Using Android Without a Google Account
The blog post explains how to use older Android devices without a Google account by factory resetting, skipping Google setup, and utilizing alternative app stores like F-Droid and Aurora Store for privacy.
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The blog post discusses how to use an Android device without a Google account, particularly focusing on older models. The author shares a personal experience of setting up a Motorola E4plus phone with minimal Google integration after a Pixel phone was damaged. The process involves factory resetting the device, skipping Google account setup, and using alternative app stores like F-Droid and Aurora Store to download applications. The author provides a step-by-step guide, emphasizing the importance of avoiding Google services and opting for open-source or anonymous apps. While some Google apps remain on the device, users can choose not to engage with them. The setup is presented as a temporary solution for those looking to reduce their reliance on Google, especially for children. The author notes potential issues with certain apps and the limitations of using older devices but concludes that this method offers a practical way to maintain some privacy while using Android.
- Users can set up older Android devices without a Google account.
- Alternative app stores like F-Droid and Aurora Store provide access to apps without Google tracking.
- The setup process includes factory resetting the device and skipping Google services.
- Some Google apps remain on the device but can be ignored.
- This method is suitable for temporary use, especially for children, to limit Google dependency.
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10 commentsAlso, if you're handset model supports relocking, you can use banking apps etc.
[0]: https://divestos.org
This article doesn't explain you need to log out of all Google accounts before factory reset. If that's not possible, you'll have to find an FRP bypass and hope for the best. The e4plus is nearly 7 years old. It'll probably work, but newer devices are increasingly difficult.
And if there's no Google account, you can just skip wifi during initial setup. That way you can setup a firewall first by installing the apk over usb.
Google Play makes the bulk of its money on in-app purchases. It’s essentially the same software royalty business model as the PlayStation Store or Steam. I doubt it’s really a heavy personal information tracking app like Google Search, with the exception of personalization for ads for apps within the store (which can be de-personalized).
Now, that’s not to say I don’t think it’s good to De-Google your life. However, for me personally, stuff like breaking bank apps or being unable to buy paid apps would be something of a dealbreaker.
Using Android with an alternative browser, ad blocker, and email service that are outside of Google, and auditing your account privacy settings is already avoiding 95% of the personal info tracking that Google does on the average person, if I were to guess.
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