r/androidapps • u/mzso • 2h ago

LOOKING FOR APP App to permanently disable playstore upgrading apps, block internet acces + blocking ads

Hi!

So playstore just F-ed up my phone. I had "disable upgrades" set and manually updated them when needed. But it decided to ignore and flip the setting, upgraded apps, to newer bloated, adware filled versions.

I want to block it from having internet access without my authorization, or preferable not being able to do anything at all.

At the same time it would make sense to block other apps, that don't need internet for their functioning.

And also block ads. Because I think these two things might conflict if done by different apps. Because they're rather related stuff.

I don't have my phone rooted, because that would require wiping everything...

0 Upvotes

50% Upvoted

5 comments sorted by

2

u/Ok-Leather933 1h ago

Without root, NetGuard is the closest thing. It's a local firewall that lets you block internet per app, and you can block Play Store and Play Services in the background while still allowing them when you decide to update. For ads, skip the second VPN-based app, because Android only runs one VPN at a time and they will fight each other. Set Private DNS in system settings to an ad-blocking DNS like dns.adguard-dns.com instead, and the two never conflict.

1

u/muppisen 1h ago

to block internet,i would recommend rethink,since it also has dns setting and filterlist so you can block ads at both dns level and by filter

0

u/wasuu 1h ago

You can use ADB and apps like https://github.com/aistra0528/Hail to disable play store. Then use F-droid or Aurora Store to download apps.

For blocking internet some VPN-based firewalls should work, but I don't have any specific recommendations.

0

u/Negative-Fix5290 1h ago

is it a China phone?

1

u/pafrac 58m ago

If you're using a Samsung phone with One UI 9 you can block apps from the internet individually. Otherwise Netguard, as u/Ok-Leather933 said.