For all of us Android fans out there who don't live in so called supported countries; are deprived of the goodies provided by Google Now. These goodies includes Google now voice command, Google cards and weather updates and many more. Frustrated with this limitation, I tries many methods to enable Google now but they were Android OS dependent and require many steps. In the end I tried the method I have explained here and it works with any Android OS and any android device. Here is what you will require
1. Android phone with any OS in it with Google now app installed
2. Hotspot Shield software (download from here http://www.hotspotshield.com/)
3. Connectify software (http://www.connectify.me/) or any other software that turns your laptop (with windows OS) into a WiFi hotspot device.
4. A laptop with WiFi in it and which can be used for creating WiFi hotspot.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS PROCESS REQUIRES FACTORY RESETTING YOUR DEVICE. IF YOU DON’T WANT TO RESET YOUR DEVICE THIS PROCESS IS NOT FOR YOU. MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE BACKUP OF YOUR DATA BEFORE STARTING THIS PROCESS.
First of all download Hotspot Shield from here http://www.hotspotshield.com/ Its free and the software size is about 14MB. Once downloaded, install it and we are ready for next step.
Now download Connectify software from here http://www.connectify.me/ or any other software capable of creating your laptop’s WiFi device into hotspot.
Install Hotspot shield and open it. Right click on the hotspot shield trey icon and select the option called Change countries. Choose the country as US and start the Hotspot shield.
When you start the software, you will see a new Network adapter in here Control Panel\Network and Internet\Network Connections. This new connection will be shared using the connectify or other similar software.
For now, I will explain steps for connectify software but it should not be too different for other similar software.
In the screenshot I have explained what needs to be changed.
a. In Hotspot name you can choose any or leave the field as it is with default value.
b. In password field put a password of your liking so that you can connect with this connection later on with your android device.
c. Important part is the portion where you choose internet to share. In this section choose Anchorfree HSS VPN adapter.
d. In advance setting on connectify, choose your WiFi adapter.
e. On connectify firewall section check Allow internet access and Allow Local network address.
After completing these setting, click on Start Hotspot.
Now its time to play with the android device.
On your android phone connect to the network we have just created above. Open up a browser in your android device and go to http://whatismyipaddress.com/ to find out your IP address. If everything is good you should get an American IP address and location on the website should show some city in the US. If the IP is still in your country you have done something wrong and you need to recheck to make sure that you have followed every step completely.
Once above step is successful, you need to factory reset your android device. I have tried to enable Google now after connecting to network with US IP to no avail. I think factory reset is the only way for now. Do let us know in the comment it factory reset can be avoided altogether.
Back to process:
Go to setting -> backup and reset -> Factory data reset and reset your Phone/tablet.
Once reset process is complete, you will be asked to restore old setting or setup new device.
Choose setup new device and during setup you will be asked to connect to internet and in this step connect to the network with US IP (it’s the network you have created using Hotspot Shield and connectify).
Proceed with normal setup process and in the end you will be ask if you want to join Google now service. In this step select Yes and that’s it. You will now have Google now enabled device.
CAUTION: NEVER DISABLE GOOGLE NOW FROM GOOGLE SETTING APP AS IT WILL PREVENT YOU FROM RE-ENABLING GOOGLE NOW FEATURE LATER. IF THIS HAPPENS YOU WILL HAVE TO FOLLOW THIS WHOLE STEP AGAIN.
This process works with any device with any android OS be it a phone or tablet. I have successfully tested it with my Nexus 7 (Android L), Moro G (Android L).
1. Android phone with any OS in it with Google now app installed
2. Hotspot Shield software (download from here http://www.hotspotshield.com/)
3. Connectify software (http://www.connectify.me/) or any other software that turns your laptop (with windows OS) into a WiFi hotspot device.
4. A laptop with WiFi in it and which can be used for creating WiFi hotspot.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS PROCESS REQUIRES FACTORY RESETTING YOUR DEVICE. IF YOU DON’T WANT TO RESET YOUR DEVICE THIS PROCESS IS NOT FOR YOU. MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE BACKUP OF YOUR DATA BEFORE STARTING THIS PROCESS.
First of all download Hotspot Shield from here http://www.hotspotshield.com/ Its free and the software size is about 14MB. Once downloaded, install it and we are ready for next step.
Now download Connectify software from here http://www.connectify.me/ or any other software capable of creating your laptop’s WiFi device into hotspot.
Install Hotspot shield and open it. Right click on the hotspot shield trey icon and select the option called Change countries. Choose the country as US and start the Hotspot shield.
When you start the software, you will see a new Network adapter in here Control Panel\Network and Internet\Network Connections. This new connection will be shared using the connectify or other similar software.
For now, I will explain steps for connectify software but it should not be too different for other similar software.
In the screenshot I have explained what needs to be changed.
a. In Hotspot name you can choose any or leave the field as it is with default value.
b. In password field put a password of your liking so that you can connect with this connection later on with your android device.
c. Important part is the portion where you choose internet to share. In this section choose Anchorfree HSS VPN adapter.
d. In advance setting on connectify, choose your WiFi adapter.
e. On connectify firewall section check Allow internet access and Allow Local network address.
After completing these setting, click on Start Hotspot.
Now its time to play with the android device.
On your android phone connect to the network we have just created above. Open up a browser in your android device and go to http://whatismyipaddress.com/ to find out your IP address. If everything is good you should get an American IP address and location on the website should show some city in the US. If the IP is still in your country you have done something wrong and you need to recheck to make sure that you have followed every step completely.
Once above step is successful, you need to factory reset your android device. I have tried to enable Google now after connecting to network with US IP to no avail. I think factory reset is the only way for now. Do let us know in the comment it factory reset can be avoided altogether.
Back to process:
Go to setting -> backup and reset -> Factory data reset and reset your Phone/tablet.
Once reset process is complete, you will be asked to restore old setting or setup new device.
Choose setup new device and during setup you will be asked to connect to internet and in this step connect to the network with US IP (it’s the network you have created using Hotspot Shield and connectify).
Proceed with normal setup process and in the end you will be ask if you want to join Google now service. In this step select Yes and that’s it. You will now have Google now enabled device.
CAUTION: NEVER DISABLE GOOGLE NOW FROM GOOGLE SETTING APP AS IT WILL PREVENT YOU FROM RE-ENABLING GOOGLE NOW FEATURE LATER. IF THIS HAPPENS YOU WILL HAVE TO FOLLOW THIS WHOLE STEP AGAIN.
This process works with any device with any android OS be it a phone or tablet. I have successfully tested it with my Nexus 7 (Android L), Moro G (Android L).
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