How to Get HQ Trivia for Android Right Now
After months of being an iOS exclusive, HQ Trivia finally hits Android on January 1st. But you don’t have to wait that long to start playing on your Android device.
In preparation for release, Android HQ is offering a limited beta in the US (meaning only a lucky few can try it here) and an open beta in Canada . If you can’t get through another day without playing HQ Trivia, there is a way to make your phone think you are in Canada so you can download the beta now.
IGN outlined several methods earlier this year for another location-dependent beta app, but the basic details still apply. The method we’ll be using requires a VPN to spoof your location and requires a decent amount of work, but that’s the only option for now.
The first thing you need to do is install a VPN on your computer and set it up to a Canadian IP address ( here’s our VPN guide if you need help getting started). Once that is done, go to the Google account creation web page and create a new account with your location as Canada. Next, grab the Android device you want to use, sign into the new Google Play account you just set up and go to the Play Store HQ page .
If that worked, you should see an Install button and you’re done. If you still see the Pre-Register button, you may also need to activate the VPN on your Android device. To do this, go to Settings and then to Applications. Select “Google Play Store” and click “Force Stop” to close the application. Then go to “Storage” on your device and click on “Clear data” and “Clear cache”. Finally, launch the VPN app and enter your Canadian location. You should now be able to download the beta version of HQ.
If this sounds like a headache, there is an easier way, but it requires an Android Application Package (APK) and we don’t have one for HQ Trivia yet. Once the APK is leaked, you should be able to download it unpublished quite easily, although this method comes with little risk as you will have to loosen your phone’s security settings.
Of course, if you’d rather just wait for the official release, you can pre-register on Google Play so you know as soon as the app arrives.