Whether you are using Android or iOS, Google and other tech giants are constantly harvesting your personal data. And they do so even if you haven’t installed additional apps or you barely use your phone, since the operating system and your pre-installed apps have access to embedded sensors (GPS, fingerprint, accelerometer, gravity sensor, .etc…) Many of these sensors collect sensitive data, putting your privacy at risk.
Fortunately, there are ways to limit the data that Google and third parties collect from you. And if you want Google completely out of your life (at least on your phone), it is also possible! But simply turning off a few settings won’t be enough. In this tutorial we will explore 2 ways to degoogle your Android phone so you can regain control over your data and enjoy enhanced privacy.
Option 1 (preferred – complete degoogling): switch to an alternative OS (Operating System).
The best way to regain your privacy is by installing a custom ROM—a completely different operating system—on your Android device. These custom ROMs are frequently developed to improve device performance, offer more functionality, or provide a distinctive user experience. For a list of custom ROMs you can read our article here.
Degoogled ROMs developers will usually remove Google’s proprietary software that come pre-installed and replace it with alternatives. However, there are limitations that can come with using a degoogled custom ROMs you need to be aware of:
- Device support. Sometimes only a few devices are compatible, making it difficult for people to switch to these alternatives, and compatibility often occurs long after the device is released. But recent developments are changing the game. Some projects, such as iodéOS have released a GSI (Generic System Image), which allows the installation of a custom ROM on hundreds more devices. This means that you are no longer limited by the specific phone models officially supported by a ROM.
- Update frequency. When choosing a degoogled ROM it is important to check the Android version the OS is based on and the frequency updates. A system that gets updated on a monthly update is usually a good sign of a well-maintained one, as it will probably include security updates, and security is closely bound to privacy.
- Alternatives choice and app compatibility. On any stock Android device, you will quickly notice that it is impossible to uninstall pre-installed applications, such as Google Chrome. These unwanted apps are known as bloatware. On a degoogled ROM these apps will be removed, sometimes replaced with selected alternatives. We recommend you replace the appstore in particular and check if microG services are included. These services are an open source replacement of Google Play Services and are useful for app compatibility. Without microG many Android apps wouldn’t work anymore. iodéOS includes microG and a set of privacy-friendly (and uninstallable) alternative apps.
- (Additional) Network activity monitoring tool. Ok you’re now freshly degoogled on your new OS environment, it is a big step. But what if you want to install back your favorite apps? How do you know Google and third parties won’t be back collecting your data? A few custom ROMs will include a tool like a firewall/adblocker to monitor your apps’ activity and limit the data collection by blocking it. That could be a firewall, adblocker, or even private DNS.
If they don’t include one, we highly recommand installing one. iodéOS includes Quad9 as default DNS and our own built-in adblocker (the iodé blocker).
(No-geek) Buy a degoogled device directly from the developers
DIY (Do It Yourself) degoogling may be daunting for many readers. Several ROM developers support their work by selling degoogled devices directly from their websites. This is the easiest method as you will get a new or refurbished device shipped directly to you.
Our iodé shop has 30 new and refurbished models (phones and tablets!) to choose from, the largest variety of any custom android operating system.
(DIY geek) – Custom ROM installation
If your phone is still running and are ready to awaken your geeky side, then you can install a degoogled OS instead of buying a new device.
Benefits:
- The planet (and your wallet) will thank you for that!
- You can choose from a wider variety of devices, particularly if you decide to install a GSI.
Downsides:
- Requires technical knowledge, and a factory reset.
- Flashing a ROM can carry the risk of “bricking”, or ruining the device.
Step 1: check Device Compatibility Before you begin, ensure that your phone is compatible with the ROM you want to install. The installation of the ROM will require unlocking the bootloader, a process that varies by manufacturer, models, and variants. Some manufacturers don’t even allow the bootloader to be unlocked in the first place.
Step 2 (manual installation): follow the specific installation instructions to your device. These instructions are pretty similar for every OS. In most cases, you will have to:
- Enable Developer Options and OEM Unlocking in the settings.
- Install a custom recovery. Sometimes a custom recovery is provided by the developer, otherwise you can install a popular one like TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project).
- After downloading and flashing the recovery using your PC, you’ll be ready to install – or flash – the new ROM, by rebooting your device into recovery mode. Select the correct zip file and flash it.
- Afterwards, you can optionally flash additional apps or services like microG or an adblocker if they are not included already.
Step 2 (automatic installation): some developers, like iodéOS also provide programs to “automatically” do the job for you. Though it can reduce the risk of ruining the device, you should be aware the installation can still go wrong.
Option 2 (partial Degoogling): DIY degoogling a device that does not support an alternative OS
Nothing is more environmentally friendly than using your existing device. Many people will already have a device that they’d like to degoogle, but which is incompatible with installing a degoogled OS. While this option will not completely prevent google from collecting information from you, you can recover some of your privacy and hide yourself a little more from Google.
Step 1: remove your Google account
Before doing anything fancy, a first step is to check if you have Google accounts linked to your Android phone. If you do, here are some instructions to remove them.
Step 2: turn off Google’s location provider where you can
Google collects and stores your location for many functionalities. You can turn off this collection for things you don’t consider useful or sensitive for your privacy.
Step 3: delete your advertising ID
Your android phone has many identifiers; while you can’t do anything for non-resettable ones, the ones like your advertising ID can be deleted, to help you gain more privacy from your apps but unfortunately not much from Google.
Step 4: replace Google’s default DNS with a private DNS
If you want a simple configuration that reduces tracking while you’re browsing online, you can configure a private DNS on your Android device. We already covered what DNS is in this article, feel free to read that first if you need a quick reminder and then come back to this article. You need at least Android 9 or higher for this to work.
Go to Settings -> Network & Internet -> Private DNS and tap on “Hostname of private DNS provider”.
Insert one of the following domains. Each is fine and hosted by a different organization that advocate for privacy. It’s free to use and can be regarded as a public service:
- dnsforge.de
- dismail.de
- BlahDNS.com
- all.dns.mullvad.net (for complete blocking)
- adblock.dns.mullvad.net (if you just want to block ads and trackers, but allow other addresses)
For a complete list of DNS hostnames that block content based on different categories, visit this Mullvad article on DNS. After entering the private DNS, tap “Save” and you’re good to go. This blocks ads systemwide, whether you’re connected to Wi-Fi or a mobile network.
Step 5: disable / remove the bloatware
These apps can be one obstacle to moving away from Google services. The only solution for these apps is to disable them in the settings, unless you are willing to take the risk of trying to uninstall them using adb developer tools with or without the help of third party projects.
Step 6: install an alternative Play Store and apps
Now that you don’t have Google apps anymore, you will unfortunately not have Google Play appstore neither. We recommend you install the F-Droid alternative appstore which features open source apps. On top of it, you can also install Aurora Store from F-Droid which is an unofficial client to Google Play.
Additional Step: use an adblocker
You can install these apps in order to block ads and trackers, as a firewall or to filter via DNS in your home network. You can also monitor your activity to see if there are still connections being made to Google or other Big Tech companies.
AdAway
AdAway is an open source tracking blocker that works with filter lists to block advertising and tracking, similar to the iodé app.
Source Code: https://github.com/AdAway/AdAway
App Store: https://f-droid.org/packages/org.adaway/
Website: https://adaway.org/
NetGuard
NetGuard is another open source app that combines a firewall with ad blocking capabilities. The free version doesn’t come with ad and tracking blocking, the pro version does.
Source Code: https://github.com/M66B/NetGuard
App Store: https://f-droid.org/en/packages/eu.faircode.netguard/
Website: https://www.netguard.me/
Pi-Hole
A Pi-Hole is your own DNS blocker in your home network, that you build with a Rasberry Pi. Similar to the private DNS blocking we’ve covered earlier, it blocks trackers and ads based on filter lists and does that for all devices that are connected to your home network, by placing it between your base internet connection and your router. It’s an ad blocking gate keeper, so to speak.
Source Code: https://github.com/pi-hole/pi-hole
Installation Guide: https://github.com/pi-hole/pi-hole/#one-step-automated-install
Website: https://pi-hole.net
Congratulations!
Congratulations! You have done what you can to degoogle yourself on your Android phone. Unfortunately, there are still things (to name a few: captive portal, NTP server, SUPL server, identifiers) you will not be able to change from the settings but you have drastically reduced Google’s data collection on your mobile. To be completely degoogled, you would need to opt for option 1 and choose a degoogled system (such as iodéOS 😉 ) that will meet your needs.
We care deeply about your privacy. Everyone should be able to have an online life without trackers, advertising, or bloatware. We offer the iodéOS operating system free for download, but you can also help us pay our bills by buying a phone with iodéOS preinstalled or making a donation.
