Google Services necessary?

generic_user1984

Hello,
I use Graphene OS for some time now on a Pixel 6a and I love it. I use multiple profiles for different tasks and I completely hate Google. But I found out that I need Google Services for some apps (often financial apps) so I made a extra profile where I allowed sandboxed Google Services where I install these apps which requires Google. But so far I have to guess if an app I plan to install requires Google Services.
So I want to ask you if you know a way to find out if Google is required before installing an app. Is that written anywhere for each app?

Thank you.

Best Regards.

Dumdum

generic_user1984 So I want to ask you if you know a way to find out if Google is required before installing an app. Is that written anywhere for each app?

I don't think so, but you could try installing apps in a Google-free profile via Aurora Store (for example), and see which apps throw any tantrums about missing Play services.

GrapheneOS

generic_user1984

So I want to ask you if you know a way to find out if Google is required before installing an app. Is that written anywhere for each app?

It's not possible to determine that without trying it. Many apps use it for certain optional features but work without it so trying to detect it based on whether they use libraries which depend on it is unreliable. For example, Signal uses FCM and certain Play services location features when available but works without them. Molly is a fork of Signal which has a FOSS variant without these libraries. It's worth noting that apps can use Google services from their app and from their server without involving Google Play services. Many of the standard Google libraries work without Play services including ones you may want to avoid such as Ads and Analytics.

GrapheneOS

@DeletedUser87 That site is highly inaccurate and from people who are extremely malicious towards GrapheneOS and our community. Linking it here isn't permitted and it has no real value due to how inaccurate and poorly maintained it is combined with it deliberately excluding GrapheneOS-related information. Please don't link any of their content in our community.

DeletedUser87

GrapheneOS well, if you have you better alternative, let's hear it. "Just trying it" sounds like a waste of time if I had to repeat that for every app on my list.

GrapheneOS

DeletedUser87 A site misleading people about what's going to work so they don't even try it and assume they can't use the app is much worse.

generic_user1984

Ok, thank you so far, hoped, that I could avoid "trial and error". For Example: As I installed Telegram on my Google-free profile, the app itself started and seemed to work, but at creating an account I only came to the point, where Telegram should send me a SMS for the confirmation - it never arrived. So I couldn't continue the process of account creating. I had to install it in the "Google profile", there it was no problem and the SMS was sent.

SerenityNow

I initially installed my banking app and several others I use for financial health stuff in my main profile with play services. After uninstalling play services, my banking app says it needs them for certain things, but works fine. The rest of the apps don't even care there are no play services anymore.

So, just try and find out. If necessary, put the apps that need play services in a second profile.

generic_user1984

Ok, thanks, then I will just use trial and error... Do you think it makes a different if I first install an app WITH Google Services and afterwards deinstall Google OR if I simply install an app without Google Services from the beginning? I mean, could an app behave different depending on which order I use do "decouple" an app from Google?