yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Android Apps and Games] Skyica:
You're clearly right that using the play.google.com domain is the official way for linking to app details in the Play Store.

However using market://details?id=... links works also well and still seems to be used very much.

App Finder is currently using this kind of links since I thought I was more widely supported by alternative app stores (e.g. Galaxy Store, Huawei AppGallery, F-Droid work with them, although I didn't check if they work with https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=... also).

Anyway, I checked that the market links work with the latest Aurora nightly. I see no reason why support for these links should be removed from Aurora.
[Android Apps and Games] Skyica:
A remaining issue when using App Finder with Aurora Store is that after opening an app details page in Aurora, the back key does not immediately lead back to App Finder.

Previously I had experienced that it was not at all possible to navigate back from Aurora so that one had to close it, but now it seems to work with 2 times the back key from a details page (saw the changelog).

Still it would be better if the back key would lead directly back to the app that requested the details page, as it works in the Play Store.
[Android Apps and Games] scollywoggle:
Goodness, no worries then, its not a big deal.

I was only looking at the other releases, so I could test nightlies, and because obtainium can show changelogs from gitlab in-app.

If packages are visible with an api key then its my bad for not entering one. Obtainium has a field for it. I just assumed it was the different attachment style I noticed since 4.2.3 (which is also the latest build obtainium finds)

anyhow, thanks for the info! definitely don't want to bother him!
[Android Apps and Games] theimpulson:
That statement wasn't for you. It was for people asking for Aurora Store updates via another third-party app called Obtanium that uses scraping to get app updates from official GitHub/GitLab repositories.

Also, the Aurora Store doesn't scrape anything. It uses the official Google Play API reverse-engineered from the Play Store app.
[Android Apps and Games] david003:
You reference the instructions I provided earlier:

https://xdaforums.com/t/app-5-0-aur...le-play-client.3739733/page-107#post-88996059

But in the examples you provided, you're not following these instructions. Mainly, you're not searching from Aurora Store, and you're clicking on "Install" instead of opening the context menu and selecting "Open in App."

For what it's worth, I am using Aurora Store 4.3.2, and this also worked with previous releases. My phone is running LineageOS 20 (Android 13) with MicroG.

The phone doesn't have Play Store and it's not registered to a google account, and Aurora Store is also not logged into a private google account (just using "anonymous"). My default browser is Mull, but other browsers such as Cromium should also have a way of opening a context menu.
[Android Apps and Games] david003:
In the Aurora Store app settings, under "Open by default" I just have "play.google.com" as an option, not "google.com", but maybe that won't be a problem.

In your "install002.jpg", after searching, I notice it's still on the screen with all the search results when you're trying to install it. Please try to tap on the app you want to install first so it will be on the app's detailed page. Then see if the menu includes "install in app".
[Android Apps and Games] GalaxyA325G:
I appreciate the help because I'm trying to follow the instructions.

As for the available "Open with..." options, that has been a bone of contention which you can see in these related posts:

Post # 2153 (by GalaxyA325G)

Post # 2158 (by theimpulson)

Post # 2160 (by Skyica)

Given those latter two posts are from bona fide app developers (I'm just a normal user), we must defer to the coders on whether Aurora Store should display options of

play:// links

...versus...

market:// links

...or both...

All I can say, as a user, is these options come and go frequently lately...

play.google.com (this is usually there)

market.android.com (this comes & goes almost capriciously)

The point being both "should" (probably) be there but the market:// link comes and goes depending on the daily build of Aurora Store you're testing...

Thank you for taking a look at the steps I documented as I tried to follow the given instructions, as we do want anyone to be able to follow the instructions...

I apologize for not being detailed enough, so please allow me to add that important (previously missing) detail to the instructions so that others can reproduce these suggested steps to bring up the "Install in app" menu selection...

Start Aurora Store

Log in as the anonymous@google.com user

Tap the blue magnifying glass (bottom right)

Search for any app (e.g., "UBQSoft")

It should bring up a browser to the search URL

<https://play.google.com/store/search?q=UBQSoft&c=apps>

Longpress on the app description

In this example, it's App Inspector by UBQSoft

Available Ungoogled Chromium options are...

Open in New Tab

Open in Background tab

Copy Link Address

Share Link

Download Image

Open Image in Background Tab

Unfortunately... the following option isn't there. :(

Select "Open in app" from the pulldown menu

It will install in Aurora Store

No google account needed

Instead of longpressing, maybe we are supposed to just tap on the app description?

That brings up the app description with four options

Install

(which asks you to sign in)

See in Play Store app

(which says "Unable to open this type of link")

Share

(which gives you options to Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, Email & Copy link to clipboard)

Add to wishlist

(which asks you to sign in)

What specific step is wrong above such that it's not working?
[Android Apps and Games] theimpulson:
Please try the latest nightly build from https://auroraoss.com/AuroraStore/Nightly/
[Android Apps and Games] david003:
After searching in Aurora Store, it brings up a list of matches in the browser. Please, just tap the item you want to install to bring up the detailed page for the app (not longpressing). While on the app's detailed page, open the menu and select "open in app".

I just tried it again, and took screenshots.
[Android Apps and Games] GalaxyA325G:
Woo hoo!

Thanks for your efforts to improve Aurora Store (which is already the one-and-only replacement for downloading directly from the Google Play Store repository without needing to create your own Google Account on the phone).

Because of the Aurora Store, I can maintain my privacy!

Here's what I just tested on my Android 13 A32-5G.

I picked up the nightly build

https://auroraoss.com/AuroraStore/Nightly/AuroraStore-nightly-signed-2023-09-19.apk

Name:

AuroraStore-nightly-signed-2023-09-19.apk

Size:

6049367 bytes (5907 KiB)

SHA256:

969FFBC7C552DBA8227E82CC1BCD37CB15840C157D360DE32B68C242B4ED60C1

I deleted the previous Aurora Store nightly build

Why not just "update"?

Because it sometimes fails... (with other apps).

I installed this new version.

Woo hoo!

In the setup I see not 1..., not even 2..., but 3 choices!

Allow Aurora Store to open supported links

play.google.com

market.android.com

www.amazon.com

Further tests should reveal that other market-category-style apps which offer the "Open With..." menu should now present this latest Aurora Store as an option into that "Open with..." menu.

I will first test Skyica's App Finder by arbitrarily searching for a random app and then having App Finder pass the "Open with..." to the Aurora Store...

GPS Waypoint Finder

com.keuwl.gpswaypoints

<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.keuwl.gpswaypoints>

Woo hoo! It worked perfectly!​

Thank you for adding not only the market:// link to the "Open with..." choices from other apps, but also the amazon:// link (which I presume other apps may be set up with).

Now, when I use the App Finder to search for an app on the Google Play Store repository, App Finder will provide an "Open with..." option which will have the Aurora Store as one of the choices to pass that information to.
[Android Apps and Games] GalaxyA325G:
In addition, the BACK action from Aurora Store now works too!

Back action broken as reported by Skyica in Post # 2,161

Start the Skyica App Finder

I set the App Finder filters to the following...

[x] No ads

[x] Free

Search for a random app in the Google Play Store repo

(e.g., ru.perm.trubnikov.gps2sms)

GPS to SMS - location sharing by Tralchonok Labs

<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ru.perm.trubnikov.gps2sms>

<https://github.com/tral/GPS2SMS>

<https://xdaforums.com/t/app-2-2-gps-to-sms-location-sharing.2994187/>

Tap on the found app

Tap on the Play Store link

Tap on "Open With..." Aurora Store

(assumes you're always using the "Just once" option)

(otherwise you might not see this option)

That should open Aurora Store to that app's page

Press the Android "Back" button thrice in quick succession

It's fewer taps if you tap the Aurora "Back" button instead

That should bring you back to the App Finder entry

To connect the dots, I wrote up a summary of this wonderful effort to improve the flow between the Aurora Store and other apps which might call it - over here...
[Android Apps and Games] dope77:
I finally found what's causing this problem 🤩🥳

The useragent used in the spoof manager was set to a device that wasn't compatible with the app, that's why the game wasn't showing in search results and wouldn't be installed.

it would be great if an error message would be displayed in such cases ( it shows "App not supported" which is a bit ambiguous, must show device not supported/incompatible)
[Android Apps and Games] theimpulson:
Recently, a bunch of antivirus have been falsely reporting Aurora Store as Malware/Trojan. In case your antivirus does that, please help the project by submitting a false positive report and ask them to analyze it with the source present on GitLab. I recently reported it to Avast and they admitted that this was a false positive.

Edit: Reported to multiple other AVs too. The majority of them acknowledged this is a false-positive while the rest didn't reply. One of the F-Droid app, namely LibreAV which also reports Aurora Store as Malware was acknowledged as outdated and archived from F-Droid.
[Android Apps and Games] Skyica:
I noticed that Aurora Store is returning significantly fewer results than the Play Store for some queries.

I'm using Aurora and the Play Store on the same device and am logged in with the same Google account.

For "email client", Aurora returns ~40 results, while Play returns ~160.

For one app that was missing in Aurora (Mailbox - fast & easy email) I checked that it is returned by Aurora when I add mailbox to the query.

For another query, "graphing calculator", Aurora returns as many results as Play (~94).

I noticed that some days ago and repeated the tests today with the same results.

I further noticed that when the 4.5+ star rating filter is applied, some apps with 4.5 stars are hidden. It seems Aurora uses the exact rating for the filter. Since it shows the rating rounded to one decimal this may be confusing. Also, Play used the rounded rating to filter.
[Android Apps and Games] SyCoREAPER:
Two suggestions.

Add a setting to hide all 'Paid' application from updating (essentially auto-blacklist them).

Second. In Aurora either implement a self updating mechanism or an alert that directs to your site to download the latest build
[Android Apps and Games] GalaxyA325G:
I love the Aurora Store, I really (really!) do...

(as AS allows me to NOT have a Google Account on my device)....

...bbbbbbbbbbbbut... ​

It's just a fact of life.... that...

More often than not, the Aurora Store fails to obtain an app​

(due to a variety of unfortunate errors which I've already documented)​

(so the reason for the error is immaterial for this reference to my new tutorial)​

To HELP everyone else (as I am wont to do), below is a link to a tutorial I just painstakingly documented and intensively illustrated so as to help others NOT to waste effort when the Aurora Store fails... by IMMEDIATELY putting a targeted go-get-it-later active icon in your "AuroraPending" homescreen folder for later efficient re-use.

Tutorial to NOT waste effort when Aurora Store fails.

(aka, Easily save failed Aurora Store attempts for use at a later date!)
[Android Apps and Games] rudolfm:
When entering the German city "München" to search, Aurora crashes at the 'ü'. " Muenchen" works. Version 4.3.3 Gitlab.
[Android Apps and Games] RBTYT:
I have a problem installing applications. It says "receiving metadata" and does not install the application
[Android Apps and Games] manu81cba:
Hello.. search and search... have aurora store for android tv? is support? need use the remote control, no mouse
[Android Apps and Games] kwallet:
did you try restarting your phone? if yes then maybe the app isnt compatible with your device.

aurora works on android tv and can be operated only with remote but its a pain in the ass.
[Android Apps and Games] lcchy:
Hi there,

(I asked this question on the LineageOS subreddit but got redirected here)

I thought about what data was being collected in the apps installed from the Play Store via Aurora Store and was asking myself this:

As I live in the EU I should normally (somewhat) be protected from data collection by GDPR. Now when I download an App from the Aurora Store, which app "country version" does it download? Are the Aurora anonymous google accounts bound to a specific location and if so, which? Is it possible to change that location to another country?

Or am I completely mistaking and the apps do not comply with different Data Privacy regulations by issuing different APKs but by adjusting dynamically on the current phone location or something else?

Thanks a lot in advance!
[Android Apps and Games] DoR3M3:
Don't get me going on this, I'm going to stop, with just this last thing;

Asking for our telephone numbers is complete BS! :eek:

The EU loves to protect people, well the EU should go after Telegram over this!

P.S. SORRY FOR OFF TOPIC! :(
[Android Apps and Games] Alister.:
Thanks this is a great app, i have read this whole thread i didn't see mention of this. I got this from Fdroid the categories don't seem to have as much as the Yalp Store categories do even when looking through Top Free, Trending, and Grossing i assume the way the apps are filtered is slightly different. Then i ran into i couldn't find this app https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=au.com.ovo.android just typing ovo none of the suggested results or apps presented in the list are it as soon as i type it into Yalp Store it's the first result. The OVO app crashes every time i open it odd since i have microG. Tho seems app listings might need some tuning.
[Android Apps and Games] scrpsy:
WhyOrean, when update in XDA labs?
[Android Apps and Games] :
Could you please add japan to mock location?
[Android Apps and Games] devrruti:
Just use some free virtual phone number.

Deny the permissions you want to the app
[Android Apps and Games] FlamingGoat:
Same as, for the past few weeks I cannot log in at all with it telling me I've no network connection. I've wiped data, cache, reinstalled, etc, but no luck.
[Android Apps and Games] KaMyKaSii:
[MENTION=5678465]WhyOrean[/MENTION] I would like to see these features in the app:

1. Show the current and new version number as well as the current and new version code.

2. The ability to download the apps through a third-party download manager.

Thank you so much for your time and great work!
[Android Apps and Games] DoR3M3:
Has anyone ever heard, or known of anyone that has had their account blacklisted on Aurora Store or Yalp Store using their actual Google Account get paid apps?
[Android Apps and Games] ralxx:
Installing Aurora as system app

Hi, first a big thanks for the great work on Aurora and Yalp.

I was trying to make Aurora a system app - I used Yalp and transform Aurora as a system app. The process seemed without edges, I had to restart the phone. But then, Aurora wasn't among the system apps and I was not allowed to install new apps with Aurora without allowing "Unknown Sources" in the security settings of my phone.

Any suggestions? Any ideas maybe how to flash Aurora instead via TWRP?
[Android Apps and Games] Mynacol:
I never heard this has ever happened and I am also using my Google account with Aurora Store without any problems

---------- Post added at 08:11 ---------- Previous post was at 08:09 ----------

Did you change the install method inside of the Aurora settings?
[Android Apps and Games] DoR3M3:
It seems rare from what I understand...
[Android Apps and Games] drnightshadow:
Yap.. best solution is ROM without gapps + Aurora store with dummy account :D... if they ban 1 dummy account you can switch to another :highfive:

And phone memory is light and super fast + longer battery life :good:

Google play, etc = evil and not privacy friendly (like telegram BS) :cool:

But if you really need it than go with microG.
[Android Apps and Games] mijorus:
Please remote control support for fire TVs and TV boxes!
[Android Apps and Games] DoR3M3:
I do microG already, I guess you didn't notice my Avatar. ;)

https://xdaforums.com/oneplus-5t/how-to/guide-microg-deodex-signature-spoofing-t3862961
[Android Apps and Games] drnightshadow:
Lol i slap my forehead... no comment :angel:
[Android Apps and Games] alecthenice:
do apps installed this way still require gsf?
[Android Apps and Games] NAKADZI:
"Spoof Location" dead.

Good day, ladies and gentlemen!

Spoof Location is not working.

When I try to download an RPG game intended for the Korean region, it reports an unavailability in my region, although I have enabled Spoof Location for the Korean region. What's the matter?

I used the latest client version(2.0.5-β; 210020005).

I filmed all this on video.

Please read, thank you!

This text has been translated from Russian to English with the help of Google Translate. Correspondingly, there may be spelling errors.

Text in Russian:

Доброго времени суток, дамы и господа!

Spoof Location не работает.

При попытке скачать РПГ игру предназначенную для корейского региона, сообщает об недоступности в моем регионе, хотя у меня включен спуфинг на корейский регион.

В чем дело?

Я использовал последнюю версию клиента(2.0.5-β; 210020005)

Всё это я заснял на видео.

Прошу ознакомиться, спасибо!
[Android Apps and Games] drnightshadow:
Lool you need learn to read dude... lol your are funny.. Jesus this kids today...trying that phone should know what the user wants :cyclops:

Meehh..

Read READ ME !!!!!! :p

Tip: in spoofing menu click ReadMe :rolleyes: 4. and 5.
[Android Apps and Games] NAKADZI:
KEK! This mechanism without VPN will not work? Very sad, very sorry.

Very strange, despite the fact that there is already an era of digital technology in the street. But this function was not implemented properly, so as not to use third-party software.

This text has been translated from Russian to English with the help of Google Translate. Correspondingly, there may be spelling errors.

Text in Russian:

КЕК! Этот механизм без VPN никак не будет работать? Очень грусно, очень жаль.

Очень странно, несмотря на то что на улице уже как бы Эра цифровых технологий. А подобную функцию не реализовали должным образом, чтоб не использовать сторонние програмное обеспечения.
[Android Apps and Games] drnightshadow:
LOL than you can call Scotty to beam you to Korea :D:D

For me its working just fine :good:
[Android Apps and Games] American_Jesus:
What app?

You can download from apkmirror if available there.

Is not the EU that's blocking the app, is the developer didn't made it available on your country
[Android Apps and Games] lcchy:
Thanks for replying,

It is not about a specific app, I do not have a problem with downloading apps.

My question is which data privacy regulations apply to apps downloaded from Aurora Store, is the US regulations or the EU (for example)?
[Android Apps and Games] temporarium:
What private information are you worried about? The whole point of Aurora is that you are anonymous. 🤔
[Android Apps and Games] lcchy:
So as an (arbitrary) example, let's take the PayPal app (I have no idea if this applies to PayPal specifically, its an example).

In the EU PayPal has to comply with certain Data Protection laws like GDPR. That forces them to ask for the users permission for certain types of in-App tracking.

In certain other countries such laws do not exist or are less powerful, allowing PayPal to collect much more personal information without the users consent.

That means that if you download the App from GooglePlay as an EU user (the country is linked to the Google account I think?) you will benefit from greater data protection laws regarding in-App tracking.

Hence my question: Are the anonymous Aurora Google accounts tied to a specific country? If so, which one?
[Android Apps and Games] temporarium:
Are you saying that the PayPal app itself is different depending on where you download it from? I don't want to be dogmatic, but it's much easier for PayPal (or any other normal developer) to provide one app that checks where you are before collecting personal information beyond what is required for basic operation. This would mean that Aurora has nothing to do with the process.
[Android Apps and Games] lcchy:
I don't know how the compliance is done and I was wondering too, it might just depend on current device/ip location when using the app. it definitely seems more reasonable.

Anyways, thanks for replying!
[Android Apps and Games] david003:
The accounts used are from all over the world, so unless you're using your own account, it's random as to which one you'll be using, and you can't really tell.
[Android Apps and Games] maybeme2:
After installing app updates, I use Aurora to delete the downloads. But where does Aurora place the downloads? I'm not rooted.
[Android Apps and Games] Devolix:
Heyho

I can't switch download path to external disk.

Checked "User external storage", but it still shows "/storage/emulated/0/Aurora/Store".

Whatever I type there, I just get ""Selected path is not writable"

What path I need to type there or what other issue is it?

Thanks in advance.
[Android Apps and Games] Devolix:
I found out my own. App Total Commander showed me few number-code that was the drive called. Worked.
[Android Apps and Games] GalaxyA325G:
I love the Aurora Store as it allows me to NOT have a Google Account, so this request is not complaining - but asking for a workaround to the Aurora common errors...

To that end...

Can someone point me (and us) to the secret decoder ring for deciphering not only what each Aurora Store message means, but how to recover from it?

I realize probably most of the time you can't do much about the error but wait a while - but maybe you don't have to wait?

Is there a list of the errors

For example...just today I've gotten these...

Oops, You are rate limited

Failed to generate session, error code: 520

Internal error! Please retry after sometime [sic]

Server down for maintenance

Download Failed:

Download Failed: App not purchased (for a free app!)

Download Failed: App not supported (for the right api!)

and what they mean

and most importantly, what you can do about it?

BTW, as an aside... since Aurora Store fails more than it works, when it fails, I just create a quick one-tap shortcut and put it into my Aurora Failures folder so that I can instantly get to that exact failure point again later - with a single tap - which often works to download and install the app - so right now the only thing I do is wait a day or so.

How to save failed Aurora Store attempts for one-tap recovery