I had posted a guide earlier this year on ways to Enable Google Now in Nepal and other countries. That method works flawlessly on both Rooted and Non-Rooted devices running Android 4.0 to Android 4.4.4 Kitkat. Android has now gone into major overhaul in both design and software functions like ART being now default in Android 5.0 Lollipop. But with the new version of Android, same old problem arrived for the people living in Nepal and many other countries – “Location reporting is not available in your country”.
Tried every available method to enable Google Now? Still no luck?? Â Keep calm guys, I have a solution. Remember that this method works only on Rooted devices.
Here are the steps to follow
Step 1 :
Install any custom launcher. I installed Nova Launcher. Open the launcher and make it default.
Then clear Google Now launcher from Recents View.
Step 2 :
Install a Root explorer or file manager. Fx file manager worked for me. Also make sure you install its Root Ad-on for using root functionality.
Download Root Ad-on for Fx File Manager
Step 3 :
Download an older Google Search apk from the link below.
Download Google Search-2.6.7.721924
Step 4 :
Rename the downloaded apk to Velvet.apk
Step 5 :
Go to Settings/Apps/All and scroll down to Google Search. Tap it and Clear data. This will remove all your settings for Google Now Launcher but let’s not worry about it much.
Step 6 :
Open Fx File Manager. Tap on System(Root). Go to system/priv-app. Copy the Velvet folder and all its contents to Sd-card. Then go back to the system/priv-app/Velvet. Delete all the contents of that folder.
Step 7 :
Copy the Velvet.apk file you downloaded and renamed. Then paste it inside the system/priv-app/Velvet folder. Now Long press the Velvet.apk file and tap on Permissions. Make sure the permission is set to OCTAL : 0644 as shown in the picture below. You may be prompted to Mount Read-write, do that by tapping in the settings menu on top and select “Mount Read-write”
Step 8 :
Restart your device. Then open Google Search from app drawer. Then tap on Yes, I am In.
Step 9 :
Now open the Fx File Manager. Copy the contents of the Velvet folder you copied in Step 6.
Then go to system/priv-app/Velvet. Then paste the copied contents and overwrite the file. Then long-press the Velvet.apk file and go to permissions. Make sure the permission is set to OCTAL :0644 by modifying the permissions to look like the screenshot below. Likewise set the permission of 3 files in /velvet/lib/arm too OCTAL :0644. Then set permissions for folders(velvet,lib,arm) to OCTAL :0755.
Step 10 :
Restart your phone and Voilà ! you now have Google Now enabled in your Android 5.0 Lollipop running device.
Let me know if this method worked for you 🙂
