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.
Related
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
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..
Hello guys
I am having a very weird problem with my Samsung Note 3.
I have recently ran into major issues with paid apps that require license authentications. Basically, every time i launch a paid app (with license verification) it tries to verify the license but keeps on failing. It happens on Helium Premium, and ivmcontrol for example.
My phone is running stock Samsung firmware and is rooted with xposed.
The things i tried so far:
1. check date and time are correct
2. clear cache and data from Google Play Store app and Framework.
3. Remove my Google account and recreate it.
4. uninstall Google Play store latest v5.0.31 update
5. Install and uninstall Google Play store v5.0.32 update
6. install latest Google Play Store v5.0.37 update
7. Uninstall Xposed
So far nothing seems to work. I tried downloading and running these apps on my wife's rooted Note 2 with no issues at all. It's almost like my phone can't reach the Google Licensing Servers to authenticate these paid apps.
I know some may suggest to use Lucky Patcher but that's not the point. I paid for these apps and i would like to use them.
I really want to avoid restoring to factory settings as i am sure there are guys here who might be able to guide me through and resolve this issue.
Many thanks in advance!
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
Hey guys,
Long term LG user here, wanting to stick with my good ole G5 despite the age starting to show. As far as I understand, the latest official version of Android that supported the G5 was 8.0, and that's the latest my phone will let me go ofc. Now, the problem is, a bunch of apps no longer work, and Google Play is being weird even after a factory reset, so I can't find a whole bunch of apps such as BlaBlaCar, for example. Like, I know they are there... if I go on another phone they will be too (or through my PC) but if it detects LG G5, it pretends the apps don't exist. Long story short, I'm thinking some of these apps just don't work on older Android versions anymore. That being said, what would you guys suggest? There are hundreds of custom roms out there (or so it seems anyway), but which one works provenly well and offers apps from GStore (or another place, I'm good with that too if there's a reliable store) that actually work? I am a total newbie when it comes to custom roms, so far I've heard about Lineage, but really not sure about anything else. Any tips?
Hi, I would remove the play store and play services, replacing Play services with microg. Microg is an open source reimplementation of Play Services. It is very light, but it's not compatible with apps like Meet and Duo.
Instrad of the play store you can use Aurora Store, you can find it here on XDA. It is an unofficial client for the Play Store that works both with an anonymous account or with your own google account. It can also spoof the phone make and model, so you can be sure you will find all the apps. I'm using Oreo as well, and it still works perfectly with almost any app.
Edit: I tried to download BlaBlaCar on my G5 using Aurora store, it works as expected.
Ah, I see. So what you're saying is don't mess with custom roms at all? But how do I get rid of Play Services if I don't get a custom version of Android working, and to do that I probably need to unlock my phone/boot loader, right? Or do you just mean .. just... don't use Play Store and use Aurora Store instead? Tried the latter, and it definitely works. Now I just need to get rid of Play Store and all that, any recommendations on what to use to do that?
Although custom roms are great because they let you use the newest version of android, unfortunately there are some functions that are not supported, most notably the IR led to use the phone as a remote. Moreover in my opinion the LG camera app, supported only by LG roms, is the best camera app I've ever tried. You can flash TWRP or OrangeFox as recovery, and then remove the play store and play services from there. OrangeFox in particular has a specific 'app uninstall' function that makes very easy to remove apps. That is possible if you can unlock the bootloader. If your phone does not support bootloader unlocking, you can disable the play store from settings->applications or using adb command pm disable. In this case by the way I wouldn't suggest to disable play services, as there would be no way to replace them with microg.
Ah, right, thanks man! I'll give it a shot and see what I can do