How to get Google Music working in Canada

**TheStanger** · 01-16-2013, 02:14 PM

I'm not sure if this has been discussed anywhere (I couldn't find anything on it via a search) so I thought I would share.

US users have been able to use Google Music since it came out a while ago but up here in Canada we have been shut out and it really sucks. I have managed, quite easily, to implement a work-around and now it is working flawlessly and I love it.

The first thing to do is download an app both on your Nexus 7 and your PC called "Hot Spot Shield". Once enabled this will route your network traffic through a VPN and make it appear as though you are in the States. (Forgive my lay-mans terms as I am not overly versed in the fine details of just what is happening here.) Once you run the app on your N7, go to Google Play and download the Google Music app. On your PC, login to your Google Play account where you will now be able to download Google Music desktop software. Once you download that software, fire it up and you will be prompted to enter credit card information to start your music account...fill this out and you only have to worry about charges if you purchase music through Google Play. Once you have a Google Music account set up you can then upload your local music files (up to 20,000 of them!) using the desktop software.

I have finished uploading 57GB worth of songs and now I can access all of them on my Nexus 7 through the Google Music app. You don't need to use Hot Spot Shield anymore to play music on your N7 or on your PC to upload future music as it is only necessary to set up the initial Google Music account.

This is a pretty fantastic service as now I have no need to keep files locally on my N7 as I can play my music collection over wifi which frees up space for videos and other documents.

**moorken** · 01-16-2013, 03:16 PM

i think waiting until its officially released in Canada and using an other service in the meantime is a lot easier

**TheStanger** · 01-16-2013, 03:57 PM

I haven't found anything easier than this...it's stupidly easy.

**mrcanadiantech** · 01-19-2013, 08:04 PM

THis will not work anymore, you need a US credit card to verify your location.

**TheStanger** · 01-19-2013, 09:50 PM

Did they just change this in the past week? I used my Canuck credit card just over a week ago no problems.

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**HerrDeacon** · 01-20-2013, 07:25 AM

I just tried this morning and couldn't because of the credit card check. Guess I'll have to wait for it. Thanks for posting the how-to though Stranger.

**TheStanger** · 01-20-2013, 09:31 AM

Have you tried using your credit card but with an american zip code rather than your postal code?

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**HerrDeacon** · 01-20-2013, 10:32 AM

No, I stopped as soon as I came to the cc step. I'm just going to leave it until its available here, not in any rush.

**TheStanger** · 01-20-2013, 05:19 PM

I just put in my normal address and it all worked fine. How does Google know you are not in the states visiting your american cousin and setting him/her up with a Google account using your credit card. Perfectly legit and legal there.

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**Griff88** · 01-21-2013, 06:10 AM

I'm not really contributing to the original question but as a UK resident I'm intrigued to all the references of credit cards. We got access to Google Music last November but I didn't have to enter any credit card info at all. I assume it's different in the US?

**jimrebello** · 01-24-2013, 07:25 PM

This method doesn't work anymore. I can't set up an account with my credit card.

**edit**

I changed my Credit Card that was on file to a US address (The address for the Buffalo-Niagara Airport), and it worked. Uploading my music right now and then I'll try google music again on my phone and see if it shows up!

**juniperpansy** · 03-02-2013, 04:21 PM

I couldn't get it to work how the OP did it. I think its because I already had google wallet setup with a Canadian address.

Anyways this is the way that worked after a bunch of trial and error:

1) download and install hotspot shield on PC (not needed on android device)
2) Install and turn on hotspot shield (ensuring USA ip address - shoulkd be this by default anyways)
3) Goto google wallet ( ). Delete credit card information
4) Goto and click on the money amount to add money to google phone. Add a your credit card. I put in my own CC with a name and a postal code of 90210 (don't need to enter a whole address). Once the credit card info is entered and saved cancel so you don't have to put money on google phone. *

5) Goto play.google.com/music and install the music client for Windows. Follow the sinstructions and set it up.

Cleanup
6) Once it starts downloading the music from your computer you can uninstall Hotspot shield
7) Go back to google wallet to either delete the credit card or update the proper address

Voila... done!

*for step 4 I assume that you could have probably just added the new credit card info in google wallet.... but this was how I did it

Thanks OP!

**auditman** · 03-17-2013, 08:18 PM

it worked!!!

**Mark Biebrich** · 03-26-2013, 07:15 PM

I skipped step 4 and it worked fine, just prompted me for a CC when I went to download music manager.

**gusmarquez** · 05-04-2013, 11:39 PM

Worked perfectly for me here in Colombia. Thank you, very much. I used TunnelBear as my proxy provider, and followed your instructions. Google Music now playing here!!!