Pause Google services to Cut Out Google on your Android

by Ben Madison · October 12, 2018

If you’re long for ways to cut out Google, this is most likely happening because of the fact that you don’t want to give the company so much information. And I get you! It’s not like I am encouraging you all to give up Google, but the recent Google location tracking fiasco changed many Android users’ perspective on Google.

Maybe you want just a bit more control over your devices and it should be up to you to do it. Pausing Google services lets us strip out whatever isn’t necessary to place calls and browse the web, giving us the capability to opt out without having to throw away our beloved phones.

Google services add a significant value to Android, and you’re clearly going to lose some of the privileges that you were used to have. You’ll miss syncing of contacts, which is a huge deal to most of us since manually inputting all contacts seems like a nightmare and the apps that you earlier enjoyed. This includes Google apps, Google Now, Google Assistant and not only, but I am sure that you are already determined to continue!

Pause Google services to Cut Out Google on your Android:

Uninstall or disable all your Google apps. I know that it isn’t easy, but you must do it;
You must review your Google Account activity controls;
Turn off Google account sync;
Also pause Location and Web tracking;
Turn off Google Assistant;
Even so, Google can still get your digital footprints with the help of other apps, so you also have to disengage 3rd party apps form your Google account or choose from the start to sign with other accounts like Facebook or Yahoo.

There are many ways to cope with this new reality, but take one step at a time. For example, you are probably wondering now: how do you get apps? Android is open, so there are some great appstore alternatives out there. I am thinking about The F-Droid (everything here is open source and free to use) or APKMirror (a hosting website that mirrors free apps that you’d usually find in the Google Play Store), so take your time to get to know them.

Do you have any tips for owning a Google-free device? Let us know down in the comments!