Well, as far as I remember you’ll need at least a Google account to enter into Raccoon to be able to use it for downloading, don’t you? Of course, this Google account is then only needed on the PC and not on the phone.
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Correct, you can easily setup a Google account with fake credentials. Then upload the build.prop from your mobile phone to this Google account with Dummy Droid (companion software to Raccoon). Mostly works, with few exceptions (where Google Play states that some app wasn’t supported by any of your devices).
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Thanks for all the advice, I’ll check out aptoide and apkmirror.
StephanK, that sounds a bit technical to me, might try that too when I have the time. A “fake” google account seems like a lot of work, but I guess I could do that too.
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Hello,
I have a question which is probably answered somewhere already, but I can not find it.
Is there any way to “fake”/simulate google play-services on a phone without them to make apps work which require them or avoid error messages?
I have a FP2 with FP Open OS 16.05, no GAPPS installed, rooted, with Xposed framework and Xprivacy and gravity box.
So far I have installed some apps which require the google play services “theoretically”, but seem to work without them as well. For example in the german train app “DB navigator” there is constantly a message popping up, which says that the phone does not use google play services. I can confirm it and the app can still be used. So here it is just annoying. I remember other apps, for example “swissmaps”, which show a message that they need google play services. Here you just tap next to message and the app is still usable (with the message popping up once in a while). Also just annoying.
Now I have istalled the app “alpenvereinaktiv”, another map app, and the map page does not work at all. There is only a message “The usage of the map is only possible with google play services”. I do not know what these service have to do with the map. There are alternatives for location (I have unifiedLNP installed), they do not use googlemaps as a base (as far as I know…) etc.
So I think it is not necessary to have the services.
Maybe one of the experts can help me. I mean Xposed can fake locations, lists, etc. maybe there is also something to replace these services. Or maybe it is simply not possible. This would be helpful to know too. I guess I am not the only one with this kind of problem. Most people leaving the google apartment and moving into the neighborhood should have this at one point.
Thnaks in advance.
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Have you checked out OpenGAPPs? There’s a couple of useful topics about that on the forum. Whist it seems it does install parts of the Google services, you get to choose tailor which ones - so not sure whether that’s what you want.
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I think your are looking for https://microg.org, an open and free replace for Google Mobile Services.
It provides free alternatives for maps and network location: replaces GMaps with OpenStreetMap and Google network location with the provider you want (I use Mozilla’s).
Plus, and optionally, it can connect to Google servers for GCM push notifications and Google device register. Note that this features can leak information to Google.
Of course, it removes the irritating “Google Services are needed”-kind of messages, 
Just download the APKs (GsmCore, GsfProxy and FakeStore/BlankStore are the minimum) from the official site (there’s a F-Droid dedicated repo, too), install the below Xposed Modules and reboot:
- FakeGApps: http://repo.xposed.info/module/com.thermatk.android.xf.fakegapps
- XposedGmsCoreUnifiedNIp: http://repo.xposed.info/module/be.r3w6.intika.xposedunifiednlp
Edit: I wrote a post explaining Google Mobile Services and how they are putting AOSP in a cage. There you have:
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@ Johannes
Thanks a lot for the advice, but this is not what I want. For me it is not an option to install a google free Android (I love so much that fairphone made it possible for dummies like me!) and then put google back on because I can not live without some of it. I rather live without some apps as they can live without me if they are married with google 
@ Roboe
Yeah, this sounds exactly like what I am looking for. I will definitely dive into that. But it will take time, I am slow… I will keep you updated about my progress. Thanks a lot.
It is awesome how people fight so hard for this little bit of privacy. I mean, you install one package and everythings works smooth. But just to avoid this one piece of software, which is used by one company to monopolize and supervise everything the costumers do, you have to make big efforts and loose quite some convienience. But the people do not give up! They always find ways to get where they want. It is like hundreds of Don Quixotes, and I like it. Damn, I sound like a pop song. Should stop here…
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@ Robo
a few questions to begin with.
Do I need the Xposed module “XposedGmsCoreUnifiedNIp” if I already use Unifiednlp from F-droid? If yes, why?
Do I need to install “GsfProxy” if I do not use google cloud services and need their push notifications? Is this what you called “optionally”? If yes, why?
Thanks in advance!
Sorry for the late move. Here is where we already discussed a lot about this topic and in the first post there is a guide on how to do it. It’s a wiki so feel free to add stuff that is missing.
No. Since 16.05 FP Open OS supports Unified NLP. You only need to install it and some backends from F-Droid and set it up.
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can you suggest any good Unified NLP backend from F-Droid?
I like them all.
You should have at least one offline and one online backend for wifi and cell data each.
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As an update. I have installed microG on the phone and it seems to work ok. No google play service messages any more. Yeah. GPS works ok, even though I will put some more effort in trying to get a quicker GPS fix.
BUT the app “outdooractive” (similar to “alpenvereinaktiv)”, which is the one I would like to use and which kept crashing and gave the message “The usage of the map is only possible with google play services”, is still crashing. This time without the google service message.
I have not installed “GsfProxy”, because I do not think that push notifications are necessary for this map app. Can that be the problem?
I have installed GsmCore, BlankStore and FakeGApps. I have not installed XposedGmsCoreUnifiedNIp, because UnifiedNlp is supported by FPOS16.06 and I have installed the app from F-droid together with different backends (and it works well).
I have given the outdooractive app all permits it wants with Xprivacy (to make sure that there is no conflict here).
Does anyone have an idea, why the app still crashes?
Android permissions are granted on app installation. Maybe your app needs some Google custom permission which hasn’t requested yet? Try reinstalling the “outdooractive” app.
Other possible case is that the app requests the location to the fused provider, which is not working and it’s a known error on the FP Open OS. The fused provider is the technical name of the mixed GPS location + network location (high precission location). This is the problem causing PlayStore (with OpenGApps) or transport apps like CityMapper to crash.
Personal thought: only greatly designed, wide compatibility, bug avoiding developed apps which specificly check for the absence of the fused provider work at the moment. And no, it’s not a common practice.
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I have re-installed outdooractive, so no permit problems.
Therefore the fused provider seems like a good (and unsatisfying…) explanation. This is supported by the fact, that the app works ok until I click “map”. As soon as it tries to open the map (or wants the location I guess) it crashes.
Too bad there is no alternative yet, but maybe soon. I hope so.
Anyway, at least because of your help I have a few useless messages less. That’s an advancement!
And yes, it is not a widely used app, so the chances it is not programmed to the highest standards is quite likely. I will write them an email and ask for it. Will let you know, if I get an answer.
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Hope FP team fixes that on the next version. It’s pretty annoying, 
Writing directly to the developers is a good idea. I’ll do it myself too. Good luck!
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I just moved to FPOOS and I am using Raccoon to get some apps from Google Play.
I have problems with paid apps, like Titanium Backup Pro. This apps unlock the free app but it needs Google Play Services. So I can download the free app and the unlocker, but I can’t unlock the app.
Do you know any way to do it (without installing GAPPS of course)? Titanium is just an example, I have several apps like that.
You can donate via paypal to get a key for the pro version
Once your donation is sent, PayPal notifies me and I send your license ASAP. Keep an eye on your spam folder. Thank you !
Actually I already buy the unlocker via Google Play a long time ago, so I don’t really want to pay a second time.
I email the support of Titanium, but my question here was more general, I have several other apps like this.