The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Google Camera 9.0 was a September 2023 release associated with the Pixel 8 launch and Android 14. It introduced a redesigned camera interface, but it is a historical version—not the current Pixel Camera release in 2026. Pixel owners who want a working, supported camera app should update through Google Play. Consider sideloading 9.0 only if you specifically need that old build and understand the compatibility and installation risks.
The version was 9.0.115.561695573.37. Treat Android 14 (API 34) as its compatibility baseline, and do not assume it will work on every Pixel or on non-Pixel Android phones. The official package is Google’s Pixel Camera app, not a universal “GCam” APK.
What Google Camera 9.0 is—and what changed
Google Camera was commonly called “GCam” in older coverage. Around the Pixel 8 generation, Google’s official camera app branding became Pixel Camera. The official package name is com.google.android.GoogleCamera, and its publisher is Google LLC. The name “GCam APK” is also used for unofficial community ports, which are separate from Google’s app.
Version 9.0’s headline change was a redesigned interface. Contemporary coverage described a revised mode selector and control layout that made photo and video modes easier to distinguish and reduced the need to scroll horizontally through modes. Access to settings and shooting options was also updated. These are interface changes; they do not mean every Pixel gained the same camera features. Modes and controls still depend on the phone model, camera hardware, Android version, and app build. 9to5Google’s September 2023 coverage describes the redesign and rollout.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
#1 Best Overall
- 6.2" OLED 428PPI, 1080x2400px, 120Hz, HDR10+, Bluetooth 5.3, 4575mAh Battery, Android 14
- 128GB 8GB RAM, Octa-core, Google Tensor G3 (4nm), Nona-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X3 & 4x2.45 GHz Cortex-A715 & 4x2.15 GHz Cortex-A510), Mali-G710 MP7
- Rear Camera: 50MP, f/1.7 (wide) + 12MP, f/2.2 (ultrawide), Front Camera: 10.5MP, f/2.2
- 2G: GSM 850/900/1800/1900, CDMA 800/1700/1900, 3G: HSDPA 800/850/900/1700(AWS)/1900/2100, CDMA2000 1xEV-DO, 4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/14/17/18/19/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/40/41/46/48/66/71, 5G: 1/2/3/5/7/8/12/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/40/41/48/66/70/71/77/78/258/260/261 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Nano-SIM and eSIM
- Compatible with Most GSM + CDMA Carriers like T-Mobile, AT&T, MetroPCS, etc. Will Also work with CDMA Carriers Such as Verizon, Sprint.
Compatibility: Android 14 and compatible Pixel phones
Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro were the primary phones associated with Camera 9.0. The redesign was also reported to reach other compatible Pixels running Android 14; it was not exclusive to the Pixel 8 series. Use Android 14/API 34 as the baseline when considering the original 9.0 package. Some older coverage gives conflicting Android-version information, so do not rely on claims that Android 13 or earlier is sufficient. Contemporary reporting identified Android 14 as the relevant requirement.
- Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro: The launch-generation devices most closely associated with the redesign.
- Other Pixels: Some compatible models received the redesign with Android 14, but installation does not guarantee identical features across generations.
- Android 13 or older: Do not treat these versions as compatible with the original 9.0 package.
- Non-Pixel phones: The official app is not a drop-in camera replacement for all Android devices. A community port may work on some models, but it is a different, unofficial project.
These historical requirements do not describe today’s latest Pixel Camera. As of the Google Play listing updated June 30, 2026, the latest Pixel Camera release requires a Pixel device running Android 16 or newer. That current requirement does not retroactively change what the 2023 version 9.0 required. Check the current Google Play listing for its live availability and requirements.
Should you install version 9.0 now?
For normal use, update Pixel Camera through Google Play. Version 9.0 is worth seeking only if you specifically need that historical build—for example, to examine the original redesign or meet a particular old-build requirement. An archived version may be unsupported on a newer Android release, will not provide the normal update path, and may lack later fixes. Avoid it if you need dependable camera operation for work or an important event.
Rank #2
- 6.2" OLED 428PPI, 1080x2400px, 120Hz, HDR10+, Bluetooth 5.3, 4575mAh Battery, Android 14
- 128GB 8GB RAM, Octa-core, Google Tensor G3 (4nm), Nona-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X3 & 4x2.45 GHz Cortex-A715 & 4x2.15 GHz Cortex-A510), Mali-G710 MP7
- Rear Camera: 50MP, f/1.7 (wide) + 12MP, f/2.2 (ultrawide), Front Camera: 10.5MP, f/2.2
- 2G: GSM 850/900/1800/1900, CDMA 800/1700/1900, 3G: HSDPA 800/850/900/1700(AWS)/1900/2100, CDMA2000 1xEV-DO, 4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/14/17/18/19/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/40/41/46/48/66/71, 5G: 1/2/3/5/7/8/12/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/40/41/48/66/70/71/77/78/258/260/261 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Nano-SIM and eSIM
- Compatible with Most GSM + CDMA Carriers like T-Mobile, AT&T, MetroPCS, etc. Will Also work with CDMA Carriers Such as Verizon, Sprint.
There is no current official Google download page for the old 9.0 package. Google’s supported distribution route is Play Store. An APK archive is independent of Google; it is an option only for someone deliberately seeking an older build. Android Sage’s September 2023 article is historical coverage of the release, not a Google distribution channel.
Update Pixel Camera through Google Play
This is the preferred route for Pixel owners. Google’s support instructions use the following path:
- Open Google Play Store.
- Tap your profile icon, then Manage apps & device.
- Under available updates, find Pixel Camera.
- Tap Update.
- If the app is missing or crashes after updating, restart the phone and check Settings → System → Software update.
For Google’s camera-app update and troubleshooting guidance, see Google Pixel Help.
Rank #3
- 6.2" OLED 428PPI, 1080x2400px, 120Hz, HDR10+, Bluetooth 5.3, 4575mAh Battery, Android 14
- 128GB 8GB RAM, Octa-core, Google Tensor G3 (4nm), Nona-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X3 & 4x2.45 GHz Cortex-A715 & 4x2.15 GHz Cortex-A510), Mali-G710 MP7
- Rear Camera: 50MP, f/1.7 (wide) + 12MP, f/2.2 (ultrawide), Front Camera: 10.5MP, f/2.2
- 2G: GSM 850/900/1800/1900, CDMA 800/1700/1900, 3G: HSDPA 800/850/900/1700(AWS)/1900/2100, CDMA2000 1xEV-DO, 4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/14/17/18/19/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/40/41/46/48/66/71, 5G: 1/2/3/5/7/8/12/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/40/41/48/66/70/71/77/78/258/260/261 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Nano-SIM and eSIM
- Compatible with Most GSM + CDMA Carriers like T-Mobile, AT&T, MetroPCS, etc. Will Also work with CDMA Carriers Such as Verizon, Sprint.
How to sideload the historical 9.0 package
Sideloading installs an app package obtained outside the Play Store. Do it only on a compatible Pixel, and use a reputable archive if you specifically need this version. APKMirror is an independent archive, not Google’s official distribution channel. Its later Pixel Camera listings show publisher, package, signature, architecture, and file-type information; they also demonstrate that some releases use bundles with multiple splits. Those later listings do not establish the exact packaging or compatibility of every archived 9.0 file. Example Pixel Camera listing.
- Confirm compatibility. Check that the device is a compatible Pixel and runs Android 14 or later. Back up important photos and confirm Google Photos has finished syncing.
- Choose the exact build carefully. Locate the historical version
9.0.115.561695573.37in a reputable archive. Check that the publisher is Google LLC, the package name iscom.google.android.GoogleCamera, and the listed file type and device requirements match the download. If the archive provides a hash, compare it with the downloaded file. A matching name alone does not prove a file is safe. - Identify the package format. A single
.apkcan generally be opened directly. An.apkm,.xapk, or other split bundle is not one ordinary APK; it may contain a base package and configuration splits, so it needs an installer that supports that format. Do not try to install only the base file from a bundle. - Allow the selected installer temporarily. When Android prompts you, permit installation from that source. Menu labels vary by Android version and device; search Settings for Install unknown apps if needed.
- Install and test. Follow the on-screen installer steps. Open Camera and test the rear and front cameras, Portrait, Night Sight, video recording, and camera switching.
- Revoke the permission. When finished, return to Settings → Apps → Special app access → Install unknown apps and turn off permission for the installer or browser used.
Troubleshooting installation and camera problems
“App not installed”
This message can result from an Android version that is too old, an incompatible device configuration, a conflicting signature, an incorrect architecture, low storage, or a damaged download. It can also appear if a split bundle is being treated as a single APK.
- Check the Android version and the archive’s device and architecture details; do not assume a package for one Pixel generation fits every model.
- Download the file again if it may be incomplete. Use an installer that supports the package format if the file is a bundle.
- Restart the phone and retry after freeing storage if necessary.
- Do not casually remove the stock Camera app; it may be a system or privileged app. If the sideload is not essential, return to the Play Store version instead.
The app opens and immediately crashes
An unsupported Android build, wrong split configuration, denied permissions, a conflict with a newer system component, or a build intended for a different Pixel generation can cause crashes.
Rank #4
- 6.2 OLED 428PPI, 1080x2400px, 120Hz, HDR10+, Bluetooth 5.3, 4575mAh Battery, Android 14
- 256GB 8GB RAM, Octa-core, Google Tensor G3 (4nm), 9-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X3 & 4x2.45 GHz Cortex-A715 & 4x2.15 GHz Cortex-A510), Mali-G710 MP7
- Rear Camera: 50MP, f/1.7 (wide) + 12MP, f/2.2 (ultrawide), Front Camera: 10.5MP, f/2.2
- 2G: GSM 850/900/1800/1900, CDMA 800/1700/1900, 3G: HSDPA 800/850/900/1700(AWS)/1900/2100, CDMA2000 1xEV-DO, 4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/14/17/18/19/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/40/41/46/48/66/71, 5G: 1/2/3/5/7/8/12/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/40/41/48/66/70/71/77/78/258/260/261 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Nano-SIM and eSIM
- Unlocked for freedom to choose your carrier. Compatible with both GSM & CDMA networks. The phone is unlocked to work with all GSM Carriers & CDMA Carriers Including AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Sprint., Etc.
- Open Settings → Apps → Pixel Camera or Camera → Permissions and allow camera, microphone, and photos or media access as appropriate.
- Go to Settings → Apps → Pixel Camera/Camera → Storage & cache → Clear cache.
- Restart the phone. If the crash continues, uninstall the sideloaded update or reinstall the Play Store version.
Google also recommends updating the Camera app and Android, restarting, and checking whether another app is causing the problem. See Google’s troubleshooting steps.
Features or controls are missing
Missing options do not necessarily mean installation failed. Camera functions can depend on the phone’s hardware and model. For example, Google identifies Pro Controls among the Pixel 8 Pro’s camera capabilities; that does not mean every Pixel has the same controls. Google’s Pixel 8 Pro specifications describe its camera features.
The official app will not install on a non-Pixel phone
That is not evidence that the download is defective: the official Pixel Camera package is not a universal Android camera app. Some non-Pixel owners use community GCam ports, but each port has its own device compatibility, configuration, stability, and privacy considerations. Celso Azevedo’s directory lists community builds; it is not Google’s official app channel. A port may require a model-specific configuration and is not guaranteed to improve image quality.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsHow to return to the Play Store version
If the sideloaded build is unstable, remove the sideloaded update where Android allows it, then use the Play Store to update or restore Pixel Camera. Because the stock app may be system-managed, available uninstall options can differ. Avoid removing system components; use Google’s supported update and troubleshooting route if you cannot restore the app normally.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Official Pixel Camera, archived APK, or GCam port?
| Option | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Google Play Pixel Camera | Pixel owners who want a supported app | Features still vary by device; availability follows Google’s current requirements. |
| Archived official APK | Pixel owners who need a specific historical build | Sideloading risk, possible compatibility problems, and no normal update path. |
| Community GCam port | Some non-Pixel Android phones | Unofficial and device-specific; may need configuration files and may be unstable. |
| Another camera app | Users seeking a different set of controls or broad device compatibility | It does not reproduce Google’s proprietary computational photography. |
Do not assume that a community port will improve photos. Results depend on the phone’s camera libraries, Camera2 API support, the port’s configuration, and its developer build. The Pixel 8 Pro’s Pro Controls are documented for that model, not as a universal feature of every Google Camera installation.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
