How to Install Element Messenger through Play Store

maximus87

Hello,

I am not able to find Element Messenger (and Netflix) in the Play Store. Using another phone, one developer (Thank you!) sent me direct link to use and try to open them in Play Store.
Unfortunately, it would open it but without the possibility to install as a display would say: "your device is not compatible with this version".

Any tips please to install the two Apps? Apart from using Aurora Store. I would like to keep myself limited to the official store.
Thank you very much!

Hat

maximus87 "your device is not compatible with this version".

If the app don't work perhaps your device is really is not compatible.

MetropleX

maximus87 for the apps mentioned please use Aurora Store. They both work fine Netflix with/without Play Services, Element only with Play Services where push notitications are required.

Unfortunately Netflix only offers a slimmed down apk direct from them and Element dont directly publish a non Google Play version on their GitHub.

For non Play Push on Element F-Droid is the only source however please read this and bear it in mind if using them as a source. As BHydden mentioned F-Droid has serious security drawbacks...

https://twitter.com/Metr0pl3x/status/1575250126574129178?s=20&t=SfHcoieMv4bWohowuGbY0A

Took approx 3 weeks even with forewarning to protect people and the app was already well outdated by then.

Hat

Maybe those apps are not available in your country.

maximus87

They are. I had them on iPhone (and friends who have "standard" Android also have them).

Hat

maximus87

You could find element in github and f-droid.

Toophei8

F-Droid would always be the first Place to check for a particular App, before G-Playstore.

BHydden

Toophei8 you might search f-droid, or even better neo store, for apps first, but after that you're much better off downloading those apps from github or aurora or g-play store if they're available, and only using f-droid repo as a last resort.

https://wonderfall.dev/fdroid-issues/

nrt

Element is available in playstore in US.
Netflix is not, however it is available thru Aurora store.

maximus87

Thank you. Something is off, I can´t also find twitter...

maximus87

MetropleX
Thank you. For elements, one of the apk on Github actually worked. Still did not connect to any channel but was installed. For Netflix, I ended up downloading the APK from Apkmirror and set up an rss feed for the page to know when new release is available.

I am starting to think that it´s because of the throw away account I am using. I tried to load it with pre-paid Google card and it refused (to purchase an important paying App for me). It seems that Google wants to make sure I am over 18 years old. At least this is the message on Youtube as I kept testing what I found in Internet. They are requesting an ID or a credit card for verification.

MetropleX

maximus87 we don't recommend sourcing apps from third party sources eg APKMirror/APKPure etc

There was a reason I advised Aurora as this is still the Play Store.

The Element version on Github is the GPlay version and notifications wont work without Play Services.

maximus87

MetropleX
Thank you again. I have Play Services installed, so Element will hopefully work.
About Aurora Store, I created the throw away account to use it with Google Store instead of Aurora. I didn´t want to install it just for one App.
But since I would like to install also Firefox on another Profile, then Aurora Store will make sense actually and I can install Netflix there too.
One last question, if I install Element Messenger through Aurora, and the profile doesn´t have Play Services, will it work but just lacks Notifications, right? If that´s the case, it should be fine. I am using Elements just for GrapheneOS channels, no notifications are a must for me.

mjnck

maximus87 Aurora Store does not require to sign in to google account, it can download apps anonymously.
Logging in to your google account is necessary only when you want to install paid app that you have purchased for this specific google account.