Notably absent: Google Search (Velvet), Google Assistant, Chrome, Gmail, Maps, YouTube, Digital Wellbeing, or any Pixel-exclusive features.
Core components only:
Not included (keeping it lean):
This makes Core ideal for users who want access to the Play Store and push notifications, but prefer installing only the Google apps they actually use — downloaded manually from the store. nikgapps core android 12l
One of the standout features of NikGapps is the Addon.d support. In the custom ROM world, when you update your ROM (flashing a new version), your GApps usually disappear unless the developer has built-in backup scripts. NikGapps includes a script that automatically re-installs the Core package after a ROM update, meaning you don't have to flash GApps every time you update your Android 12L ROM. Not included (keeping it lean):
As of 2024-2025, Android 12L is no longer the bleeding edge, but many older tablets (like the Samsung Tab S6 Lite or Lenovo P11) are stuck on custom 12L ROMs because the drivers for 13/14 are unstable. The NikGapps team still maintains an archive for Android 12L (API 32). For these devices, Core remains the most reliable package because it avoids the new, resource-heavy APIs introduced in Android 13. This makes Core ideal for users who want