New tablet does not have the Play Store app

[Michael Cogar]

My tablet does not have the Play Store app included in the apps in it's Android 6.0.1. Does this mean that it is not compatible?

 

[SpookDroid]

Is it a Chinese brand by any chance? Or an Amazon tablet? Those are the only caveats I know of for a device not to have access to Google's services.

 

[Michael Cogar]

Yes, it is Chinese, sourced out of China but supposedly made for the western markets. Is it something in the O/S load that prevents and if so, how can it be changed - if at all possible? We desperately need to be able to run with a Chromecaster.

 

[SpookDroid]

Yeah, due to China's block of Google's services, Chinese companies cannot include Google Play Services on their devices, so they include 3rd party app stores (like Kakao or the likes) that only work for the Chinese market. Same thing with Amazon; because they include their own app store and the way they license things, they are free to use Android's code but cannot include Google's services.

There are, however, ways of installing the App Store, just not too savvy on how exactly you'd go about that and I do believe this varies per device (and if it's a generic Chinese tablet, finding the right method might prove tricky).

 

[Michael Cogar]

OK, thanks for that. Watch the next tablet we buy, make sure it has G/Play.
Thanks again for the assist.