[Q] Android without Google - Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hello,
I wish to use Android without Google. I mean, android without any google apps (gapps pack) installed just after flashing AOSP rom. I already identify and tested all alternatives apps of Google apps I used. I use already the alternative android market F-Droid. However, before use Android without Google, I want to know feedback of users that already do it. In particular about my question:
What are the constraints, bugs and disadvantages while using Android without Google installed?
Thanks

F droid is a good alternative but of course you have less apps
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app

jonathanxx1 said:
F droid is a good alternative but of course you have less apps
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes, you have less apps

There are fewer apps, and they work great but you may need to look for other services to replace Google's unless you want to run the web apps (see Gapps Browser). An excellent choice is owncloud: see http://sufficientlysecure.org/index.php/2013/11/26/an-android-without-google/ for a short guide to replacing contact, calendar, todo and password sync.
I think the major downside is losing the advanced location functionality and push notifications available to apps that use Google Play Services. On the other hand your battery may thank you for not using it. Xmpp based messaging apps are a little battery hungry but not too bad. I've been using CM without Gapps for ages, and it works fine, but I'm hoping OmniROm will be more friendly.

jonathan and thmls : off initial topic
dab : nice feedback, great link

Android without Google (no gapps)
No Gapps project on XDA : http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1715375

Hi guys, has anyone seen a list of all Google apps and services that can be disabled or deleted? I love the skinned ROM on my phone and all the features, I've started disabling and uninstalling as much Google as I can.

Hey it's ridiculous to buy a Google android device and not use the apps that are considered the advantage of android on other OSes. But a good alternative to Google play is amazon appstore
Sent from my GT-I8190 using Tapatalk

I disagree. When Google branded Android phones had a smaller market share, I would say there was more choice, you could avoid Google. Now that they dominate smartphone sales and change their policies it's different. It's becoming a monopoly and we are losing that choice.
Yeah I did try the Amazon app store, re-downloading it now to give it another go...

philippe734 said:
Hello,
I wish to use Android without Google. I mean, android without any google apps (gapps pack) installed just after flashing AOSP rom. I already identify and tested all alternatives apps of Google apps I used. I use already the alternative android market F-Droid. However, before use Android without Google, I want to know feedback of users that already do it. In particular about my question:
What are the constraints, bugs and disadvantages while using Android without Google installed?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
a lot of paid apps with lvl license control wont work without gapps

Problems
From the author of the No Google apps project:
MaR-V-iN said:
Android without Google apps have several problems:
Some apps do not install because of missing Google Maps API
Some apps fc at startup bacause of missing Maps API or market license check issues
Some apps hardcoded links to several Google Apps and therefor fc or react unexpectedly on certain cases.
No access to Play Store (i tried nearly every alternative market, but nothing is as good for free apps as play store) Meanwhile, F-Droid provides nearly everything you need
​
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Why not just use 1Mobile Market. Completely legal play store alternative. Even has all the Google apps like maps and Google services if you so desire. (defeats the purpose I know). I went this route as I want total control of my devices. Google has got out of hand with their apps and Play Services Framework and whatever else they cram in. The apps on 1Mobile Market are more up to date than the Amazon App store also which sometimes can be multiple versions behind. So just flash AOSP, grab the 1Mobile Market APK (Google it) and go to town.
Sent from my Nexus 10

Related

[solved] How to disable auto-updates of Google Play Store etc

i have a Galaxy Ace GT-S5839i on stock Gingerbread 2.3.6 with Google Play Store v4.0.27, which keeps auto-updating itself despite uninstalling the updates (to free up my internal memory) many times.
How can I stop/disable the update of Google Play Store?
veloo said:
i have a Galaxy Ace GT-S5839i on stock Gingerbread 2.3.6 with Google Play Store v4.0.27, which keeps auto-updating itself despite uninstalling the updates (to free up my internal memory) many times.
How can I stop/disable the update of Google Play Store?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
[TRICK] How to stop Google Play Store self update - easy!
you can Disable Background Data on System Settings...
halnovemila said:
[TRICK] How to stop Google Play Store self update - easy!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thank you very much... ingenious solution :good: hopefully all my google bloatware updates can be blocked this way.
not only was play store update taking another 15m, but there was another garbageware silently installing called play services taking up over 50m and not just disk-space but cpu started to crawl too
eiPeiDweP said:
you can Disable Background Data on System Settings...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i did try that, but eventually at sometime i'd need to enable background data for syncing my contacts & calendar, which are the only two things i use in google.
wonder why google can't create simple apps without trashing the entire android eco-system? hopefully amazon phones might give them some competition.
veloo said:
thank you very much... ingenious solution :good: hopefully all my google bloatware updates can be blocked this way.
not only was play store update taking another 15m, but there was another garbageware silently installing called play services taking up over 50m and not just disk-space but cpu started to crawl too
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Veloo,
yes, indeed the same trick can be used to prevent too the update of Google Play Service, as I posted here:
[TRICK] How to avoid Google Play Service update
Though some people say that Google Play Service isn't *really* a core service as stated by Google.
The fact is that Google Play Service provides a set of functionalities that any apps might want to use or even need to use in order to function properly.
But that's completely up to how the app is been written by the developer; so in case Google Play Service is uninstalled some apps can work properly without a issue, others might show some minor issues that still doesn't prevent the app to perform its main task, others might not work at all.
But, according to what I've read, mainly all system apps and even Google Play Store aren't badly affected by the absence of Google Play Service.
Anyway here is a good hint from xda-developers recognized contributor marcussmith2626
marcussmith2626 said:
What I used to do was uninstall the Google play services
Then open YouTube
It will say you have to install Google play services
Click the link to install it & it will allow you to download it from the playstore
You can then move or link it to sd card with link2sd
I prefer always having the latest versions of apps as they tend to eliminate bugs - yes it might be a larger file size but you can move or link the apk to sd
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thank you again! i've managed to survive without play services so far. I definitely do not update apps, unless they become smaller. I don't need bloatwares with more features. I also replace apps, soon as I find a smaller app! and so i find myself moving away from all the google apps.. far better, simpler, smaller & more efficient alternatives. and to think Iwas one of the early google adopters. those old google apps were so much smaller in size, in kb really
First thanks for the starting this thread to get complete solution on how to stop automatic apps updates on android smartphone. After reading all comment i have done this and get the full result on this..
sad google updates have become so big that my phone just doesn't have the space! #TBTF #Bloatware
thankfully i've survived so far without google play services..

[GB][LP][Abandoned] This App Will Run Without Google Play Services 1.0

Do you hate Google Play Services and would rather not install it?
It's a well known fact that Google Play Services is a battery-eating monster, which cannot be tamed in any easy way.
Many prefer to simply get rid of it and forget about it, just like me!
This module is in no way a replacement for Google Play Services!
Some apps show annoying dialogs saying you need to install it, but in reality the app doesn't always require it (Snapchat is a good example).
This module disables the error dialog and notification APIs from Google and replaces them with nothing.
You can find the compatible apps list HERE.
Enjoy Google Play Services-free experience!
Compatible with all Android versions from 2.3 'Gingerbread' to 5.0 'Lollipop'.
Download: This App Will Run Without Google Play Services on Xposed Module Repository
Donations welcome! (via the donation button here on XDA)
XDA:DevDB Information
This App Will Run Without Google Play Services, Xposed for the Xposed Framework
Contributors
XspeedPL
Xposed Package Name: xeed.xposed.dngmod
Version Information
Status: Stable
Current Stable Version: 1.0
Stable Release Date: 2015-03-14
Created 2015-03-14
Last Updated 2016-03-07
Apps reported to work:
Maps
My Vodafone
Skyward
Snapchat (first login requires Google Play Services, can remove it after)
Viber
Apps reported to NOT work:
Gmail (alternative: CloudMagic)
Inbox
YouTube (alternative: Viral)
Already loving the idea about this. Have a list of which apps besides Snapchat? Would be nice if Google apps can get bypass this like voice.
Zaiaku said:
Already loving the idea about this. Have a list of which apps besides Snapchat? Would be nice if Google apps can get bypass this like voice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sadly, no. I made this just with Snapchat in mind
But keeping a list of supported apps is a good idea, I'll try to find as many as I can.
cool
this is an amazing idea bcz google play service drain my battery
what do you advice me uninstalling it or freezing it ?
vip57 said:
this is an amazing idea bcz google play service drain my battery
what do you advice me uninstalling it or freezing it ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I personally uninstalled it and removed all traces of it from my phone.
Because YouTube app doesn't want to work, I installed Viral instead.
What if I installed Google play services, and I wanted to use Location or GPS, would that handle it ?
futchy4u said:
What if I installed Google play services, and I wanted to use Location or GPS, would that handle it ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This module isn't a replacement for Google Play Services (yet?).
However my phone's (XSP) GPS and aGPS works flawlessly without it somehow.
I was thinking of making this module simulate some functions in the API, but those are future plans.
nice idea! but it does not work with gmail? i still get the error message. i wish it could work with gmail and play store.
welp, restored my rom backup for now. still looking forward for future updates
this could be module of the year 2015 if this module can replace play services
XspeedPL said:
This module isn't a replacement for Google Play Services (yet?).
However my phone's (XSP) GPS and aGPS works flawlessly without it somehow.
I was thinking of making this module simulate some functions in the API, but those are future plans.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does maps work without google play services?
Btw an awesome module
Sent from MicroTitan
How can I removed play service?
I9100 Tapatalk, RR 5.0.2 Lollipop
koradiavatsal said:
Does maps work without google play services?
Btw an awesome module
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maps work even without this module without Google Play Services
089man said:
How can I removed play service?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First, you remove all updates from Google Play Services.
Then, you can use an app like THIS ONE to remove the system app.
Inbox doesn't work :crying:
Really nice idea however I can't live without gmail though
Viber is working when I deleted play services though
zach_95 said:
Really nice idea however I can't live without gmail though
Viber is working when I deleted play services though
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm sure there are better alternatives for a Google Mail client than Gmail
XspeedPL said:
I'm sure there are better alternatives for a Google Mail client than Gmail
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Never thought that heh. I'll test out more apps
zach_95 said:
Never thought that heh. I'll test out more apps
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah! In example, Viral is a cool alternative for the laggy YouTube app
XspeedPL said:
Yeah! In example, Viral is a cool alternative for the laggy YouTube app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cool! Maybe you can edit in op and write alternative apps too that way people wouldn't be too hesitant.
XspeedPL said:
This module isn't a replacement for Google Play Services (yet?).
However my phone's (XSP) GPS and aGPS works flawlessly without it somehow.
I was thinking of making this module simulate some functions in the API, but those are future plans.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks Bro,
Good luck, i'm gonna try it anyways, and I hope you could completely replace google services

[Q] Obtaining Apps from Google Play without Gapps and Device Authentification

Hello all
For security reasons I bought a new phone compatible with CM and installed CM11M12 +freecyngn +Xprivacy without the Gapps. Previously I had a Windows phone. I imagined there to be issues obtaining apps but wouldn't have guessed their extent.
There is a Windows-program that allows for fetching the .akps from the Play Store but it is required that one has authenticated a device first which requires one to have installed the Play services.
There are online tools like evozi that allow for downloading the .apks but due to lacking knowledge in how to verify that the .apks indeed haven't been manipulated I rather avoid those. I don't want to become part of a botnet or install spyware.
There's the Amazon App Store, but that requires the app to be kept installed and the user signed in, and it spies on the user, so no option either. And while Amazon already is missing quite a few apps that are available on the Play Store, it's even more the case with all the other app-stores.
F-Droid is excellent but there are non-free apps that have no FOSS-alternative.
I could imagine flashing stock again and downloading the .apks and storing them somehow on my computer before reinstalling my current system. The question: Is there any other way in obtaining the apps from the Google Play Store that I don't know?
Needless to say that if I have the choice between the convenience of apps on one hand and a system that minimizes spying on the other I choose the latter without the blink of an eye.
Thank you for your help
;__;
You could find the apks floating around but can't promise they haven't been edited. Any of the paid apps that you install will try to verify by connecting to Google play store. Any pirated apps normally include things like keyloggers and screen screen recorders. I'll be honest your will be hard pressed. But then Google doesn't really do much more then ms does
Thank you for your reply, Zelendel.
So if I buy an app in the Play Store on my device using stock ROM, flash CM without Gapps and try to install the same app it won't work because it'd try to verify the purchase and for that the installed Play Services are necessary?
Luckily the apps I'm looking for in particular are mostly free apps. Will they run without the Gapps?
soikku said:
Thank you for your reply, Zelendel.
So if I buy an app in the Play Store on my device using stock ROM, flash CM without Gapps and try to install the same app it won't work because it'd try to verify the purchase and for that the installed Play Services are necessary?
Luckily the apps I'm looking for in particular are mostly free apps. Will they run without the Gapps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As long as they are not programed to use the Google services or to call back to Google play then yes.

How to buy "Donation Package" without Google?

Hi!
I want to purchase the Greenify license. I have no GAPPS and I don't want to install them. For example, I purchased the licenses XPrivacy and IM+ from their authors through PayPal. Can i purchase the license for Greenify through PayPal, Visa or WebMoney(WMZ)?
a same question here, greenify is the most important app for me, without this, my HTC One E8 lasts less then 1 day with normal usage.
I am a Chinese user, I don't want GAPPS, but I want to buy greenify, what shall I do?
kokos76 said:
Hi!
I want to purchase the Greenify license. I have no GAPPS and I don't want to install them. For example, I purchased the licenses XPrivacy and IM+ from their authors through PayPal. Can i purchase the license for Greenify through PayPal, Visa or WebMoney(WMZ)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You must have some Android won't function without some, like playstore manager and others. I've the bare minimum myself but as they have moved parts of the OS into the app store it means that you need some Gapps to function. They do this so they can keep the code secret if it's *an app *. So much for being an open OS.
I hope that this happens, I'm about to remove Gapps from my phone and I've purchased the donation package.
It hurts to say this, but I probably have to pirate new Greenify releases after after removing propriety Google software from my phone.
greenify add on after factory reset
I had to factory reset due to my own ineptitude with the homescreen mixup I created (
When getting the greenify app back I had to pay AGAIN for the add-ons I previously bought.
Obviously there is no limits of my newcomer ineptitude.
fenneberg said:
I had to factory reset due to my own ineptitude with the homescreen mixup I created (
When getting the greenify app back I had to pay AGAIN for the add-ons I previously bought.
Obviously there is no limits of my newcomer ineptitude.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you had logged in to Play Store with the same account through which you purchased earlier, it would have recognised your earlier purchase and you need not have paid again.
jeffreylin_ said:
If you guys could install the Amazon Appstore, that has Greenify with the donation package as an in app purchase.
Sent from my SM-G920T using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Amazon Appstore's apps are updated very rarely, I doubt that Greenify has the latest version either. I've removed the application from my phone entirely.
Musicbee said:
Amazon Appstore's apps are updated very rarely, I doubt that Greenify has the latest version either. I've removed the application from my phone entirely.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In theory atleast, you can update the Amazon downloaded/purchased Greenify on Play Store. Some people have reported issues with this process and the Dev has provided a solution though that doesn't seem to work for all.
jeffreylin_ said:
The only problem is that he doesn't want to have anything to do with the Play Store.
Guess he'll have to stay a version or two behind.
Sent from my SM-G920T using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are talking about the OP, then he wants to donate and get the donate version. So without Play Store, he can not do it, unless by subterfuge.
I don't see greenify app in amazon appstore. I don't think it is there anymore... what was the matter?
jeffreylin_ said:
It was removed because the dev had problems with IAPs on Amazon Appstore. If you have downloaded it before, you can still do so.
Sent from my SM-G920T using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh I haven't purchased it yet. Since I have some amazon appstore coins, I wanted to pay there rather than paying again in google play... Appreciate your reply!
I have purchased the donation package. As expected, after removing Gapps from my phone the paid features don't work anymore. I had to obtain a working version from unofficial sources.
I didn't see a mention anywhere on the store page that Greenify requires proprietary Google services to run, I should be entitled for a refund.
DRM only hurts the paying customers, pirates use the superior, non-Google dependant Greenify.
Musicbee said:
I have purchased the donation package. As expected, after removing Gapps from my phone the paid features don't work anymore. I had to obtain a working version from unofficial sources.
I didn't see a mention anywhere on the store page that Greenify requires proprietary Google services to run, I should be entitled for a refund.
DRM only hurts the paying customers, pirates use the superior, non-Google dependant Greenify.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have some nerve in posting this. Not only you knew that Greenify donate features will not work if Gapps are removed, you went ahead and obtained "a working version from unofficial sources".
So if Greenify is now working for you, why should the donation be returned?
And you complain that Play Store nowhere states that donation features won't work without Gapps as if you didn't know.
Hypocrisy!
Still, the question remains: How to use the "full version" without GApps installed? I still have a Google account and thus could "pay" via it. But it makes no sense for me if I cannot use it.
That "Google Glue" applied by "vending.CHECK_LICENSE" is a real show-stopper. I'm willing to pay/donate, and I've did so with several other apps that came without this glue (and thus working perfect on my "degooglified" devices). I wish I could say the same about Greenify. The free version is nice – but not half as useful as the full version
Izzysoft said:
Still, the question remains: How to use the "full version" without GApps installed? I still have a Google account and thus could "pay" via it. But it makes no sense for me if I cannot use it.
That "Google Glue" applied by "vending.CHECK_LICENSE" is a real show-stopper. I'm willing to pay/donate, and I've did so with several other apps that came without this glue (and thus working perfect on my "degooglified" devices). I wish I could say the same about Greenify. The free version is nice – but not half as useful as the full version
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed. But I think that it won't work without Google Play Store unless the Dev finds a way around it. And I also think that the 'Google Glue' was applied by Google and not by the Dev.
tnsmani said:
Agreed. But I think that it won't work without Google Play Store unless the Dev finds a way around it. And I also think that the 'Google Glue' was applied by Google and not by the Dev.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are plenty of ways around it (one is to simply remove the license check altogether, which is what "hackers" do or which could possibly be done using Lucky Patcher – but I don't want to use a hacked version nor the patcher, the latter is too tempting I've bought several "paid apps" that come completely without). And as it wasn't Google who added that piece of code to the app, I have to disagree: there are indeed things not to blame on Google. If a dev decides to use Google licence check (which is performed by the Google Play Store app, hence 'vending.CHECK_LICENSE') (s)he must be aware that the app providing that is required on the device it should run on – and the own app cannot run if not.
Here check this out this may probably help you.
""microG GmsCore is a FLOSS (Free/Libre Open Source Software) framework to allow applications designed for Google Play Services to run on systems, "".....
http://forum.xda-developers.com/android/apps-games/app-microg-gmscore-floss-play-services-t3217616

Permanently disable/remove Google play services?

I'm getting so frustrated with this app, *constantly* reinstalling itself for no good reason. It hogs internal memory and ram for things I don't use.
I don't bother with android siri, Google music, books, photos, tts... I literally use *none* of the things it powers. I use the store to download and update apps.... And that's it. Even within the apps, I don't feel the need to talk to it or find out what song a game uses or any other nonsense.
I don't even need notifications for crying out loud as I keep any possible app hibernated with greenify (which play services will *not*stay hibernated)
I'm using a 3rd party keyboard, and camera app
How can I remove this overall hog once and for all, or at *least*truly disable and be able to delete the large amounts of data for the damn thing and leave it sitting idle, unused and inactive, if Google insists it be on my device, technically....
I'm even rooted and removed all of the apps I mentioned (Google books, music, photos, etc), but yet this bugger insists. It's almost like spyware in the sense that I'm not using it at all and yet it remains on my phone taking up valuable space and resources.....
Sent from my SGH-I927 using XDA-Developers mobile app
not recommended to remove google play
it is very possible to remove google play, google services framework and gapps, however, they are still many apps and services that depend on it, for example, i couldnt use youtube anymore when i removed anything to do with the playstore.
im afraid you will just have to keep the setup you have as google play is an important part of the android operating system
You can disable system administration of google play services and then use and try with greenify...
run this script and disable at leat about 90 uneeded services .. if you use the extended script. if it helped. just thank the guy who made this..
http://forum.xda-developers.com/lg-g2/general/guide-reducing-google-play-services-t3139032
gogzc123 said:
it is very possible to remove google play, google services framework and gapps, however, they are still many apps and services that depend on it, for example, i couldnt use youtube anymore when i removed anything to do with the playstore.
im afraid you will just have to keep the setup you have as google play is an important part of the android operating system
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To see what would happen, i froze the play store (well technically removed it with app master but kept it in my recycle bin), and then deleted the play services.... nothing has stopped working on my end. but the play store is probably all i honestly use. for youtube i ditched the app and just made a browser shortcut to the site on my home page. i dont have data so have never used maps or anything like that. i use gmail but didnt keep the app lol (dont use it enough to bother as its not my main account). its a bit of a pain having to restore it to download updates, but ive noticed even a difference in battery life since i started doing that about a week ago now.
the only gapp i use is the app to download other apps, lol.
You can use Servicely to disable all Google services. Alternatively, You can remove all Google services and try to replace them with this

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