How to banish Google from your smartphone

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

For many, Google's programs and services look like an integral part of the Android operating system. However, this is not the case, as Cyanogen proves to us every day. If you also want to get rid of the gluttonous, inhibited and stealing your information Google services, then this article is for you.

This article may be of interest primarily to geeks who like to poke around in their smartphone, as well as owners of not-too-powerful gadgets looking for ways to increase their performance. All users who are not interested in this, do not need it and for whom "everything works like that", please do not worry and do not waste time reading this text.

Anyone who has come across third-party firmware knows how great Android works until you install a package of applications and services from Google on it. The smartphone immediately begins to shamelessly slow down and eat up the battery, and regardless of which Google Apps assembly you install. But, despite this, the majority of users still continue to use the software from Google, unable to find a full replacement for it. Below we will try to do this. But first, let's get rid of all traces of the "Corporation of Good" in your device. This can be done in two ways (no root required).

1. Delete your account in the list of connected accounts. This can be done in the device settings in the "Accounts" section. After this operation, you will need to manually remove or disable all applications from Google.

2. Perform a full reset of your device to its original state. This feature is hidden in the "Restore and reset" section and is called "Factory data reset". Please note that this will delete all data from the internal memory, settings and installed applications, so you have to start your smartphone life from scratch.

Now that you've waved your pen to Google, let's start settling in. First of all, you need to find a replacement for Google Play. In principle, you can, of course, download and install all the necessary programs manually, but it is much more convenient to do this using a special application store, which has an automatic software update function.

As Google Play replacements It is most convenient to use it, which has a huge database of programs, among which you will surely find everything you need. Here you can control the installation and removal of programs in the same way, there is an automatic update function. And as a nice bonus, there is the daily App of the Day promotion, within which every day one of the most popular applications becomes completely free.

To organize your time and plan your event instead of "Google Calendar" many alternative solutions can be used, eg. This program has great functionality, compatibility with Google Calendar and iCloud Calendar, and a superb design that can outshine all the competition. Our review.

Find replacement for Google Drive is not difficult at all…, - choose any service you like and download the corresponding mobile client. All of them have approximately the same functionality, so the question here is rather limited by the amount of free space allocated and personal preferences. I vote for OneDrive, because in this service I have accumulated a lot of extra gigabytes.

But to find alternative for Google Maps not so easy. This is one of those great Google apps that competitors have yet to reach. However, if you can do without photos of the area, reviews and some other additional functionality, then you can give it a try. This application has no less detailed information about the roads than Google, knows how to plot routes by car and public transport and guide along them using voice prompts. You can also download the maps you need and use HERE Maps offline, which Google maps, alas, cannot do.

The next program that is installed on smartphones of most Android users is YouTube. This is a bottomless source of educational videos, entertainment shows, feature films and any other content that you really don't want to lose. However, for YouTube there is a replacement … FireTube, TurboTube, FREEdi and finally the wonderful Viral Popup that I highly recommend to you.

Finding alternatives for other programs from Google is not difficult. On the contrary, it is difficult to just choose one single candidate from many options. Here are some of our articles to help you make the right choice.

• Google Now - “Top 5 Best Launchers for Android”.
• Gmail - “Best Gmail Alternatives for Android”.
• Google Camera - “Top 5 Best Cameras for Android”.
• Google Chrome - "Top 5 Best Browsers for Android".

As you can see, it is quite possible to get rid of Google's presence on your smartphone. As a result, we will get an equally functional device, but at the same time free from dependence on one software manufacturer and not sending information about your every step to who knows where.

Is it good or bad? We invite you to express your opinion, as well as share your stories about "life without Google" in the comments.