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 downloaded". I know that occurs because I coded this test in my MainActivity in the method onResume().
I want to know how I can install Google Play Services in my emulator, because soon I will need to test my maps.

Answer 1

Check out Setting Up Google Play Services which says:

To develop an app using the Google Play services APIs, you need to set up your project with the Google Play services SDK.

If you haven't installed the Google Play services SDK yet, go get it now by following the guide to Adding SDK Packages.

To test your app when using the Google Play services SDK, you must use either:

• A compatible Android device that runs Android 2.3 or higher and includes Google Play Store.
• The Android emulator with an AVD that runs the Google APIs platform based on Android 4.2.2 or higher.

Answer 2

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 3

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