Most Android smartphones come with Google services installed by default. It is a set of applications and features that are designed to provide additional functionality to users. One of the advantages of Google's pre-installed apps is that they are fully compatible with any phone on which they are installed. Therefore, the number of crashes, freezes and other problems with use will be minimal.
But there's a downside: Google's background processes can drain your battery, and the apps themselves take up space on your phone. In addition, some of the services are practically not used in Russia, so some users do not know why they are needed and whether they can be removed. Read more about what Google services are on a phone and why they are needed in our article.
Google Chrome
A pre-installed browser from Google that cannot be removed. Although this button is available in the Play Store, in the case of this application it is only responsible for removing updates. The browser itself can only be forcibly stopped. Many users complain that Google Chrome takes up too much space on their phone. However, the application itself is light in weight. Only the cache clogs up the memory, which can be cleared through application management in the phone settings.
Why do you need Google services?
1. Stable operation of the application store. The most popular feature of the Android operating system is the built-in Google Play store for downloading and installing applications. Users can also purchase paid products.
If your phone doesn't have Google services, you won't be able to open the app store. In this case, you will have to use alternative sources, for example, thematic sites. This carries the risk of infecting your smartphone with dangerous software.
2. Google Maps is a convenient application for viewing maps. Through this service you can determine your current location, launch satellite navigation or get directions. Clients are also provided with high quality satellite images. Without Google services, maps may not function properly. For example, even if the program opens, the user will not be able to log in to the system, since the Google account is closely tied to the corporation’s services.
3. Watch YouTube. Today YouTube is the most popular video hosting site, where visitors share videos with each other. Without Google services, it is impossible to install the corresponding application - it will automatically close, displaying an error.
There are several solutions to the problem, for example, downloading an outdated version that remains functional without installed services. However, users no longer have the ability to log in, create a list of videos they like, or write comments. An additional way to visit a video hosting site is to open a browser. Of course, the application is much more convenient, since it has improved optimization for smartphones and additional benefits.
4. Receive notifications. If your phone doesn't have Google services, you may experience problems with messages and notifications. Some applications have Push notifications transmitted through the search company's servers.
5. Games. To use some games (especially online), you need Google services for authorization and other functions.
What apps does Google have?
Work and education
- Scientific journal A must-have application for teachers and scientists. ...
- Google My Business Use Google search and maps to tell customers about your business. ...
- Google Classroom. ...
- Google Slides...
- Google PDF Viewer. ...
- Virtual printer
27 Apr
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Google Services Update
Sometimes Google services refuse to function normally. You may have problems accepting notifications or running some programs. In this case, you need to update the applications that are experiencing problems.
- Launch the Google Play app store.
- Enter the name of the Google application into the search.
- Click the "Update" button.
- Wait while your phone downloads the necessary files.
Then, following the same instructions, you need to update the Google Services themselves. Here is a link to this application on Google Play.
To ensure that your phone always updates services on its own, you can configure this feature in the application store. The auto-update application feature will help with this.
Ratings: 18 , average: 3.11
How to remove Google services from Android
There are several methods to uninstalling a program. To destroy some programs, you will need to obtain superuser rights. Removal options are divided into the following types:
- standard means;
- through programs;
- file manager;
- removal via computer.
Root rights are necessary for the user, since some of the software is system-based. Destroying such utilities may result in the device not functioning properly, so you can create copies of them in advance. If there is no concern about this, then deletion can be carried out without backup copies.
You can remove it using standard or built-in tools that are on your phone. To do this you need to do the following:
- in the settings, go to the “Device” tab, open “Applications”;
- Some Google applications can be deleted without superuser rights, these include games, music, movies, books;
- by selecting one of the utilities, you can see the inscription “Delete”, click on it and confirm the action;
- if you cannot simply remove the program from the directory, you will need to use root rights;
- after receiving them, you need to go to the program and delete it either from the list of all applications, or when entering the menu of the program itself.
You can obtain superuser rights in various ways, both using system commands and using an application. The Root Explorer program is most often used to fine-tune the system.
There are many programs for Android gadgets that allow you to quickly clean files and remove some software. Many of them require extended powers; you must respond affirmatively to this notice. To remove Google services using programs you need:
- download the desired application to the device, Titanium Backup is most often used;
- after installation, you should go to the utility and go to “Backups” with a list of all applications;
- select one of Google services;
- a window will appear in which you should click on the “Freeze” button to stop the software;
- then click “Delete”, the program will be uninstalled from the device.
The method is considered effective, since all options for removal are presented here at once. Using Titanium Backup, you can remove any of the company's services from applications.
You can also remove the Google service by downloading a file manager that already supports ROOT rights. ES Explorer has this functionality. After downloading it, you need to do the following:
- open the downloaded application, expand the menu and click on the “ROOT Explorer” item;
- grant superuser rights and check the box next to “Show hidden files”;
- reload the program;
- go into it again, select the “Local Storage” section, “Device” folder, go to “System”;
- open the “App” or “Priv-app” directory, the files to be deleted will be in one of them;
- select one of the folders that has the name of one of the Google services in English, for example, Google Play Games - com.google.android.play.games and so on;
- hold down the desired directory for a few seconds, a window with options will appear, select “Delete”;
- return to the root directory and click on “Data”;
- in this directory there will be a folder with the same name “Data”, from it you also need to remove the same element that was uninstalled earlier.
Using system files may result in an error. Therefore, this method is not popular; a program or an option with removal via a PC is more often used.
The last option involves using a personal computer. A smartphone is connected to it via a USB cable, and unnecessary software is removed. Before the operation, you need to prepare the equipment. To do this you need:
- Enable the “USB Debugging” function on your phone; it can be found in the “For Developers” item;
- ADB drivers should be loaded onto the PC to perform the process correctly;
- The Debloater program is also installed on the computer.
The order of the procedure is as follows:
- the program opens on a PC, the smartphone is connected via USB;
- “Synced” and “Device Connected” items will appear in the application;
- click the “Read Device Package” button;
- After a while, a list of programs on the phone that can be deleted will appear;
- select the required elements by checking the box next to them and press the “Apply” button;
- a window with the results will appear.
Root rights may be required. They can be given when connecting the gadget to the computer. On the device in a special ram you will need to press the “Allow” button, after which extended permissions will be given.
Is it possible to use smartphones without Google services?
Google services are a useful but optional software component. If the user decides to delete them, he will have to face the following features and problems:
- No instant notifications.
- Programs not working (YouTube, Google Maps, Gmail).
- The need to install applications from alternative sources (Google Play will not work).
- No automatic updates.
- Lack of synchronization.
Disabling/removing Google services
Disabling services is very simple - just open them in Google Play and click the “disable” button.
You can delete services, but this is more difficult. Standard phone capabilities do not allow such an operation, but using alternative software easily solves the problem. True, this requires root rights.
- Install Titanium Backup - a functional file manager that allows you to create backups and manage system applications.
- After installation, click on the shortcut and wait while the program scans the phone's file system.
- In the directory that opens, select “Google Play services” and click on the inscription.
- As a result, you will be prompted to freeze or delete the application. Click on the second item and wait until the services are completely uninstalled.
- After completing the procedure, it is recommended to restart your smartphone and check the result.
Thus, removing Google services is quite simple. It will save battery charge and relieve RAM. This is especially true for older smartphones.
Google Calendar
Many people use a calendar to plan their day.
It would seem that there was no point in expecting a trick from a simple calendar and also a simple task scheduler (by the way, do you use Google Calendar? Share your opinion in our Telegram chat). However, there is a catch here. And while Google Maps knows where you've been, Google Calendar knows exactly what you did and when. Of course, this is all true for those cases when you use the calendar as a diary. However, there are a lot of scheduler programs that support synchronization with the Calendar. Google also uses this information for its own purposes. So keep that in mind.
What does pure Android mean?
The term “naked Android” most often hides the abbreviation AOSP (Android Open Source Project) . This project is a kind of platform for creating ready-made firmware for smartphones. And then each manufacturer can add their own unique features here and give the average user a little more functionality than stated at the start.
It is clear that the system also works in reverse. Google often looks closely at shells from Samsung and introduces features that were previously available only to owners of gadgets from the South Korean brand.
Why everyone loves naked Android.
What happens if you delete
Access to AR will not be completely lost.
The ability to use the application will also remain, but there are two options:
- The application will ask you to update the “augmented reality” data package to the latest version, and simply will not let the person in.
- The program will work fully, but the functionality will be reduced or some things will not be displayed correctly. Like, for example, masks for photos in some social networks that use neural networks to process data.
Usually, the second option occurs on Chinese smartphones, which have their own AR render. This is due to the ban on Google services in China, so developers have to completely create their own add-ons.
Google Assistant
Today there is practically no person left who has not used a voice assistant at least once.
"OK Google." Almost everyone knows this phrase. And they even actively use it. The fact is that the Assistant knows a lot about you. Even if you haven't asked it about something, it has the ability to exchange data with other applications and, for example, understand where you live. Therefore, if you mark your house on Google Maps, then after you ask the Google Assistant to get directions to your house, it will easily do it. Google says it uses this data in an encrypted and anonymized form. But, firstly, where is the guarantee that they are not lying to us, and secondly, no one is immune from the fact that in this way hackers or even ordinary thieves who stole a smartphone from your pocket can find out a lot about you.
Is it possible to remove Google Play Services for AR
Currently, the AR module is installed by default on all mobile devices that support Augmented Reality technology. It may be automatically installed when you update Android to the latest version. Google is constantly introducing its new products through background updates. If there is no need for programs running on the AR platform, this service can be easily removed from your device. To do this, you will need to find it in the “Applications” section and uninstall it manually.
Android apps won't launch
Is there life on Android without GMS? Yes, there is, but with restrictions. All Chinese devices that offer you to download applications without certification from Google often use a Google account as authorization or Google Maps in a taxi application, and here GMS support is already needed. As a result, such software either simply refuses to open at all, or works with constant errors.
On the other hand, the Internet is full of different privacy fans, and for them, a smartphone without GMS seems like a pretty good solution. If there is any way to refuse Google tracking, then this method is perhaps the most effective.
Installation methods
You did not put up with the lack of service and are ready to take various measures to restore the application store. Perhaps some of the readers are already thinking about changing the gadget to a more complete one. Let us be glad, this is not necessary, because the services can be installed manually yourself.
Via APK file
Basically, when we are missing some application on our phone, we go to download its APK installer file. It stores all the files, information about where to download them and how to continue working with the device. As it turns out, Google Play is no exception, because it can also be downloaded via the Internet using an APK file. To do this, follow the algorithm below:
- Follow this link (the file has been checked for viruses) and download the program distribution in APK format.
- We download it to your phone in a way convenient for you (if you downloaded from a computer).
- Go to Explorer and open the downloaded file with the .apk extension.
- We are waiting for the download to finish.
You will be surprised, but this is where your torment without an app store comes to an end. The service must integrate into the phone, request access to storage and other resources, and ask you to log in to your Google account.
Installers of Google services and applications
This method is more or less similar to the previous one, except that not one component is installed, but the entire package of Google services at once. On the one hand, this approach is more reliable, because individual components cause a number of problems. However, when installing the entire package, there are many failures related to system security. Algorithm of actions:
- You need to download the Google Apps Installer installation file.
- Install services using the APK file.
- Log in to the Google app.
Ready. Many new programs will appear on your phone or tablet, among which will be the Market. If the programs do not appear, then try looking for another installer. The link we provided above is only great for Meizu phones. It is not known how it will behave on other phones.
Root Explorer
This is not a separate method, but rather an addition to the points above. On some gadgets, access to root rights is required for full operation. We will not consider the detailed rooting algorithm, since it is different for each model. We’ll just tell you how to run the installation file with root rights. To do this, follow the steps below:
- Download root explorer.
- Install it on your device.
- Install one of the Play Market distributions.
- Launch it from the root explorer app.
Ready.
OpenGapps
OpenGapps is a special utility that, based on data about your device, selects the desired version of Google services. This selection method is much safer and faster, since you do not have to clean up debris from a previous unsuccessful installation. To install, just download the utility from the website, specifying the required characteristics (you can find out about them in the settings). We will not repeat the description of the algorithm, since it fully corresponds to the second subheading described above.
Why disable Google services on Android
Typically, Google programs consume 5-10 percent of battery power. If the versions of Android and applications are incompatible, programs can take up to 90 percent of the charge. Often, an increase in consumption occurs after downloading an OS update. At the same time, services are not updated, which causes a conflict and applications need more charge.
To use less battery and free up space, you can disable unused programs such as Calendar, Maps, Hangouts, Drive or Location Services. Deactivation will result in energy being wasted on other applications, and space will not be taken up by updates to these services.
What can't be disabled
An Android smartphone requires some applications to function correctly. Some of them are services from Google; it is not recommended to delete them. The programs are as follows:
- Google accounts - should not be deleted, since data for other services that may be needed for the gadget is stored here;
- Google Play Market is an application store from which various programs are installed;
- Google Services Framework - required to optimize and speed up other applications;
- Google one time init - the service is responsible for entering initial information, is used only when the phone starts, after which it automatically stops working;
- Google Play services - used by the system to update and synchronize software on the smartphone.
Other programs that include books, music, newspapers, movies, games, calendars and other unused applications can be disabled. If they are not used, this will have a positive effect on the phone, as it will free up space and charge.
Separately, it is necessary to say about “Google Speech Synthesizer” and “Google Contacts Sync”. In most cases, they are important for the operation of the gadget, so you should not disable them.
What is included in Google services?
Google Internet Services
Service name | Description | State |
Google Play | App Store | works |
Google News | News portal | works |
Google Hangouts | Instant messaging (chat) video and voice communication | works |
Google Translate | Translation of words, texts, phrases, web pages | works |
Complete removal of Google Play services from your smartphone
A radical method of removing all services and programs that are related to Google. If you don’t need software pre-installed by the manufacturer, then this method is the right choice.
Previously, I already wrote about how to disable Google/Xiaomi services in MIUI firmware, but if the method described in that article has a more “narrow” focus, then the method described in this article will help to completely remove Google Play services from your smartphone, regardless of its version (2.3+, 7.0 is in question, it seems that it will require improvement).
Before performing the actions described in the article, we MUST make a backup - /system, if space allows, then /data
The script removes the standard Google/CM keyboard, contacts/calendar synchronization services, google drive, google maps, voice search and others.
On MIUI and flame firmware, bootloops are possible, because... they are tightly tied to the services being removed.
The script only works on system partitions, which means that if you have installed updates, you must first remove them in the menu “Settings - Applications - Application * - Uninstall update”.
To successfully complete this action you will need:
- General understanding of what Root is;
- Ability to install custom TWRP on your phone;
- Ability to make backups via TWRP;
- Remember that you do everything at your own risk.
Installation:
- Download the archive with the script;
- Copy it to the device’s flash card;
- Install the script via TWRP.
- After its completion, you need to clear “wipe dalvik/ART-cache”.
If you want to leave some application, you need to edit the delete.sh file (notepad or notepad++) by deleting the lines with the required software in it.
An alternative source of programs is F-Droid, which publishes only open source software.
In future articles I will definitely touch on the topic of alternative ways to synchronize contacts.
Many users want to know how to remove some Google services from their Android device. This question arises because these programs are not always needed. At the same time, they take up free space.