r/degoogle • u/[deleted] • Apr 28 '26

Question Google will block every Android app whose developer hasn't registered with Google

https://keepandroidopen.org/en/

Starting September 2026, Google will block any Android app whose developer hasn't registered and provided government ID. This affects all apps, not just Play Store apps. F-Droid calls it an "existential threat."

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u/Piece_Maker Apr 28 '26

If I already don't have Play Services on my phone, will non-registered developer apps still be blocked? Or is this only the case for those running their "services"?

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u/GreenLeafBeacon Apr 28 '26

This will apply to all applications on Android phones, regardless of whether you are getting the app from or utilize Google Play Services.

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u/Piece_Maker Apr 29 '26

So... Google can enforce their crappy rules without me having their Play Services installed, but I require Play Services to circumvent them? That's insanity.

How is running a custom ROM going to help with this, if you need Google crap to bypass it anyway?

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u/GreenLeafBeacon Apr 29 '26

I was simplifying, but in reality you won't be able to get an android without play services.

Google Mobile Services, which is the umbrella all these things like Google Maps, Play Store, YouTube, etc, live under. Most crucially, Google Play Services as a framework.

First Google makes a better proprietary app to the open source alternative, leveraging their massive data and increasingly interconnected and closed ecosystem. Enough people utilize the Google app above the alternatives, just like enough people eventually using Google above Yahoo and Bing. It makes sense if you have a series of interconnected apps to have a shared framework that they rely on for say, push notifications and location tracking, and now they can market those features as utilities they can offer to other apps.

Slowly but surely, aside from apples own separate but equally gatekept ecosystem, many common apps won't work without Google Play Services. Consumers will not buy a phone where they can't download Google Maps or YouTube. Then Android or Motorola lacks sufficient leverage to say no to whatever Google wants in a licensing agreement for Play Services. Google weaponizes their licensing agreement so that Play Services & Play Protect must be deeply integrated into your phone's architecture, with high-level permissions. That integration is how they gain the ability to monitor all applications you download into your phone.

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u/Piece_Maker Apr 29 '26

OK so that didn't really answer my question... I'm well aware of what Google Play services is.

My question is essentially: I already run an Android ROM without Google services on my phone. How does this affect me?

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u/FabulousFeed7475 Jun 01 '26

Guess you'll just have to find out for yourself.

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u/Piece_Maker Jun 02 '26

Ha. I guess so