How to replace Google Play Services on Android with MicroG

Many of us are currently looking for ways to break our reliance on Google, but on Android that can mean giving up access to all the software available on Google Play.

Even apps that don't come from the Play Store often still rely on Google Play Services. Does that mean you'll have to give it all up?

microG is an option that, although unlikely to completely replace Google Play Services, might be good enough to do what you want.

How microG works

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Google Play Services is not a single piece of software. To reproduce various aspects of this technology, microG consists of several components.

Service Code (GmsCore): Provides the functionality needed to run apps that use Google Play Services or the Google Maps API for Android (v2).
Services Framework Proxy (GsfProxy): Allows applications that use Google Cloud to Device Messaging (C2DM) to use the compatible Google Cloud Messaging service included with GmsCore.
Unified Network Location Provider (UnifiedNIp): Provides cell tower and WiFi based geolocation for apps using Google's network location provider.
Maps API (mapsv1): Provides the same functionality as the deprecated Google Maps API (v1).

If you want to go into the details, you can find a more detailed explanation of each of these components on microG's website, but you don't need to worry about that.

How to download microG

The easiest way to use microG is to buy a phone with microG pre-installed. If you are familiar with how to install a custom ROM on an Android phone, the easiest approach is to install a custom ROM that already includes microG. Here are a few examples:

LineageOS for microG
OmniROM
CalyxOS

Note that although LineageOS supports the largest number of devices, the version with microG included is an unofficial fork and is not affiliated with the LineageOS project. The OmniROM and CalyxOS projects both provide official support for microG and include them as part of the ROM, but they support much fewer devices. For many users, LineageOS will be the only option.

If you already have a custom ROM installed or feel more comfortable installing microG on your own, that's also an option. This process will be more complicated, requiring a ROM that comes with Signature Spoofing or you have to patch the ROM to support Signature Spoofing. You can then install F-Droid, add microG's F-Droid repository and install the necessary apps. Our APK can also be found on microG's download page.

Do most apps work with microG?

microG is a project in development and not fully featured like Google Play Services. This means that if you were expecting a more private, open phone with the ability to run any Google app or any app from the Play Store, you'll likely be disappointed. But if you're already comfortable with the apps that come with your custom ROM or are available in F-Droid and you just wish you had an app or two available from the Play Store, chances are microG will help you achieve your goal.

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Google apps can be hacked or missed. For example, it is possible to run Google Maps but there is no Android Auto support yet. Banking apps may not be the starters, as these often check basic parts of your system to make sure your device hasn't been compromised, and for banking apps, the Following the steps required to install a custom ROM means that your device is now compromised.

But microG may have an app needed to charge electric cars on a specific charging network or to install favorite video editors without relying on Google Play Services to do all that.

If your overall goal is to avoid big tech companies or software from big corporations, and you're just trying to get access to the great catalog of apps from small developers in the Play Store, then you'll be fine. have a pleasant experience. But there is no guarantee.

Should microG be used?

For many of us, the thought of carrying around a device linked to a Google account isn't exactly comforting. If such an idea makes you feel uneasy, plus you don't need most of the software in the Play Store and you're used to alternatives, then microG is a great tool to experiment with. It expands the software you can run without keeping track of what you do. microG doesn't get you out of the Google ecosystem, but it does make the job easier.