Paid app transfer

Acupotea

Just wondering if it's possible (and fairly easy) to transfer paid play apps from signed in phone to non-signed in phone. For example, could I download the app I paid for in the play store on one phone that has normal Google OS and transfer the folder (or certificate) to my Graphene phone which merely uses anonymous Aurora? I'm guessing this would work with some apps, but not others? Eg, I'm thinking of apps like Moon+ Reader, Podcast Addict, and a few other like that. Thoughts?

[deleted]

Acupotea
I can describe what I did previously, I think that could help you.
On my old Pixel phone I used Total commander and select from main page Installed apps. It listed all my installed apps, resp. apk files. I copied the files to download folder on the phone and than transferred them to my USB stick. (For some reason I couldn't copy the files directly, but that's not the issue.)
Then I transferred those apk files to new phone without Google play and Google play services. I installed them. That's it. Sometimes an app showed a notification that the app needed Google play services, but you can set it that the notification never shows again.

I know for sure that (at least older version of) Moon+reader worked flawlessly without any Google stuff, because I used it on my "degoogled" Lineage OS. I've never used Podcast addict so I can't comment on that.

I hope this helps.

Edit: Keep in mind that using this method, quite logically you wouldn't be able to update these apps via Aurora as the apps wouldn't be able to authorize paid content. If you want to update the paid app, you can either repeat the method and back up the new file, or use Google Play with your account, or contact the app developer.

matchboxbananasynergy

The most straightforward way to do this is to install Sandboxed Google Play on your GrapheneOS device on whichever user profile you want, and then install your paid apps after logging into your Google account.

If you do this on your Owner profile, you can even install those apps in other profiles without needing Sandboxed Google Play there via the "install available apps" feature.

Oggyo

Hey, @matchboxbananasynergy, questions from me, too. :)

After installing paid apps via PlayStore can I remove it or have to keep it to "maintain" the paid app verification status? What about some subscriptions via Google Play?

I finished migrating to GOS and now I'm in process of ditching Google Framework and Play Services. Just want to take precautions in advance.

Should I consider disabling the GAaps first to "test" what can brake?
How to remove them, as a normal app uninstall process or via the "Apps" app?

matchboxbananasynergy

Oggyo A lot of apps while use Play Services to do license checks, so it's possible that some apps will even require play services in the same profile as the one you have them installed in to keep working.

Do note that play services on GrapheneOS are sandboxed just like any other app you install. Having them available to make apps you use work is not the end of the world.