App Gallery, more precisely known as Huawei AppGallery, is Huawei’s official app marketplace where users browse, download, and manage applications for their devices. It works much like other app stores: developers submit apps, Huawei reviews them for safety and quality, and users search or browse curated categories to install what they need. Huawei built AppGallery into a full alternative to Google Play after losing access to Google Mobile Services in 2019, and it now serves as one of the largest app marketplaces outside the Google and Apple ecosystems.
What Is AppGallery Used For?
AppGallery lets Huawei device owners discover, install, and update apps directly from their phones or tablets. By 2020, AppGallery had 490 million users across more than 170 countries and regions, covering everything from social media and productivity tools to games and finance apps.
Beyond consumer downloads, AppGallery also gives developers a distribution channel and analytics dashboard. Huawei reviews submissions for security compliance before publishing them, which is meant to reduce the risk of malicious or low-quality apps reaching users.
How Does AppGallery Work?
The platform functions on a client-server model: the AppGallery app on a device communicates with Huawei’s servers to display available titles, handle downloads, and manage updates. Users sign in with a Huawei ID, which syncs their app library, purchase history, and preferences across devices.
Search and discovery run on curated collections, editorial picks, and personalized recommendations based on region and usage patterns. By March 1, 2021, AppGallery reported over 530 million active users, and usage kept climbing as Huawei expanded its own operating system.
How Is AppGallery Connected to HarmonyOS?
AppGallery is deeply tied to Huawei’s HarmonyOS, the operating system Huawei developed for its own devices. On June 2, 2021, Huawei launched HarmonyOS 2.0 with AppGallery pre-installed, and about a week later added a dedicated HarmonyOS section highlighting apps built specifically for the new system.
Apps designed natively for HarmonyOS carry a small identifying badge so users can tell them apart from standard Android apps still supported through AppGallery. This dual-track approach let Huawei phase in its own ecosystem without abandoning existing Android app compatibility overnight.
Who Develops for AppGallery?
Huawei’s developer ecosystem, known as HMS (Huawei Mobile Services), has grown substantially since AppGallery’s early days. By July 27, 2022, Huawei reported 5.4 million global developers building for the HMS ecosystem, up from roughly 1.6 million developers in 2020.
That growth reflects Huawei’s push to convince developers to build or port apps despite the platform lacking Google’s services layer. Huawei has offered incentives, technical support, and regional partnerships to close the gap left by the absence of Google Play services on newer devices.
How Does AppGallery Compare to Other App Stores?
AppGallery differs from Google Play and the Apple App Store mainly in scale and service dependencies. It does not rely on Google Mobile Services, so apps built around Google APIs, such as Maps or Firebase, sometimes require adapted versions to function properly.
In terms of reach, AppGallery reported 580 million monthly active users by October 2022, and it continues to compete for recognition in the industry. AppGallery was named Best App Store at the 2024 Mobile Games Awards, and it earned a shortlist nomination for Leading App Store Experience at the 2026 Mobile Games Awards, a sign that Huawei has continued investing in the platform’s catalog and user experience.
Conclusion
AppGallery has grown from an emergency replacement for Google Play into a mature app marketplace with hundreds of millions of active users and a expanding developer base. Its close integration with HarmonyOS signals where Huawei’s strategy is headed, even as it continues supporting Android-based apps for existing users. For anyone using a Huawei or Honor device, understanding how AppGallery works makes it easier to find, install, and manage apps with confidence.
FAQs
What is AppGallery?
AppGallery is Huawei’s official app store, used to download and manage apps on Huawei smartphones and tablets. It replaced Google Play on newer Huawei devices after the company lost access to Google Mobile Services in 2019. It now supports both Android-based apps and apps built natively for HarmonyOS.
Is AppGallery safe to use?
Huawei reviews apps submitted to AppGallery for security and policy compliance before publishing them. As with any app store, users should still check app permissions and developer reputation before installing. Huawei also provides its own security scanning tools within the platform.
Can I use AppGallery on a non-Huawei phone?
AppGallery can be installed on some Android devices outside Huawei’s own lineup, though functionality may be limited without Huawei Mobile Services. It works most reliably on Huawei and Honor devices, where it comes preinstalled. Compatibility varies by device and region.
Does AppGallery have Google apps?
AppGallery does not include official Google apps like Gmail or Google Maps, since it operates independently of Google Mobile Services. Some developers offer adapted versions of their apps that work without Google’s backend. Users sometimes rely on separate tools to access Google services on Huawei devices.
How many apps are on AppGallery?
Huawei has not published a single fixed app count recently, but the platform has grown steadily since 2019, adding thousands of native HarmonyOS apps in recent years alongside its existing Android app library. Huawei continues to report developer and native app growth through its ecosystem updates.
