Related
I've gone gapps-free and have replaced everything except for the Play Store. Does anyone have experience with this?
There seems to be two good solutions for this, but both come with issues:
- Yalp Store (access to all free apps is okay, but if you want access to apps you've paid for, you need to log in with your google account. this can result in ban due to TOS violation)
- MicroG + Play Store (issue is that the typical 7.1.1 ROMs for the ZF2 don't include signature spoofing, which seems to be required for MicroG + Play Store access)
Has anyone used either of these two routes -- or any other route, really -- and had success? Thanks!
adobrakic said:
I've gone gapps-free and have replaced everything except for the Play Store. Does anyone have experience with this?
There seems to be two good solutions for this, but both come with issues:
- Yalp Store (access to all free apps is okay, but if you want access to apps you've paid for, you need to log in with your google account. this can result in ban due to TOS violation)
- MicroG + Play Store (issue is that the typical 7.1.1 ROMs for the ZF2 don't include signature spoofing, which seems to be required for MicroG + Play Store access)
Has anyone used either of these two routes -- or any other route, really -- and had success? Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why not just use gapps?
dcduartee said:
Why not just use gapps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
to help: gain more control over my device, increase privacy, decrease battery consumption, and overcome being bored.
I'm trying to distance myself from Google products. Which is a bit hard since I have an Android phone. I was wondering if anyone had suggestions on a custom ROM that has the least amount of Google implementation (Google Now, etc). I usually use Pure Nexus, which is great. But it still has Google Now and since it's on the pixel firmware, it's on the home screen.
BitterBuffaloh said:
I'm trying to distance myself from Google products. Which is a bit hard since I have an Android phone. I was wondering if anyone had suggestions on a custom ROM that has the least amount of Google implementation (Google Now, etc). I usually use Pure Nexus, which is great. But it still has Google Now and since it's on the pixel firmware, it's on the home screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can flash Purenexus without GApps. Simple solution. You would not have any Google Services.
@BitterBuffaloh, it's simple: take a lite ROM without GApps.
Despair, SAOSP, ABC, Tesla (sorted by number of features).
rp158 said:
@BitterBuffaloh, it's simple: take a lite ROM without GApps.
Despair, SAOSP, ABC, Tesla (sorted by number of features).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, will try. Never heard of any of those ROMS. Despair, SAOSP, ABC, TESLA. Interesting! Gotta do some research. I've tried Pure Nuxus, Dirty Unicorns, and Reserruction Remix.
@BitterBuffaloh: PureNexus is out, since Beans decided to merge GApps. Manually remove isn't efficient. Resurrection and DU without GApps won't differ much with my suggestions. For best battery life try SAOSP +Franco kernel unchanged.
rp158 said:
@BitterBuffaloh: PureNexus is out, since Beans decided to merge GApps. Manually remove isn't efficient. Resurrection and DU without GApps won't differ much with my suggestions. For best battery life try SAOSP +Franco kernel unchanged.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, will give this a shot. Thank you. Shame PurNexus merged with GApps.
BitterBuffaloh said:
Ok, will give this a shot. Thank you. Shame PurNexus merged with GApps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you flash May PN, it's without GApps.
Edit: Careful with CopperheadOS: https://www.reddit.com/r/CopperheadOS/comments/8qdnn3/goodbye/e0icslc/
If you want to go full Google free and improve your phone's security at the same time, try CopperheadOS. I don't think they have a thread on XDA, but they are well known among privacy-conscious users. It's AOSP without the Google stuff.
Downloads: https://copperhead.co/android/downloads
Subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/CopperheadOS/
Tweets (were they publish interesting info): https://twitter.com/CopperheadOS
Or if you want to use something more familiar, just install LineageOS without any Gapps. You can also try other custom ROMs, but I'm not sure if they are as secure as LineageOS.
Awesome, will try that too.
My other question is without the App store installed how do I go about getting apps for my phone like Camera, Maps, etc. I can download Fdroid from my PC, then install it on my phone. Then get most my stuff from Fdroid?
I think the best solution is to try to find free alternatives to the apps you need on Fdroid, but some content is just not available there.
What I do is to have another phone with Google Play, get the apps/updates and then transfer the apk's to my Nexus 5X. It's annoying to do all this, but I only have the basic stuff installed so it's not a big deal.
Anyway, we get better privacy by moving away from Google, but I'm not sure if we are as safe. We have to trust other users here on XDA, websites that host apk's and Fdroid... If Google, with all their experience, money and resources sometimes fails to keep their store clean, imagine what happens outside their walled garden.
S4turno said:
I think the best solution is to try find free alternatives to the apps you need on Fdroid, but some content is just not available there.
What I do is to have another phone with Google Play, get the apps/updates and then transfer the apk's to my Nexus 5X. It's annoying to do all this, but I only have the basic stuff installed so it's not a big deal.
Anyway, we get better privacy by moving away from Google, but I'm not sure if we are as safe. We have to trust other users here on XDA, websites that host apk's and Fdroid... If Google, with all their experience, money and resources sometimes fails to keep their store clean, imagine what happens outside their walled garden.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah, yes. This is true. Thanks for the copperhead recc, I'm going to try that out as I want to move away from Google due to security / privacy. I think copperhead is a bit over my head, as I'm not a security expert, but seems worth a shot.
@S4turno: thanks for Copperhead-link. I'll look at it.
A more conveniant way to get apps from GPlay is apk-downloaders.com. They download on their account from GPlay and forward to you. But it's for free apps only and you must look for updates by yourself.
CopperHead Discontinued
Hi @S4turno
It seems the Coppperhead project has been discontinued for some legal reasons. Do you know any other Google free custom ROM?
Cheers
S4turno said:
If you want to go full Google free and improve your phone's security at the same time, try CopperheadOS. I don't think they have a thread on XDA, but they are well known among privacy-conscious users. It's AOSP without the Google stuff.
Or if you want to use something more familiar, just install LineageOS without any Gapps. You can also try other custom ROMs, but I'm not sure if they are as secure as LineageOS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LouisDelescluze said:
Hi @S4turno
It seems the Coppperhead project has been discontinued for some legal reasons. Do you know any other Google free custom ROM?
Cheers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess the main alternative is LineageOS? It's not as focused on security, but it should be okay if your main intention is to run a phone without Google stuff.
What is the easiest way to degoogle? How to remove GMS, GSF and other clutter without breaking phone calling or messaging?
Danke!
Temporarily disabling Google play Services for starters. If you disable it with an adb edit you'll lose access to Playstore and Gmail.
Depends how nuts you want to go...
I use a package disabler on my Samsung so it's easy to enable/disable them. I kill Google backup Transport, AR Core, speech to text, calendar and a bunch more.
blackhawk said:
Temporarily disabling Google play Services for starters. If you disable it with an adb edit you'll lose access to Playstore and Gmail.
Depends how nuts you want to go...
I use a package disabler on my Samsung so it's easy to enable/disable them. I kill Google backup Transport, AR Core, speech to text, calendar and a bunch more.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any way to remove GMS and use sms without breaking? Disabling GMS get notification "this app wont work" but it work! on older android no problem - remove GMS and everything work, but 11 remove GMS and it break messaging and phone call app.
echo124 said:
What is the easiest way to degoogle? How to remove GMS, GSF and other clutter without breaking phone calling or messaging?
Danke!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Depends on what you mean by "de-google". Completely getting rid of Google including Play Services (+ Google Services Framework) for a full Google wipe, will require signature spoofing your device and replacing with MicroG.
echo124 said:
Any way to remove GMS and use sms without breaking? Disabling GMS get notification "this app wont work" but it work! on older android no problem - remove GMS and everything work, but 11 remove GMS and it break messaging and phone call app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
com.google.android.gms.policy, I would not touch. Google play Services can safely be temporarily disabled in app settings without major issues. Google play Services, Backup Transport and Playstore are the major offenders.
While Backup Transport could be probably uninstalled with no impact the others would likely haunt you. Package disabling is easier do and correct when there's an issue... which isn't uncommon
As Andrologic pointed out extensive work arounds will be needed. You may nonetheless still lose full functionality and have problems with some apps.
Once you get it optimized by whatever means you choose to use, Do Not update the bloody thing or you will likely be starting all over. Probably with less options and a loss in overall functionality.
Andrologic said:
Depends on what you mean by "de-google". Completely getting rid of Google including Play Services (+ Google Services Framework) for a full Google wipe, will require signature spoofing your device and replacing with MicroG.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
blackhawk said:
com.google.android.gms.policy, I would not touch. Google play Services can safely be temporarily disabled in app settings without major issues. Google play Services, Backup Transport and Playstore are the major offenders.
While Backup Transport could be probably uninstalled with no impact the others would likely haunt you. Package disabling is easier do and correct when there's an issue... which isn't uncommon
As Andrologic pointed out extensive work arounds will be needed. You may nonetheless still lose full functionality and have problems with some apps.
Once you get it optimized by whatever means you choose to use, Do Not update the bloody thing or you will likely be starting all over. Probably with less options and a loss in overall functionality.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Disabling com.google.android.gms result in notifications " this app will not work" but all apps work. Remove com.google.android.gms makes breaks sms. No twrp for 10 iii so can't flash microg/picog only maybe with adb? Also can't remove/delete with file manager system app, no? like in android 8, 9 with root?
echo124 said:
Disabling com.google.android.gms result in notifications " this app will not work" but all apps work. Remove com.google.android.gms makes breaks sms. No twrp for 10 iii so can't flash microg/picog only maybe with adb?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Goggle Play Services not GMS, leave that alone.
blackhawk said:
Goggle Play Services not GMS, leave that alone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Gms is gmscore, and gmscore is Play Service on xperia 10 iii android 11.
echo124 said:
Gms is gmscore, and gmscore is Play Service on xperia 10 iii android 11.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No clue what you're talking about. Google Play Services is needed for Playstore, Gmail and other apps to run. It wasn't retired with Android 10,11 or 12, it's a core Google service.
This may help.
blackhawk said:
No clue what you're talking about. Google Play Services is needed for Playstore, Gmail and other apps to run. It wasn't retired with Android 10,11 or 12, it's a core Google service.
This may help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You say disable or remove play services - can't be done on xperia 10 iii without breaking sms function or getting error "this app will not work without play services". You say gms service is different from play service? Is not, is same .apk. So you have xperia 10 iii? Why give advice if you don't have phone?
echo124 said:
You say disable or remove play services - can't be done on xperia 10 iii without breaking sms function. You say gms service is different from play service? Is not, is same .apk. So you have xperia 10 iii why give advice if you don't have phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I worked it out by myself to find the work around in my case. It may or may not work for all. You may have to make modifications to raw input provided.
I use whatever comes in handy to find a solution including cross platforming with other brands, models and firmware versions, successfully.
You don't ever see me posting this type of thread unless I found a solution. There are limits to my patience. Good luck.
blackhawk said:
I worked it out by myself to find the work around in my case. It may or may not work for all. You may have to make modifications to raw input provided.
I use whatever comes in handy to find a solution including cross platforming with other brands, models and firmware versions, successfully.
You don't ever see me posting this type of thread unless I found a solution. There are limits to my patience. Good luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bla-bla-bla.
Danke.
<Moderator Note>: Thread closed at OP's request.
Do I install CalyxOS BEFORE activating the phone with my carrier, or AFTER activating the phone with my carrier, or does it matter?
I'm purchasing an unlocked Pixel 6 pro and have very little experience with installing custom firmware, however I absolutely do not want to deal with google bloat and google spyware anymore, and this phone replacement is kind of urgent because my S8 is currently in the process of slowly turning itself into a brick (most recent example being the total loss of the ability to make phone calls).
I have a grandfathered-in call/text/unlimited data plan with Sprint(?) which I guess is T-mobile now(?) I haven't really been keeping up to date with how these buyouts affect me or my phone plan.
I'm not sure what you mean by "activate"? Whenever you feel like you're ready, move the sim card from old phone to new and you're off to the races.
I would always make sure a new device works as reasonably expected on stock, unrooted firmware before unlocking the bootloader and flashing a custom ROM (or even just rooting the stock ROM). The reason is that if you instead install the custom ROM immediately but it has problems - how do you know the problem is with the ROM, or with the phone? Running for a while stock ensures that it's working the way it's supposed to from the beginning, so you know the phone isn't the cause of a problem you might have with a custom ROM.
Good luck!
Calyx still has MicroG which has Google code in it. What your're looking for is GrapheneOS.
Also unless you're using a e-sim, you dont need to activate the phone with a carrier if you're just popping a simcard in. I bought my P6P from Bestbuy and just slapped my simcard in.
vassosman said:
Calyx still has MicroG which has Google code in it. What your're looking for is GrapheneOS.
Also unless you're using a e-sim, you dont need to activate the phone with a carrier if you're just popping a simcard in. I bought my P6P from Bestbuy and just slapped my simcard in.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
MicroG does NOT have "Google code" in it. It is an open source re-implementation of some of google services. If you depend on google services, its a better choice than graphene because it does NOT use any closed source google code, HOWEVER, if you do not depend on google code, its better to use Graphene since it doesn't have anything that connects to google unless you install it. Now having said that, graphene really has gone to a lot of trouble to set itself up to run *actual* google services in a sandboxed manner, avoiding some/much leakage of personal data to google.
96carboard said:
MicroG does NOT have "Google code" in it. It is an open source re-implementation of some of google services. If you depend on google services, its a better choice than graphene because it does NOT use any closed source google code, HOWEVER, if you do not depend on google code, its better to use Graphene since it doesn't have anything that connects to google unless you install it. Now having said that, graphene really has gone to a lot of trouble to set itself up to run *actual* google services in a sandboxed manner, avoiding some/much leakage of personal data to google.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
According to GOS, MicroG leaks data.
Full Disclosure, I'm on GOS and appreciate the sandboxed profiles so for apps that I NEED to have that require Google Play, and now their storage scopes is great at telling the apps that they only have permission to see specified files.
Also, GOS seems to be updated much more frequently than Calyx.
vassosman said:
According to GOS, MicroG leaks data.
Full Disclosure, I'm on GOS and appreciate the sandboxed profiles so for apps that I NEED to have that require Google Play, and now their storage scopes is great at telling the apps that they only have permission to see specified files.
Also, GOS seems to be updated much more frequently than Calyx.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I use graphene too.
What you say is great, but (a) not exactly unbiased, and (b) gapps leaks MORE data.
I'd be curious to see what leaks more? microg or graphene+sandboxed_gapps....
Best option if you really must use gcrapps would be sandboxed microg.
My advice: wean yourself off of gooble. Its... liberating.
.
96carboard said:
Yeah, I use graphene too.
What you say is great, but (a) not exactly unbiased, and (b) gapps leaks MORE data.
I'd be curious to see what leaks more? microg or graphene+sandboxed_gapps....
Best option if you really must use gcrapps would be sandboxed microg.
My advice: wean yourself off of gooble. Its... liberating.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
An unbiased comparison would be interesting.
Microg does the bare minimum to spoof the basics of FCM/GSF, right? Where as sandboxed play services is play services that allows it to run sandboxed, and with less privileges... But it's still play services (if you're installing all 3 packages in GOS).
I use both ROMs and I can say that google dns activity in GOS is about double than what it is on Calyx. Now this doesn't mean much (or anything), and it was 5 months ago when I last did a comparison. But it's interesting to say the least.
I would expect that those extra dns checks are probably from gapps. Graphene does a pretty good job of providing alternatives where applicable, such as grapheneos servers for connectivity check.
I don't know about "bare minimum". I am under the impression that microg really is aiming to be a complete functional replacement that is open source.
vassosman said:
Calyx still has MicroG which has Google code in it. What your're looking for is GrapheneOS.
Also unless you're using a e-sim, you dont need to activate the phone with a carrier if you're just popping a simcard in. I bought my P6P from Bestbuy and just slapped my simcard in.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
CalyxOS supports no installation of MicroG during initial configuration.
Greetings All,
New to this community, running a Moto Z2 Play (albus), with stock Android 8, which was the last update available to me. Here we are 5 years later and the phone is still in amazing condition but I'm having trouble with the PlayStore telling me "this version isn't available for your device", and the older the phone gets the more apps I learn no longer support it. So I learned how to sideload apps (like Microsoft office, OneNote etc) but I figure that the writing is on the wall unless I upgrade Android.
After a quick google search I learn you can root your phone and there is an Android 11 image called Lineage OS 18.1 ... which sounds pretty sweet. BUT after additional searches, I'm reading so many cons about rooting a phone.
What's really at stake? I don't have any warrantee to void, I also figure if I brick the device I was probably going to buy a new phone sooner than later anyways.
Questions: If I install Lineage OS 18.1 successfully...
Will the Play Store and Apps continue to update, or will I stop receiving notifications regarding available updates? Or am I forever stuck with sideloading?
If I don't install G Apps is this bad? I don't use stock Google Apps, I've opted to use the Microsoft equivalent like Outlook for email and calendar... or do I still need to install Google Apps to gain the ability to layer Microsoft products on top?
Why is there so much negative talk about malware infection with rooted phones? If I'm not downloading and installing apps constantly, the risk would still be no more threatening than it is now correct?
I heard that Moto mods stop working, no biggie - I never used any of them anyways (I thought the included LCD Micro projector was cool, but ask me how many times I've actually used it = 0). While discussing moto stuff, would the gestures still work? I do like shake for camera, and the flip upside-down for silencing the ringer but I could learn to live without them.
Would the camera still work? Its probably the only real feature I use that I couldn't live without.
Are there any apps that would realize the phone is rooted and refuse to run? Some searches told me that security apps may not like a rooted phone. Does rooting it affect Microsoft Authenticator app?
I mean what's really at stake? My phone is fighting to be relevant for the few select apps I use (mostly Microsoft stuff) and I don't play games.
It looks like win-win, unless I'm missing something really important.
Thoughts?
Firs of all Flashing a rom doesn't actually count as root but some apps (will refuse to work) will detect an unlocked bootloader or something like that if you install the LineageOS rom
twmonahan said:
If I install Lineage OS 18.1 successfully...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
there is also Pixel Experience and Dot OS roms to flash (I already test both) so:
when it comes to Pixel Experience:pros:
Stock "clean" Rom
Android11 so your phone will have access to the apps you said refuse to work on Android8 also the phone will be detected as a Pixel 5 by Google Services.
all Google apps and support out of the box for basically everything you would normally use on a stock phone
somehow with this rom the apps wont/never detect any unlocked bootloader unless you install Magisk
unlock 64-bit and use all 4GB of RAM so it perform just better than stock rom with the same or even slightly better battery performance
MOTO MODS support
Google Camera support out of the Box
cons:
there is basically no cons of using this rom unless you want to root it.
somehow this rom is the most unestable when it comes to install magisk addons and slide load things cuz it can randomly brick/bootlop by just accessing to the custom recovery TWRP. Could also be a fault of my phone but I doubt it..
Dot OS:
pros:There is a GAPPS version of this rom and it basically has all the same pros as Pixel Experience
this is by far the most customizable and beatiful rom when it comes to UI personalization
cons: and also the reason I avoid using it
huge battery drain even on idle whithout GAPPS installed
twmonahan said:
Questions: If I install Lineage OS 18.1 successfully...
Will the Play Store and Apps continue to update, or will I stop receiving notifications regarding available updates? Or am I forever stuck with sideloading?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is the rom I actually use
Lineage OS wont have installed the Play Store/any Google Play Service/related app.., out of the box but
- you can actually slide load the pico opengapps package just after install the rom using TWRP so:
you will have the same support and features of Google Play services that the Pixel Experience rom has (like streaming to a nearby device, gps auto location, sync accounts/passwords/contacts, find my device, updates notification, install new apps, etc), heck opengapps even add out of the box support for nfc payment
pico version of open gapps will just install the Play Store and no other Google app so LineageOS remains very stock and lightweight.
twmonahan said:
2. If I don't install G Apps is this bad? I don't use stock Google Apps, I've opted to use the Microsoft equivalent like Outlook for email and calendar... or do I still need to install Google Apps to gain the ability to layer Microsoft products on top?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As I said you can install pico gapps which are a very lightweight version of Google Play services without compromising any feature the stock version has, also the battery drain of picogapps package is barely noticeable comparing it with stock gapps
twmonahan said:
3. Why is there so much negative talk about malware infection with rooted phones? If I'm not downloading and installing apps constantly, the risk would still be no more threatening than it is now correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Magisk(is the only recommended method of rooting these days) is pretty safe, it even has a Github repository. As you said unless your a noob and dont even know what are you installing you can get infected even on a stock phone..
twmonahan said:
4. I heard that Moto mods stop working, no biggie - I never used any of them anyways (I thought the included LCD Micro projector was cool, but ask me how many times I've actually used it = 0). While discussing moto stuff, would the gestures still work? I do like shake for camera, and the flip upside-down for silencing the ringer but I could learn to live without them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, gestures work, LineageOS have a menu just for Moto gestures.
twmonahan said:
5. Would the camera still work? Its probably the only real feature I use that I couldn't live without.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes the camera will work normally, if you dont like the camera app LineageOS include you can always install the Gcam (support out of the box if you install opengapps)
twmonahan said:
6. Are there any apps that would realize the phone is rooted and refuse to run? Some searches told me that security apps may not like a rooted phone. Does rooting it affect Microsoft Authenticator app?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sadly Google Play services will detect LineageOS as a rooted rom even if you dont root it so any bank app, streaming apps like Netflix, CrunchyRoll, etc., won´t work.
Though Microsoft app will work even if you dont have gapps installed (except lite versions) and I think Microsoft apps dont detect root and even if they do you can easily bypass that by using Magisk deny list. As for Microsoft Au I confirmed it does not detect root
twmonahan said:
I mean what's really at stake? My phone is fighting to be relevant for the few select apps I use (mostly Microsoft stuff) and I don't play games.
It looks like win-win, unless I'm missing something really important.
Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, is a win-win, specially because LineageOS have the best battery performance of the three roms I listed before and you can make it more efficiente by installing the Stratosphere addon for Magisk by CRANKV2