Do Google Play Services require internet connection to work?

poubellier

I have a multi-user profiles set-up, and one of those profiles is for banking apps (requiring Google's stuff to work). So do i have to let the internet connection permission for the banking apps to work? Or is having them (without internet connection on) is enough? It would mean I have to constantly leak my IP to Google.

matchboxbananasynergy

poubellier If the app uses Play Services to provide functionality, then yes. If the app merely requires Play Services to be present and doesn't care/use them beyond that, you might get away with revoking the network permission from play services.

The recommended and supported setup for Sandboxed Google Play is all three apps (GSF, Play Services, Play Store) installed, all 3 need at least network permission and play services should have unrestricted battery.

A minority of apps may require granting play services some other permissions such as the Phone permission.

Manky

poubellier

I had to install google play and google store, and give play services both network and sms access.

Once it was set up I removed access to network and sms and they work fine without it.

tuxsudo

I use Sandboxed Play in one of my profiles with internet disabled on all the Gms apps (Play Store, Google Play Services, Google Services Framework) and any Gms requiring app works fine. Just note you won't get notifications for apps using firebase (Google notifications service)

hemlockiv

matchboxbananasynergy all 3 need at least network permission and play services should have unrestricted battery.

Could you expand a bit on why this is recommended? Are there common examples of apps/features that would malfunction if one of these Google apps doesn't have Network, or if Play Services has restricted battery?

matchboxbananasynergy

hemlockiv Any app that requires Play Services to provide a service itself would almost certainly require Play Services/Store to have network access to provide said service.

Play Services having unrestricted battery usage is essential for push notifications through Play Services; they'll be delayed if it doesn't have unrestricted battery usage.