I admit that this is a little narrow - but I figured I'd share my experiences.
I use Replicant, so I really want a phone with few blobs, an unlockable bootloader, and a low price. I did not win on this phone... too many blobs.
However, I like this phone, and it was cheap (I have XT1304 / US GSM edition). I figured that if I could de-Google the device it'd tide me over until CM comes out and is stable. I don't care to use Google Play Services. At all. (I know it's rare, but hey, I like smartphones, just not so tied to the walled garden.)
When I disabled all of the Google & Motorola Services that I could on stock, I'd get crashes from anything that wanted to use my location. ADB revealed it was crashing looking for the "network" location provider.
This would kill everything; even the modem would be reset - I'd miss calls, the Launcher would restart...it was basically a soft reboot because of underlying system crashes. Switching the location mode off of "High Accuracy" or "Device" to "Battery Saving" would cause it not to crash, but that's not exactly a good location provider.
Now yes, I'm disabling "system" services. I'm on my own. But someone's gotta do it.
My solution:
Post-factory reset with no Google account:
Install any location consumer - I used SatStat in F-Droid. (I'm too new to post links; find it yourself. You're smart and people like you.) I installed it via adb after turning on USB Debugging. There aren't many other ways from GNU/Linux distros, but you should be able to MTP it on there too.
Turn location on. Dismiss annoying dialog: No Google you can't snarf my location. (This dialog doesn't save its answer if you don't have a Google Account. It. Asks. Every. Time. Therefore, it must die.)
At this point it gets fuzzy - I basically went on a disabling spree, and managed to disable everything except Google Play Services (No Notifications, Clear Data, Disable Service) checking to see if SatStat would crash between every disable. I was also checking the Location settings every once in a while as well - eventually Google Settings revealed that "Google Location reporting is not avaiable for this location" which means... it's dead, Jim. No more annoying dialog. At this point it was safe to disable Google Play Services.
When I was done I had about half a page of apps - if that. At which point... I installed F-Droid, and am busy repopulating the world.
The entire point of this post: if you're going to de-Google your phone, use CM and don't flash GApps. Disabling everything on stock is risky, but doable. Just expect to factory reset. Disabling in Settings is so much better than the old days of Root & Remove.
I am mad as hell.
I wanted to enable Google Now but in Google Settings I receive the message "Google Now requires location services which are not available".
Googled, found several "hacks", great. I tried the one where you unistall updates/disable Google Play services, etc... and I get the message to activate Google Now, but when I choose so and login with my email I get "This account is not eligible to use google now".
I tried this with 2 different gmail accounts, always get the same message. There are no info on Google about this problem.
Anyone has any idea how to enable google now? I need it, I love it, and I think I am going to break my nexus 5 if I can't have it.
By the way, I am on the latest developer L build (didn't work on 4.4.4 too, I kinda updated only because of the hope that it may work on L).
Also, on my Nexus 7 (2012) google now works great although I am using the same gmail account.
Any help is appreciated!
Uhhhhh.......
Turn on location? Why don't you try that and report back.
SilkyJohnson said:
Uhhhhh.......
Turn on location? Why don't you try that and report back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Read the first line of the original post...
Google Location services are not available in all countries (which is fine) but Google Now shouldn't explicitly need location services. Location services are not available in my country and Google Now still works with no problems on my Nexus 5 and worked on my Nexus 7 (2013) before I updated to the L Developer preview (using the Play Services - Uninstall updates trick) and still shows me location weather information, appointments, news updates, delivery updates, time to work.home, time to get to the location of my next appointment, etc... all without being able to enable location services. I don't understand why Google would limit their service when it clearly works with no problem but has no problems pushing out beta apps to everyone which clearly have issues (new hangouts desktop app).
The Play Services trick did not work on 5.0 for me either. If I do find a way around it I'll let you know.
UPDATE: Managed to get it working with the following steps:
1. Logged out of Google search app
2. Uninstall Play Services updates
3. Connect to a Free UK VPN (I used this: http://www.bestukvpn.com/)
4. Ask Google to remind you of something and select the opt in to Google Now option
5. Go through the steps to enable Google now.
6. When you get the "This account is not eligible to use Google now" click on search bar and search for anything
7. Open the hamburger menu while in search (click on the menu icon or slide from the left)
8. You will notice that you are not signed in. Select sign in and select your account.
9. Viola you will get the opt in to Google now option again and you should then have Google Now
That's what worked for me. Ask Google to remind you of something to make sure its working. Hope this helps .
jonmall1441 said:
UPDATE: Managed to get it working with the following steps:
1. Logged out of Google search app
2. Uninstall Play Services updates
3. Connect to a Free UK VPN (I used this: http://www.bestukvpn.com/)
4. Ask Google to remind you of something and select the opt in to Google Now option
5. Go through the steps to enable Google now.
6. When you get the "This account is not eligible to use Google now" click on search bar and search for anything
7. Open the hamburger menu while in search (click on the menu icon or slide from the left)
8. You will notice that you are not signed in. Select sign in and select your account.
9. Viola you will get the opt in to Google now option again and you should then have Google Now
That's what worked for me. Ask Google to remind you of something to make sure its working. Hope this helps .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doesn't work for me. After the 8th step I never get to the step 9. I sign in, get back on the home screen and never again get asked to opt-in to Google Now
Damn ...
I have the same problem ...I even made 3 more accounts but still not eligible...
????
But my brother made an account and is using Google now ...??
ljesh said:
Doesn't work for me. After the 8th step I never get to the step 9. I sign in, get back on the home screen and never again get asked to opt-in to Google Now
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you try creating a reminder using Google Now after the 8th step. Make sure you are still connected to the VPN. You have to open chrome after connecting to the VPN to verify the connection. A simple search should bring up a window to accept the VPN terms and conditions.
jonmall1441 said:
Did you try creating a reminder using Google Now after the 8th step. Make sure you are still connected to the VPN. You have to open chrome after connecting to the VPN to verify the connection. A simple search should bring up a window to accept the VPN terms and conditions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am connected to the VPN, I can confirm by searching for my IP, it says I got a London IP.
After the 8th step when I try to create a reminder (remind me to thank johnmall1441) nothing happens... in fact, the program closes itself like it was killed. I don't have another device currently to record the screen and show what I am doing and what happens...
hi,
hpw to unninstal play services updates please ?
up
Managed to get it working !
-remove sim card
- Full wipe
-Install the rom (android 5.0)
-Skip Wifi Settings and everything else
-Once skipped all the settings steps, desactivate Location
- Activate Wifi
- Use VPN (bestukvpn Posted by jonmall1441)
-Activate google now and add your google account
Location Services
Hi all, this morning I went into Google Search settings and I could finally enable Google Location Services. This is what was blocking Google Now. With it enabled you shouldn't have to jump through hoops to opt-in. Try checking your location services settings in the Google Search app . They may have enabled it for a number of new countries.
Quick Tip: If the opt-in screen doesn't show up automatically, sign-out and sign-in in the Google Search app. Hope this helps.
Still not eligible ?
Tried v p ns and airplane mode
jonmall1441 said:
Read the first line of the original post...
Google Location services are not available in all countries (which is fine) but Google Now shouldn't explicitly need location services. Location services are not available in my country and Google Now still works with no problems on my Nexus 5 and worked on my Nexus 7 (2013) before I updated to the L Developer preview (using the Play Services - Uninstall updates trick) and still shows me location weather information, appointments, news updates, delivery updates, time to work.home, time to get to the location of my next appointment, etc... all without being able to enable location services. I don't understand why Google would limit their service when it clearly works with no problem but has no problems pushing out beta apps to everyone which clearly have issues (new hangouts desktop app).
The Play Services trick did not work on 5.0 for me either. If I do find a way around it I'll let you know.
UPDATE: Managed to get it working with the following steps:
1. Logged out of Google search app
2. Uninstall Play Services updates
3. Connect to a Free UK VPN (I used this: http://www.bestukvpn.com/)
4. Ask Google to remind you of something and select the opt in to Google Now option
5. Go through the steps to enable Google now.
6. When you get the "This account is not eligible to use Google now" click on search bar and search for anything
7. Open the hamburger menu while in search (click on the menu icon or slide from the left)
8. You will notice that you are not signed in. Select sign in and select your account.
9. Viola you will get the opt in to Google now option again and you should then have Google Now
That's what worked for me. Ask Google to remind you of something to make sure its working. Hope this helps .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How to uninstall google play services updates? I only saw disable option.
I'm frustrated... All methods I can find not working, it used to be easy to turn on google now in 4.4.4.
jonmall1441 said:
Read the first line of the original post...
Google Location services are not available in all countries (which is fine) but Google Now shouldn't explicitly need location services. Location services are not available in my country and Google Now still works with no problems on my Nexus 5 and worked on my Nexus 7 (2013) before I updated to the L Developer preview (using the Play Services - Uninstall updates trick) and still shows me location weather information, appointments, news updates, delivery updates, time to work.home, time to get to the location of my next appointment, etc... all without being able to enable location services. I don't understand why Google would limit their service when it clearly works with no problem but has no problems pushing out beta apps to everyone which clearly have issues (new hangouts desktop app).
The Play Services trick did not work on 5.0 for me either. If I do find a way around it I'll let you know.
UPDATE: Managed to get it working with the following steps:
1. Logged out of Google search app
2. Uninstall Play Services updates
3. Connect to a Free UK VPN (I used this: http://www.bestukvpn.com/)
4. Ask Google to remind you of something and select the opt in to Google Now option
5. Go through the steps to enable Google now.
6. When you get the "This account is not eligible to use Google now" click on search bar and search for anything
7. Open the hamburger menu while in search (click on the menu icon or slide from the left)
8. You will notice that you are not signed in. Select sign in and select your account.
9. Viola you will get the opt in to Google now option again and you should then have Google Now
That's what worked for me. Ask Google to remind you of something to make sure its working. Hope this helps .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Holy sh*t, it's working! Thanks! It's like magic and I don't know why...
jonmall1441 said:
Read the first line of the original post...
Google Location services are not available in all countries (which is fine) but Google Now shouldn't explicitly need location services. Location services are not available in my country and Google Now still works with no problems on my Nexus 5 and worked on my Nexus 7 (2013) before I updated to the L Developer preview (using the Play Services - Uninstall updates trick) and still shows me location weather information, appointments, news updates, delivery updates, time to work.home, time to get to the location of my next appointment, etc... all without being able to enable location services. I don't understand why Google would limit their service when it clearly works with no problem but has no problems pushing out beta apps to everyone which clearly have issues (new hangouts desktop app).
The Play Services trick did not work on 5.0 for me either. If I do find a way around it I'll let you know.
UPDATE: Managed to get it working with the following steps:
1. Logged out of Google search app
2. Uninstall Play Services updates
3. Connect to a Free UK VPN (I used this: http://www.bestukvpn.com/)
4. Ask Google to remind you of something and select the opt in to Google Now option
5. Go through the steps to enable Google now.
6. When you get the "This account is not eligible to use Google now" click on search bar and search for anything
7. Open the hamburger menu while in search (click on the menu icon or slide from the left)
8. You will notice that you are not signed in. Select sign in and select your account.
9. Viola you will get the opt in to Google now option again and you should then have Google Now
That's what worked for me. Ask Google to remind you of something to make sure its working. Hope this helps .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only option is to disable play service and by doing so it removes the google account altogether in official lollipop build.
couldnt get google now in lollipop!!!!
Cant get google now by applying any of the fixes above!!!!!!!common you can do better than this????
the above solution does not work. I performed a full wipe and install of latest lollipop release. I have no uninstall updates button. Only "Force Stop" and "Disable" both greyed out. Not rooted.
hopefully a solution will appear soon.
Finally Got Google Now Working in Lollipop_Nexus 4
1. Switch Off the Phone
2. Remove sim card
3. Do a Hard Reset
4. Skip Wifi Settings and everything else
5. Once skipped all the settings steps, deactivate Location
6. Activate Wifi
7. Use VPN (bestukvpn Posted by jonmall1441)
8. Activate google now and add your google account
9. Enjoy!!!!!!!
does hard reset mean factory reset?
rossoneri_forever said:
does hard reset mean factory reset?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nexus 4
- If your phone is on, turn it off.
- Press and hold the Volume Down button and the Power button at the same time until the device turns on. You'll see the word "Start" with an arrow around it.
- Press the Volume Down button twice to highlight "Recovery mode."
- Press the Power button to restart into Recovery mode. You'll see an image of an Android robot with a red exclamation mark and the words "No command."
- While holding down the Power button, press the Volume Up button.
- Use the volume buttons to scroll to "wipe data/factory reset" and press the Power button to select it.
- Scroll down to "Yes - erase all user data" and press the Power button to select it.
My watch suddenly stopped being able to send an SMS using 'ok google', 'send a text to <contact name>' . it now tells me "Something went wrong. That's not available on this device". I have un-installed 'google' and reinstalled it on my watch. I have factory reset the watch, and installed a new messenger app on my phone/watch (google message) etc. Nothing is working unfortunately. Unsure what else to do.
Any ideas?
I have the same problem! Happened since friday, before it always worked fine. Also other messages like whatsapp same problem...i guess it has something to do with an update of play services or google assistant....
Replying fortunately still works. But initiating new messages not...
glenner05 said:
I have the same problem! Happened since friday, before it always worked fine. Also other messages like whatsapp same problem...i guess it has something to do with an update of play services or google assistant....
Replying fortunately still works. But initiating new messages not...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly same. I also went over all of the security settings etc for each app on wear and phone. I use my watch a lot to initiate sms conversations so hopefully this will be fixed soon.
I have an older model of the Huawei Smartwatch and just recently I'm experiencing the same thing-- however my husband's newer version (but not Smartwatch 2) can still send text messages and make voice calls. I'm hoping this Google update has not my Smartwatch obsolete.
Same issue, but with phone not watch (SOLUTION)
I had this same exact problem... started about a week ago. I finally sat down the other morning and spent a few hours trying ever solution I could find until BOOM... I found the issue, the "Google Web and App Activity" was turned off!! I hadn't been in my Google Account setting for years, so my guess is that this was a recent Privacy Policy update rolled out by Google recently. Anyway, here are my notes on how to turn it back on for yourself (provided you have permissions to manage your own Google account):
Go into Google Home App
Hamburger Menu
Settings
Google Assistant Settings
Prompted about "Web and App Activity" settings that needed to be turned on, I had never turned them off, but they were off, I had previously logged into Google Admin for the account and turned it "on for everyone" earlier, so maybe do this first.
Then was prompted with a "I'm In" pop-up. I clicked on that button I was taken to the standard Google Account Setting Page.
I exited and tried "ok google" again, it worked
the google app updated on my watch today and now the issue seems to have been resolved.
I have big and annoying problem. Almost every time a touch my phone and screen is on, a prompt for turning wifi location scanning appear with options for cancel or ok. Whatever I do it appears again. If i turn wifi scanning on, it turn off after a minute. If i turn it off, then a message to turn it on appears. Ive tried to clear Google play services cache, uninstall Google play services update. It was ok for a few hours then again the prompt appear. It is the same message appear on my Huawei mediapad m5, but sometimes. Maybe because i dont go anywhere with the tablet. Maybe its something with wifi+ option, but Im using and like wifi+. I don't want to the full reset or clear cache settings, since i believe it's something go wrong with google account. Any ideas? It will be very sad if i do full reset and the problem still exists...
turn off wifi + and wifi scanning and also uninstall the google play services updates
Hello. I did that many times. On all of my devices. I don't want to turn off wifi+ because i use it a lot.
First the problem appear when my phone or tablet found some of the networks I've add before, even if i set to forget the network years ago. It's seems that Google remember all of my network I've add to the account. So. I deleted Google now cache, disabled it and enabled. Same for google service, uninstalled updates and update it again. And ive set the Google account to delete all of my history.
Second. There's a update from Huawei about this. It's not available and installed yet but i dont know did I fix the problem, or Huawei update something secretly and now problem disappear. Wifi+ works ok.
I've got my phone working properly with GMS and have the assistant installed even but I cannot get it to respond to voice commands. OK google/Hey Google don't work but if I manuly press the assistant app it brings everything up?
I've been in the assistant settings but somehow Voicematch is turned off and greyed out.
Every other Google service is working perfectly though aside from Google Pay obv
Any thoughs?
This wont ever work. Its a service thats deeper in the system just like google pay. Installing google without root access will not install this background service.