[TIP] Google Wallet on a Custom ROM

[2defmouze]

[WARN]Before flashing a custom ROM: If you have already activated Wallet on your device, then to prevent breaking your NFC chip's secure element area you MUST first open Wallet, go to Settings and select Reset Wallet. Let it complete (may take a minute) and close the app.[/WARN]
Now when you flash a custom ROM and standard GApps pack you will find that Wallet is not installed on your device. Being as Wallet is a region-sensitive app available from the Play Store, it is not included in the standard GApps packs we typically use. This is the case with all apps available from the Play Store, including Gmail, Google Music, Youtube, Google+, etc... You will usually need to reinstall them on your own after flashing a custom ROM.
[TIP]The most widely accepted GApps packs for use with ROMs are located here: Google Apps - Rootzwiki
Bookmark that page and keep up to date with it.[/TIP]

Google Wallet
As mentioned above, Wallet needs to be installed separately since it probably won't be in the GApps pack you used... however, Wallet also needs to be installed as a system app (meaning in your /system/app/ directory) in order to function correctly and not force close on you, rather than being installed as a user app via the Play Store. This is easily done.
- Download the Wallet.apk
- Install using the following adb commands:

adb remount
adb push </path_to/Wallet.apk>/Wallet.apk /system/app/Wallet.apk
adb shell
chmod 644 /system/app/Wallet.apk
exit
adb reboot

Where </path_to/Wallet.apk> should be replaced by the path to the Wallet.apk you downloaded. Alternatively, since you probably opened your command prompt/terminal window inside your adb directory, you can just drop the Wallet.apk in there with it and change that line to just:

adb push Wallet.apk /system/app/Wallet.apk

Do I have to use adb?
No, but you should. If you are unable to for some reason, then download the Wallet.apk to your phone.
- Use Root explorer or a similar app to copy the apk to /system/app/
- Change the permissions of the apk to rw/r/r
- Reboot.

Total credit to Roman for the apk and instructions!

 

[Kenneth Thomas1]

And what if you didnt reset before flashing a ROM?

 

[2defmouze]

And what if you didnt reset before flashing a ROM?

Log in to the the Play Store on a browser and search the settings/options until you find an option to reset/deactivate Wallet on your device. Sorry I'm not at a computer so can't detail where it is, but it's in there.

This may work and it may not. If you are not lucky you will still have a borked NFC secure element. Sometimes it will work just find though. Either way don't bank on it.. Always try to remember to reset the app before wiping.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

 

[zkSharks]

Log in to the the Play Store on a browser and search the settings/options until you find an option to reset/deactivate Wallet on your device. Sorry I'm not at a computer so can't detail where it is, but it's in there.

This may work and it may not. If you are not lucky you will still have a borked NFC secure element. Sometimes it will work just find though. Either way don't bank on it.. Always try to remember to reset the app before wiping.

There's a very similar option on the Google Wallet site, if you click on "Devices" in the left-hand menu. You can disable the app on each device you've signed into Wallet with your Google account on.

Google Wallet Devices Page​

That may be what you're thinking of.

 

[2defmouze]

There's a very similar option on the Google Wallet site, if you click on "Devices" in the left-hand menu. You can disable the app on each device you've signed into Wallet with your Google account on.

Google Wallet Devices Page​

That may be what you're thinking of.

That's exactly what I was thinking of, lol.. Thanks

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

 

[ConTejas]

What's the rationale behind this, 2defmouze? Since launch day of the lte gnex, I've always just sideloaded the apk and it worked fine on custom roms. Since my N4 I've just installed via the play store the first time and the reset wallet, flash rom/gapps, an restore the apk (no data) via mybackup pro. I just looked at my transactions and I've only used it once on my N4, but it worked. I do remember it taking a lot longer than my gnex but I chalked it up to a slower than usual wifi connection in my office's caf.

EDIT: at work so trying move to system\app via a file explorer (sd maid pro), but when I copy the apk from data\app and try to paste it it says "not possible." The apk already has rw/r/r as do all the file in the system\app folder (was thinking needed to change permissions first). Am I missing something? Hoping to test er out at lunch. Thanks in advance.

 

[2defmouze]

What's the rationale behind this, 2defmouze? Since launch day of the lte gnex, I've always just sideloaded the apk and it worked fine on custom roms. Since my N4 I've just installed via the play store the first time and the reset wallet, flash rom/gapps, an restore the apk (no data) via mybackup pro. I just looked at my transactions and I've only used it once on my N4, but it worked. I do remember it taking a lot longer than my gnex but I chalked it up to a slower than usual wifi connection in my office's caf.

Many users (myself included) have had issues activating it if it isn't installed as a system app. If it works for you, awesome, but if you run into any problems it might be due to this.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

 

[ConTejas]

Many users (myself included) have had issues activating it if it isn't installed as a system app. If it works for you, awesome, but if you run into any problems it might be due to this.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

Oh, so it wouldn't activate at all if it wasn't to work properly? Guess I'm good then. Is that how you were doing it on your gnex too? Have to test her out at lunch. Still, I'd like to know why I can't seem to move the apk to system\app (edit above).

 

[2defmouze]

Oh, so it wouldn't activate at all if it wasn't to work properly? Guess I'm good then. Is that how you were doing it on your gnex too? Have to test her out at lunch. Still, I'd like to know why I can't seem to move the apk to system\app (edit above).

Borked the secure element on my gnex back in April maybe.. Wasn't able to use Wallet since, lol. Still don't ever use it tbh..

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

 

[ConTejas]

Borked the secure element on my gnex back in April maybe.. Wasn't able to use Wallet since, lol. Still don't ever use it tbh..

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

Ah right I remember. That stinks. Well I just picked up some deodorant at rite aid. Gwallet blowing cashier's minds as usual and was instantaneous. I've always reset and uninstalled the app before flashing or updating. So perhaps that's more important than being in system/app.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Android Central Forums