If anyone could point me to some information or guide about this I’d really appreciate that.
I think the official com.android.gsm and friends need to be uninstalled first. I’ve tried that with adb, console reports “success”, Google Play Services is no longer listed in Settings > Apps.
But… if I try to install MicroG via Fdroid or Droid-ify it goes through the install process, there’s no error, but MicroG Core is not shown as “installed”. If I try to install the apk with adb it says the currently installed version is newer than the one I’m trying to install?
microg.org seems to just assume you know how to install.
I read something about signature spoofing but I thought that was only for older devices.
Any insights / suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
Edit: I think this is the answer: https://xdaforums.com/t/guide-degoogle-any-device-and-install-microg.4058743/
Well, it was a carrier branded ROM. I’ve flashed rooted stock A13, so not really “factory” but I take your point in that it still has google services.
I’ve seen commenters in xda forums taking about this approach like it’s no big thing.
Because GS are part of the ROM, I think it’s likely to cause problems if you remove it.
That said, since you’re not afraid to flash it, I’d root it, rip out the google services files, then flash whichever GApps package you want in there.
Should be interesting to see what problems arise (or don’t).
Curious - what’s your goal here?
Alternatively, flash a ROM that doesn’t have Gservices like Lineage or DivestOS. Then flash GApps of choice.
Sure, look I don’t know enough about this to contradict you but I’m not sure “GS are part of the ROM” is the whole story. The components in question like com.google.android.gms are just components, it’s just that a lot of other components rely on them. If you remove them it’s going to cause problems, but as I understand it the purpose of the microG suite is to mitigate those problems?
I’m not sure I really have a specific goal. It’s a second / unused device so I’m just playing around with it really. I’ve always wanted to try Lineage but it’s not directly supported and I think there’s problems with the Camera amongst other things. I was reading on xda-forums someone said they rooted, installed stock android, then lsposed, and microG, and found the end result to be very pleasing, so I was just kinda following along with that to see where I end up.
I think in summary I’m interested to see what sort of experience is possible without any (minimal?) google services or apps.
I’ve updated the post since your first comment, I found a guide that I’m going to work through. I’ll let you know.
When a ROM is compiled, the compiler follows the build file, which means it’ll build in dependencies related to the files bing compiled. So simply remove/replace has a high risk of not working, since dependencies are unique to each file/component.
I was reading on xda-forums someone said they rooted, installed stock android, then lsposed, and microG, and found the end result to be very pleasing
This is a bit messy - rooting is done to a running OS, and unrelated to flashing a stock ROM. Stock Roms, as far as I’ve seen typically have Google Services baked in. Just clarifying.
I suppose they flashed a ROM without Google Services, rooted it, then flashed the Magisk Module Lsposed, and a version of GApps. I’ve done similar, lsposed (and its predecessor XPosed) provides a lot of customization capability.
Running without Google Services makes a fast phone and a battery that lasts noticeably longer. You could try simply freezing the Google Services files with something like 3C Toolbox (once rooted, of course). I think 3C can actually uninstall the files, but that’s a good path to boot loop (ask me how I know 😁 ).
Even just freezing the files will often cause repetitive error notifications.
These problems are (I think) a result of the dependencies - like broadcasts that get configured for services during compile.
Give it a go - worst that happens is you reflash!
