With the right portable APK, your Android 8.1.0 device can live another two years, downloading apps from the official catalog without crashes. Just remember: you are the custodian of an aging OS. Treat it with care, backup often, and never install a Play Store APK from a Telegram channel.
However, note a critical nuance: The Play Store is deeply linked to Google Play Services . A truly "portable" Play Store APK for Android 8.1.0 must be paired with a compatible Play Services version. If you install a Play Store built for Android 12 on Oreo, it will crash immediately.
This process applies to standard Oreo builds and Android Oreo (Go edition) designed for low-memory portable devices. Finding the Right APK Version