I want as little Google as possible on my Fairphone 4!

[Zeiko]

Thanks to you and the previous answer,

Hoping this get solved in future update to allow us to remove it…

[darioce]

@darioce

I am running also into issues with storage. Mainly, apps complaining about not having a documents app available (activity not found: android.intent.action.OPEN_DOCUMENT).
I think this might be linked to me removing com.google.android.documentsui.

Unfortunately, I forgot to save the apps on Stanzis list. How can I reinstall this app without doing a factory reset?

EDIT: I have managed to mitigate the issue by installing Material Files. It seems that Simple File Browser did not properly set itself as a default file browser. Now most apps seem to work fine.

Unfortunately, I am running again into similar issues with android.intent.action.CREATE_DOCUMENT
Mainly while exporting settings from apps (andOTP, AntennaPod…)

Anybody experiencing this as well? Any ideas what the issue might be?

EDIT: It seems, that a lot of App rely on the DocumentsUI app from Google and alternative file managers like Material Files cannot replace some of their function.
I had therefore to reinstall the original App using

adb shell cmd package install-existing com.google.android.documentsui

If you want to use backup functions of your apps you cannot remove this app from your phone. I’d be glad to be taught differently.

[yvmuell]

as indicated above this could be a general A11 issue, so did you read this https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/j3zgmm/managing_files_in_the_androiddata_folder_on/

[Zeiko]

Hi,

By any chance did you encounter DNS issue in 4G after removing theses packages ?

I currently do not have any DNS resolver when I’m in 4G,

Everything works perfectly in wifi

EDIT : Seems like there’s no default DNS server for 4G or something like that, using blokada VPN allow me to use 4G correctly ? I don’t really understand where the problem is

[Brado]

After a week of testing, my current list has 93 removals:

com.android.bips
com.android.bluetoothmidiservice
com.android.bookmarkprovider
com.android.carrierdefaultapp
com.android.chrome
com.android.companiondevicemanager
com.android.dreams.basic
com.android.dreams.phototable
com.android.egg
com.android.email.partnerprovider
com.android.htmlviewer
com.android.keychain
com.android.launcher3
com.android.mtp
com.android.providers.calendar
com.android.providers.partnerbookmarks
com.android.simappdialog
com.android.soundrecorder
com.android.stk
com.android.traceur
com.android.vending
com.android.wallpaper.livepicker
com.android.wallpapercropper
com.fairphone.myfairphone
com.fp.camera
com.google.android.apps.docs
com.google.android.apps.maps
com.google.android.apps.messaging
com.google.android.apps.photos
com.google.android.apps.restore
com.google.android.apps.setupwizard.searchselector
com.google.android.apps.tachyon
com.google.android.apps.wellbeing
com.google.android.apps.youtube.music
com.google.android.calculator
com.google.android.calendar
com.google.android.configupdater
com.google.android.contacts
com.google.android.deskclock
com.google.android.dialer
com.google.android.documentsui
com.google.android.feedback
com.google.android.gm
com.google.android.gms.location.history
com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox
com.google.android.inputmethod.latin
com.google.android.keep
com.google.android.marvin.talkback
com.google.android.onetimeinitializer
com.google.android.overlay.gmsconfig.common
com.google.android.overlay.gmsconfig.gsa
com.google.android.overlay.gmsconfig.photos
com.google.android.overlay.modules.documentsui
com.google.android.overlay.modules.modulemetadata.forframework
com.google.android.partnersetup
com.google.android.printservice.recommendation
com.google.android.projection.gearhead
com.google.android.setupwizard
com.google.android.syncadapters.contacts
com.google.android.tag
com.google.android.tts
com.google.android.videos
com.google.android.youtube
com.orange.aura.oobe
com.orange.update
com.qti.confuridialer
com.qti.dpmserviceapp
com.qti.qualcomm.datastatusnotification
com.qti.service.colorservice
com.qti.snapdragon.qdcm_ff
com.qti.xdivert
com.qualcomm.atfwd
com.qualcomm.embms
com.qualcomm.location
com.qualcomm.qcrilmsgtunnel
com.qualcomm.qti.callfeaturessetting
com.qualcomm.qti.confdialer
com.qualcomm.qti.dynamicddsservice
com.qualcomm.qti.lpa
com.qualcomm.qti.qms.service.telemetry
com.qualcomm.qti.qms.service.trustzoneaccess
com.qualcomm.qti.remoteSimlockAuth
com.qualcomm.qti.uim
com.qualcomm.timeservice
com.qualcomm.uimremoteserver
com.qualcomm.wfd.service
de.telekom.tsc
org.codeaurora.ims

All working good!

[rar0]

Based on the amazing work of Stanzi and Brado I’ve compiled these two lists of packages you can uninstall

Simple uninstallation

Packages that should be safe to uninstall if you don’t want to use Google services

com.android.bips
com.android.bluetoothmidiservice
com.android.bookmarkprovider
com.android.carrierdefaultapp
com.android.companiondevicemanager
com.android.dreams.basic
com.android.dreams.phototable
com.android.egg
com.android.email.partnerprovider
com.android.htmlviewer
com.android.keychain
com.android.providers.calendar
com.android.providers.partnerbookmarks
com.android.simappdialog
com.android.traceur
com.android.wallpaper.livepicker
com.android.wallpapercropper
com.fairphone.myfairphone
com.google.android.apps.photos
com.google.android.apps.restore
com.google.android.apps.setupwizard.searchselector
com.google.android.apps.tachyon
com.google.android.apps.wellbeing
com.google.android.apps.youtube.music
com.google.android.cellbroadcastreceiver.overlay.common
com.google.android.configupdater
com.google.android.feedback
com.google.android.gms.location.history
com.google.android.gmsintegration
com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox
com.google.android.marvin.talkback
com.google.android.onetimeinitializer
com.google.android.overlay.gmsconfig.common
com.google.android.overlay.gmsconfig.comms
com.google.android.overlay.gmsconfig.gsa
com.google.android.overlay.gmsconfig.photos
com.google.android.overlay.gmsconfig.searchlauncherqs
com.google.android.overlay.modules.documentsui
com.google.android.overlay.modules.ext.services
com.google.android.overlay.modules.modulemetadata.forframework
com.google.android.partnersetup
com.google.android.printservice.recommendation
com.google.android.projection.gearhead
com.google.android.setupwizard
com.google.android.setupwizard.overlay
com.google.android.syncadapters.contacts
com.google.android.tag
com.google.android.videos
com.google.mainline.telemetry
com.orange.aura.oobe
com.orange.update
com.qti.confuridialer
com.qti.dpmserviceapp
com.qti.qualcomm.datastatusnotification
com.qti.service.colorservice
com.qti.snapdragon.qdcm_ff
com.qti.xdivert
com.qualcomm.atfwd
com.qualcomm.embms
com.qualcomm.location
com.qualcomm.qcrilmsgtunnel
com.qualcomm.qti.callfeaturessetting
com.qualcomm.qti.confdialer
com.qualcomm.qti.devicestatisticsservice
com.qualcomm.qti.dynamicddsservice
com.qualcomm.qti.lpa
com.qualcomm.qti.qms.service.telemetry
com.qualcomm.qti.qms.service.trustzoneaccess
com.qualcomm.qti.remoteSimlockAuth
com.qualcomm.qti.uim
com.qualcomm.timeservice
com.qualcomm.uimremoteserver
com.qualcomm.wfd.service
com.tct.endusertest
de.telekom.tsc
org.codeaurora.ims

Advanced uninstallation

Packages that are more difficult to uninstall with possible replacement app from F-Droid

Package	Name	Uninstalling breaks …	Replacement
com.android.launcher3	Quickstep (Default launcher)	gesture navigation	Lawnchair (Keep Quickstep installed and set Lawnchair as default launcher)
com.android.mtp	MTP Host	MTP (Media Transfer Protocol) functionality	-
com.android.stk	SIM Manager	functionality to add eSIM	-
com.android.messages	Messages	SMS	Simple SMS Messenger
com.google.android.documentsui	Files	file selection in apps	-
com.google.android.euicc	SIM Tool Kit	functionality to add eSIM	-
com.fp.camera	Camera by Fairphone	camera	Open Camera Google Camera
com.google.android.inputmethod.latin	GBoard (keyboard)	keyboard and PIN input at wakeup very dangerous to remove!	FlorisBoard (PIN input at wakeup should work)
com.google.android.tts	Speech services by Google	Text-To-Speech engine	eSpeak
com.android.chrome	Chrome	-	Fennec
com.android.maps	Google Maps	-	OsmAnd+ GMaps WV Organic Maps
com.android.soundrecorder	Simple Voice Recorder	-
com.android.vending	Google Play Store	-	Aurora Store F-Droid
com.google.android.apps.docs	Google Drive	-	-
com.google.android.calculator	Calculator	-	Simple Calculator
com.google.android.calendar	Calendar	-	Simple Calendar
com.google.android.contacts	Contacts	-	Simple Contacts
com.google.android.deskclock	Clock	-	Simple Clock
com.google.android.dialer	Dialer	-	Simple Dialer
com.google.android.gm	GMail	-	FairEail K-9 Mail
com.google.android.keep	Keep notes	-	Simple Notes Pro
com.google.android.youtube	YouTube	-	NewPipe

How to uninstall

How to uninstall and reinstall Android system apps / packages

Check out Stanzi’s post for more infos about com.google.android.gms and
com.google.android.gsf and Qualcomm packages

[noodlejetski]

to add to the list of alternatives:

Audio Recorder comes with multiple options for sound quality, mono/stereo recording and a bunch of other useful settings

play.google.com

Audio Recorder

Fast and lightweight Audio Recorder application...

Free

Standard Notes is an end-to-end encrypted notes service that lets you sync the notes to other devices, with a bunch of optional extensions for additional functionality

play.google.com

Standard Notes

Encrypted notes ap...

Free

both apps are also available on F-droid.

[Discostu36]

It would be interesting to know what each of these services does, so uninstalling them would really be an informed decision .

[noodlejetski]

check the Advanced uninstallation section.

[Discostu36]

Yes, but it does not include all. For example “bips”, what is it? What could I need it for?

[AnotherElk]

@Discostu36

For example “bips”, what is it? What could I need it for?

Your favourite internet search says it’s short for BuiltInPrintService.

[robbert.f]

Hopefully this link will give you some clues as to what to do with a bips.

[Discostu36]

Thanks, but this was only an example to show that such an overview would be even more useful with a short info about what it is that I am uninstalling there.

[AnotherElk]

So, exemplary lists of packages are being assembled, ways to find out what those packages are or do exist … and a Wiki already exists where this all could be brought together by everybody interested … ✏ How to uninstall and reinstall Android system apps / packages.

Just integrate a list of packages there, or start a new dedicated Wiki for this, and everybody feeling like searching for info on the packages can add the desired info step by step.

[rar0]

I had the same idea. I’ll create a new dedicated wiki topic with a list of packages in the next few days.

[yvmuell]

Found this universal debloater project, the folders list the packages and give information on what the package is doing

lists · master · W1nst0n / Universal Android Debloater

Also there are lists around here in the forum for the FP3 and I assume many packages are the same

Google Apps keep reinstalling/ reactivating

Here’s my current take … I try to walk a line between de-Google-ing the phone while keeping the basic Google Mobile Services (GMS, for OTA updates of the OS and some Play Store Apps I still have as APKs for installing) and the Play Store itself (for updates of remaining Google components) from breaking, even if I try not to use my Google account for now. I’m not a big fan of installing downloaded APKs from some website without an automatic update possibility which stores like e.g. F-Droid prov…

[gilesjuk]

That’s the old repo, this is the new one:

GitHub - 0x192/universal-android-debloater: Cross-platform GUI written in...

[yvmuell]

Yes correct and I was referring to the old one, because of the listings of the packages and the correponding explanations, as this was the discussion. I don’t see this information on the new repo…

@rar0 thanks for adding a Fairphone request

[rar0]

As you might have already seen, I’ve added a new guide on how to debloat the FP4. Feel free to edit it if you know more.

FP4 - Debloat guide for better privacy, security and battery life

All posters of this thread are invited to update or specify the information or add anything new. This is a #wiki so everyone can edit to add experiences. For metadiscussion please see this thread Introduction

What is debloating?

When you unbox your new phone, it comes with Android that is pre-installed by the manufacturer. This is called “stock firmware”. Stock firmware also comes with a number of apps pre-installed, like native camera, browser, Google apps, etc… Some applications are manuf…

My request to add Fairphone to universal-android-debloater is still pending but you can already see the changes with infos about the Fairphone apps here:

Added packages from manufacturer Fairphone

[UPPERCASE]

Great post and well written with much detail!
Out of curiosity, why would someone not just use /e/OS? Manually removing seemingly core apps can cause stability issues.

Maybe it’s good to point out the existence of /e/OS in your tutorial and maybe also mention the website below.

switching.software

By the way, the Simple Calendar Pro link refers to a calculator.