What will happen to my phone? Will it crash as soon as I uninstall it? Can I have Android but not Play Services?
Should I use MicroG? If yes, where do I download it? I can use Brevent to uninstall Play Services, but I’m quite wary of such a choice.
You can’t uninstall Play services once it’s installed (or if you’re on a stock ROM where it’s “baked in”), but you can disable it. Apps -> Set option to “show system” -> Google Play Services -> Disable
Will it crash as soon as I uninstall it?
No. However, you won’t be able to use most Google apps and RCS messaging and anything that relies on Google sign in or integrated Google Maps will not work.
You’ll also get hammered with “Google Play Services are unavailable” notifications from SO MANY APPS. Most of those, you can go into the app’s notifications and disable the alert for “Play Services Availability”. The only one I can’t disable on my phone is from Android Setup, but it only pops up once after a reboot.
Some apps depend on it more than others. Some will just complain that Play Services aren’t available but otherwise work just the same, but others will lose some functionality depending on how they use those services. For example, my bank app still works but complains Play Services isn’t enabled.
Most apps that depend on Play Services use it for notifications. So, with my bank app, I no longer receive transaction notifications. I can live without those, though, but some people may not be able to.
Can I have Android but not Play Services?
Yes. Most custom ROMs don’t include it by default or offer builds that exclude it.
Should I use MicroG? If yes, where do I download it?
You can only install MicroG or other Play Services features before booting into the phone for the first time (e.g. with custom ROMs), but you can’t just replace Play Services with MicroG.
the Disable isn’t avaliable, I can’t even search for Play Services on my phone. But I can use Brevent to uninstall it.
Take a look at this
Oh, okay, I’ll try. Does
pm activeexist?
i think you need to install a different version of android without google play if you want it gone.
What exactly will happen will depend on what ROM you are using, some stock options may become bricked. If you don’t have google play services a bunch of features will not work such as nearby share, most notifications or apps that require play integrity. MicroG can replicate some of the features, however it only works on systems that support signature spoofing, which most don’t. If you want to improve your android privacy your best option would be a custom ROM. If you have a google device the best option would be GrapheneOS. It has strong security and allows you to install a sandboxed version of Google play. If you don’t have a google device I would look at LineageOS, iodéOS or /e/OS. They support a lot of devices. iodé and /e/ both have MicroG preinstalled while LineageOS has more DIY approach (LineageOS for microG includes it by default).
I only have my Samsung A15, Graphene isn’t possible. And I don’t have another phone on me, I don’t wanna have to swipe all of my data and remake it without the guarantee that it will all work.
The A15 is not supported by anything as far as I can tell, so your only option would be disabling, not uninstalling play services. You will have to go to your settings apps and then press the three dots and select show system
There’s… no three dots.
I checked how it is for Samsung: open your settings app, go to apps. Just above the list of apps press the arrow with the three lines next to it and select show system apps. Then find google play, click it and then press disable
Yeah, did it! Thanks! :)
On GrapheneOS (or other deGoogled OSs) the only thing that’s going to change are apps that require Google Play Services.
On commercial androids I don’t think you even can uninstall it.
Does Wire, NewPipe, IronFox, Tor and Brave require Play Services? If not, I can uninstall it.
I think I can use Brevent to uninstall it.
Wire might for push notifications.
I’m not familiar with Brevent, but you can use adb to uninstall some system level apps, though I’m not sure if adb will work on GPS. Worth a shot, I would suppose.
Yes, Wire stopped sending me notifications, but it isn’t really that much. Brevent is the same as Shizuka and ADB.
Signal requires GPS for push, too, but if GPS isn’t available, it uses persistent notifications to stay “active”. It uses a bit more battery, theoretically, but I really haven’t noticed a difference.
Ah, ok, cool! I’m just so used to using cli adb, I didn’t even think to search for another solution. I’m glad more exist!
I don’t use Signal anymore.
You’re welcome :)
I added that part of the comment to showcase a way that a messaging app could use to avoid the requirement of gps, in case Wire has something similar in the settings, is all. I wasn’t suggesting you switch : )
Oh, okay :)
