Database Info

[App] SwitchMe secure login manager needs Tab testers please!

Hi everyone. Im one of the developers of SwitchMe, and app that allows multiple secure logins into separate installations of android on a single device. The pr is after the break.
I really need a few people to check into some issues people on the original Tab have been experiencing. There are some warnings involved:
- testers must perform a full nandroid backup before using the app, it is not our responsibility if you start getting boot loops
- if you report results or bugs, please use the "Write to us" function in the app whenever possible, and always describe the issue in the header of the logs you send
- if you post here, be sure to include your device type and rom
- if you have apps installed on sd, be sure to mention that as well
--------------------------------------------------------------------
SwitchMe is a unique application for root users that allows you to log in and out of multiple installations of Android just as you would on a desktop computer.
The technology behind SwitchMe saves all of your applications and data, protects it and stores it as a file in memory. You can then log out of an
account and log into a fresh installation of Android or another account with its own unique content.
You may create as many profiles as the memory is capable of holding. Some of these may require very little free memory because they contain few apps,
others will be larger as they contain many applications and lots of cache and data.
Why is this functionality useful?
Privacy - the most obvious benefit is that you can securely share one device among multiple users, which gives you privacy and peace of mind.
Testing - if you are a developer, you can use profiles as clean sandboxes to test your applications and their interaction with the system.
Gaming – with multiple installations of Android on a single device, you can now play online MMOs as different characters.
Speed - the games your kids play slow down your tablet, but with SwitchMe you can easily create profiles without games or instant messengers.
Battery life - when the battery is low but there are important emails or documents to edit later, switch to a profile which only contains these essentials.
These of course are only suggestions - there are plenty of other uses for the functionality SwitchMe offers.
Market link:
https://market.android.com/details?id=fahrbot.apps.switchme
The Lite version allows the creation of two profiles, enough to test on.
Screens:

SwitchMe 1.2 has been rolled out and now includes a lockscreen replacement:
1.2
Added lock screen for logging in and out
More stable Fast switch implementation
Reworked UI colors
Now, its very important that we get some feedback on how this big new feature works, so please read up on it in the help and post your thoughts!

1.2.2 - HOTFIX 2
Reworked widget on qHD+ displays
Fixed widget text on HC and ICS
Fast switch improved on older devices

So guys any comments?

There is no way this app affects recovery whatever youre doing wrong its a user error.

Arobase40 said:
Sorry Man, but I haven't installed Superuser, as the ROM was prebuilt with Superuser and CWM, and was working fine since SwitchMe... ^^
No access to the Market as, AGAIN, no Google apps at all, and so no Market !
I just created the profiles as instructed BUT this apps did NOT copied the Samsung ROM correctly... Don't know what happens with Recovery ???
I've spent the whole night to find out a way to flash back my backup.
This is my report and I can't change it and since this is your first report with this device, I guess ???.
Then telling this is a user error, please explain what was my error except being your first beta tester with your app on this device ???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I cant explain anything to you because your description of the issue makes no sense - all i can say is that its not possible for this app to modify the recovery partition. Its physically impossible.
The lack of gapps is probably because they were bot installed in /system. Same with superuser. Check your rom for more info.

Any issues to report?

Not working on Galaxy tab GT-P1000
Hi,
Exact same problem as Arobase40.
I Installed Switchme, added 2 accounts (one for actual user and a new user). Then rebooted. No more market (and google apps) nor SuperUser. SwitchMe and Cwm complain I didn't give root permission.
Is there a solution or do I have to flash rom with Odin ?
Chag

chagam said:
Hi,
Exact same problem as Arobase40.
I Installed Switchme, added 2 accounts (one for actual user and a new user). Then rebooted. No more market (and google apps) nor SuperUser. SwitchMe and Cwm complain I didn't give root permission.
Is there a solution or do I have to flash rom with Odin ?
Chag
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That means there are symlinks to the /system or /data folders where the gapps and superuser are stored. That is the problem - the app does not and will never support these links.

Any issues with the new build?

No... I'm not willing to take into account individuals. I work with the lowest common denominator. Dont like it? Don't use it. Frankly, arguing with a dv really isn't going tointuce him to help you...
Sent from my GT-P6800 using xda premium

1.5.3.5
Profile creation and cloning now restricted to admins
Fixed many device-specific issues from logs
Fixed rare crash on profile switch
Fixed Superuser footprint issue on some ICS tablets
Lots of small issues on the new x86 and MIPS architectures fixed as well

Yes, obviously. But the actual word is trolls - opinionated and easily offended, these creatures can often be found lurking in forums doing nothing much at all other than flaming others and bottom feeding.
A lot of them are in my GIANT ignore list. So long.

1.5.3.8
Fixed issue switching profiles (One X and others)
Fixed rare crash on adding/ removing profiles
Fixed many device specific issues from user logs

ftgg99 said:
That means there are symlinks to the /system or /data folders where the gapps and superuser are stored. That is the problem - the app does not and will never support these links.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does that mean all SGT P-1000 will have the same problem? I have no problem losing gapps, I can always download it from goo manager. I'm afraid I would lose superuser/root access like they did.
Will it work on ICS CM-9mod (MTD)?
It would be a killer app if this can work.

No of course not. It applies only to roms with symlinks.

Well I just moved from CM9 to AOKP and because I am not a dev, I wouldn't know if they use any symlinks or not when they make their custom ROM.
But I decided to go ahead install ur app and see if it will work. We'll find out soon.
Here goes nothing. I hope it will work.

Test Result
yappoe said:
Well I just moved from CM9 to AOKP and because I am not a dev, I wouldn't know if they use any symlinks or not when they make their custom ROM.
But I decided to go ahead install ur app and see if it will work. We'll find out soon.
Here goes nothing. I hope it will work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey! So far it works! That means:
1. This apps works for SGT-P1000 with CM9 Rom, as well as AOKP rom
2. both AOKP and CM9 builds do not have symlink.
Here are the test cases I did
(You asked us to test just the compatibilityto P1000 not the functionality)
preps:
1. downloaded SwithMe from Google play. App automatically installed
2. Backed up everything in titanium backup
3. Reboot to Recovery and did nandroid backup
TC1. Startup SwitchMe app Result: App startup, displaying 2 warnings.
Warning 1. Preparation warning. 2. Apps on Sdcard warning
TC2. - Move allapps on SDcard back to internal sdcard, restart SwitchMe app
result: 1warning displayed.
- Confirm warning
result: Superuser asks for confirmation for access
- Confirm superuser access Result: App goes to empty page with "Add profile" button.
TC3 Create 2 profilea
Result: Both created.
TC4. Activate Profile, reboot.
Result: Tablet rebooted and started normally
TC5. Activate profile 2, Reboot
Result1: Tablet rebooted and started as a new untouched rom,
prompting user to initial wizard.
Result2: SwitchMe app available, while other user apps are not available.
Result3: gapps are still available.
I hope this helps.

Thank you. A pleasure to see someone actually help us out!

My pleasure.
Pointers for users:
1. Using different google accounts for different profiles will prevent you from downloading app from playstore (error message).
2. Do not select google backup when setting up second profile. If you select google backup, it will automatically install missing apps from google market, therefore you will have an exact clone with your main profile at the end.
Once you get used to it, it is a nice app to have.

[ROM][OPEN SOURCE][SECURITY][APPS][microG] Best Security ROM and Apps 2022

The Best Advanced Privacy ROM/w MicroG​I tested e/OS ROM on my OnePlus 5T for over a year, e/OS supports more than 269 devices​
Fully "deGoogled" Open Source Mobile Ecosystem
e/foundation Website
OnePlus 5T Latest Dev Build Downloads
e/OS "dumpling" & 5T Device Details
List of More Than 269 Supported Devices
Advanced Privacy
⦁ "Installation Link" Method #1 Easy Installation (TOOL ALL IN ONE)
⦁ "Installation Link" Method #2 Install via command line (for advanced users)
The operating system​/e/ is a “deGoogled” version of Android OS. It has an open-source Android OS core, with no Google apps or Google services accessing your personal data. It is compatible with all your favorite Android apps.
With /e/ you’ll find a set of carefully selected apps to cover your most common needs, personal and professional: get you email, plan your week ahead, chat with your friends and coworkers, browse the web, check the weather, check your itinerary for your next meeting…
All the apps are based on open source bricks. We improve their design and experience to make them look stellar and easy to use daily.
Advanced Privacy ​⦁ Table of Contents Link​Advanced Privacy lets you manage in app trackers, IP address and location. It’s available as a widget and within the operating system settings.
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
Advanced Privacy is a specific tool developed to limit your data exposure once you have installed third party apps.
When an application snoops in the background, it will use trackers to log your activity even if you are not using the app. It will also collect the IP address, so it can potentially link internet activity to a specific device and to a persona, and finally it will try to pinpoint your exact location.
ONEPLUS 5T - ROM - ROOT - TWRP - "INSTALLATION GUIDE" LINK BELOW
⦁ "Installation Link" Method #1 Easy Installation (TOOL ALL IN ONE)
⦁ "Installation Link" Method #2 Install via command line (for advanced users)
IS PLAY STORE NEEDED?
As it turns out, giving up Google is possible, and the experience isn't nearly as bad as you might think, plus my battery life is amazing now. If you care about privacy, better battery life, or want a smoother running phone, take the plunge and find a Rom that doesn't have Gapps installed.
Below are a few applications that I have tested without Gapps installed. I have also listed a few alternative store applications with there links. I exclusively use FLOSS, Free/Libre and Open Source Software, and because of this, I chose to install F-Droid.
What is "FLOSS and FOSS"
The two political camps in the free software community are the free software movement and open source. The free software movement is a campaign for computer users' freedom; we say that a nonfree program is an injustice to its users. The open source camp declines to see the issue as a matter of justice to the users, and bases its arguments on practical benefits only.
To emphasize that “free software” refers to freedom and not to price, we sometimes write or say “free (libre) software,” adding the French or Spanish word that means free in the sense of freedom. In some contexts, it works to use just “libre software.”
A researcher studying practices and methods used by developers in the free software community decided that these questions were independent of the developers' political views, so he used the term “FLOSS,” meaning “Free/Libre and Open Source Software,” to explicitly avoid a preference between the two political camps. If you wish to be neutral, this is a good way to do it, since this makes the names of the two camps equally prominent.
Others use the term “FOSS,” which stands for “Free and Open Source Software.” This is meant to mean the same thing as “FLOSS,” but it is less clear, since it fails to explain that “free” refers to freedom. It also makes “free software” less visible than “open source,” since it presents “open source” prominently but splits “free software” apart.
“Free and Open Source Software” is misleading in another way: it suggests that “free and open source” names a single point of view, rather than mentioning two different ones. This conceptualization of the field is an obstacle to understanding the fact that free software and open source are different political positions that disagree fundamentally.
Thus, if you want to be neutral between free software and open source, and clear about them, the way to achieve that is to say “FLOSS,” not “FOSS.”
We in the free software movement don't use either of these terms, because we don't want to be neutral on the political question. We stand for freedom, and we show it every time—by saying “free” and “libre”— or “free (libre)”. by Richard Stallman
If your running a Rom without Gapps, some applications like "Last Pass and Vimeo" will show a pop-up when you first start them that says, won't be able to run without Google Services, they might be able to run and some wont, unless you install microG, then you wont have this issue.
What is MicroG?
Actually, the microG is a free software clone of Google's proprietary center libraries and applications. To be more specific, it's a FLOSS (Free/Libre Open Source Software) frame to permit applications designed for Google Play Services to operate on programs, in which Play Services is not available. It provides all the needed APIs provided from the Google Play services so that the programs dependent on it may operate normally.
Telegram Links for microG Group Help
MicroG Liberation Front
Update: I installed microG on my OnePlus 5T running Phoenix Rom. This Rom has signature spoofing already baked into it, so the installation is simpler, runs very smooth, better battery life and security. For detailed installation instruction, see post #5 below.
What is microG Signature Spoofing
To use all the neat features from the microG project, which allows you to use all features of your Android smartphone without proprietary battery-consuming Google blobs, your system is required to support signature spoofing. Currently only very few custom ROMs have built-in support for this feature, luckily you can use Xposed or a patching tool to add the feature to the systems that don’t have it.
But: What is all this about? Is signature spoofing a problem when not using microG? Will it influence my security?
About signature spoofing
On Android, all applications are signed (usually using SHA1 with RSA). The certificate/key-combinations used to sign apps are self-signed. This means there is no PKI / certificate authority to verify a key to be owned by a person/company/entity. Thus everyone can come up with a key that has a equally valid Google certificate as keys used by Google to publish their apps.
However, on Android signatures are not designed to serve the purpose of verifying ownership/source of a package. Signatures are used to verify integrity and to ensure same package author when updating apps. The second one is important, to verify that only one the author has access to the private storage of an app. A different author is not able to sign an app using the same key, because he does not have access to it, and thus can not provide an update to an application that will be granted access to the app private storage. For example, the Signal app provided by OpenWhisperSystems is signed by a key not available to third-parties and thus Signal can store chat history in the private app storage and don’t need to fear that a rogue update can access this data. This means that signatures are important to ensure the secrecy of the private app storage and thus is an essential part of the Android package managements security system.
Signature spoofing allows applications to behave like being signed by a third party. This means that whenever one application asks the operating system for the certificate used to sign an installed package and that package uses signature spoofing, instead of the certificate attached to the app, a spoofed certificate is returned. This certificate has to be announced in the AndroidManifest.xml and the app is required to request the android.permission.FAKE_SIGNATURE permission. This means that it is not only easy to detect that an application uses signature spoofing, the user also has to give its consent – before Android 6, this was done during installation time, since then the consent is even more explicit in a dedicated pop-up, and the user can decide not to grant the permission.
Of course only very few developers ever ask for the certificate used to sign an application. There are numerous reasons for that:
In most cases you only want to verify, that an app is signed with the same key as yours (e.g. the apps are from the same author). For this case, the package manager has a method checkSignatures which compares the certificates of two packages. Thus the app author is not required to mess with byte arrays returned when requesting the certificate – and verifying the author name of a certificate is completely useless as described above.
If you want to use any kind of security model, you are much more likely to introduce a custom permission. On Android every app can declare a new permission and decide which apps will be granted this permission. One option here is to restrict by signature, or you can also require explicit user consent. This again is a lot easier than working with certificates, even more flexible and can be used to allow third-parties to integrate with your app (on users decision). Nice!
Directly working with certificates is not considered a security feature and is not listed on the security tips article in the documentation, whereas the proper use of permissions is.
When using the package managers GET_SIGNATURES feature to directly access the certificate, the android lint tool (which is usually used during the compilation process) will print a high priority warning, as improper use of this feature can be a security risk and the proper use is rather complicated. So complicated, that Google themselves did it wrong once, resulting in a major Android security vulnerability (sometimes referred to as the Fake ID vulnerability).
So why does microG require signature spoofing?
Now that we know, that only very few use direct access to certificate, you might wonder why microG needs it for certain features. Well the fact is that although most developers don’t even now about it, their apps actually do direct certificate access. This is due to how Google Play Services works:
Applications that use Google Play Services use the Play Services client library. This library is directly embedded into the application, is delivered as part of it and finally runs in the security context of that app. And this library actually uses direct certificate access to ensure that the Play Services app installed on the device is singed by a specific private key. It also verifies that the Play Store is installed (and signed using the same key), although it is not required for Play Services to run. This is the reason for the development of the microG FakeStore app.
There is one other popular use case I’d like to stress: DRM. Some developers use direct certificate access to verify that the application itself is signed by them. The reason for this is simple: If you modify an application you need to sign it (the previous signature is broken, if your system is not vulnerable to the “Android Master Key” vulnerability). As you don’t have the private key of the original developer you will not be able to create a valid signature that has the same certificate. This means you can’t modify the application without the original developer knowing about it. (Well, you could modify the checking code itself, …). With signature spoofing you can easily bypass these restrictions – as long as the app does not contain code to detect signature spoofing. by ~larma/blog
If your Rom does not support Signature Spoofing, take a look at this link.
[INDEX] How to get the signature spoofing patch
NEWLY ADDED & RECOMMENDED ANDROID APPS
> LINK<​

No Gapps Setup Guides
Helpful links to setting up no Gapps
Signature Spoofing
[INDEX] How to get the signature spoofing patch
microG unofficial installer simplify the installation of microG
MicroG, gapps in only 11mb
NanoDroid By Setialpha, XDA Ad-Free Senior Member
microG By MaR-V-iN, XDA Senior Member
[MOD][FLASHABLE] microG unofficial installer
microG/Android Packages apps GmsCore
{FIRE Gapps-Go™+Tweaks™ for OREO}*{*Micro-G™*}*{FIRE Audio™ For LP-Oreo}
If you are using microG as a replacement for the Google Play Services, the ROM that you install needs to have support for signature spoofing. In short, this allows microG to pretend to be the official Google Play Services, otherwise the system and other apps won’t listen to it. If you have the Xposed Framework installed, the following module will enable signature spoofing: FakeGApps by thermatk. You can find more on the microG wiki
Telegram Links for microG Group Help
MicroG Liberation Front

A Few Rom's That Supports Signature Spoofing
I have listed several microG Rom's that are pre-built or compatible with microG. if you have tested either one of these or used any other microG builds, please let us know I'm currently running Phoenix Rom on my OnePlus 5T without Gapps installed. All these Rom's grants signature spoofing permissions, this is needed for any Rom to be able to run microG.
[ROM][Oreo]Codename Phoenix [OnePlus 5T]
[ROM][Oreo][OFFICIAL] Liquid Remix [9.0][8.1]
[ROM][Oreo] [ROM] OmniRom 8.1 [OP5T] [WEEKLY]
[ROM][Nougat] LineageOS for microG By Simon94, XDA Member
[ROM][Nougat & Oreo] LineageOS for easy microG + UnifiedNlp By espionage724, Senior Member
Following ROMs have out-of-box support for signature spoofing
Specific Android custom ROMs that support Signature spoofing
AEX AospExtended
AimRom
AOSGP
AOSiP
CarbonROM
crDroid
Ground Zero Roms aka GZR: Tipsy
HalogenOS
Hexa-Project
MarshRom
nAOSProm
NitrogenOS
Tugapower
ViperOS

Guardian Project
Open-source Android applications
Android Open Source - App
About the Android Open Source Project
List of Open Source apps provided by Christopher Roy Bratusek

INSTALLATION OF microG
This post will show you how to install microG.
First you must have a Rom that doesn't have Gapps installed, next if your Rom supports signature spoofing, go to the first step, If your Rom doesn't support signature spoofing, go to this link to patch your Rom (How to get the signature spoofing patch) then come back for installation of microG.
If your not sure if your Rom supports microG, just go threw the first step below, open microG Settings app, then "Self-Check" it should look like attached picture at bottom of this page, if not, you need to patch your Rom.
FIRST STEP:
1. Must unlock boot-loader and have TWRP installed. Download bellow app to PC and follow instructions, if your phone is unlocked and TWRP installed, skip this step.
TOOL ALL IN ONE
If you already have your device unlocked and TWRP installed, do a recovery backup in TWRP, then copy it to your pc, I normally just copy all my files from my phone to my pc or external device.
You must do a fresh install in order to have microG working properly, I use "ALL IN ONE TOOL", this is my steps from the ALL IN ONE TOOL app, "Reboot Bootloader" and select "Erase All Data / Decrypt Internal Storage", next click on "Recovery Flasher" and choose, "Select recovery", TWRP 3.2.1 Universal (Your Device), then select "Only boot it" and "FLASH"
2. From PC, download firmware (if needed), Rom and microG, this is for the Phoenix Rom. If you are using a different Rom, your installation might be different, just flash microG after flashing your Rom.
(Your ROM) I'm using Codename Phoenix [OnePlus 5T] Rom
3. From recovery, move downloads onto phone. Install Rom then microG, reboot system.
SECOND STEP:
1. Downloads to PC.
Magisk & Magisk Manager If you want Root. For the Phoenix Rom, install Magisk v14.0 first, then upgrade to v15.3 after first reboot, known to boot loop otherwise.
F-Droid
2. Move all download to phone, boot into recovery, install Magisk and No GApps Package, reboot.
3. Open your Files app, navigate to folder you put apk's, Install Magisk Manager.apk and F-Droid.apk/unless you flashed No GApps Packages.
THIRD STEP:
In phone, navigate to System Setting, Location, Mode and change it to High accuracy.
Go to UnifiedNip Settings and enable Network based Geo-location and Address lookup.
Open F-Droid Store and swipe down on screen to update repositories, now install Mozilla Stumbler from F-Droid Store and start.
Open microG Settings app, go to UnifiedNip Settings, make sure every thing is checked for Address lookup and Network based Geolocation.
Now go to main page of microG Settings, then Self-Check, check box, System grants signature spoofing permission, grant access, Allow.
Access your paid applications from play store
1. Install a PlayStore APK
If you have BlankStore installed, continue with the next step.
If you want to be able to access the Play Store, install BlankStore from the XDA thread. It is not a requirement that you set it up correctly and this is not covered by this instructions. If you need help, ask in the BlankStore original thread.
If you don't care about Play Store access, Install FakeStore.zip.
2. Open the microG Settings
which are available in the launcher now. If you want to use any Google services (Log-In, Cloud Messaging), tick both checkboxes for background services. This is the only supported setup, but you are free to disable them if you like playing with fire. You can also open the UnifiedNlp settings to enable the location backends of your choice. If you don't have any yet, check out F-Droid. For further questions and concerns regarding UnifiedNlp, use its corresponding GitHub repo or XDA thread.​3. Reboot your device
If you skip this step, everything unwanted is possible.​4. Disable Battery Optimization
if you use Android 6 (Marshmallow) or above. Ensure that it is disabled for microG Services Core in System Settings > Battery > Menu > Battery optimization. Note that this is the case for the original Play Services, as it is required to keep a stable background connection.​
Note: On Android 7 (or later) an additional patch is needed to make location work, or alternatively, you can install GmsCore.apk in the /system/priv-app folder. This can be done by using adb push.
Testing
You can test Google Cloud Messaging using this test application*. Push notifications do not require account registration.
You can add an account through the system settings. Some applications might ask you to do so, if you don't.
Apps that use Cloud Messaging must be installed after GmsCore, or else they will not work. Some applications that can run with microG GmsCore is installed in the correct order: TextSecure/Signal, Play Music, YouTube
If you are using AdAway, make sure to put mtalk.google.com on your whitelist, or else problems are likely to occur when using Google Cloud Messaging. Thanks @benstyle1 on XDA for the hint.
Telegram Links for microG Group Help
MicroG Liberation Front

Awesome thread, thank you very much for your efforts. I followed the nogapps tutorial to the letter, still having problem with Signal app.
It wouldn't register my phone number. Can you maybe check it also? https://www.signal.org/android/apk/
LE: NVM, solved it by enabling GCM in MicroG settings and register Signal in MicroG GCM settings.
Another question, how much time should I keep Mozilla Stumbler from F-Droid Store scanning, and is it required?
Thanks again.

mi3x said:
Awesome thread, thank you very much for your efforts. I followed the nogapps tutorial to the letter, still having problem with Signal app.
It wouldn't register my phone number. Can you maybe check it also? https://www.signal.org/android/apk/
LE: NVM, solved it by enabling GCM in MicroG settings and register Signal in MicroG GCM settings.
Another question, how much time should I keep Mozilla Stumbler from F-Droid Store scanning, and is it required?
Thanks again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the post, this has been a learning experience for me, I just wanted to share my procedure with any one interested in installing microG. I use Signal as well, glad you figured it out, and as for Mozilla Stumbler, there is no need for it to be scanning after you have accessed the Play Store. I'm assuming that your using the OP5T phone with the Liquid Remix Rom, if so, I have updated the installation process, now there is no need to use Xposed framework.

I really appreciate it, you saved me from a lot of work, nicely gathering them all into this special thread. Fortunately enough, I use a different rom, Unofficial LineageOS 14.1 with custom kernel and it works perfectly as well.
I followed your steps in post 5, everything went smoothly.
Many thanks once again, for me this is a gem, just migrated from iOS and slowly moving away from google and trying to replace most of my apps, just setup my davDroid with my nextcloud server, it'll take some time but I'll get there eventually.
Now a question about playstore, did I misunderstand, or why would I access it anyway? The other non FOSS apps which I need at the moment, I install from yalp. Please adivse a bit on this angle.
Have a good one.

Excellent thread. I use microg 2 years, with lg g2 and now with op5t about 1,5 month at stock ROM. I am also try to de-google my self as much as i can.
Fdroid has excellent apps and you can find everything. I prefer lightweight apps with less permissions and ram/mb ie New pipe is an excellent YouTube replacement. I Subscribe to this thread. Keep it GOOGLESS
Sent from my ONEPLUS 5T

vagkoun83 said:
Excellent thread. I use microg 2 years, with lg g2 and now with op5t about 1,5 month at stock ROM. I am also try to de-google my self as much as i can.
Fdroid has excellent apps and you can find everything. I prefer lightweight apps with less permissions and ram/mb ie New pipe is an excellent YouTube replacement. I Subscribe to this thread. Keep it GOOGLESS
Sent from my ONEPLUS 5T
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pro can you tell me how you debloat Google apks without problem
Sent from my ONEPLUS A5010 using Tapatalk

Microg unofficial installer delete conflict apps.
The rest apps uninstall with apps like titanium

mi3x said:
I really appreciate it, you saved me from a lot of work, nicely gathering them all into this special thread. Fortunately enough, I use a different rom, Unofficial LineageOS 14.1 with custom kernel and it works perfectly as well.
I followed your steps in post 5, everything went smoothly.
Many thanks once again, for me this is a gem, just migrated from iOS and slowly moving away from google and trying to replace most of my apps, just setup my davDroid with my nextcloud server, it'll take some time but I'll get there eventually.
Now a question about playstore, did I misunderstand, or why would I access it anyway? The other non FOSS apps which I need at the moment, I install from yalp. Please adivse a bit on this angle.
Have a good one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good Day, Personally I don't need access to the play store, however, I receive a number of request from people that enjoy running microG, but want access to Play Store for there purchased applications, and others like to try out new Rom's, flashing many times a week, unfortunately Gapps has issues with the Play Store breaking when flashing Rom's multiple times, as for microG and the Yalp Store, they don't have this problem.
If you haven't already join Telegram, I recommend trying it out. Below I have listed your Rom link and several microG Groups as well.
Telegram Links
LineageOS
MicroG Liberation Front

MsuatafaKhatab said:
Pro can you tell me how you debloat Google apks without problem
Sent from my ONEPLUS A5010 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not really sure what your asking, but I will try. I see that you have the OnePlus 5T, and the best way I have found to do this is, install a Rom that doesn't have Gapps installed.
I have the same phone, and found that the Liquid Remix Rom is a good choice, it also supports signature spoofing. I will list a few links below that help with the OP5T phone.
Update: Phoenix Rom I'm using now, much smoother and supports signature spoofing.
Setting Up Your OP5T
TOOL ALL IN ONE
microG Installation

Protect Your Data
Google doesn’t have a camera in every home, but it does have phone's in millions of pockets.
Google's tracking explained. On two phones, without SIM, no data during travel, and one even in airplane mode. Watch this short video, you might be amazed.
YouTube Link: How much info is Google getting from your phone?
YouTube Alternative App: NewPipe
Your Data
Google wants you to understand what data they collect and use.
Google Services Contract
When you use Google services, you trust us with your data. It is our responsibility to be clear about what we collect and how we use it to make our services work better for you.
Here are the three main types of data we collect:
Things you do
When you use our services — for example, do a search on Google, get directions on Google Maps, or watch a video on YouTube — we collect data to make these services work for you. This can include:
Things you search for
Websites you visit
Videos you watch
Ads you click on or tap
Your location
Device information
IP address and cookie data
Things you create
If you are signed in with your Google Account, we store and protect what you create using our services. This can include:
Emails you send and receive on Gmail
Contacts you add
Calendar events
Photos and videos you upload
Docs, Sheets, and Slides on Drive
Things that make you “you”
When you sign up for a Google account, we keep the basic information that you give us. This can include your:
Name
Email address and password
Birthday
Gender
Phone number
Country
Protect Your Data with XPrivacyLua
XprivacyLua protects your privacy by feeding applications fake data or no data at all, or by restricting applications from accessing data categories such as contacts and location. It doesn’t revoke or block applications’ permissions (with the exception of internet and storage access), so most apps don’t misbehave or crash when they’re denied access. And it shows handy icons when applications request permissions, connect to the internet, or attempt to access sensitive data. If you value your privacy, please consider to support this project with a donation or by purchasing pro features.
GitHub Link
Xda Developer Link
Post your favorite Rom or application's you are using for privacy.

I'm a huge fan of xprivacylua, keep coming with these useful posts! Thanks!

xXxGeek said:
I'm not really sure what your asking, but I will try. I see that you have the OnePlus 5T, and the best way I have found to do this is, install a Rom that doesn't have Gapps installed.
I have the same phone, and found that the Liquid Remix Rom is a good choice, it also supports signature spoofing. I will list a few links below that help with the OP5T phone.
Update: Phoenix Rom I'm using now, much smoother and supports signature spoofing.
Setting Up Your OP5T
TOOL ALL IN ONE
microG Installation
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So I take it the Tool-all-in one works for the 5T even though it's not specifically mentioned in the link? (I only saw it said it works for 3T)
Now the best way to not use google is to use a rom that doesn't include it. However, what if the ROM you want to use doesn't have an official version/or if you want to use the stock ROM for one reason or another? Let's say I turn on the phone, never log on to any google services, disable as many google apps as I can -- (though one can only deny google play services permissions, but not disable the app) -- does that provide a good amount of privacy? Or does google still manage to track you somehow?

Listerine said:
So I take it the Tool-all-in one works for the 5T even though it's not specifically mentioned in the link? (I only saw it said it works for 3T)
Now the best way to not use google is to use a rom that doesn't include it. However, what if the ROM you want to use doesn't have an official version/or if you want to use the stock ROM for one reason or another? Let's say I turn on the phone, never log on to any google services, disable as many google apps as I can -- (though one can only deny google play services permissions, but not disable the app) -- does that provide a good amount of privacy? Or does google still manage to track you somehow?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unofficial microg installer can uninstall conflict packages and deletes Google stuff. There is no reason to keep stuff you don't need. Especially Google stuff. I install microg unofficial installer on nougat and now on oreo without problem.
Sent from my ONEPLUS 5T

vagkoun83 said:
Unofficial microg installer can uninstall conflict packages and deletes Google stuff. There is no reason to keep stuff you don't need. Especially Google stuff. I install microg unofficial installer on nougat and now on oreo without problem.
Sent from my ONEPLUS 5T
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Didn't know the other installers would uninstall conflict packages -- I guess I didn't see any reference to that. In the instructions, it says that it requires spoofing, but do you need spoofing only if you need to use the app store?
There are a lot of unofficial microg installers out there -- did you mean this one?
https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/development/microg-unofficial-installer-t3432360
Anyways, what if you didn't want to deal with the hassle of rooting, installing ROMs and just wanted a simpler way to prevent google from data collection. Does the disabling method work or is it ineffective?

Listerine said:
Didn't know the other installers would uninstall conflict packages. I didn't see any reference to that.
There are a lot of unofficial microg installers out there -- did you mean this one?
https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/development/microg-unofficial-installer-t3432360
-About doing these installers, I would need root, so that would prevent OTAs, wouldn't it?
-I also notice that it says it requires signature spoofing. That's only required if you buy or download stuff from the play store, correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly this one. So for this you need custom recovery for flashing. When I want to update to a newer oxygen I just flash rom & magisk & microg unofficial installer via recovery.
I personally don't have signature spoofing and playstore works ok but the right way is to use sign. Spoofing. Yes you can download stuff from Google without problem.
Sent from my ONEPLUS 5T

vagkoun83 said:
Exactly this one. So for this you need custom recovery for flashing. When I want to update to a newer oxygen I just flash rom & magisk & microg unofficial installer via recovery.
I personally don't have signature spoofing and playstore works ok but the right way is to use sign. Spoofing. Yes you can download stuff from Google without problem.
Sent from my ONEPLUS 5T
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It has just occurred to me that the Chinese version of the OnePlus 5T has exactly the same hardware as the International version...but the Chinese version doesn't have any google apps installed.
So...wouldn't the easiest way to de-bloat from google just to install Hydrogen OS? You wouldn't even have to root for that.

[OnePlus 6] manually Debloating OOS 5.1.5 and Recovery

Manual debloating the OnePlus 6
Hello! I just get my OnePlus 6 with 256 GByte and tried to debloat it a little bit.
I don't use most of the google apps, so I tried to delete it.
As I have deleted a little bit too much here are also the steps to go back to stock.
For the manual debloating I used the app:
System app remover (ROOT)
So before debloating the OP6 must be rooted.
I used this method with success:
[OnePlus 6] Magisk Root on OOS 5.1.5 with SafetyNet checks passed
After the rooting I installed "System app remover (ROOT)" and removed all unwanted system apps.
I rebooted after the removing of every system app and checked if there are side effects.
Here are my findings:
- "Chrome" must NOT be deleted or you aren't able to setup a google account!
If you have accidently removed it (like me) you have to flash the whole OOS 5.1.5 (from this thread:
[OnePlus 6][ROM][OTA][Oxygen OS] Mirrors for official Oxygen OS ROMs and OTA updates
In detail this zip:
5.1.5: OnePlus6Oxygen_22_OTA_009_all_1805172226_4f2de.zip
- Copy the 5.1.5 zip-file on the phone and flash it via:
Code:
Settings - System Updates - Gearwheel in upper right corner - Local upgrade - choose the 5.1.5-rom-zip-file for flashing
- After flashing the 5.1.5 rom and rebooting once you have to enter the stock recovery and make a factory reset:
Code:
Choose language - Wipe data and cache - Reset system setting
- Now you have the original setup and can begin freshly
I am able to delete these system apps without any problems afterwards:
- Drive
- Duo
- Gmail
- Google
- Google Pay
- Google Play Movies & TV
- Google Play Music
- Maps
- NVBackupUI
- OnePlus Account
- Photos
- TelemetryJService
- Youtube
So for now even a little bit of deblaoting as TWRP is not available.
I will complete the list with debloated apps as I have new informations.
EDIT:
# New debloats (with no impact for now):
- OK Google enrollment
- X Google enrollment
- OnePlus Switch (app for copying data from old to a new phone)

I understand removing certain Google apps like Gmail, Play Movies and Play Music as there are other (arguably better) alternatives. But removing "Google" altogether seems extremely silly.

sn0warmy said:
I understand removing certain Google apps like Gmail, Play Movies and Play Music as there are other (arguably better) alternatives. But removing "Google" altogether seems extremely silly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe for you but not for me
I don't use the app or want the "OK Google"-thing. So I remove it. Simple as that. Everyone can choose by themselve what to use.

I don't mind these apps sitting on my phone. Whats the use of 6GB or 8GB RAM then?

Not to discourage you or your method but just going into the app info and disabling it works pretty well too!

rickysidhu_ said:
Not to discourage you or your method but just going into the app info and disabling it works pretty well too!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
not only is freezing apps working and doing the job, it's even the correct and recommended way to proceed because if apps are uninstalled they'd reappear with each rom-flash while freezing apps survives any rom-updates (dirty flashes) in the case of incremental backups it may or may not survive, depending on the content of such updates. certainly major version changes would usually re-install those apps.
this especially applies for people who flash custom rom nightlies, weeklies etc. while not so important for stock roms with OTA updates.
so why did i say it's recommended and the correct way? because everyone should develop routines that always work without issues, including
uninstalling apps that have a negative implact and the hassle to re-flash the entire system instead of simply defrost the app.
and why is that not just personal preference? because people who get into trouble unnecessarily by uninstalling system apps willl clutter the threads and blame rom and kernel devs quite often, not talking about the often stressed and naughty discussions resulting from that.
BTW while one can uninstall "google" on many custom roms and apparently this one, you would regret doing so on a nexus or pixel phone.
why? because it won't fully boot but crash just before the system UI kicks in, in fact in the process of activating apps or however the wording
may be on different roms and devices and API versions.
this is not just in reply to the discussion here, it's for everyone to consider.

Is this a tin foil hat thing or better alternatives

Also, i wiped every "test mode" and "engineeringtest" stuff without any issue so far

_MartyMan_ said:
Also, i wiped every "test mode" and "engineeringtest" stuff without any issue so far
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not being funny but why? Serious question

intruda119 said:
I'm not being funny but why? Serious question
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some of them were running in the background, and they have similar names, so i deleted all of the "test" folders in /system/app, and / priv-app. They are just sensor testing apps, no rela-life function... But i'm curious, what app causes unability to take a screenshot?

It's much easier and safe to freeze the apps with titanium backup.

There is no need to keep Chrome on your system at all (I have been lured here by a similar post, but can't find it any longer). Like that dude @rav101 said before, the only thing you have to do is to update System Webview and you are fine!
That's exactly how I did it and I haven't had a single issue yet.

I maintain an Aroma OxygenOS Debloater for the OnePlus 5 in this thread. Anyone wishing to try that out on the OnePlus 6 running OxygenOS can do so. Here's the latest release post. It should theoretically work for you since OxygenOS's structure is pretty much similar to the one that runs on OnePlus 5/5T.
Do let me know in case there are files that need to be added for user selection in the installer and I'll be happy to download the latest OxygenOS for the OnePlus 6 and go through it to add files specifically present in it which aren't there in the OxygenOS running on older devices that I mentioned.

intruda119 said:
Is this a tin foil hat thing or better alternatives
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tin foil is the way to, I hear.

sn0warmy said:
I understand removing certain Google apps like Gmail, Play Movies and Play Music as there are other (arguably better) alternatives. But removing "Google" altogether seems extremely silly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google is devil

[Guide] Better Battery Life With Google Apps + MicroG Mixed System

Hi guys, this is my first post about dev-ish stuff. Cause I didn’t something like that. So, lets get started...
As you know Android 10 has huge battery drain because of Google Play Services. Before that, I got nearly %40 of background usage. Then I start searching to fix that issue. I tried Magisk modules, moded apks but non of them work properly for me. Then, I want to use MicroG but I need Google Play Store, Google Contacts, Google Dialer etc. So, I made a mix of this solutions. That is what I did:
Before everything don’t forget that: I’m not responsible of anything that can brick or harm your devices. You can do these steps if your phone has signature spoofing ability.
1)Clean install ROM with GAPPS package. (I strongly recommend to use stock-ish ROMS like Los, Aex, Cr-Droid etc.)
2)Boot your phone, skip setup wizard then reboot to recovery again.
3)Mount /system partition and go Advanced -> File Manager -> System (folder)
4)Look into app, priv-app and /product/app, /product/priv-app folders.
5)Remove these folders: MatchmakerPrebuilt, Turbo, WellbeingPrebuilt, PrebuiltGmsCore, GooglePartnerSetup, Velvet, GoogleServicesFramework, CalendarGooglePrebuilt.
6)Reboot your phone
7)Download latest Nanodroid release from here and extract that with some zip utility. Find these apps: GmsCore, GsfProxy, nlpBackendApple, nlpBackendNominatim. Move these apks to phone and install all of them with the same order. Open MicroG settings and grant all permissions, disable battery optimization. Open Settings -> Apps -> Apple Backend -> Permissions -> Allow GPS always.
8)Now reboot recovery then install Magisk.
9)Open Magisk and install Aurora Module from this link
10)Reboot phone then open Aurora Services. Grant permissions and allow Play store under Whitelist.
11)Now, we need to install F-Droid app (I recommend AuroraDroid), add Nanolx and MicroG repos. Check for updates. If there is an update for MicroG or it’s components, update them.
12)Reboot your phone one last time and open MicroG settings app. Login with your Google account. In Google device registration make the status ON. In Google Cloud Messaging make receive push notifications status ON and click three dot menu on right cornerand enter advanced. Make confirm new apps status to OFF. Go back to MicroG main menu and enter Google safetynet and make it’s status to ON. Last step: Go location modules and make everything ON and configure their settings for your current location.
13)Now clean Google Play Store app cache and data then open it.
14)DONE. Now you can install your apps (premium and free).
Problems:
1.Some apps won’t work like Google Calendar, Grasshopper or Google Keep etc.
2.If you want to use Google Contacts and Dialer with Google Sync, you should install them in first step (with gapps or gapps included rom)
3.If you still can’t see your contacts open settings -> accounts -> google -> Account sync -> make contacts status ON then reboot.
4.If you still can’t see contacts check Google Contacts app. There is couple things can cause that like maybe you didn’t choose your default account or maybe you didn’t select the visible account for MicroG etc.
5. If you want to update your ROM with dirty flash, make sure to delete apps -said in fifth step- THEN reboot. If you don’t do it, you should start all steps from beginning and also your ROM may not boot.
Questions:
1.Why are we installing these apps manually, why don’t we just flash the NanoDroid.zip?
- Because of saving some apps from deletion and make easier to ROM updates with dirty flash.
2.Why don’t you build a zip file for must-remove Google apps?
- Actually, IDK how.. I’m not a programmer or developer or something like that. If someone can make a little bloatware-removal zip, that will be very nice but don’t forget, maybe you can find these apps in different folders in your system. Some ROMs has their unique directory or something like that.
3.Gboard says that it needs GMS, what should I do?
- Nothing, it works like a charm. Just ignore it.
Now, I can use my phone nearly 36h per charge.(Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Exynos) That is a huge change. Try and tell me what do you think. If you got trouble with some steps, write in comments. I’ll try to reply them.
Thanks for:
-Nanolx for Nanodroid Project
-Aurora Team for Aurora Services and AuroraDroid App
-MicroG team for MicroG project
You can buy me a coffe if you want. Just click here and see your options.
Note for mods: If I made something wrong, please tell me. That is my first pre-professional topic. I want to fix my wrong. Thanks...

Frankly, the word-of-mouth stories are useless. If we don't get hard data, no one should follow a random guide on xda.

Thank you for your guide, might be looking in to it.
But even if not it's nice that you get time and energy and I bet some people already used it

Can I prevent an update (or at least stave it off) or must I accept the upcoming update? (I don't want the baseband to increment for rooting)

My phone is forcing upon me an update that I wish to stave off, if possible, or stop altogether if possible.
The upcoming update will happen in a day if I don't figure out how to stop it.
How can we definitively tell if the baseband will be incremented with any given forced update?
And how can we tell if this is a security-only update, or if the baseband will be updated too?

Use Package Disabler or an adb edit to disable these two services. Stops it dead in its tracks.

blackhawk said:
Use Package Disabler or an adb edit to disable these two services. Stops it dead in its tracks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah. Too late! This time anyway.
But your information is good for next time.
I'll use this information in the future (and so can others, which is the point of my fleshing what you just had suggested as the answer) to disable the following two services on my T-Mobile Galaxy A32 5G (SM-326U) Android 12 setup...
<com.sec.android.soagent>
What is com.sec.android.soagent?
What is SOAgent in Samsung Galaxy?
What does com.sec.android.soagent do?
<com.ws.dm>
What is com.ws.dm?
What does com.ws.dm do in a Google Activity?
What does Com WS DS mean?
When I looked to disable those two services using my MuntashirAkon App Manager...
<https://github.com/MuntashirAkon/AppManager>
I found that perhaps that second service has a different name?
<com.sec.android.soagent>
<com.wssyncmldm>
What is com.wssyncmldm?
How to disable com.wssyncmldm
Step by step guide to disabling com.wssyncmldm
All you need to know about com.wssyncmldm
Why disable com.wssyncmldm
How to fix com ws sync mldm
Everything you need to know about com.wssyncmldm
As for "Package Disabler", I didn't even know you could disable system packages without being root (alas, my phone can't be rooted).
It's nice to know you can disable system apps without root.
So that others don't have to look for it, I think I found it here, at least with my first set of search terms.
Package Disabler
<https://www.packagedisabler.com>
The only NON-root solution that let’s you disable any unwanted packages that come pre-installed / installed with your phone / tablet.
You can disable apps with 1 click. Disabled application / package will not be uninstalled or updated using Google play or any other means.
This app also provides password / uninstall protection to avoid misuse.
When I searched on XDA-Developers forum threads for package disabler, I found a bunch of hits, but I don't know which are canonical updated threads.
Package Disabler Pro- De-Bloat & Remove Stock Apps For Better Ram-Battery Life
Package Disabler - Android 11?
which also suggests LADB(Kunal Adb) or PC adb
Package Disabler?
Package Disabler?
New package disabler,works!!!
Package Disabler
Package disabler pro
[GUIDE] [No Root] Disable System Apps & Bloatware: Package Disabler Pro - T-Mobile
Has anyone found an alternative apk to package disabler pro?
Need Help with my note 8 Bootloop caused by disabled Packages
What bloatware have you safely disabled/removed on the Galaxy Tab S3?
These non-forum articles showed up in a google search for more information about this useful "package disabler" tool which purports to disable system packages without needing to be root.
Debloat Galaxy Devices Without Root
Universal Android Debloater helps you get rid of unwanted apps and bloatware on your phone
How to disable any pre-installed system app bloatware on Android without root
Android Central Package Disabler
Regarding the adb commands, I use adb all day every day for a variety of things (see below) but I haven't used adb (or ladb) to disable a service which requires root as I didn't know you could do that.
How to duplicate what adb does to ad hoc open any given Activity on the Android phone?
[adb] [Wireless debugging] [Wi-Fi] Is there an updated XDA tutorial yet on setting up adb COMPLETELY wirelessly as of Android 11+ (no USB cable!)?
[adb] What is the adb syntax to connect wirelessly to Android by unique serial number (instead of by Wi-Fi LAN IP address & random port assignment)?
[adb] [Wireless debugging] [Wi-Fi] Is there an updated XDA tutorial yet on setting up adb COMPLETELY wirelessly as of Android 11+ (no USB cable!)?
(PSA) Using the new Android 12 TILE for 'Developer options' 'Wireless debugging' to establish adb connection over Wi-Fi without USB
[adb,scrcpy,vysor] What ports does Android 12 randomly set when Wi-Fi connecting via Wireless debugging adb "pair" or "connect" commands?
Android 12 Developer options adb "Wireless debugging" option keeps turning off
For any given trusted computer, can we make an adb usb debugging connection on day one & then SAVE adbkey.pub authentication keys for use years later?
As for how to use either local adb (ladb) to disable packages (without needing the PC and without needing to be rooted), my first task was to look up what the ladb commands might be...
Say hello to LADB, a local ADB shell without needing root or a computer!
How to debloat your phone (and more) without connecting to a PC
And then let's look up some of the adb commands to figure out what they are to disable the two services using a PC but without needing to be rooted.
XDA-Developers guide to ADB
ADB Tips & Tricks: ADB commands that every power user should know about!
Obviously I have some homework to do before I can successfully disable the two services listed above without needing to be rooted (as my phone can't be rooted) using just adb (which seems like the easiest way to approach this task)...
Since I'm always connected to my phone via adb anyway (as I mirror my screen and audio onto my PC) I may as well use the adb commands to disable the two update services, where might these be the related necessary adb commands to employ for that task?
C:\> adb shell pm list packages | findstr /i soagent
That should find "package:com.sec.android.soagent"​
C:\> adb shell pm list packages -d | findstr /i soagent
That should find the disabled packages & then grep for "com.sec.android.soagent" which shouldn't (yet) be in that list​
C:\> adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.sec.android.soagent
That should (I hope) disable the listed package (is that correct?)​
C:\> adb shell pm enable --user 0 com.sec.android.soagent
That should (if desired), re-enable the listed package (is that right?)​​Likewise, these are likely the related steps for com.wssyncmldm:
C:\> adb shell pm list packages | findstr /i wssyncmldm
C:\> adb shell pm list packages -d | findstr /i wssyncmldm
C:\> adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.wssyncmldm
C:\> adb shell pm enable --user 0 com.wssyncmldm
But first, may I confirm that my two services are of a different name than that which was initially suggested?
And may I confirm the adb commands to disable those two services?

You can probably roll it back from 12 to 11 if you want provided the boot loader wasn't upgraded too.
This stock Samsung N10+ hasn't been updated in over 3 years; still running on Pie. Current load is over 2.5 yo, still fast, very stable with minimal maintenance. Security simply isn't an issue with its current configuration... screw the Google scare hype. This is what Android is capable of... if you leave it be.

blackhawk said:
You can probably roll it back from 12 to 11 if you want provided the boot loader wasn't upgraded too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for that suggestion, where I really don't know that much about Android, which I openly admit. I can research if pointed in the right direction though.
I am told the bootloader for the T-Mobile A32-5G needs to be version 5 or below (maybe even 3 or below) in order to root the Samsung Galaxy A32-5G, and mine is currently version 8.
I don't know how to roll back a bootloader, but even so, I'm not sure I understand your suggestion of rolling back the Android version from 12 to 11.
How would changing the OS change the bootloader version?
blackhawk said:
This stock Samsung N10+ hasn't been updated in over 3 years; still running on Pie. Current load is over 2.5 yo, still fast, very stable with minimal maintenance. Security simply isn't an issue with its current configuration... screw the Google scare hype. This is what Android is capable of... if you leave it be.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I very much appreciate your kind and thoughtful advice that pointed me in the direction of the two packages that I needed to disable, which is what I needed to research in the right direction.
I also much appreciate that you mentioned adb will do the job of disabling those packages without me being rooted, as that too was a required datapoint that I didn't know until you told me.
Thank you very much for your kind advice, where I do agree with you this hype about having the latest security patches isn't something I'm all that worried about.
However....
There is this "nagging concern" that, as of Google's Project Mainline and Project Treble (both since renamed), the way that the 25 core modules update is no longer via carrier updates but over the air with Google Framework Services updates (not to be confused with Google Play Services updates).
AdServices multi-package multi-type Android 13
adbd com.android.adbd APEX Android 11
AppSearch com.android.appsearch APEX Android 13
ART com.android.art APEX Android 12
Bluetooth APEX Android 13
CellBroadcast com.android.cellbroadcast APEX Android 11
Conscrypt com.android.conscrypt APEX Android 10
Device Scheduling com.android.scheduling APEX Android 12
DNS Resolver com.android.resolv APEX Android 10
DocumentsUI com.android.documentsui APK Android 10
ExtServices com.android.ext.services APK (Android 10)
ExtServices com.android.ext.services APEX (Android 11)
IPsec/IKEv2 Library com.android.ipsec APEX Android 11
Media Media: com.android.media Android 10 (extractors)
Media Codecs: com.android.media.swcodec APEX Android 10 (extractors, MediaSession API) Android 11 (MediaParser API)
MediaProvider com.android.mediaprovider APEX Android 11
ModuleMetadata com.android.modulemetadata APK Android 10
Network Stack Network Stack Permission Configuration: com.android.networkstack.permissionconfig
Captive Portal Login: com.android.captiveportallogin
Network Components: com.android.networkstack APK Android 10
NNAPI Runtime com.android.neuralnetworks APK Android 11
OnDevicePersonalization Runtime Multiple Multiple Android 13
PermissionController com.android.permissioncontroller APK Android 10
SDK Extensions com.android.sdkext APEX Android 11
Statsd com.android.os.statsd APEX Android 11
Tethering com.android.tethering APK Android 11
Time Zone Data com.android.tzdata APEX Android 10
UWB com.android.uwb APEX Android 13
Wi-Fi com.android.wifi APEX Android 11
It's all very confusing HOW Android updates nowadays.
Some updates are over the air by the carrier
Other updates are done separately for the 25 core modules
Still others are done over a Google Play Store app Activity
(These last app updates are not really part of the Google Play Store app but the Activity for app updates appears in the settings for the Google Play Store app so a lot of people associate those app updates with the Google Play Store app).
In short, does this method of disabling two packages "really" work to stop all updates?
Or does it just work for the Project Mainline updates?
Or just the carrier supplied security updates?
I don't know.

You're welcome.
The bootloader version can be upgraded but not rolled back on a Snapdragon. If just the rom was upgraded from 11 to 12 it can be rolled back by flashing Android 11 if the bootloader wasn't upgraded too. I think this is the case for you but check it to be sure. Personally I don't muck with the firmware. A Samsung Experience center at a Best Buy can also flash it back to 11.
I really don't worry about updating any apps unless there's a improvement I need, so I don't.
It leads to a more stable platform since everything is already running well, more importantly it's fulfilling its mission. In the end that's all that counts. This is my solution; it may not be what others do but it works very well for me. I send almost zero time now troubleshooting... it just runs.

blackhawk said:
You're welcome.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Without you, I wouldn't have known the name of the two packages, nor that adb can disable them without me being rooted. Thanks.
What I don't know, yet anyway, is which of the following software versions those two packages above facilitated the updates for...
Android version [e.g., Android 12]
Baseband version [e.g., A326USQS8BVL3]
Security update [e.g., Dec. 1, 2022]
Google Play System [e.g., March 1, 2022]
Google Play Services [e.g., 22.42.12 (190400-481949630]
Google Play Store [e.g., 33.5.16-21 [0][PR] 4933219047]
Firmware (such as the Qualcomm modem firmware)
25 Core modules in Project Mainline
These are apparently updated either over Google Play Services on the net or OTA by partners.
Default/original apps (such as Chrome, YouTube, etc.)
User apps (of which there may be hundreds)
blackhawk said:
The bootloader version can be upgraded but not rolled back on a Snapdragon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't think it was going to be easy to unlock the bootloader, let alone roll it backward a notch or two.
BTW, it's not a Snapdragon I don't think.
DevCheck (see attached screenshot) shows it to be a "Mediatek Dimensity 720" powering this SM-A326U Galaxy A32 5G.
blackhawk said:
If just the rom was upgraded from 11 to 12 it can be rolled back by flashing Android 11 if the bootloader wasn't upgraded too. I think this is the case for you but check it to be sure. Personally I don't muck with the firmware. A Samsung Experience center at a Best Buy can also flash it back to 11.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've seen that link, and I found it fantastic, where I think I'm stuck in not being able to root unless something new comes up - which is my main purpose here in at least freezing the bootloader version at 8.
The main lack of information I have at the moment is I don't know WHAT PROCESS updates the bootloader.
blackhawk said:
I really don't worry about updating any apps unless there's a improvement I need, so I don't.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm with you 100% in that I don't update ANY apps unless I KNOW it has something I want (which almost never happens).
That's good that neither of us worries about app updates because most people don't realize what a MESS app updates truly are!
I've found out most people THINK that the Google Play Store does a check for new apps for ALL your installed apps - but I've tested it and it doesn't even come close (see attached screenshot proof).
The Google Play Store app update section isn't even part of the Google Play Store (it's an Activity within it but it's independent of the Google Play Store app itself) - but what's worse is the fact it updates barely any apps.
Maybe a dozen. Maybe even two dozen.
But the Google Play Store app update Activity MISSES hundreds upon hundreds of apps, which the screenshots below prove to be the case.
Luckily, as a result of that opinion which we both share that we don't update apps unless we need to, this whole app update mess isn't an issue for either one of us, but bear in mind that a LOT of people "think" the Google Play Store app "updates" all their apps.
It's not even close.
blackhawk said:
It leads to a more stable platform since everything is already running well, more importantly it's fulfilling its mission. In the end that's all that counts. This is my solution; it may not be what others do but it works very well for me. I send almost zero time now troubleshooting... it just runs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm like you in that I don't update the hundreds of apps unless any one of them needs to be updated, which almost never happens.
But what is driving me nuts is the CONFUSION about what process updates what part of the Android operating system.
For example, I'm currently at:
The Google Play System = March 1, 2022
Settings > About phone > Software information
The Google Play Services = Version 22.42.12 (190400-481949630)
Settings > Apps > Your apps > Google Play Services
The Google Play Store = 33.5.16-21 [0][PR] 4933219047
Settings > Apps > Your apps > Google Play Services
But what is the process that updates those three entities?
It behooves us to nail this down as I'm confused what is updated when & how.
While there are at least a half dozen important layers of Android which are updated on a variety of schedules, I think the fundamental updated layers may be:
The Android OS version, baseband & security patch levels
The Google Play {System,Services,Store} system update levels
The versions of the 25 core modules of Project Mainline
The versions of the firmware in Project Treble
The versions of all the apps supplied with the native OS
I'm embarrassed, for example, to state that I have no idea whatsoever what updates the BASEBAND, for example.
Worse, I have no idea what process updates the 25 core modules of the Project Mainline modules (which is the core of Android).
Project Mainline core modules in Android 10
Project Mainline core modules in Android 11
Project Mainline core modules in Android 12
Project Mainline core modules in Android 13
What process updates those two dozen critical core modules?

com.wssyncmldm is what does all OTA firmware updates for the phone including the bootloader as far as I know. To stop OTA upgrades only it needs to be disabled. It's the only one that can permanently screw you up.
I'm not familiar with the MediaTek chipsets. Galaxy store updates it's apps as well, I firewall block it unless I need to use it.
I keep installable backup copies of all my apps including system. That way on a reload or if they get an unwanted update, I'm ready.
Worksv on Android 9,10, not sure about higher. Newer versions are on Playstore.

blackhawk said:
com.wssyncmldm is what does all OTA firmware updates for the phone including the bootloader as far as I know. To stop OTA upgrades only it needs to be disabled. It's the only one that can permanently screw you up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for confirming com.wssyncmldm does the over-the-air firmware updates, and, particularly the caveat that it's the only updater package that can permanently screw the ability to root up.
Android is broken into so many components that I am going nuts trying to figure out what updates what - so that helps (a little).
blackhawk said:
I'm not familiar with the MediaTek chipsets. Galaxy store updates it's apps as well, I firewall block it unless I need to use it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for bringing up the Galaxy App update mechanism, which I had omitted in my description of what updates apps above.
The OTA update often updates default system apps
The Google Play Store Activity Updater updates "some" apps
The FOSS Google Play Store clients also update "many" apps
The Samsung Galaxy Store updater updates its own apps
There are app updaters I've tested which update ALL apps
(Of course, these assume an update is available.)
Just so that you know, I never create ANY login on my phone, so I can't log into the galaxy store even if I had wanted to do so.
Is there any app in the Samsung Galaxy Store worth the login requirements?
That means I don't have a Google Account set up on my phone either (even as I have a Google Account), so I've learned empirically that if you log into the GMail app even once, it CREATES a Google Account on your phone.
The phone works better WITHOUT the Google Account setup.
Likewise if you log into the Google Maps app, or Google Voice, etc., but luckily ALL the Google apps have equivalent apps which generally work better than the Google apps do anyway.
GMail === FairMail mail client
Chrome === Ungoogled Chromium web client
YouTube === NewPipe YouTube client
Google Play Store === Aurora Google Play Store client
Google Maps === works fine w/o a login
Google Calendar === Etar
Google Messages === Pulse SMS (before Klinker sold to Maple Media)
Google launcher === Nova Launcher (before they sold out)
etc.
Note a good reason for SAVING all the APKs you install is shown in the case of Nova and Pulse where both went over to the dark side.
blackhawk said:
I keep installable backup copies of all my apps including system. That way on a reload or if they get an unwanted update, I'm ready.
Worksv on Android 9,10, not sure about higher. Newer versions are on Playstore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Like you, I maintain all my APKs independently OUTSIDE of the current daily drive phone, where it's all completely automatic.
The FOSS Google Play Store clients have an option to NOT DELETE the APK when you install any app off the Google Play Store repository.
That fact bears repeating.
When you install an app off the Google Play store, presumably this sequence occurs:
1. The client finds the app & then you download the APK
2. The client initiates the installation of the APK
3. Then the client always DELETES the downloaded APK
But when you install that same app off that same repository using the FOSS Google Play Store clients, and if you check the box to NOT DELETE the APK after installation, then THIS sequence happens.
1. The client finds the app & then you download the APK
2. The client initiates the installation of the APK
3. Then the client always DOES NOT DELETE the downloaded APK
In addition, my Android file system and my Windows file systems are exactly the same (so to speak) since I use free WebDAV servers to mount my entire Android filesystem onto Windows as a drive letter over Wi-Fi (no cables necessary).
Can you mount BOTH Android internal & external storage onto Windows as a drive letter over Wi-Fi using a SINGLE WebDAV server?
That way, when I need to re-populate a new phone, I first bring over the homescreen and all the icon locations (which Nova does nicely), and then, one by one, I populate the apps by SLIDING them over using my mouse to slide from Windows to the mirrored Android.
See the screenshots below proving all that I say above.
BTW, I have one WARNING about extracting APKs, where I've tested ALL the free extractors extent, and where I've had some bad experiences where the extracted APK doesn't work on a different model phone (generally it's different in every way, hardware & software).
I've had MUCH BETTER experience just NOT DELETING the APK when it's downloaded off the Google Play Store repository, or the F-Droid repository, or the GitHub/Sourceforge/Guardian/etc., repositories.
This problem, I think, will only get worse as of the August 2022 decree by Google regarding APEX files (instead of APK files) on the Google Play Store repository.
In summary, Android UPDATES are complex, and I do NOT profess to understand what updates what - so any help anyone can provide is welcome as I am confused as to what updates what.
Since my credibility matters, screenshots below prove all I say above.

I use whatever comes in handy and don't go more nuts than I need to in order to get the job done.
The reason to be able to access the Samsung Galaxy store are the free icon packs and themes.
Edge add ons and certain other apps like Sound Assistant. The Good Lock family of apps are of particular interest for a Samsung user.
Nova isn't as fast or efficient as One UI. One UI is a very stable launcher and very customizable.
My stock N10+ homescreen running on One UI, modified with various Good Lock apps and One handed Operation plus. Digi Clock and Energy Ring are 3rd party apps.

blackhawk said:
Nova isn't as fast or efficient as One UI.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nova free went over to the dark side as of the Branch acquisition.
Nova Launcher and Sesame Search have been acquired by Branch, an analytics company
As a direct result of the Branch acquisition, my Nova free is the last known good version (namely the pre-branch 7.0.57 version):
<https://novalauncher.com/beta>
<https://novalauncher.com/apk/NovaLauncher_7.0.57.apk>
Name: NovaLauncher_7.0.57.apk
Size: 8687535 bytes (8483 KiB)
SHA256: 05AE72221D8D4F3D6A111A3220A0C87040806AF4E53053EF64F2DE426990893E
Mostly what I like(d) about Nova free is the ability to save the homescreen (and all the folders, shortcuts, and icons) EXACTLY and then re-load it on any number of phones, no matter what make/model of that phone.
Another feature I really liked about Nova free is its ability to put icons on any grid and in any location whatsoever.
Last summer I had opened a thread seeking a replacement app launcher...
Nova launcher used to be the best free Android launcher - until now - so what's better?
We discussed the merits at that time...
blackhawk said:
One UI is a very stable launcher and very customizable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm happy with my last-known-good-version of Nova free, but because they went over to the dark side, I have to find another app launcher.
If OneUI does those things, I might consider it.
Save homescreen/folders/icons & re-use later
Put icons on any grid (or no grid) whatsoever

GalaxyA325G said:
Mostly what I like(d) about Nova free is the ability to save the homescreen (and all the folders, shortcuts, and icons) EXACTLY and then re-load it on any number of phones, no matter what make/model of that phone.
The only other thing I really liked about Nova free is its ability to put icons on any grid and in any location whatsoever.
I'm happy with my last-known-good-version of Nova free, but because they went over to the dark side, I have to find another app launcher.
If OneUI does those two things, I might consider it.
Save homescreen/folders/icons & re-use later
Put icons on any grid (or no grid) whatsoever
Does it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SmartSwitch can save icons and homescreen, however on a clean load I wouldn't use SmartSwitch other than to save homescreen settings so you'll need to rebuild the icons and apps although Goodlock apps and homepage settings remain in effect. So it's not like you just landed on mars and everything looks unworldly with no button navigation
Other than folders you're locked into the grid pattern.
One UI is faster, more efficient and very stable. In fact in 3 years I've never had it crash and force a reboot. Let me put this way, one of the most surefire ways to boot loop a Samsung is a 3rd party launcher. Been there, done that twice, back to back full reloads That convinced me to live with the white page indicators. That's my only real criticism of One UI.
Pick your poison wisely...

I didn't read the whole thread, but for instance it's already enough to freeze the "Software-Update" package to stop "Software-Update" notifications.
In my S8 with Android 9 it's located in /system/priv-app/FotaAgent/FotaAgent.apk. Just rename to "FotaAgent.apk.bak" and that's it!