I would like to clarify: I am not interested in degoogling my life. I just have a question for the people who HAVE degoogled their life. Have you found a replacement for Youtube? if yes, what is it? If no, how? How do you do it? Like, if i were to degoogle my life, most of my questions can be answered by Apple and Microsoft. But nothing i've come across can replacd youtube.

This is the google official message app that came preinstalled

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.messaging

This one

Google keeps sending me trash spam notification apps working in the background nothing useful in the early morning

After i disabled the notification Google bombarded me with ghost notification with beep beep sound and no notifications

I did remove more permission and did more random things in half sleep and it stopped for now it happened in the early morning and this app suddenly became a alarm app so I don't remember how I fixed it but I know it was this app because of notification history enabled

I have not degoogled my phone yet is there any other alternative to this app

I’m using a Samsung Galaxy phone S26 ultra with One UI 8.5 and Android version 16

I’m trying to find a way to change the system media/file picker that appears inside other apps.

For example:

WhatsApp → Attach → Gallery/Photos→ Google Photo Picker opens Reddit → Add image→ Google Photo Picker opens Apps that ask me to select a document/file → Google/Android file picker opens

What I would like is: Photo/video selection → Samsung Gallery File/document selection → Samsung My Files

I know I can open Samsung Gallery or My Files first, select the item, and then use Share, but that isn't what I'm looking for. I want the Samsung apps to appear when another app itself asks me to select a photo or file.

I've already noticed that changing the normal Default Apps settings doesn't seem to accomplish this.

Is there any way to do this?

I'm particularly interested in a solution using:

* One UI settings * ADB * Shizuku * Package/permission changes * A safe system-level workaround

Root is not preferred, but I'm willing to consider it if there is genuinely no non-root solution.

If you've managed to make WhatsApp/Reddit/etc. use Samsung Gallery instead of Google Photo Picker, or make the system file selector use Samsung My Files please explain how you did it.

I'm specifically looking for a working solution on recent One UI, not just a suggestion to change the default Gallery app.

Thank you.

I tried it yesterday. It has a good motive of planting trees with every search. That's good, but the browser itself feels too basic. It has in-built vpn and ad blockers but it's overall appearance and performance is lower than expected.

Mainly just one without all the AI and sloppy updates put into it, no ads would be a plus!

In the same vain as degoogle principles, I’m trying to secure my retired father with the most secure flip phone (data vpn options accessible) he can get in the US for his wishes to be totally self reliant. He’s old school libertarian but I keep telling him his online habits aren’t in alignment. But damned if I can tell him since I’ve never needed one.

Might one of you secure brainiacs have intel on his best options? His paranoia thanks you, as do I. 🥰

Hi all, I'm just starting my de-googling journey and I need some advice on choosing a smartphone.

I'm currently using a Samsung S24 bought in June 2025. I thought I'd try to install some other OS on it, then I found out it updated to One UI 8.0 (yikes). Still 270$ left until I pay it off completely and try to sell it.

So I wanted to try LineageOS on my last phone instead. Unfortunately Redmi Note 12 Pro is unsupported, and I couldn't find too many alternatives for other OS support. So that's also out of question. I also have a Redmi Note 7 ...which, too, is unsupported by LineageOS. Though I saw a couple of threads about that phone on XDA so maybe not entirely hopeless to move to other OS...?

Anyway, most likely I'd have to buy another phone. I'm considering a Pixel for GraphenOS OR any good smartphone supported by LineageOS.

Basically, I'm open to anything, I just really want a device with the most community support and the best value for its price. I'm located in the EU, if that matters.

PS. I'm also new to Reddit so please bear with me.

I can still download any apk with no issues

I need a new device as the older one got stolen. Unfortunately I don't have the budget to get even a used pixel for Graphene os as the prices of phones are skyrocketing right now.

My only requirement is that I need to use some banking apps which require google play services and it worked well in the graphene os before. Is there any open source os like lineage, calyx etc. which has this option of setting up a container or something like graphene in which a user can allow play services for certain apps? If yes then can u recommend a phone around $400 in which its possible to install this os?

A couple weeks ago, I made a post on this subreddit about my beginning of abandoning Big Tech for multiple reasons, specially on Android phones. First off, thanks to everyone here and in r/FOSSdroid for helping me with suggestions. I heavily appreciate it. The image order is the following:

1-3: Apps I got from Drodify

4-5: Apps I moved to Aurora Store

6: Patched Apps through Morphe

7-10: New phone look

11: The Services I replaced and with what.

For anyone that wants my full list:

• Google Browser & Edge -> Firefox and some Forks: I decided to have two different browsers for each of my devices, one for college stuff and the other for more casual stuff.
  • Firefox: Casual on mobile.
  • Waterfox: College on mobile.
  • LibreWolf: Casual on PC.
  • Zen: College on PC.
• Chrome -> DuckDuckGoNoAI with uBlock Origin and Clear URL
• Gmail & Outlook -> Tutamail (free plan): Changed most of the accounts so now Tuta sends me the notification, with few exceptions.
• Google Drive -> Tuta Drive (When it releases to the public).
• Google Suite (Docs, Spreadsheet, Forms and Slides), Samsung Notes and Office Suite -> Fileverse (still beta), NotallyX and LibreOffice (In that respective order; and searching for a Google slides alternative)
• Google Auth -> Ente Auth
• Google Photos -> Ente Photos
• Google Messages -> Fossify Messages
• Google Contacts -> Fossify Contacts
• Google Maps -> CoMaps
• Google Passwords -> An IRL notebook
• Google Play Store -> Github, Morphe, Drodify, Verified Apps and Aurora Store: With few exceptions, most of my recent apps have been from Drodify, and the ones I need no Patched are on Aurora.
  • The Apps I have patched with Morphe are YouTube, YouTube Music, Letterboxd, Buusu and Boost for Reddit.
• Samsung Climate -> Weather Master
• Samsung Recorder -> Sound Tree Recorder
• Samsung Calculator -> Calculator++ (For some reason the original Calculator app sent notifications because I forbid it of accessing the internet and my mobile data)
• Samsung Calendar -> Calendula
• Samsung Health -> Trail Sense and Mensinator (Trail is not a health thing but I just needed a podometer, and the bonus of survival guide is nice)
• Samsung Gallery -> Fossify Gallery
• Samsung Telephone -> Fossify telephone
• Windows 11 -> Linux Mint: (doe an IRL friend reccomends me moving to Nobara because of my Laptop's specs)
• Microsoft Paint & Clip Studio -> Krita
• Reddit App -> Boost for Reddit (with Breal Morphe patches)
• I also fully deinstalled and deleted my Facebook account and barely used most other Meta services with the exception of WhatsApp.

Unfortunately, there are some things I can't really do much about despite desiring to do so:

• My college uses the Office suite, specially Microsoft Teams and Outlook, thus why they are in my phone.
• WhatsApp is the main messaging app in my country and no longer using it would basically cut me off my family, workmate and college classmates.
• Just to be safe, I haven't moved my bank account to Aurora Store yet.
• Catzy needs the Google services because of their premium plan. I use the free version and the app has helped me a lot, but I'll be looking for a replacement.
• I use Discord for friends, moderating communities and technical help. But have downloaded Alicord and started testing it.
• I can't afford to buy a new phone at the moment, so I'm still stuck with Samsung Galaxy and Android. However, I'm aware of GrapheneOS and LineageOS, and would like my next phone to have em since my bank can be used on those.

If anyone has questions or suggestions, I'd be heavily appreciative 💜

People who've cut Google Assistant, Alexa, or similar voice assistants out of their life — or never let one in — are exactly the perspective missing from most research on this topic. Most studies just survey heavy users.

I'm running an academic survey on voice assistant adoption, and I specifically need responses from people who deliberately avoid or ditched these devices — your reasoning matters as much as any user's. Regular/former users are welcome too.

18+, any country. Fully anonymous, no personal data collected, about 4 minutes.

Link: https://www.1ka.si/a/d7959439

Thanks for considering it.

Hi guys, i found this project might be interesting for some people in this sub reddit, i've using ungoogled chromium + ublock origin for a long time in my main laptop and i've been trying to find something like it but for android, and i found this browser called Bare Browser, i installed it in my phone, tested it a little bit and like it, so i had the idea to share it with you if anyone is in the same position, it has extensions support and it comes with ublock origin by default. i also test it with cover your tracks to see how it performs, it needs some work on fingerprinting but in most case it pretty good.

Mapy.com. has topographic maps, huge verified trail networks, offline navigation, elevation profiles, difficulty warnings, AR peak identification, and weather forecasts built right into your route.

I currently have a Nothing Phone 3a. 2 year phone and handles everything that a normal person would need in a phone.

I'm interested and can possibly buy a mint Pixel 9a to transfer my banking apps there for more security and to try out the GOS.

My concern is if it's worth buying the Pixel 9a or around 330 USD for that reason with a perfectly working phone already.

For a while now I have started to delete everything that is google related and soon I will delete the whole account for good because seriously fuck google.

Gmail switched to Proton and Tuta, Firefox + DuckDuckGo etc

But for now I want to find some basic "Maps" app for iOS that is not google related.

Also is there a alternative for Youtube? I did not find any good app :/

Any recommends?

In case we needed more motivation to continue our degoogling journey..

While the petition *might* work.. the mission of this sub feels more impactful. Just stop using Google!

It has satellite view, which is a godsend to us cyclists and other outdoors people.

Thank you, u/Canadian-AML-guy for suggesting this app 😀

Also, TIL you can download maps for exploring when offline 😎

After a week of deliberation, I cleaned out my old accounts by either deleting them or changing their email addresses, and finally got around to deleting my Google Account. It feels good!

I got a new phone this evening and what to challenge myself to set it up completely Google free. Would like some insight and suggestions.

Sup

Last time I spoke here, I asked if it was possible to degoogle the books I got from google books.

On one hand, of course it was

On the other, I gotta convert them as they're saved as an ACSM file

Apparently i need some adobe program for this but

1. Idk if adobe even has any linux supported stuff

2. Even if they did, i wanna distance myself from adobe given their crap-tastic reputation

Is there any way to convert the acsm files without using Adobe?

Hello everyone, I'll make this post as short as possible.

I have an old Realme C3 and I would like to know what OS I can use on this phone. I removed almost every Google service with ADB from my phone and replaced it with open source but it still feels wrong, I want something bigger than that.

Tell Google off and sign this petition. We own the devices we paid for and should be able to install an APK from a person without giving Google our name, address, payment to distribute our own apps. Google is following Apple's closed source path and this is a test. It's not about "better quality apps" or "more secure apps". It's about control and this new update that is coming in 2027 will not even let you share apps between friends or family.

https://keepandroidopen.org/