How to Degoogle without customROM?
from ratzki@discuss.tchncs.de to degoogle@lemmy.ml on 22 Aug 2023 22:34
https://discuss.tchncs.de/post/2201857

Hi, I want to degoogle a Samsung Tablet I got. There is no LineageOS built out for this recent tablet, so I can only try to degoogle the stock ROM.

Any good guides to follow?

And further guides to remove the Samsung bloat? Thanks!

threaded - newest

AutumnSpark1226@lemmy.today on 22 Aug 2023 22:50 next collapse

The first thing you need is root access. Then you can uninstall all google apps (including system apps).

merde@sh.itjust.works on 22 Aug 2023 23:08 collapse

rooting is not necessary to uninstall Gapps, adb is enough

AutumnSpark1226@lemmy.today on 22 Aug 2023 23:15 collapse

Now, I know. Does that work with older android versions too? I had trouble using adb to uninstall/disable system apps on a samsung phone running android 9. That’s why I recommended rooting.

atomkarinca@lemmygrad.ml on 22 Aug 2023 23:34 collapse

yeah, mine is 9 and i successfully degoogled it using just adb.

binboupan@lemm.ee on 22 Aug 2023 23:46 collapse

With adb they are just removed from your profile (user 1) and they will come back if you reset your phone.

atomkarinca@lemmygrad.ml on 23 Aug 2023 06:12 collapse

that’s not my experience. i haven’t rooted my phone and i just used adb. what’s more, first time i did it, i went overboard and the phone didn’t even reboot.

binboupan@lemm.ee on 23 Aug 2023 09:14 collapse

reset, not reboot :)

atomkarinca@lemmygrad.ml on 23 Aug 2023 11:46 collapse

oh okay, sorry.

PrepaidCompare@lemmy.world on 22 Aug 2023 22:53 next collapse

Universal Android Debloater. No root required. github.com/0x192/universal-android-debloater

incogtino@lemmy.zip on 22 Aug 2023 23:00 next collapse

Agree. It should be pretty thorough for a Samsung tablet

AutumnSpark1226@lemmy.today on 22 Aug 2023 23:01 next collapse

Well, I just heard this for the first time. Could have saved me a lot of time and trouble.

ratzki@discuss.tchncs.de on 23 Aug 2023 09:38 collapse

Great, thanks! Have not even found this on r/degoogle 🥲

incogtino@lemmy.zip on 22 Aug 2023 22:57 next collapse

This is what I’ve done a couple of times now

lemmy.zip/comment/1548190

But… I haven’t had any feedback on whether this is effective from the perspective of getting rid of Google entirely

I will say that it makes the phone feel really light and fast, literally every app in the app drawer is one you put there yourself. My battery life is usually better too

The UAD should be pretty safe (and I think it’s a bit conservative in what it recommends) but make sure you take care with the packages you remove yourself

caos@feddit.de on 22 Aug 2023 23:20 next collapse

There is a very good series of articles here, but in German: kuketz-blog.de/android-ohne-google-take-back-cont… Parts 1, 5, 6, 7 & 8 can also be realised without custom ROM and root.

ratzki@discuss.tchncs.de on 23 Aug 2023 09:46 next collapse

Thank you all for the great suggestions!

MotherFlocker@jlai.lu on 11 Sep 2023 04:11 collapse

You won’t be able to remove all the google spy codes at system level by just debloating, unfortunately.

For example, google has wifi scanning crap that you can’t turn it off, and google has your device fingerprint, which means if you go to some website with google code in it, google will still know your device went to the website and so on.

It’s not as simple as some people here says.

ratzki@discuss.tchncs.de on 11 Sep 2023 07:39 collapse

I assume so. I just need to bridge the time until there is a custom ROM available for my device. After running UAD I already have a learning curve trying to find app alternatives. After removing OEM and recommended stuff I cannot even change the wallpaper anymore 😅

MotherFlocker@jlai.lu on 11 Sep 2023 07:48 collapse

Yeah that sucks. If possible, you may want to sell your device and get another one with more support (usually pixels are the best in terms of custom ROM support) or get another used one for cheap price.

ratzki@discuss.tchncs.de on 11 Sep 2023 10:07 collapse

Nah, it is only a matter of time and I use it on a local tablet only. I regard this as a training device 😅