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I am looking to completely remove anything google from within my os
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hello, a while back I was reading on what files to delete within my filesystem (2.3)
anyone know what to delete?
I remember one file lost me the marketplace - I am okay with that!
The heartbeat that google sends back and fourth - that file needs to go!
thanks so much in advance!
Everything from Google?
Well, I think it's impossible since you're always going to have at least a Google account to even have the phone work.
I am not really sure why anyone would want to do this. No Google search? No Voice Actions? No YouTube (yes, Google owns that). No Gmail? No calendar? No Maps? No Google Navigation? Heck, you'd even have to remove the Play Store.
It's an Android phone...it integrates with Google services (the same way an iPhone integrates with Apple services). If you want Android, you're in the Google ecosystem, if you don't, you probably need to go elsewhere.
This is not meant to offend, but it seems like such a wild out there request, I have to wonder if you're serious, and if so, why? Is it a tinfoil hat scenario?
At a first look I thought you were looking for a way to just wipe the entire OS so that all you have is an open shell to play with.
Evil Evo
Pre-order an iPhone 5, which you could do starting yesterday. Done.[1]
You're welcome!
[1] Android phones by their nature and source are dependent upon Google online services and sites. Since you've just joined and only posted once, we have to presume you are an Android beginner, so this might not've been obvious. But to be fair, the iPhone 4S and 5 are superb phones, and if you only want "a smartphone" they're a good (and now economical) choice (IIRC the 4S is down to $99 on contract).
well then OP might want to remove all apple service then Op could order a windows Phone and then would want to remove all Microsoft service.
then Symbian and would want to remove all Nokia service. then BB then would want to remove all RIm service!!! oh wait.
Erase the os. Android is Google
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Snarky replies from the people above aside. They are right. The Android operating system is itself a Google service. Even if your ignore the operating system, all of these things are natively tied in with Google: Calendar, Contacts/People, Gallery, Gmail, Google Search/Voice Search, Maps/Navigation, Play Store (inluding Play Books, Magazines, Movies, and Music, Talk, Youtube, even the Browser on some models. If you deleted all that stuff then you wouldn't have much of a smartphone.
Asking to remove all of Google from your Android phone is like asking to remove all Apple stuff from an iPhone.
hello - thanks for the replies!
I should have been more specific!
...
I don't like the constant heartbeat signals with google confirming my phone's status on anything. < Hoping to locate and delete that file
I am hoping to keep maps / navigation only ...
applications I'm looking for help deleting:
- google + app
- google + services
- google messenger
- google gmail app
- google local app
- google play store app
- google youtube app
- google calender (if phone can use network sync independent for time/date)
also any ideas for:
- sprint worldwide
- sprint mobile wallet
--------------------------------------------------
I am on 2.3 and hoping you can help me get my signal status indicator from blue to grey! (no connection with google)
That's just how I want my phone!!
cheers, appreciate all the support so far!
also - there's no chance of me switching from android! - Just looking for some input if this is possible / anyone has already done what I'm attempting to do.
I'm aware I can simply load a stock rom and not install the google file pack for most of these - but there are some applications I want to use.
thanks again!
To delete that 'file' might not be such a good idea.:rolleyes:
- google +
- google messenger
- gmail
Can most probably be disabled on Android 4+. Since you're using 2.3 on an unknown phone, I can't say anything further.:confused::eek:
- sprint worldwide
- sprint mobile wallet
These should go away with root theoretically.
hoping you can help me get my signal status indicator from blue to grey! (no connection with google)
Post some screenshots please if possible.
Author Of NoobTech
http://wp.me/2uu9r
I don't know about "heartbeat signals". But some (all?) of the apps that you want to get rid of are system apps and can't be uninstalled without root. If you root your phone you should be able to uninstall those apps, but I don't know what the implications are of removing core Google apps. I could imagine it causing problems.
You should probably ask for input from a ROM developer. Or just make a nandroid backup and try it. If it causes problems just restore your backup.
If you don't mind me asking, why do you want to get rid of that stuff? Privacy?
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I tried the iphone , not for me...
Example why: Mis-spell in a text message on ios...(iphone 4 at time)
You can't simply; click in the word and have the scrolling cursor land where you need to backspace, and enter the correct letter....
You must pinch with two fingers in order to zoom, then you can place the scrolling cursor. Even had an in store-rep told me, there's no way around it, that was icing on the cake.
/endrantregardingsimpleiosflaws
On android 2.3 the data indicator / signal strength meter is either grey or blue - when you are connected to google the connection is blue. When you first power up your radio from airplane mode the signal bar is at first grey, and then turns blue!
I have root - however the above applications can't be uninstalled - at least not until I know the file names, need to delete the files manually I'm assuming.
Research is under-way!
- - - Updated - - -
I read a while back somewhere every ten minutes or so google and your phone communicate - your phone sends a pluse to the google servers letting it know various information about your device.
Google sends data back and that's the heartbeat between your device and google.
There's a lot of background data that gets sent.
I'm not sure where I saw this and lost my bookmark :/
Not wearing any reynold's yet!
However
Yes I'm concerned with my privacy - I'm on a mission to minimize google's interaction with my phone, and free up memory!
yes sorry for the confusion! I should have posted remove specific google installed services/features/applications! great input!
- - - Updated - - -
Is there a quick way to edit rom's for this purpose?
If you already have root then removing those apps is pretty easy. Two options come to mind.
1) You can use an app like Titanium Backup to uninstall system apps. I'm not sure if that feature requires the paid version or not. I've never used it, but I know it's there. EDIT: I think you can also convert system apps to user apps and uninstall like you normally would.
2) You can manually delete the apk files with a root capable file explorer like Root Explorer (paid) or ES File Explorer (free). System apps are stored in /system/app/. Usually the names of the files are pretty obvious. For example Gmail is gmail.apk. I use ES File Explore and it even shows you the icon for the apk. Manually deleting the apk files won't remove any data that's stored elsewhere.
WARNING: Uninstall these system apps at your own risk.
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And PLEASE make a nandroid backup first.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Android Central Forums
thanks for those programs - I'll be sure to make a backup!
let you know how it happens when!
If I'm not mistaken, I think your signal bar will be blue even with all those services removed. I think the blue just means the phone has an established internet connection. Grey means it has a tower connection, but no data yet. Kinda like being connected to a wifi router that isn't connected to the net. What you want to look for is the up/down arrows by your signal indicator because those are what tell you when data is actually transferring.
Just turn off Google account sync in Accounts & Sync. You shouldn't have to Frankenstein your phone to do that.
The fact that you're asking this and are ready to start deleting system files suggests to me that you should STOP.
Seems like a lot of work to save yourself a little data. Are you on a zero MB plan?
I agree with the above poster. You should stop.
thanks everyone for your input as to stop or proceed! I will be sure to let everyone know how I did what!
definitely intrigued
I'll share my 2 cents. I don't think that removing everything is necessary from a privacy or data standpoint. But it's your phone and you can do whatever you want.
I'm kinda curious as to how this will work so I'm kinda hoping you decide to do it.
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I don't understand why this question received so much paternalistic beating.
Android is a linux-based open source OS, so I see it as a correct request to be able to use this (open) system, without being forced to use the bunch of one company's services, whatever useful people on this forum find them. There are also many great non-google services one might prefer to subscribe to, but without google account one can't even make a phone call on android (I think). And I don't think that's right, whatever useful gapplications are.
I hope that Firefox OS will bring a fresh air to this: https://blog.mozilla.org/blog/2012/0...fox-mobile-os/
k.
While the snarkiness wasn't necessary, I do have to disagree with you a little.
Android is "a linux-based open source OS" built by Google which, by default, connects to Google's framework. (Someone correct me if I'm wrong.) I can understand the desire to run Android without Google, but I don't think it's realistic without developing your own fork like Amazon did. But that's borderline note Android anymore.
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Google is going to send data regardless of those apps you still have tons of Google api's that report you can't stop it so good luck
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It uses an open source Linux kernel lol its actually running a java virtual machine on top of that. Google built it Google made it dependent on them to operate if you don't like it try and build Ubuntu mobile or Firefox for your phone. You agreed to those services and what they entailed when you bought it.
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It's kind of like saying Toyota made your car, therefore you can't remove the A/C pump because Toyota made it and you agreed to it when you bought it.
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Difference is its not hardware software is a whole other monster brother if you want to be rid of Google you can't use Google software :rolleyes:. Its like saying I want Google earth without Google it makes no sense.
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Technically if it runs on a Linux kernel it could be worked on for your phone so you could essentially build Ubuntu mobile.
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Hmmmm. I dunno about that. I've just started exploring the Android world, but it is also my goal to eliminate all traces of google, spyware and other useless garbage.
So far, I've bought a handful of inexpensive android phones that are several years old. In my first experiments, I've rooted an HTC Droid Incredible, installed Cyanogenmod 10 (4.1.2) and activated it on a network. I did *not* reinstall google apps. Nor will I. Ever. I have not yet found a method to substitute another search engine for goggle on my desktop. But I will.
On the positive side, I've added all the functions I've wanted thru 3rd party apps -- task manager, app installer, ROM manager, wall paper, etc. And so far, my only problem appears to be adware and spyware. I value my privacy so it is massively disconcerting that I can launch my task manager and find a dozen apps running (that I did not start) and have advertisements displayed within my task manager. It's equally disheartening to install apps and have them demand access to data that clearly is NONE of their damn business.
My goal now is to to tighten up my binaries to eliminate *leakage* and all this advertising crapware. I don't mind one bit paying premium prices for apps that follow my philosophy. Unfortunately, it appears that I have to hunt down these apps one-at-a-time as I have not seen many people that apparently care about their privacy. I wish that more people paid attention to what is happening in front of their faces but it appears that a great many simply don't care. I believe they will find that to be an expensive mistake.
I must admit that I don't share your opinions on privacy, but I respect your right to them. Honestly I'm intrigued by this endeavor. You should write about your efforts and experiences. Maybe submit it to Android Central for an ongoing column. Or just publish it on your own blog. I suspect that there's something that everyone can learn.
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Google apps aren't the only thing sending to Google lmao there's still api's in the system itself that's what I'm saying its much deeper than just apps man its everywhere. Have you ever built from source if not then trust me you have no idea what you are doing.
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As for the API's, I believe you are mistaken about google communications in Android. This is open source so finding a definative answer should not be a problem at some point. The firmware device drivers on many android phones appear to be "closed source" so I would expect any built-in spyware to be hiding in those.
Compiling ROMs from source is definately where I'm heading next. It appears to be the only way to remove google search and install my choice of search engine. I've really got to tell you -- running android without the google-apps bloatware is a refreshing experience.
OK man if you don't want to listen to those who have been doing this for years more power to ya.:rolleyes:
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"OK man if you don't want to listen to those who have been doing this for years more power to ya.:rolleyes:"
When my daughter rolls her eyes, I stand her in the corner.
If you have anything specific and documentable to add to the discussion, I'm all ears. Otherwise, your post comes across like "urban legend".
I love how one guy joined specifically to revive this thread and troll. Great.
Fact is:
1) You need a Google ID for an Android device.
2) You need an Apple ID for an iOS device.
3) You need a Windows Live ID for Windows phones.
It's no big deal. It's just another ID. If you don't want a Google ID, don't get an Android phone. Go get an Apple ID or Windows Live ID and get one of the other phones.
Of course, on your other phone or device, the second you want to use Gmail or use Youtube or Picasa or Google Drive or Google Music (the list goes on), you're going to need a Google ID anyways. You know, because they're Google products. Likewise if I want to use iTunes on my PC, I'd need an AppleID. Or if I want to use Facebook...I need a Facebook ID. If I want the XBOX app on my phone, I'm going to need a Windows Live ID (which I already have for my XBOX of course).
Point is, quit fretting. It's a non-issue.
1st rule of the internet, Don't feed the trolls.
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Now that I think about it, if you're concerned with IDs, don't get an Apple Device.
Assuming you live in this century and use at least one Google product, you're going to need a Google ID regardless of which device you get. You may also need a Windows Live ID regardless of product (if you use any Microsoft service).
But if you don't have an iOS device, you don't need an Apple ID. At all. For anything.
So if you bought an iOS device, you'd need up to 3 IDs (An Apple ID, a Google ID, and probably a Windows Live ID). With any other device, you can get by with 2 IDs, possibly only one if you get an Android device and don't need the Windows Live ID for XBOX or Skydrive or something else.
Yep, of the 3, Android probably requires the least number of IDs cause it's a good possibility that you may be able to get by with solely a Google ID. All the other devices are going to require at least 2 IDs (again, assuming you live in this century and use at least one Google product).
I can kind of see the point here: by owning an official Android device, you are making a tradeoff with Google. They give you access to an OS and the many aspects of it's functionality, and in return for that access, you allow Google to mine information from you.
That's just the way it is, because at the end of the day, Google isn't just a tech company. That's what they started as, but now they're bottom line is to make revenues for Wall Street. So it's a fact of life, they are self serving.
But that's not to say you are stuck, because you're not. If the contract with Google really bothers you, there are going to be more options available in 2013 that give you more freedom. Firefox OS, Tizen, and Ubuntu for Android are all dropping devices this year, supposedly. So just switch to one of those and go with it! :)
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I love how one guy joined specifically to revive this thread and troll. Great.
Fact is:
1) You need a Google ID for an Android device.
2) You need an Apple ID for an iOS device.
3) You need a Windows Live ID for Windows phones.
Most amazing thing I've ever seen -- it's like people really want slavery. Fact is: You do not need a Google ID for an android device.
I bought a phone, rooted, flashed a new ROM on WiFI. I used alternative App repositories in keeping with my goal to eliminate google.
After ROM flash, I did not reinstall Google Apps. Period. I do not have a Google account. The phone works fine and is my "daily driver" this month.
Doesn't mean its not reporting back to base lol. But you have sniffed all that out right? :eek: there is more than meets the eye my son.
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LOL.
I've only been playing with android for a week. It's a very-large, multipart technology. If you have concrete facts and verifiable info, you have my complete and total attention.
I'm completely amazed at the groupthink I have encountered in some places. I think the people that did the Stanford experiment would be extremely interested in observing this field.
This is definitely outside of my area of expertise, but if he/she is using the phone without a Google account, then even if it's "reporting back to the base" the most that could happen is to connect the data to the phones id (MEI # or whatever), but it couldn't be connected to the person. Right?
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True its only going to report what it can get but its still able to send some data back.
Remember the open handset alliance is comprised primarily of Google employees so even if you think its neutral its not. The closest I could see is using cm not aosp.
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I'm all for reasonable privacy, but don't you think you're taking this a bit too far? With as large of a programmer base there is for the Android OS, didn't it occur to you that someone would have voiced these major privacy concerns by now that you seem to think exist? Or do you think it's all a huge conspiracy by the thousands of independent programmers out there?
After only having a week with Android, you really don't have any credibility. What exactly are your concerns about privacy? Unless you live "off the grid" with no bank accounts, computers, phones, Facebook accounts, etc, you will always be able to be tracked. Worried about ID theft? There's babies that have had their's stolen and they have none of those. Spyware? If you only download from official markets, you have nothing to worry about sneaking onto your phone.
I'm all for reasonable privacy, but don't you think you're taking this a bit too far? With as large of a programmer base there is for the Android OS, didn't it occur to you that someone would have voiced these major privacy concerns by now that you seem to think exist? Or do you think it's all a huge conspiracy by the thousands of independent programmers out there?
After only having a week with Android, you really don't have any credibility. What exactly are your concerns about privacy? Unless you live "off the grid" with no bank accounts, computers, phones, Facebook accounts, etc, you will always be able to be tracked. Worried about ID theft? There's babies that have had their's stolen and they have none of those. Spyware? If you only download from official markets, you have nothing to worry about sneaking onto your phone.
Taking privacy too far? Honestly .... no.
Utilizing the "cloud" or allowing android apps unnecessary privileges would require a large quantity of trust and/or naiveté. Speaking of trust -- can you look someone in the face and tell them you trust our large corporations or government? I know I don't. But I've been around a while.
You talk about the large numbers of programmers out there and ask if I think it's a conspiracy. Look at it from this perspective. I have, several times now, mentioned that I was totally interested in concrete/verifiable info about spyware in Android. How many people in this thread are espousing the idea that this is fact and yet not one soul has come forward with objective info? Does it make you question your belief systems?
As far as credibility, I'm not concerned. I have a goal -- to separate Google from my phones. I'm asking for facts and stating what I know to be factual. If you think you can debunk what I have done, please do so. The facts will sort out themselves .... no?
I'm amazed that you think that apps from official suppositories are safe. I can look at the privileges being demanded by some apps and I absolutely know these programs were built by individuals with seriously evil intentions. I have aborted installing many, many apps based on their demands for unnecessary privileges. What some think is acceptable data-mining to me is totally unacceptable theft of private info. Or worse. Life is too damn short for dealing with parasites.
I believe that best-in-class apps that are 100% privacy oriented would achieve a wide following when people finally realize that we have alternatives to spyware-filled garbage.
Who wants a tinfoil hat? That guy lmfao.
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Troll... :rolleyes:
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I'll have an "Aluminum Foil Deflector Beanie". Make mine open-source if you please.
Just a suggestion, BUT...... although your project is interesting, your communication style lacks finesse. Maybe work more on presenting compelling arguments and less on insulting everyone who disagrees with you.
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I think everyone needs to agree to discuss and not argue, and to remember to give the benefit of the doubt when reading text.
I've seen comments that COULD be interpreted as insulting from both sides.
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Actually, I think I'm in the wrong forum. I did not come here to argue -- but to learn. But I find I don't fit the paradigm.
Sorry for the thread crash-n-burn folks. Won't be bothering you again .....
Ok. Good luck with your venture. It's been fun.
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See, you had to add the parting shot, didn't you?
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Wow.... I am totally intrigued.. I want to hear what the og finds out with his testing.
Sent from my EVO 4G LTE
Intrigued not at the programming aspect here but the source of the ideology of uber privacy. I mean, no one is forcing you to click the ads google presents you. On top of that, isn't android only open source as long as you abide by the google rules? They still own android. Perhaps this is the greatest inside job every staged. Much like free chum bucket helmets when eating at the Chum Bucket operated by Plankton.
Sent from my MB855 using Android Central Forums until I get home from Italy and fire up my N4
Any luck
Sent from my amazing HTC
I Joined to correct youLikewise if I want to use iTunes on my PC,
no, you dont .
p.s your attitude made my desicion
:D:-\
Wow, what an odd little thread.
Sent from the red headed stepchild of the Nexii.
We're only here to help. Just STOP.
Resistance is futile. Just STOP.
Big G would not be happy to hear this!
"If you have something that you don't want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn't be doing it in the first place."
"If you have nothing to hide, you won't mind if we come in and look around, will you?"
Which of these quotes is really from the Herr Schmidt?
Is this like one of those trick questions?
He said BOTH.
Right?
To anyone serious...
Don't let them tell you it can't be done. Most Android phones in China don't have google.
I've been running ROMs since CM7 without instaling Gapps. It works just fine.
As a matter of fact, that's the easiest way to do it, if you know what you are doing. Just flash CyanogenMod and then don't flash Gapps ( Google apps ). You have to find alternatives to Play store, but they are out there. Also, if you know what you are doing, just find a friend that wants you to root his phone for him, and then if something comes out on play you really, really want get him to download it for you and send you the APK and install it that way.
The other thing you can do is, root your phone, signup to google, download all the apps you want, backup the APKs, reset and do the above. If you make backups, it's no big deal to flash back and forth to get apps from the store. Flash Gapps, download, factory reset and format, reload and go.
Then, if what you want is to be safe, get a root permissions manager and kill permissions on apps they don't need and shouldn't have.
That said... I've was just searching for more info on how to make an android phone as secure as possible and it's been fun watching people (not nessesarilly these people) on the internet that had a cow over Carrier IQ have no problem at all with the idea that Android isn't just a platform for google spyware, it actually IS google spyware.
It's only spyware if it doesn't tell you what it's doing. Google is very transparent (and therefore not spyware). In fact they are probably the most transparent of all tech companies.
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You do realize android is part of Google right? Everything is linked to Google. Maybe you should consider a non-android phone?
Sent from my Galaxy S4
As near as I can tell, AOSP sends anonymous version, device, carrier, and country to Google analytics through play store. Don’t register it to an account, and don’t install Gapps and what they can mine from your phone itself is limited.
I can think of a ton of reasons to do this. Everyone is making fun of the OP needs to wake up. Google apps are constantly draining battery, sending data, and spying on you.
. It's perfectly reasonable to not want this crap
There's actually a project going on over at xda called "nogapps", which would let you do what you want. It replaces all of googles apps with open source community built alternatives. However most of the apps are in beta, with only a few being actually stable.
And thanks to googles sneaky terms with the play store, they can't create an open source marketplace that, uses the same app servers as googles. So they are stalled with the market, however everything else works at least 70%. That includes all of the major features minus a few minor ones with some bugs to work out.
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awesome, I had no idea so many people would get in on this! I have been un-branded for a while now, cheers! battery life is also increased!
Amazing. I stand humbly corrected..... :beer:
// Tapatalk HD for Android - Nexus 7 //
install Cyanogen Mod :D
I completely agree with you dude.... When StartMail is officially launched in early 2014, we will have an option for truly private email without Google and others, spying on us. I amst very interested in removing as many user / system apps as possible yet still being able to use a messenger, live streaming, email and making calls. Let them call you crazy for being conscious.
how about because they SUCK.. I remember when this company was a good thing.. now..its motto is JUST DO EVIL.
What are you, 12?
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searched, how to remove google, couldnt find this discussion in the main results...annual bump activated!
just saw this...yes I can still make calls with the google branded items removed, no account connected, or the possibility to do so! cheers
I am not sure why so many people were advising against me... This topic was to obtain simple file names if anyone had tried before...I never asked them to modify their phones, or if I should have been trying with my own! google staff writing the negatives? :)
I just wonder why you buy a Google phone if you don't want Google. It's like removing the Chevy from your Chevy, or the "Sweet" from sugar.
Android *IS* Google. Removing all Google apps from the phone renders it an almost useless little Linux computer. Leaving just those Google apps that you need to keep the phone functioning leaves almost all Google apps intact. (Not everything not labeled "google" in the phone is a non-Google app. MANY parts of the system itself are Google, but labeled as other things.)
If it's just curiosity, buy a Raspberry Pi, add some Qualcom chips to get the phone function and you have completely non-Google, non-Apple phone. But removing all Google from an Android phone is like removing Windows from a Windows computer (and not replacing it with anything). You're left with hardware.
again, not the point of this conversation! if anyone wants to know how I got my phone to the way I desired/described feel free to send a pm!
Linux is anything, but useless, let's just say without it, Google would not be successful as they are today and Android probably wouldn't exist either.
I have no professional or personal affiliation with Google. :P
Your question would probably get a lot more traction over on XDA-developers where users generally tinker and modify their Android devices.
You're correct you were asking what files to delete, and frankly I don't think most users here are qualified to answer that question. We did perhaps overreact. "How to completely remove Google from Android phone" is a peculiar request, because so much functionality of Android is tied up in Google services. You'd have an easier time flashing an alternate ROM that eschews Google services.
Please do not periodically "bump" the discussion just to get it higher up in Google search results, or the forum. For one, it's not that easy to game the Google search algorithm. Secondly, it may not be acceptable forum behavior (for this forum). If the "answer" you're trying it advertise is "PM me," then it's certainly not helpful for internet users who find the thread in a search engine. You found answers, post them here so everyone can learn from your experience.
Frankly, I think the thread needs to be moved. This doesn't seem like a common "General help and how-to" topic. I could be wrong.
I wouldn't mind a discussion on ROMS. I do know not to install GAPPS. What I want is a PDA that makes phone calls and texts. I use most of the Astronomy apps, plus Audubon guides, etc. I don't socialize or do business on the phone. My camera manuals are also on the phone. Most of Google's crap is disabled already and the apps I do want won't run on a dumb phone.
I've given up the Gtalk phone number, I never used it. I don't like G+, I prefer Yahoo and special forums. With the new update removing Gallery and loading into Picasa, that's about the last straw. I don't store my stuff online, never have, never will. I use Flickr if I want to post, and Dropbox for friends.. Have for years. I dislike the assumption on anyone's part about one size fitting all.
I do disable most of the crap in Windows, BTW. One computer exists only to run special software, and the other for Adobe. So I don't need all the extra crap. Both are offline. I can get files through Linux.
I can repurchase the apps I do use from Amazon. I can sync and save contact via vcf files. I don't sync with Google anyway.
I need a PDA that makes phone calls and runs the apps I want. Phone is rooted, still on 4.2 stock ROM. Will not update. Looking for the simplest ROM that doesn't have a boatload of bells and whistles. I'll buy it, I'm not looking for free.
I do not buy into any one system and have NO brand loyalty.
Since Apple does the same and has even more crap - it's easier to disable Google's. If Google's primary interest is making money, then sell me the OS or use fee for Play and **** out of the advertising. Since I don't need or want most of the services, that's fair.
My interest is in the list of the files "APK's", the OP took out of his /system/app/ directory ? or from anywhere else in the filesystem.
Please list them. Please.
I also want a usable Android phone, without Google all up in it. after all , now I want it free from the big G. as well. I know it's impossible, but if people can have an appendix removed and still live why can't google have a little surgery without the "Robot" dying? too.
well it will be, when I finally toss a copy of Tizen to it. but then i would need to make it work on my carrier's network without them crying about my changes to the hardware/software.
Likewise, I am amazed at how many here assume one must be wearing a tin foil hat. It is not unreasonable to not want a corporation to know more about you than your family and friends do.
Being this is my first smartphone, I had no clue how connected Google was to Android.
I came across this thread wanting to do the same, get Google's prying eyes off my phone. Unfortunately, it appears completely removing Google from my device is beyond my capabilities at the moment.
I don't want to offend either but I am so, so sick of this type of response to this question. I want the same answer. I want to keep my Nexus 7 (love the hardware) but don't want ANY Google services on it. Google has found and aggregated some information, even pictures from ALL of my time on the internet (a post from 15 years ago for instance!). Yes, I'm of another generation and for the life of me I can't understand why people would be so quick to give up their privacy for a little convenience.
I have been all over the internet (that's how I got here) looking for an answer to this question. If it absolutely cannot be done, just say so. Otherwise, can anyone please tell the OP and me how to do what we want to do with OUR devices?
p.s. I have not read the rest of this thread and I will now. Perhaps it will tell me how to do what I want. I just saw the first response and had to chime in. Please people... just answer the questions asked if you can.
Oh, and before anyone mentions it, I am putting aside my beautiful new Moto X because of this (sob) and going back to Blackberry. But they no longer make a tablet, hence my question on the Nexus 7.
You can turn off most of the Google spyware in your phone settings. Settings/Accounts/Google also Search, and Location. Go into all the sub menus. (Tap on each little setting to pull up more pages of settings).
Sent from my LG-LG870 using Tapatalk 2
Easiest way - get a feature phone. No actual features - it makes and takes phone calls and has a local contacts list it keeps on the phone.
Of course you give up most of the capabilities of a smartphone, but that's what you want - a dumb phone that can't "phone home". And the next time you want to know what they orange star is, or which way to drive to get where you're going, pull into the nearest gas station to ask. Life was easier in the 50s anyway - all you needed was nickles to feed the pay phones.
I may be old, but I like being able to get on the internet when the store I'm in doesn't have what I want, and find a nearby store that does. Without asking the store if I can use their antiquated Windows XP computer with the 12" CRT. I say "home depot" in a town I've never been in and the phone tells me the fastest way to get there. Donna Stone looked nice doing housework in a shirtwaist, but it's 2014.
the android phones in China mostly have google removed from them. not completely, but i think alot of the important things have been removed. there's also a Chinese android fork named Aliyun, made by the alibaba corporation. it should have little to no google components, while being able to run apk files. China is coming out with an operating system called COS. alot of people are saying it's similar to android. i think it might be able to run android apks without anything from google. the announcement was made in january, and still no news on when it will reach stores.
I used to build Ross for this reason because I think Google is evil. Even after flashing the room it still takes busy box but it's totally worth it.
Yeah, and the phones from China are loaded with their own spyware.
Report: Chinese phone comes preloaded with spyware - Story | abcactionnews.com | Tampa Bay News, Weather, Sports, Things To Do | WFTS-TV
The main reason I don't worry about all of this is that Google has far more to lose by misusing my information than they have to gain.
Which has nothing to do with Google, it's a Linux thing. (It just replaces all the Linux commands that Google left out of the kernel. It's a lot easier doing that than taking them all out of busybox and adding them to the kernel in the ROM, and it works the same way whichever way you do it.)
I just read the thread because I was interested in removing Google stuff from my Android too. Well, it really seems to be impossible to fully remove Google because - Android is Google.
But I was a little shocked about the people here saying like "It's a Google OS so it's of course sending our data to Google. Other OSs do that too." That's right, but I was wondering - Wouldn't the idea of an independent phone OS be better? Why do we have to transmit our - in some cases sensitive - data if we want a phone that is able to run apps? We can at this time only decide between having an OS being able to run apps you want but sending your data to big servers located anywhere abroad and having a phone only be able to place calls and send SMS but respects our privacy. You're not even realizing that these companies are growing bigger and more uncontrollable through what's going on at the moment. The problem is just that nobody cares about what their phones send in the background. I think the OP is right with his doubts about Google.
In times where your private messages can be sniffed, the NSA has an eye on you if you don't want to share data with them, where we're storing data where anyone can theoretically access them and AOL publishes what every single person is searching for it's always better to think about privacy. Imagine the Holocaust repeated, and "they" would just have to access Facebook's Graph search to find out who'd be a jew, and for those who are not publishing it on Facebook they could find a way to find it out anyways. Just to give an example why all this internet storing stuff could end really bad.
I decided to make a tutorial as far as I can help. I'll seperate it to root and non-root operations you can do to remove Google content and increase the security of your data (I know the increasing security part is off-topic, but I'll add them because I think who reads this topic is interested in data security anyways).
I don't know if all of the steps are really helping. If you tell me more stuff to add it'd be great as we then have a mostly complete list of what you can do. Hence this list is not complete but should help the one or other anyways.
I've also posted - in my opinion reliable - alternatives for Google's apps at the bottom.
1.: Stuff unrooted users are also able to do to decrease data sent to Google (aswell as rooted, of course)
- Disable Google's components
I don't really think this will change much, but the more the better.
Go to your device's settings and head to the application manager. There you can deactivate as much Google Apps as you want - best would be all that are able to be deactivated. Some apps may require "uninstall updates" before deactivating.
If you have any Google application from the Play Store (or anywhere else) and these were not pre-installed you can also fully uninstall them.- Delete your Google account.
Not just from the phone, I mean really deleting it unless you don't need it e. g. for work. If you really want to unbind yourself from Google this is an important step. You can disable your account here. As Google will not fully delete your data stored at them anyways, it may help to delete everything manually first, like Google Drive content for example- Disable extra Google content where possible
There's some stuff more left which you possibly can disable too. However, some might not be needed to be disabled anymore if you removed your Google account. The paths may vary in different Android versions. I'm using Android 4.4.4 and will post these steps how my phone displays them.
Device Settings -> Location: Disable Google Location Reporting
(Sorry - I haven't found more, but I'll add stuff here if you know something else)
2.: Stuff only rooted users are able to do to decrease data sent to Google
[LIST][*]Uninstall Google Apps
(Not needed if you're going to do the next point and going to install CM)
All of them.
To do so, take your favorite root browser (for those who have no: Just search for one. Some need to have the root function enabled manually) and go to your root directory ("/"). Then open System ("/system") and head to App ("/system/app") folder. There your stock-installed apps are listed. Delete the *.apk's listed below. It's easier with this
Google Apps list (Can't promise it's complete, that are all I found) (That they're listed here doesn't mean these are all installed on your phone; this varies. Delete any apk from these you see in your /system/app folder):
Books.apk
CalenderGoogle.apk
Chrome.apk
ChromeBookmarksSyncAdapter.apk
ChromeBeta.apk
CloudPrint2.apk
Drive.apk
GenieWidget.apk
Gmail2.apk
GoogleCamera.apk
GoogleContactsSyncAdapter.apk
GoogleEars.apk
GoogleEarth.apk
GoogleHome.apk
GoogleTTS.apk
Hangouts.apk
iWnnIME.apk
iWnnIME_Kbd_White.apk
Keep.apk
LatinImeGoogle.apk
Magazines.apk
Maps.apk
Music2.apk
PlayGames.apk
PlusOne.apk
QuickOffice.apk
Street.apk
SunBeam.apk
Videos.apk
YouTube.apk
[*]Flash CyanogenMod or another stock android rom without GAPPS
CyanogenMod is a stock android ROM which is available for many devices. It supports all functions your phone needs and is - as far as I know - the most pure stock Android ROM. It doesn't have any bloatware, spyware or Google Apps preinstalled (except the usual Google stuff)
I won't explain how to flash CyanogenMod on your phone as this probably varies for every phone. You can find installing tutorials for your phone in the internet. The basic steps are: Nandroid backup - Flash a custom recovery - Flash CM
After flashing, don't install GAPPS of course.
[*]Don't use Google nor its products
Google will collect some data anyways if you continue to use it with your phone. Alternatives are given at the bottom, too. The same is for their products like YouTube and so on.
3.: Stuff you can do to protect your privacy even more, not specifically for Google
[*]Orbot + Orweb
Orbot is an application which allows you to extremely anonymize your internet traffic. It's more than just a proxy, it "uses Tor to encrypt your Internet traffic and then hides it by bouncing through a series of computers around the world."
It's not just encrypting your traffic, it also makes you able to visit specific websites e. g. not available in your country. For me (I'm from Germany) for example it makes me able to use the Pandora app. For non-rooted users it can only work for apps which have a proxy function like Twitter or Firefox, for rooted users it works for any app they choose or the whole system.
Tutorial
Orweb is the matching browser for Orbot. It makes you able to browse anonymously. It will not leave website data like web history stored on your device and even gives you access to .onion URLs.
[*]PryFi
To say it shortly, PryFi protects your phone from being reported to stores which buy systems that make them able to track customers' MAC addresses. It can even "confuse" those systems by randomly changing the MAC often.
More information about it you can see in the linked XDA topic, aswell as the download.
[*]Antivirus apps
There are many antivirus apps you can use to protect your phone even better from apps sniffing your data, for example. It's, aswell as on PCs, always recommended to have one installed.
4.: Alternatives for Google's Services
To keep it short (this post is already lomng as hell anyways lol), I'll only add alternatives for Google services you can't "easily" find an alternative for. There are bunches of alternatives for example for Google Camera, Play Kiosk or Play Music.
Chrome: Orweb (see above) / Opera / Firefox / Dolphin / Safari (not Apple's) / ...
Play Store: Amazon App Store / 1Mobile / AppBrain
YouTube: I don't really think there's an alternative for YouTube itself, but you can install an alternative app or visit YouTube from your favorite mobile broswer anonymously
GMail: You can login to your Gmail account from any universal email app you like
Google Search: I suggest you to use a non-tracking search engine like DuckDuckGo or Startpage
Google Drive/Photos: Any online cloud such as Dropbox. I'm not sure if these are treating your data more safely but it helps getting rid of Google.
Google+/Hangouts: I think the alternatives are clear here but you can access them from your browser if you really need to continue using them for some reason.
Google Voice Search/input: I think this app is a good alternative
Google Now: Unfortunately, I don't think there's an comparable alternative :-\
Backing up your Contacts like Google Contacts does: This app should do so well
Chrome alternative for desktop pc users (exactly like gChrome, just without Google stuff): SRWare Iron
However, I know this is a long post and I'm sorry if it's not 100% complete, but these first steps of getting rid of Google (although you'll never fully get rid of Google's stuff with an Android) should help the one or other for now.
If there are any slips in the grammar I'm sorry, I'm not a native English speaker and I'm trying to type the best English I've learned :D
As I already said, if you know anything to add to here I'll add this, so we have a more or less complete list for those who want to get rid of Google at least a bit. Anyways, if you're actually hating Google or something and don't want to have Google receiving (sensitive) data from and about you you won't get around buying another smartphone anyways ;)
Thanks to all who wrote something yet, this makes it clearer what's possible to do so far :)
Finally I've succesfuly removed all the services from my Xperia L which are contained "google" in it. Never looking back, EVERYTHING has a FOSS alternative. In addition, my battery uptime is increased by 30% without their unused bloatware background services. This post was helpful to begin with. Keep it up.
Not sure if the tone is changing on this topic (privacy) or if the naysayers just lost interest. Bought my first smartphone a short time ago. Wanted to be able to run Navonics when boating, get tide and weather info real time. Read my favorite forums when on the bus or waiting. Maybe check email. Find something while on the road in an emergency.
Read a lot before selecting a phone. Never heard any discussion of privacy. Would have thought twice if I had!
Have yet to hear a decent reason goggle should have my personal "profile" and how it will benefit me? It's my data...if google wants it they can pay me for it. Glad the OP asked the question. Wonder why the pro goggle crowd is so vehement. I think younger generations are much more willing to accept the concessions for using google services. Obviously am not one of them.
I understand your point, but I feel I get a lot of benefit from sharing my data with Google. I get the best email client and search engine on the planet, great mapping and navigation, I get many conveniences like running apps that genuinely improve my life and make me more efficient.
But I am making an informed choice. The big problem with privacy today is that most people are using these services and "opting in" to their policies without all the information in front of them. The industry needs A LOT more transparency so everyone can make an informed choice like you and I have done.
Orbot + Orweb are not all they make out to be. The silk road owner the dreaded pirate Robert thought he was invisible behind the darknet, and the FBI still got him. The FBI is sending out the message "we're the FBI, and there's no place where we can't reach you!" That makes me shudder just to think that orbot + orweb gives me nothing but a false sense of security.
Sent from my LG-E980