GCam Night Sight on Any Android (2026): Best Google Camera Ports and Install Guide

Night Sight is the Google Camera feature that made Pixel phones famous for low-light photos. It lets you take bright, clean shots in near darkness without a flash. Officially, it only comes with the Pixel Camera app on Google Pixel phones, but GCam ports (modified versions of Google’s camera app) bring Night Sight, HDR+, Portrait mode and Astrophotography to phones from Samsung, Xiaomi, OnePlus, Realme, Motorola and many other brands.

This guide is updated for October 2026. It lists the newest GCam ports, explains which one to pick for your phone, and shows how to install it and get Night Sight working.

Google Camera, Pixel Camera and GCam: what’s the difference?

Google renamed its camera app from Google Camera to Pixel Camera in 2023. The official app is on the Play Store, but it only installs on Pixel phones, and the current version (10.x) needs a Pixel running Android 16 or later.

A GCam port is a version of that app modified by independent developers so it runs on other phones. Ports are free, but they aren’t made or checked by Google. How well a port works depends on your phone’s camera hardware, so the same build can be excellent on one model and crash on another.

Best GCam ports with Night Sight (October 2026)

BSG’s builds are hosted on Celso Azevedo’s GCam download page, the long-running home for GCam ports. That page also lists the config files for each version. Download ports from there or from the developer’s own channel, never from random APK sites.

Which one should you start with? If your phone runs Android 11 or later, try BSG 9.4 first, because it’s the build marked as known stable. If it crashes or can’t see all your cameras, move to 9.6 or 9.7. Hasli’s LMC 8.4 is a good next step if BSG’s builds won’t open your phone’s ultra-wide or telephoto lens.

What you get with GCam

Night Sight

Night Sight takes a burst of frames when you press the shutter and merges them into one photo. The result is brighter, with much less noise, and still looks like it was taken at night rather than turned into fake daylight. Hold the phone still for a second or two after you press the shutter so the frames line up.

Astrophotography

Astrophotography builds on Night Sight for very long exposures of the night sky. When the phone is completely still, for example on a tripod or propped against a rock, Night Sight can switch to an astro exposure that runs for up to several minutes and picks out stars.

HDR+

HDR+ is the processing behind every GCam photo. It combines several quick frames to keep detail in both bright skies and dark shadows, and it’s the main reason GCam photos often look better than the stock camera’s, even in daylight.

Portrait mode

Portrait mode blurs the background behind your subject using software, so it works even on phones without a dedicated depth sensor. Edge detection around hair and glasses varies from phone to phone.

Before you install: check Camera2 API support

GCam talks to your camera through Android’s Camera2 API, so your phone needs proper Camera2 support. Install the free Camera2 API Probe app and check the hardware level for your rear camera:

• FULL or LEVEL_3: GCam should work well.
• LIMITED: GCam may work, but some features could be missing.
• LEGACY: full GCam probably won’t run. Try Google Camera Go instead. On a rooted phone, Camera2 can sometimes be switched on with a build.prop tweak, but that can break your stock camera.

Most phones released in the last few years report FULL or LEVEL_3, so this is mainly a concern for older and budget models.

How to pick the right APK

A single GCam release often comes as several APKs with different package names. That’s because some brands only let certain app names use the extra cameras.

• Not sure? Install the first APK in the release. If it crashes or can’t see all your cameras, uninstall it and try the next one.
• OnePlus and other Snapdragon phones: try the snapcam package first.
• Samsung: look for a Samsung package such as ruler or scan3d.
• Realme, OPPO and vivo: try the aweme or meitu package.

Some OPPO and Realme models block extra lenses for every third-party app, whichever package you use. On those phones, GCam may only work with the main camera.

How to install GCam on any Android phone

1. Check your Android version in Settings, then About phone.
2. Download the GCam build that matches your Android version from the table above.
3. Uninstall any older GCam first. Installing over a different version is the most common cause of the “App not installed” error.
4. Open the APK and allow installs from that source when Android asks. If Play Protect warns you, tap More details and choose to install anyway.
5. Open GCam and grant the camera, microphone and storage permissions.
6. Take a few test shots with each lens. If the app crashes, try a different package name or a different version.

Load a config file for better results

Config files are saved settings that other users have tuned for a specific phone. They often fix color, white balance or crashes on that model. The config files for each BSG version are linked from its download page, which also explains the folder to put them in. Copy the file to that folder, open GCam, and load it from the settings or by double-tapping the dark area around the shutter button, depending on the version. Steps differ between developers, so follow the instructions on the configs page for your build.

How to use Night Sight and Astrophotography in GCam

1. Open GCam and swipe to Night Sight (in newer versions, it’s labeled Night) in the mode bar.
2. Tap the subject to focus, then press the shutter.
3. Hold the phone as still as you can until the progress circle finishes.
4. For stars, put the phone on a tripod or lean it against something solid in Night Sight mode. When GCam detects the phone is completely still, it switches to a longer astro exposure by itself.

If Night Sight is missing, or the photos come out black or green, open the port’s settings and try a different camera model or config file. If that doesn’t help, the version may simply not suit your phone’s sensor.

Tips for better low-light photos

• Wipe the camera lens first. A smudge causes glare around lights.
• Tap to focus on your subject before you shoot.
• Keep bright lights out of the frame where you can, to avoid flare.
• Ask people to stay still for a couple of seconds after you press the shutter.
• Turn off the flash. Night Sight looks more natural without it.

Common GCam problems and fixes

• “App not installed”: uninstall other GCam copies, try another package name, and make sure the version supports your Android version.
• Crashes when it opens: clear the app’s data, try another package name or version, and check that Camera2 is supported.
• Crashes after taking a photo: turn off Motion Photos, or try a different version.
• Green or pink photos: change the camera model setting in GCam, or load a config for your phone.
• Photos stuck on processing: turn off battery optimization for GCam.
• Can’t open photos from inside GCam: install Google Photos.

Device-specific GCam guides

We’ve published GCam guides for hundreds of individual phones. Most of them were written for older GCam versions, so for an Android 11 or newer phone, start with the ports listed above and use these guides for model-specific tips.

Mi Max 3, Mi Mix 3, Mi A2 Lite, Redmi Note 6 Pro, Mi 9 SE, Redmi Note 7 Pro, Redmi 9, 9A, 9C, 9 Prime, Redmi K30 Ultra, Mi 10 Ultra, Redmi 9, Redmi 10X / 10X Pro, POCO F2 Pro, Mi 10 Youth Edition, Mi Note 10 Lite, Redmi K30 5G, Redmi Note 9 Pro / Pro Max, Black Shark 2 Pro, Mi 10 / Mi 10 Pro, POCO X2, Mi CC9, Redmi K30, Mi Note 10, Redmi 8, Redmi Note 8 Pro, Redmi 5A, Mi 6, Mi A3, Redmi K20 Pro, Mi 9, POCO M2 Pro

Galaxy Note 9, Galaxy S9 / S9+, Galaxy A11, A21, A31, A41, Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, Galaxy A21s / M31s, Galaxy Z Fold 2, Galaxy Note 20 / Note 20 Ultra, Galaxy Tab S7+, Galaxy M01, Galaxy A20, Galaxy M31, Galaxy S20 / S20+, Galaxy Note 10 Lite, Galaxy S10 Lite, Galaxy A51, Galaxy A71, Galaxy A30 / A30s, Galaxy Note 10 / 10+, Galaxy A60, Galaxy M10, M20, M30, M40, Galaxy S10e, Galaxy A50 / A70

OnePlus 7, OnePlus 7 Pro, OnePlus 7T, OnePlus Nord, OnePlus 8 / 8 Pro

Realme C11, C12, C15, Realme Narzo 10 / 10A, Realme 6 / 6 Pro, Realme X3 SuperZoom, Realme X50 Pro 5G, Realme X50, Realme 5i, Realme 5s, Realme X2 Pro, Realme XT, Realme C2, Realme 5 Pro, Realme 3 / 3 Pro, OPPO Reno 10x Zoom, OPPO A12, OPPO A31 2020, OPPO A92, A72, A52, OPPO Reno4 Pro 5G, OPPO Find X2 / X2 Pro, OPPO Ace 2 5G, OPPO Reno 3 Pro, OPPO Reno, OPPO F11 Pro

Moto X4, Moto Z3 Play, Motorola One, Motorola One Power, Moto G7 Plus, Moto G7, Moto G8 / G Fast, Moto G9 / G9 Plus, Motorola One Fusion+, Motorola Edge+, Moto G Power, Moto Z4, Motorola One Macro, Motorola One Zoom, Motorola Razr 2019, Moto G8 Plus, Moto G7 Power, Moto Z, Motorola One Vision, Lenovo Legion Pro, Lenovo K10 Note, Lenovo K10 Plus, Lenovo K5 Play, Lenovo Z6 / Z6 Pro / Z6 Youth

Honor Play, Huawei Mate 10 / 10 Pro, Honor 10, Huawei P30 Pro, Honor View 20, Huawei Nova 7 Pro, Honor 30 / 30 Pro / 30 Pro+, LG G5, G6, V20, V30, V35

Zenfone Max Pro M2, ZenFone 6, Zenfone 7 / 7 Pro, ROG Phone 3, ZenFone Max M1, ZenFone Max Shot, Zenfone Max M2, Nokia 8 Sirocco, Nokia 8.1, Nokia 7 / 7.1, Nokia C1, C2, C3, Nokia 8.3 5G, Nokia 7.2, Sony Xperia 1 II, vivo X50 / X50 Pro, vivo V19 Neo, vivo Y50, Red Magic 5S, Nubia Play 5G, Red Magic 5G, Red Magic 3, Nubia Z20

ZTE Axon 20 5G, ZTE Blade 10 Prime, ZTE Nubia V18, ZTE Blade V10 Vita, ZTE Blade V10, ZTE Blade V9 Vita, ZTE Axon 9 Pro, ZTE Axon 10 Pro, Meizu 17 Pro, Meizu 17, Meizu 16s, Meizu 16s Pro, Meizu 16T, Meizu Note 9, Razer Phone / Phone 2, Black Shark 3 / 3 Pro, Tecno Camon 15 / 15 Air, Tecno Spark 5 Air, Tecno Camon 15 Pro, Tecno Spark 4 Lite, Tecno Pouvoir 3 Plus, Infinix Hot 9 Play, Infinix Note 7, Infinix S5 Pro, Blackview BV6800 Pro, Blackview A60 Pro, Blackview BV9800, Oukitel WP6 / WP7, Oukitel WP5 / WP5 Pro, Oukitel K13 Pro, Oukitel C18 Pro, Ulefone Armor 9, Ulefone Armor X6, Ulefone Note 7, Ulefone Armor X3, Ulefone Armor X5, Umidigi A7 Pro, Umidigi S5 Pro, Umidigi A5 Pro, Umidigi S3 Pro, Umidigi F2, BLU Vivo One Plus 2019, BLU G9, BLU G5, BLU G5 Plus, BLU G6, BLU G8, BLU Vivo X5, BLU Vivo XL5, Homtom HT80, Elephone A7H, Elephone E10, HiSense F50 5G, Cubot X19 S, Cubot Note 10, Wiko View 3 Pro, Doogee X95, Doogee S68 Pro, Smartisan Nut Pro 2S, Smartisan Nut Pro 3, Itel Vision 1, 10.or G2, Fujitsu Arrows U, General Mobile GM 9 Go, Leagoo XRover C, Leagoo M13, Alcatel 3 2019

Frequently asked questions

Can I get Night Sight on any Android phone?

On most phones from the last few years, yes, through a GCam port. Your phone needs proper Camera2 API support, and how well Night Sight works still depends on the camera sensor and the port you choose.

Is GCam safe to install?

Ports from well-known developers downloaded from established sources such as Celso Azevedo’s page are widely used. They still aren’t made or checked by Google, so avoid APKs from random websites, which can contain malware.

Can I install the official Pixel Camera app on a non-Pixel phone?

No. The Play Store version only installs on Pixel phones, and recent versions also need Android 16 or later. On other phones, a GCam port is the way to get Google’s camera processing.

Which GCam version is best for Android 16 or Android 17?

Start with BSG’s 9.x builds, which all support Android 11 and later. Try the stable 9.4 build first, then the newer 9.6 or 9.7 builds if 9.4 doesn’t support all your lenses.

Why does GCam crash on my phone?

The usual causes are a wrong package name, a version that doesn’t suit your Android version, or missing Camera2 support. Try another APK from the same release first, then a different version.