Apps requiring Google Play login

Fillen0809

Hey, I've recently noticed that many apps that were working fine previously without logging in, now require the user to log in to Google Play. When Google Play services are disabled, the app complains about the lack of Google Play. When Google Play is enabled, the app brings me to a login screen for Google Play. That makes some apps basically unusable without logging in to Google Play.
Some examples are BeReal and Backdrops. It doesn't look like a change in those apps though, this is probably done in some Google SDK that's embedded in these Apps. It checks if Play services are present, if no, the app becomes unusable, and if yes, it forces the user to log in.
Is there something that either the user or the GrapheneOS developers can do to bypass this? Has anyone found a workaround or a solution?
Thanks in advance

Also, why is there no tag for topics regarding Sandboxed Google Play services on the forum?

other8026

Fillen0809 Is there something that either the user or the GrapheneOS developers can do to bypass this? Has anyone found a workaround or a solution?

There's not much anyone can do about how apps behave other than the developer(s) of those apps. If you're right about Google libraries prompting people to log in, there's also not much anyone can do about that either. Only the developers at Google can change that.

rustybird

Fillen0809 limiting IPC between the app and Google services could supress the login prompt.

That seems like it would be equivalent to Google Play not being installed in the profile (as far as the app can tell), resulting in:

Fillen0809 When Google Play services are disabled, the app complains about the lack of Google Play.

[deleted]

Fillen0809

I encountered this several months ago with OurGroceries. The developer told me this is Google's doing and it's an attempt to stop pirated copies of the app.

akc3n

The "Not compatible" section of the app compatibility with GrapheneOS thread touches base on similar issues.

Fillen0809 It checks if Play services are present, if no, the app becomes unusable, and if yes, it forces the user to log in.

In the same thread, the "Important announcements" section mentions:

For more details, see the planned feature on this topic at the GrapheneOS issue tracker: Issue #1986.

However, that is more specifically related to if your device fails to pass MEETS_DEVICE_INTEGRITY or MEETS_STRONG_INTEGRITY.

Fillen0809 Is there something that either the user or the GrapheneOS developers can do to bypass this? Has anyone found a workaround or a solution?

Generally speaking, apps and/or services that do no come bundled/preinstalled with GrapheneOS are considered Offtopic.

Fillen0809 Also, why is there no tag for topics regarding Sandboxed Google Play services on the forum?

Fillen0809

The planned App Communication Scopes feature might help with this, limiting IPC between the app and Google services could supress the login prompt. I'm sure something can be done here.

RRZishe

Fillen0809 I didn't know that this was planned, it's amazing!

Is there any general time frame for its release?

Fillen0809

rustybird I know that microG sucks, but I think it would solve this issue. It pretends to be Google Play, but it doesn't force you to log in.
I know that GrapheneOS will never bundle microG (for good reasons), but a shim that pretends to be Google Play and suppresses the login prompts would be great. Legitimate requests could simply be forwarded to Google Play services. I don't see any security concerns with this approach.

Fillen0809

[deleted] The developer told me this is Google's doing and it's an attempt to stop pirated copies of the app.

Wow, the excuses keep getting dumber and dumber. This is literally present in free apps, how the fuck is it supposed to stop piracy there???