I’ve used Android since almost the beginning, and the control and customization it offered were among the features that attracted me most. But over the years, that openness has been reduced. I’m not especially paranoid about privacy, but I was curious about how much of Android I could use without relying on Google’s apps and services. It turns out that it is entirely possible.
What “de-Googling” really means
It’s more than just deleting apps
Over time, I’ve become increasingly interested in the idea of de-Googling my phone. Although I’m not obsessed with my digital privacy, I am very aware of how much information Google has on me and the security implications of that. I’m also wary of being too reliant on a single ecosystem, and I would just generally like my phone to be less cluttered. All of these are benefits that going Google-free should bring.
There are three ways to de-Google your phone, depending on how far you want to go. The first is simply to remove your Google account. You can continue using most of the Google apps, like Maps, YouTube, Chrome, and even Gmail (with an email address from a different provider). But you’ll lose some apps, you can’t use the Play Store, and the privacy benefits are limited.
The next option is to factory reset your phone and not add your Google details during the setup process. Then, disable all the Google apps, including Google Play Services, before you’ve even opened any of them. This will leave you with a largely empty phone—even the Camera app on my Pixel relies on Play Services—so you’ll need to sideload a web browser and then install a new app store to replace everything.
You can test out this experience first by creating a new user account on your phone and keeping it logged out. This method brings greater privacy benefits, although there are still ways you will be tracked.
The third, and best, option is to use a Google-less version of Android. You can test this out by using the Dynamic System Updates feature that’s built into every modern Android phone. This is temporary, so you can revert back to your regular setup without any inconvenience if you don’t like it.
Alternatively, install a custom ROM on your phone to replace the stock version of Android. I’d already got an older device running the excellent de-Googled LineageOS, so I adopted that for a while to see how it went.
- SoC
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Google Tensor G4
- Display
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6.3-inch Actua display
The Google Pixel 10a is a barely updated version of the Google Pixel 9a, with a slightly brighter screen and an upgrade from Gorilla Glass 3 to Gorilla Glass 7i. Google has shaved the remaining few millimeters from the camera bump, making it completely flat. Unlike prior versions of the Pixel a series, this model year does not share the same Tensor processor as the mainline Pixel 10.
What it’s like using a Google-less Android phone
What you gain and what you lose
When using a de-Googled phone, you lose access to the apps, the Play Store, and the convenience that comes with background syncing, but you can mostly work around them.
I found it easy to replace most of the Google apps, and almost all the other apps I used were simple enough to install. I use Brave instead of Chrome, Spotify, WhatsApp, Pocket Casts for podcasts, and Ente Photos as a Google Photos alternative, and these are all easy to sideload.
I set up the alternative app stores Aurora and F-Droid, which helped me find the rest, or at least replacements for them, such as HERE WeGo for maps and the social media apps.
There are two things I use all the time that I couldn’t replace. One is Google Wallet, for which there’s unlikely to be a replacement for devices that aren’t tied to big tech brands, and the Messages app. Yes, there are plenty of good SMS apps, with one included in LineageOS, but RCS messaging requires Google. It means that group chats, better image sharing, read receipts, and so on were all off limits. That was perhaps the thing I missed most, and the thing that would stop me committing to this long-term.
Another inconvenience was the loss of Google’s background syncing and cloud support. It’s something that you never really think about, but when you do need it—whether to access something on a different computer, or when you need a backup—it’s nice to have that reassurance that it’s just happening automatically.
The Proton apps are a pretty good replacement for much of what Google offers, but you can’t replace the way Google is seamlessly integrated into Android.
- OS
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Windows, Mac, Android, iOS
- Supported Desktop Browsers
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Firefox, Edge, Chrome, Brave
Proton’s mission is to build a better internet where privacy is the default. Each one of our services help you secure your online life, with Proton Pass gain access to each of these services.
Yet, despite a few apps not working, and not being able to save game progress in Google Play Games, most things don’t actually need Google. The result is a cleaner setup, fewer notifications and less background activity, and possibly better battery life, although I didn’t measure that to be sure.
Once I’d got everything installed and running, it was far less inconvenient than I’d expected it to be.
Why de-Googling changes how the phone feels
A cleaner experience, with trade-offs
I enjoyed my time with a completely de-Googled phone. I got more privacy, less tracking, and greater control. I was able to choose what went on my phone and how I used it.
But there are trade-offs, and it’s not for everyone. It needs extra setup and maintenance, and I didn’t realize how many of the smaller conveniences I took for granted until I no longer had them. Using an email client without Gmail’s automatic sorting and filtering features takes some getting used to.
Most of all, though, it felt like a throwback to the early days of Android before bloatware, AI, and general clutter became commonplace. It’s a breath of fresh air at a time when phones get more and more features that I don’t really need. Even if I don’t stick with it permanently, my experience proved that de-Googling is possible, and that Android doesn’t have to feel the way it does by default.
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
