Update: BBM 2.0 for Android now supports Gingerbread
Just yesterday the BBM app was officially released on the Play Store but to the surprise of many some Android devices running on Android 4.0 especially tablets with more than 7 inches still couldn’t install the BBM app. My Sanei N10 3G tablet with a 4.0.4 Android OS version wasn’t able to install the BBM app because it has a 10.1″ screen and the BBM app is limited to only devices with 7″ and lower, so I thought to myself “why not?”, if other Android devices can install this app, mine will too.
So I decided that provided my device has met the OS condition for this app, I am going to install in and use it on my device no matter what. I have not yet tried this method on lower version OS but I will definitely update this post once I can be able to install the BBM app on any lower Android OS version say 2.3 Gingerbread.
So without wasting much time, let me show you how to install BBM on unsupported Android devices. If you have an Android device running on 2.3 Gingerbread you can try this method and share your result with me via the comments.
How to install BBM on unsupported Android devices:
Since I could not officially install the BBM app on my 10″ tablet due to the screen size, I figured if I could spoof my device as a different device with a smaller screen size, then I may be able to install the BBM app on an unsupported Android device.
This method requires you to have a root access on your Android device, so if you haven’t rooted your device, I will recommend you hit the Google search for how to root your specific devices. Else you can check some of my posts about android rooting.
Then download an app you can use to spoof your device so that Google will think it’s compatible and let you download the BBM app or any other app you haven’t been able to download before just because your device was listed as unsupported.
Download MarketHelper and install this app on your Android device.
Launch the just installed MarketHelper app.
Under “Select Device” choose phone from the drop down and select any of the phone models by the side, in my case I chose the Samsung Galaxy S3.
Under “Select Operator” choose your country from the drop down and select your network provider by the side.
Then click on the “Activate” button.
Must Read: How to install incompatible apps on unsupported devices
After that restart your device and visit the Google play store and download the BBM app on your device. You will notice that Google will list your app as any phone you choose on the MarketHelper, so you can download and install the BBM app on your unsupported device.
Official Download Link for the BBM app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bbm
You can also use this method to install any app on any unsupported device. I hope you find this tutorial interesting.
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u r running BBM on 2.3 android? u tried? works? the app installs normally?
Its actually on 4.0.4 version, yet to work out that of 2.3
do u have an idea why mine gives this “no connection found” and “wireless network turned off” errror message?? cant seem to set it up after downloading……read some onlline reviews nd some users facing same ish
Go to Settings > Apps > Manage apps and locate the BBM app,tap on app and clear the cache. Then try it again…
thanks for the response……..the clear cache thread isnt highlited. so i cant even tap it nor clear it…….i use an S3mini
The app is know to have serious network issues at first, get a strong wifi and try it…
I followed or instructions and after opening Google play store, still couldn’t find bbm, soi had to search through Google search, clicked the link then it brought me back to play store and said this item isn’t avaliable in your country. Please what do I do?
Lenovo A3000 Tablet, 7inches, 4.2 Os. Thanks
Try spoofing to other phone devices and you could use other countries like Ghana.
If you are having the “no network connection” error,its not necessary to clear cache cos the app hasn’t even saved any cache yet….its better u use “force stop” or stop the app with a task manager.after that,make sure your network connection is good,if possible,switch to 3G.then open the app and try again.
but i hv downloaded markethelper & followed ur instruction but i did not see activatn button. wat i saw was send my device info…. pls to where?
From the screenshot above you can see that there is an activate button, maybe you need to reinstall it.
ok i will try to reinstall it.. but can u teach me how to show you d screen shot of how d application look like, so dat u can get me clearly.
i hv re installed is stil dsame.. i downloaded it from d link u put there..any way am using samsung galaxy dou pro 2.3 ginger bread.
you have to install a screenshot app from play store so you can take screen shots
it wont work on 2.3 gingerbread, tried it myself didn’t work.
Hello I’m also having the connection problem from the time of release
Help please
A good wifi connection will really be great for the registration.
this thing ain’t working on gingerbread…followed the steps but play store still.tells me it ain’t compatible with my device
I will update this post once i can find a way to make BBM work on Gingerbread.
Hello Nwosu. I would like you to send me the direct link to MarketHelper. I can”t find it on the play store. Thanks
The link is in the article.
I couldnt download it from google, but i av downloaded it tru.another link and install it. but d problem now is i cnt launch.bbm its given “the applicatn BBM (process com.bbm) has stopped unexpectedly.try again later. what should can i do? I am using tecno.N3 2.3 with 410 RAM. Thanks
BBM cannot work on your phone because it does not support your OS version. You will always encounter forced close error.
pls help! i have htc mytouch 4G slide Tmobile, and ve not bn able to upgrade the Os…..pls i need a guid
check out http://www.xda-developers.com/android/jelly-bean-for-the-mytouch-4g-slide-desire-hd-and-motorola-defy/
will be any side effects with it on my xperia play 2.3.4
Please sir I have done as you said but it seam to be telling that I should root my device and I have tried that but I did not get exactly where to do that….am using a Samsung galaxy tablet 10.1 4G LTE…Please sir help me find possible solution thanks nd best regard
Yes you need to have administrative right in your device to be able to install and use the market helper.
Yes sir I have d market helper on my device but if i try activatin it tells me to root my device nd I ave tried my best in rootin d system but still to nit working out…. the problem is dat i dont knw where to root it from
I get “token not found” from the markethelper and yea my phone is rooted.what cud be the cause?
What Android version is that? Try and find the latest version of MarketHelper and download, such bug have been fixed in latest versions.
i am using a sanei n10 4.1.2 tablet, how do i install bbm?
I used the method here to install BBm on my Sanei N10 tablet and its working.
So I downloaded the PDA net file, root with restore and downloaded the market place. But I can’t find sane I N10 among the product tablet. And when I click activate, it displays not rooted. What do I do? Or how did you installed yours?
Use Market Helper to spook your device so Google will think you are installing on another supported device.
I am using Tecno phamtom Pad N9 and I have tried the step u gave but it was telling me that “this device is no ROOTED. I will add support to unrooted devices in later versions”. What do I do Sir?
You need to root your phone first as specified in the article.
This is awasome trick, i can install it and use it on my 2.3 Gingerbread lol
btw do u have any trick so i can install BBM apk too? its like reading my device and cannot install it. -_-
Hello Nwosu,
I have read your article that your article is very good, useful and people really need to know about BBM installation issues. Thnaks for the post.
The market helper says that the things I put in will not be there since I reboot my device. So what does restart mean?