How to Install Play Store on Redmi 3 / Redmi 3 Pro Running MIUI 7 / 8

Xiaomi Redmi 3 is a powerful Android phone but not yet a flagship. Powered with Qualcomm MSM8939v2 Snapdragon 616 chipset boasting Octa core CPUS (Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A53) and Adreno 405 GP, Redmi 3 is surely an adorable smartphone especially with its current price tag. The phone is not available worldwide yet but many users around the world have bought it from online stores like in Banggood or GearBest. Consequently, the phone is shipped running MIUI 7 China Stable Build. It does have English language but it does not have Google Play Store and any other Google Apps pre-installed on it. However, Play Store is one of must-have Android app for every smartphone since users can simply grab many cool apps through it.

In this article, you are going to see three methods that really work to install Play Store and any other Google Apps using GApps Installer package on either Redmi 3 or Redmi 3 Pro running MIUI 7 or MIUI 8. We really hope this such ultimate guide will really help you getting Play Store installed properly without any issue on your phone. Redmi 3 runs MIUI 7 based on Android 5.1 Lollipop by default. Some users may also have upgraded it to MIUI 8 which is, I guess, still based on Lollipop as well. Nevertheless, I am utterly convinced that Redmi 3 / Redmi 3 Pro will soon get Android 6.0 Marshmallow upgrade in the near future. These methods will also work on MIUI Developer ROM.

Method #1 – Google Installer v2.0

This first method makes use of Google Installer v2.0 app. This app has main objective to install Play Store compatible on almost any Xiaomi devices. You can use this method if :

Your phone doesn’t have TWRP Custom Recovery installed.
You don’t want to install TWRP in the future.
You want the easiest way to have Play Store installed.
You want to install Play Store (and required services) only with no additional GApps.
Your phone is running either MIUI 7 or MIUI 8 based on Android 4.4 Kitkat, 5.0 – 5.1 Lollipop, and 6.0 Marshmallow.

Please read the whole steps at first prior doing it. Are you ready? Let’s go to the steps:

Step 0 – Make sure you can connect to Internet either using your cellular data or Wifi. Tips for device running MIUI Developer ROM : Goto Downloads >> tap on three dots (…) at the top right-hand corner of the screen >> Settings >> Unlimited. This step is necessary to avoid download issue when you are on Cellular Data connection.

Step 1 – Enable installation from unknown sources in your phone. Of course you have to firstly enable Developer Options in MIUI Settings. Follow this sequence :

Go to Settings >> About Phone >> tap MIUI version 7 times quickly. This will activate “Developer Options.”
Go to Settings >> Additional Setting >> Developer Options >> Allow Mock Location >> and enable it.
Go to Settings Settings >> Additional Settings >> Privacy >> enable “Unknown Sources”

Step 2 – Download Google Installer v2 .apk file into your phone. The file is usually downloaded into “Download” folder.

Step 3 – Unzip the Google Installer file using ES File Explorer. However, if you don’t have ES File Explorer then you might have to download the file in your computer first and extract it using Winzip followed by transferring the .apk file into your phone.

Step 4 – Now open up File Explorer and go to the location of where the Google Installer_2.0.apk file. Tap on it and install it.

Step 5 – Once installed, you will see new icon displayed in your phone’s screen. Tap on it to launch it up. The installer app will start installing Play Store in following sequence / order :

Google Services Framework
Google Account Manager
Google Play Service
Google Calendar Synchronization Service
Google Contact Synchronization Service
Google Play Store.

During installation of each app you might be asked to Launch the newly installed app. Just tap on Install and then OK, please do not tap on Launch during the installation. Not until all the apps have been installed properly.

Step 6 – Eventually at the end of the installation you will see a Red circle with “Google Play” text on it. Tap on that red circle >> accept the displayed terms >> tap “Allow Google to read SMS” >> and finally go thru the setup of Google sign-in. Just use your Gmail account to sign in as usual.

Step 7 – Your phone, its system, and Google Service will be then busy syncing the contact and other Google Apps. Google Apps service will also try to update its core system. Therefore, you may need to wait until it completely finished. The time it takes will vary depending on your connection speed.

Step 8 – Once you have signed in to Google, you may also need to check its Build version by going to Google >> Settings >> scroll up towards the bottom and you will see something like this :

Step 9 – This step is optional but you need to do this. Update the newly installed Play Store. The package you have extracted include another stable version (but it is not the latest). You can simply install that .apk or download the latest one from ApkMirror.

Credits belong to Eric Xiang and Feds64.

Method #2 – Open Gapps

Please use this second method only if :

The first method above doesn’t work for you.
You don’t mind to Flash TWRP – the coolest custom recovery for MIUI devices on earth.
Or, if you have TWRP installed.
You want to install Play Store (and required services) with few other additional GApps.
Your phone is running either MIUI 7 or MIUI 8 based on Android 4.4 Kitkat, 5.0 – 5.1 Lollipop, and 6.0 Marshmallow.

Please read the whole steps at first prior doing it. Are you ready? Let’s go to the steps:

Step 1 – Flash TWRP on your phone. You do not have to root your phone as long as TWRP is installed then it’s ok to proceed.

Read :

How to flash TWRP on Redmi 3 / Redmi 3 Pro Automatically.

How to flash TWRP on Redmi 3 / Redmi 3 Pro Manually.

Generally, installing custom recovery means you have to firstly unlock your phone’s bootloader unless you knew another way of unofficial bootloader unlock method.

Step 2 – Download Open Gapps package into your phone. Check in your device Settings of which Android version the MIUI ROM installed on your device is. Is it Lollipop or Marshmallow?

Step 3 – Reboot your phone into TWRP Recovery mode. You can achieve that using one of these ways :

Turn off your phone. While your phone is off, press and hold Volume Up (+) button and Power button simultaneously until it reboot into recovery.
Via Updater app. Open up Updater app (usually in Tools folder) >> tap on three dots (…) at the top right-hand corner of the screen >> choose Reboot into recovery.

Reboot to Recovery Mode MIUI 8

Step 4 – Once you are in TWRP, choose “Install“.

Step 5 – Locate the location of where you have downloaded OpenGapps package (.zip file).

Please ignore the folder location and the file name above. It’s just for illustration.

Step 6 – Now do the “Swipe to confirm flash“. Just wait for it to complete the flashing process.

Step 7 – Finally choose “Reboot” once the Open Gapps flashing process is done.

That’s all. Google Apps, including Play Store, are now installed on your phone.

Step 8 – Do not forget to sign in using your Gmail / Google account.

Method #3 – GApps for Marshmallow

Use this method only if :

Your phone is running MIUI or any custom ROM based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow.
You want the easiest way to have Play Store installed on your phone.
You don’t want to flash TWRP.

Step 1 – Enable installation from unknown sources in your phone. Of course you have to firstly enable Developer Options in MIUI Settings. Follow this sequence :

Go to Settings >> About Phone >> tap MIUI version 7 times quickly. This will activate “Developer Options.”
Go to Settings >> Additional Setting >> Developer Options >> Allow Mock Location >> and enable it.
Go to Settings Settings >> Additional Settings >> Privacy >> enable “Unknown Sources”

Step 2 – Download Google Installer v2 .apk file into your phone. The file is usually downloaded into “Download” folder.

Step 3 – Download and install ES File Explorer (optional but useful).

Step 4 – Download GApps for MIUI Marshmallow into your phone’s internal storage.

Step 5 – Open up ES File Explorer and go to the location of where you’ve downloaded Gapps .zip file. Extract the file using ES File Explorer (long press the file name to display more options). However, if you don’t have ES File Explorer then you might have to download the file in your computer first and extract it using Winzip followed by transferring all the .apk files into your phone.

You’ll then get 6 different folders named :

Google Account Manager
Google Services Framework
Google Play Service
Google Calendar Sync
Google Contacts Sync
Google Play Store

Step 6 – Please then install each of those apps one by one sequentially from app no. 1 to no. 6.

Step 7 – Once done, it is better to reboot your phone to make sure all new changes are applied.

Voila! Enjoy using Play Store on whatever Android ROM is running on your phone.

Which one do you prefer to use and which one that really works for your phone? Do not hesitate to share your experience with us and with many other MIUI users around the globe.