pair my Galaxy S5 with the Gear2 - it can see the Gear 2 on bluetooth, but there's no prompt to pair.
Gear Manager pops up an error message very quickly and force closes.
I don't particularly want to have to sign up with a samsung account and/or use their app store on my phone - is there any way around this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i believe you need to have a Samsung app store account. how else will you have access to the thousands of great apps for the Gear 2 without one... lol, but seriously, no account no acess. there are few (if any) apps in android play store. Gear 2 runs on tizen, not Android.
as for the F/C, try uninstalling everything and try again. my Gear 2 paired up with my Note 3 right away.
rlee008 said:
i believe you need to have a Samsung app store account. how else will you have access to the thousands of great apps for the Gear 2 without one... lol, but seriously, no account no acess. there are few (if any) apps in android play store. Gear 2 runs on tizen, not Android.
as for the F/C, try uninstalling everything and try again. my Gear 2 paired up with my Note 3 right away.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I found a version of Gear manager as an apk download that runs, but you're right - what you can do with it is highly restricted.
I'm a little more privacy-aware than most android users, and as a result I'm probably not going to use the device much if it's locked to a corporate app store.
cmdrogogov said:
I found a version of Gear manager as an apk download that runs, but you're right - what you can do with it is highly restricted.
I'm a little more privacy-aware than most android users, and as a result I'm probably not going to use the device much if it's locked to a corporate app store.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The apps download to your phone which transfers them to your watch. The only possible apps I can think of that might expose your watch data are fitness apps that transfer your stats back to the phone. Watch faces, games, etc. don't share any data but still, the only way to get them is through the Samsung App Store.

Amazon App Store questions - two stores, and auto-update

Hi.
I have two questions about the Amazon App Store that I have not been able to find answers to anywhere so far.
1. When the Underground App Store came out, it seemed to slowly replace the old original Amazon App Store, but I didn't see it mentioned anywhere that the old store needed to be uninstalled, and I am concerned that the Underground App Store may not be able to manage all my previously installed apps, especially Free App Of The Day apps. Does anyone know if it is safe to delete the original Amazon App Store while still able to manage any older Amazon-downloaded apps?
2. One of the Amazon App Stores (not sure which one) has recently (early 2016) started the nasty habit of automatically updating all my Amazon-downloaded apps whenever a new update is available, and I am not OK with this. Most important of all, it doesn't seem to ask me about changed permissions anymore! I have not found any way of disabling this behavior so far. I even emailed Amazon customer service about this and was told they'd have to talk to me on the phone about this as it is a more complex issue - yea, right...
FYI, I know enough about Android to root my phone and browse the file structure, and I have some Linux experience, so either there is no easily found option for question 2 or I am suffering from temporary blindness which tends to happen occasionally...
I'm on a Samsung Galaxy S5 on Verizon, rooted, Android 4.4.4 Kernel 3.4.0, in case it helps. I disabled Android Software Updates so towelroot doesn't get disabled.
Thanks in advance for any help you can give me!

Question Is there any app in the Samsung Galaxy Store worth the login requirements?

Is there any app in the Samsung Galaxy Store worth the login requirements?
On principle, I don't have any mothership login on my phone (not to Google, not to Samsung, not to Facebook, not to any mothership) and, as far as I know, my phone works just fine.
This avoidance of mothership logins, of course, is based on my assumption of how leaky computers are in terms of privacy & security.
As far as I know, my phone works fine without any login to any specific repository, as I have hundreds of installed apps at any given time, some of which I consider to be the finest apps ever made (e.g., Akon AppManager, Aurora Store, Cellular-Z, DevCheck, Keepass2AndroidPasswordSafe, Lexa FakeGPS, NetGuard, NewPipe, Nova Launcher, OSMAnd~, SatStat, Star Chart, Tor Browser Bundle, Ungoogled Chromium, WebDav Server, etc.).
However, since I don't have any login to the Samsung Galaxy App Store, I wouldn't know if there were any kick-ass utilities that I might want that are ONLY found in the Samsung Galaxy App Store.
Are there any apps you find only in the Galaxy Store that are worth the privacy loss of the mothership login?
Thats your call. I used one before I was rooted (I think Good Lock?) that moved the clock back to the right side.
Now Im rooted and dont have to worry about any of that sh*t.
Maybe Good Lock (If that's even available in your region). TBH I can't think of an other app that would really be worth it
lunand said:
Maybe Good Lock (If that's even available in your region). TBH I can't think of an other app that would really be worth it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for that advice given I don't have a Google Account or Samsung Account (for privacy reasons) on my non-rooted Galaxy A32-5G.
Since two people suggested Samsung's "Good Lock", I read the official description of Good Lock posted in 2016 by Samsung first:
Good Lock: Customize the Way You Use Your Galaxy Smartphone
"Good Lock—an app that not only lets you customize the on-screen look of your Galaxy smartphone, but also alter the way you use your lockscreen and notifications."
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then I found an update by Samsung who renamed it from "Good Lock" to "Good Lock 2018".
Make Your Galaxy Smartphone Personal with Good Lock 2018
Then I read this XDA thread from 2018 about that renamed Samsung Good Lock 2018, which contains about a dozen or more modules.
Good lock 2018
Which pointed to an Android Authority article on Good Lock.
Samsung reboots its Good Lock UI app, download it here
Then I found out Samsung updated it to "Good Lock 2020", and then Samsung again renamed the app in 2021 from to "Good Lock 2021" and that it contains 15 modules, according to Android Authority:
Here's everything you need to know about Good Lock 2021!
LockStar
QuickStar
Clockface
MultiStar
NavStar
Home Up
NotiStar
Keys Cafe
Pentastic
Wonderland
Theme Park
Nice Catch
One Hand Operation Plus
Edge Touch
SoundAssistant
This Tom'sGuide article also says it's the first app you should get.
This is the first app you should install on your Samsung Galaxy phone
Given I don't have a Samsung login (for privacy reasons), I downloaded the APK using the link in that XDA thread:
GoodLock_2.1.00.1_AyraHikari.apk
Name: GoodLock_2.1.00.1_AyraHikari.apk
Size: 2957578 bytes (2888 KiB)
SHA256: 0326423BAC2EE434449E33E28A301369512CCA1466C4B2E095D929C1D54E4625
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And this has a 2022 update apparently, of the Good Lock modules.
Good Lock 2022 APK Download from One UI 4.1 and all modules
And this says it's available in any country in the world.
Download and install Good Lock on any Samsung phone in any country
Where, since I don't have a Galaxy account, they suggest this APK:
Samsung Good Lock
Version:2.2.04.13
Uploaded:April 5, 2022 at 12:05PM GMT-0230
File size:3.29 MB
Downloads:72,654
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Name: com.samsung.android.goodlock_2.2.04.13-220413000_minAPI26(nodpi)_apkmirror.com.apk
Size: 3449555 bytes (3368 KiB)
SHA256: 62AD39979252E45806CCD8D523E19C3D152077DCEA4A19D10EF532ACB946FCA1
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After all that, I just found out that Google Lock maybe won't work with Nova Launcher according to this 2021 XDA update.
[Apps][Mod][OneUI] Good Lock Unlocked Region for all Samsung Devices
EDIT: I should probably note I get almost all of my apps from either the Google Play Store repository (via the FOSS Aurora Store Google Play Store client) or from the F-Droid app repository (via the FOSS AuroraDroid client of the F-Droid repository), so, for many years running on a variety of Android phones, I don't have any accounts (and my phone works just fine).
GalaxyA325G said:
Thanks for that advice given I don't have a Google Account or Samsung Account (for privacy reasons) on my non-rooted Galaxy A32-5G and I've got hundreds of installed apps which I found useful (using the Aurora Store to download them off the Google Play Store repository).
Since two people suggested Samsung's "Good Lock", I read the official description of Good Lock posted in 2016 by Samsung first:
Good Lock: Customize the Way You Use Your Galaxy Smartphone
Then I read this XDA thread from 2018 about Samsung Good Lock.
Good lock 2018
Which pointed to an Android Authority article on Good Lock.
Samsung reboots its Good Lock UI app, download it here
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you really didn't wanna download Good Lock you could use Nice Lock and download your desired Good Lock modules from APKMirror
You cant use Good Lock without a Samsung account, it doesnt matter if you get a separate apk.
TimmyP said:
You cant use Good Lock without a Samsung account, it doesnt matter if you get a separate apk.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dang. Thank you for confirming what (apparently) isn't stated in any of the references that I found, which is that the Samsung "Good Lock" tool suite won't work without also having a Samsung Account on the phone.
The original question remains whether there is anything people find truly useful in the Samsung Galaxy Store (with the caveat for me that it can't require a login account to be used - but for others - they might not have that privacy requirement).
BTW, I'm not saying there's nothing truly useful as I wouldn't know.
I'm just asking if there is anything truly useful in the Galaxy Store.
EDIT: I should probably note that I generally repopulate a new phone by dragging and dropping the APKs from Windows to Android over Wi-Fi as the entire Android phone is mounted as a drive letter on WIndows over Wi-Fi so whenever any app APK is installed on the phone, it's also automatically saved directly to Windows over Wi-Fi at the same time (it's just not deleted after it's installed - which is what the Google Play Store does but the FOSS Google Play Store client has an option to NOT delete the APK after installing it).
You need to slow down a little.
So that others benefit, we've covered some really gory details on how many apps update to their latest versions over here today...
Can I prevent an update (or at least stave it off) or must I accept the upcoming update? (I don't want the baseband to increment for rooting)

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