De-Googling Your Android Phone: What Are Your Options?
You can remove the Google apps from your Android phone. Disable them. Delete your Google accounts from the device. But, you’re still locked into Google. Most Android ROMs ship with Google services running in the background, and you can’t turn them off. These services connect to Google’s servers and run diagnostics and reporting on your phone. If you want to opt out, you need to switch to a de-googled ROM. A few good options exist, depending on your phone model.
GrapheneOS
GrapheneOS is a private, secure mobile operating system. It builds on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) and goes to great lengths to protect you from security threats. The dev team prioritizes security over flashy features that look good but weaken your defenses. GrapheneOS only supports Pixel phones. If you own a Pixel and want Google out of your life, start here.
Go for it if:
- You have a Pixel phone and privacy and security genuinely matter to you
- You can live with a few essential apps living in third-party app stores
Avoid it if:
- You’re deep into Google and plan to stay that way
/e/OS
/e/OS pairs an open-source mobile operating system with a set of carefully selected apps. It supports more hardware than GrapheneOS. It also builds on AOSP, and it looks a lot like generic iOS. /e/OS strips out the entire Google Mobile Services layer and replaces it with a rewritten one, microG. Google disappears from the equation completely. It no longer sits inside your operating system. /e/OS bundles App Lounge, an app store that proxies the Google Play Store, alongside F-Droid. Together they let you install apps anonymously, with no Google account required. /e/OS cares about privacy too. It bundles a tracking blocker, so apps can’t phone home to third-party analytics layers. Your data stays with you.
Go for it if:
- You have a supported phone and care about privacy
- You want frequent updates and the backing of a smartphone maker (/e/OS partners with Fairphone)
- You can afford to give up Google Services
Avoid it if:
- You’re deep into Google and plan to stay that way
Ubuntu Touch
Ubuntu Touch promises a handheld Linux device, and mostly it delivers. It looks and feels like a version of Ubuntu. But it comes with a massive caveat: you can’t just sudo apt install x y z. Developers need to build the software specifically for your device’s ARM-based chip, and most software isn’t built that way. You can install and activate Waydroid to run native Android apps, which opens the door to F-Droid and everything else you need. Some apps run natively on Ubuntu Touch too, without needing the Waydroid layer at all. However, Waydroid apps get no Bluetooth or GPS pass-through. Any app that relies on either simply won’t work. Want to use an Android navigation app or sync a Bluetooth accessory? You can’t.
Go for it if:
- You run a second phone and want something different from Android
- You can live with a thin selection of good apps
- You mainly need calls and texts
- You want a Linux terminal in your pocket
Avoid it if:
- You need an Android app that relies on Bluetooth or GPS
- You don’t want to debug frequent bugs
LineageOS
LineageOS ranks among the longest-running, most widely usable Android ROMs. It supports more devices than the other systems on this list. But volunteers maintain those devices, and once a community loses interest, updates stop. That’s a problem if you need the latest Android security patches. Otherwise, it looks and feels like a stock Android system, minus Google’s Mobile Services layer.
Go for it if:
It’s your only option for a supported phone You can live without the latest security or ROM features
Avoid it if:
You want long-term support for your phone
Conclusion
If you want to de-google your smartphone footprint, you have real options. A few of them make great weekend projects for a secondary device, too.