How can I use a smartphone without Google?

Most Android smartphones sold on the market have Google applications or services installed as standard. If you want to use your Android phone without Google, there are several solutions. Adopt an alternative method that respects the confidentiality and security of your personal data.

There are a few good habits you can adopt to avoid using Google’s services and applications on a daily basis.

Finding alternatives to Google services:

Applications and services:

Use open source alternatives to replace Google applications. For example:

– Use Signal or Telegram for messages.
– Favour open source applications. Or make sure you only give access to the trackers that are essential for an application to work properly.
– Choose search engines such as DuckDuckGo, StartPage or Qwant.
– Opt for more virtuous web browsers such as Google Chrome, Comment Brave, Mozilla Firefox, Tor Browser, OsmAnd or Safari.
– To store your data and photos, opt for Nextcloud.

Security and privacy:

For email, contacts and calendars, choose privacy-friendly solutions that do not collect your personal information.
– Use encrypted mailboxes such as Protonmail, Murena.io or Tutanota.
– Remember to install VPN software to encrypt and protect your browsing.

Accessing applications without the Play Store:

Alternative stores:

You can install F-Droid, an open source application store, to download applications without going through the Google Play Store. Aurora Store is another alternative that lets you access Play Store applications anonymously.
There’s also App Lounge, a /e/OS application installation programme, which also lets you download all your favourite Play Store applications, but allows you to see exactly which trackers are in them.

Manual installation (APK):

You can manually download application APK files from trusted sources on the web and install them on your smartphone to bypass the Play Store.

Using MicroG:

While some applications require Google services to work properly, MicroG is an open source solution that reimplements Google Play services without sending your data to Google, enabling better integration of apps that depend on these services.

If you want to go even further, there are offers that allow you to stop having any Google services on your phone or computer. There are several ways to do this:

1) Installing an alternative operating system:

Custom ROMs:

As explained above, many mobile phones are sold with operating systems where Google services and applications are pre-installed.
For a large proportion of Android devices, such as Samsung phones, you have the option of changing the operating system to install a more virtuous one.
Download an alternative custom ROM without Google services, such as LineageOS or /e/OS, which are modified versions of Android focused on security, data protection and privacy.

Installation method:

In order to install these alternative systems on your mobile. The first step is to check that your smartphone is compatible with the desired system, then follow the instructions to unlock your device’s bootloader and use a flash method to install the ROM.
You may need tools like TWRP to flash the ROM on your device. Some systems, such as /e/OS, also offer simplified quick installation methods.

If you don’t feel comfortable with the idea of changing your operating system yourself, you have the option of choosing phones with a pre-installed custom ROM.

2) Select an appropriate device:

Choosing your phone model:

You can opt for Android smartphones such as those from Huawei, which offers models without pre-installed Google services. These are not exclusively designed to protect your private data, but they can be a viable alternative to having Google on your phone.

You can also choose a smartphone with an OS based on respect for your personal and private data. There are several brands of unfrozen phones, such as Murena and Graphenos. These phones have no pre-installed Google services or applications, and mostly offer open source apps that respect your privacy.

By following these steps, you’ll be able to use an Android smartphone without relying on Google services and applications. This approach gives you greater control over your personal data and a user experience tailored to your privacy and security needs.

To find out more about our e/OS/ operating system, click here.
Click here to find out more about Murena’s unfrozen smartphones.