GrapheneOS Sandboxed Google Play Service and Google Play Store Updates

adelina

After installing Sandboxed Google Play Service with GrapheneOS I noticed two things I am not sure about.

1) The Google Play Store periodically notifies me about the update of Google Play Services via the Store. My understanding is that the update should be done through the GrapheneOS Apps app so as not to break compatibility. Is this correct? Is it even possible to update via the Google App Store or would GrapheneOS prevent this? What are the best methods to deal with this? Can I disable the Google Play Store notifications?

2) The Google Play Store reminds me to install "Google AR Services", but I don't think I need that. Why is that? Do I need to install it? Can I disable the notifications?

unwat

adelina My understanding is that the update should be done through the GrapheneOS Apps app so as not to break compatibility. Is this correct?

yes

adelina The Google Play Store reminds me to install "Google AR Services", but I don't think I need that. Why is that? Do I need to install it? Can I disable the notifications?

Google uses that to provide AR services. You don't need to install it if you don't want, and installing it doesn't hurt anything. I think you can disable its network access safely. If you want to get rid of the notifications, you can install it and then disable it afterwards.

monero4freedom

unwat adelina My understanding is that the update should be done through the GrapheneOS Apps app so as not to break compatibility. Is this correct?

yes

I also had this question in my mind. Just to verify, this is still the case, right? I have enabled google play stuff under my Owner (Admin) account's Work Profile (setup via shelter app from fdroid). And now, when I start the google play store app, under the "Updates" tab in it, I can see that it has an update for the Google Play Store app.

However, I should wait for the grapheneos "App" to update google play store, right?

adelina

What exactly does disabling an app do? It seems that AR services is a dependency of the Google Camera. Why does GCam need this dependency? What feature can't I have without this dependency?

unwat

adelina
To be honest, I really don't know. I've used gcam both with and without AR services installed. It worked the same both ways as far as I could tell. Maybe it's required for something I don't use so I didn't notice, or maybe they added it in preparation for a new feature.

AR services are probably necessary for some things like games (like Pokémon GO) or maybe even something like Snapchat filters.

Disabling it won't hurt anything. Just remember you did and if something AR related doesn't work just remember to re-enable it. Or, just leave it enabled and remove its network permission. It shouldn't need access to the internet anyway.

other8026

monero4freedom I should wait for the grapheneos "App" to update google play store, right?

No. @unwat's advice was current, but this discussion is from over a year ago. Now the preferred method of keeping Google Play and the others up to date is via Google Play. But not Android Auto, which can only be updated by Apps.

monero4freedom

Thanks, appreciate the up-to-date info.