Trend of apps becoming unusable after update

batshitlazy

I have installed GrapheneOS with Pixel 6 Pro. Unfortunately, some of the Android apps simply don't work.
But I have noticed a trend that with an update (sometimes android update, sometimes app version update), some apps stop working, i.e., they used to work and now don't anymore - they simply keep on loading. I have had a couple of experiences like that, for example, Stellarium used to work but since the last update, it doesn't. Same story with Money Manager. I do have Google Play Services installed.

I am not sure if there are some settings I need to change, or where the problem lies? The app developers usually don't support questions related custom OS installations either.

Does anyone else also face problems like that? And I wonder if there are steps I can take to find out BEFORE an update if the app will be compatible and not misbehave on GrapheneOS

f13a-6c3a

I would start making sure native code debugging is enabled and then enable exploit protection compatibility in each app that continues to misbehave

batshitlazy

f13a-6c3a
Thank you for the tip. That definitely helped get past the stuck window, but apparently now I need to log in to Google Play to access them, which was not the case before. (I have the sandboxed Google Play installed, but I haven't logged in)

goslife

f13a-6c3a enabling exploit protection compatibility just instantly solved the issues I was having with target app.. after they updated and it broke.. thank you!

Onyx5783

Yes, I'm having the same issues on my device as well. Noticed it while using Mull and McDonald's app. Exploit mode and disabling pause app doesn't do anything.

[deleted]

Onyx5783 MdDonald uses Safetynet/Play Integrity API for some reason, as If a hacker could order unlimited burgers by hijacking their app lol (sarcasm)

BurningTipi

batshitlazy Which apps are you talking about in particular? Stellaris and Money Manager? Which money manager app are you talking about? Can you link it?

I want to see if I can reproduce it

batshitlazy

BurningTipi

Stellarium [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.noctuasoftware.stellarium_free]

Money Manager [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.realbyteapps.moneymanagerfree]
If I disable Google Play, then I get the following error:

Something went wrong
Check that Google Play is enabled on your device and that you're using an up-to-date version before opening the app. If the problem persists try reinstalling the app.

BurningTipi

batshitlazy Yes, it's to be expected that apps break if you disable Google Play Services. In a profile with Play Services enabled as well as network access given these apps work for me and do not prompt for log in.

BurningTipi

batshitlazy update: stellarium actually only worked a single time and then prompts you to log into your google account. i think if you want a headache free experience (pretty much 100% of apps working) you will need to enable native code debugging as well as having google play services linked to an account. i dont think using a dummy account makes your privacy so much worse if you are running play services with network access anyway. in my mind they would just use your account as primary point of identifying you instead of the device

batshitlazy

BurningTipi
Thanks for trying to reproduce it.

In a profile with Play Services enabled as well as network access given these apps work for me and do not prompt for log in.

I have Play Services enabled as well as network access given. I tried another profile with both as well, but I still am prompted to sign in to Google Play. Have you also signed in in Play Store?

you will need to enable native code debugging as well as having google play services linked to an account.
When I try to actually sign in in Google Play Store, I get the error:
Something went wrong
You don't have a network connection.
This could be a temporary problem. Try again or connect to another Wi-Fi network.

I also tried another Wi-Fi network or simply mobile data but it didn't help.

batshitlazy

batshitlazy
Update: The apps started working, after I uninstalled Google Play store and services framework completely and installed them again, and had to sign in to a google account for both the apps to function.

I also emailed one of the apps' helpdesk and they seem to only allow installs with Google login and installation from Play Store for "security".

Enas

Sorry for the stupid question, but where do I fund the native code debugging setting? Cause I have the language on my phone set to another language and I can't seem to find that setting..is it in developer settings?

[deleted]

Enas It's under Settings -> Security.

[deleted]

batshitlazy they seem to only allow installs with Google login and installation from Play Store for "security".

That's a false sense of security, but Okay...

randall_fg

Hi all,

For these applications that apparently work but show the message dialog after some seconds after opening it, preventing you from using the application, is there any change that the application's APK be altered so the dialog doesn't show up, or maybe some way of closing just the dialog but keeping the application open, etc?

https://i.imgur.com/kodTpom.jpg

I'm not using GrapheneOS myself but this happens in other setups as well.

Thanks in advance.