Publishing Android Apps in Huawei AppGallery: A Step-by-Step Guide

After Google services were restricted on Huawei devices, AppGallery became the primary distribution channel for audiences without GMS. If your app relies on Firebase, Google Maps, or Google Sign-In, it simply won't launch on Honor or Huawei devices. We'll walk through how to prepare your APK, pass review, and maintain monetization.

Publishing in AppGallery is no harder than Google Play, but there are nuances: account verification, HMS compatibility, and a different build process. An error during signing can send your app into an infinite upload loop. Our experience shows proper preparation cuts review time to 2 days.

Problems We Solve

GMS Incompatibility

The biggest hurdle: apps built with Google Mobile Services fail on Huawei devices without GMS. Firebase Cloud Messaging stops working, Google Maps renders blank, Google Sign-In crashes. We replace these with Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) equivalents.

Account Verification Delays

Without a verified developer account, publishing is blocked. Verification takes 1–3 business days, and many get stuck on document uploads. We handle the entire registration process on developer.huawei.com with your company documents.

APK Signing and Build Errors

Huawei doesn't offer a Play App Signing alternative—you must keep the keystore. Forgetting 64-bit support (arm64-v8a) or targeting below Android 9 (API 28) triggers automatic rejection. Our builds always meet these requirements.

How We Do It: One Case from Practice

A fintech client had an app heavily integrated with Google Maps and Firebase. On Huawei devices, the map was blank and push notifications didn't arrive. We mapped their GMS usage to HMS: replaced Google Maps with HMS Map Kit (3 days), Firebase Cloud Messaging with HMS Push Kit (2 days), and Google Sign-In with Huawei ID (1 day). The app passed review on the first submission. Post-launch, user retention on Huawei devices increased by 25% because all features worked correctly.

Technical Implementation

We check service availability at runtime to support both GMS and HMS:

fun checkServiceAvailability(context: Context): ServiceType { val googleAvailability = GoogleApiAvailability.getInstance() val huaweiAvailability = HuaweiApiAvailability.getInstance() return when { googleAvailability.isGooglePlayServicesAvailable(context) == ConnectionResult.SUCCESS -> ServiceType.GMS huaweiAvailability.isHuaweiMobileServicesAvailable(context) == ConnectionResult.SUCCESS -> ServiceType.HMS else -> ServiceType.NONE } } 

For pricing, we integrate HMS In-App Purchases:

val iapClient = Iap.getIapClient(activity) val task = iapClient.isEnvReady() task.addOnSuccessListener { /* HMS IAP available */ } .addOnFailureListener { /* Fallback */ } 

Our Process

1. Assessment: We analyze your current GMS usage and recommend HMS services.
2. Account Setup: We handle developer registration and verification.
3. Integration: We implement HMS analogs (Push, Map, IAP, etc.) with fallback logic.
4. Build: Prepare signed APK/AAB targeting Android 9+, 64-bit.
5. Listing: Create compelling store listing with screenshots, description, and category.
6. Submission: Submit to AppGallery Connect, with test accounts if needed.
7. Review Monitoring: We track progress and resolve any rejections.
8. Publication: App goes live in AppGallery.

What's Included in Our Work

• Developer account registration and verification
• AppGallery Connect project setup
• HMS compatibility assessment and service selection
• Integration of HMS Push Kit, Map Kit, IAP (as required)
• APK/AAB preparation with correct signing
• Full listing (text, graphics, category)
• Submission and rejection handling
• Guarantee of first-pass moderation (with proper test data)

We have 5+ years of experience and 30+ successful publications in AppGallery.

Timelines

Pricing is calculated individually based on integration scope. We'll evaluate your project within a day: contact us through the form on our website.

With us, your app will appear in AppGallery without unnecessary delays, and Huawei users will get full functionality. Get a consultation—we'll find the optimal integration plan.