It’s a well-known fact that Android is for all purposes and purposes of an open source software. This means that anyone with the know-how can modify or sell the software, and Google can not do much about it. But the search giant continues to control the platform by other means. By other means I mean Google Play Services. Google believes in free software, not free services. And Google Play services is how Google makes dollars from a free software platform. Some open source enthusiasts do not like Google’s control over Android, because without Google’s services, the platform is basically outdated. Android uses Google Play Services for virtually every smart thing it does just down to push notifications from apps. This is why microG aims to cut off Google.
The average Android user may not know it. However, Google partners (such as Samsung, Sony, HTC, LG and other OEM Android) are going through a certification process that allows devices to run Google Play. This process makes “Google Certified” devices. The process also includes pre-installing some Google apps. So your OEM already wants to pre-install its own applications and applications from its partners, but it must also include applications from Google. Some people do not mind Google apps, but many see these apps as bloatware.
In addition, it was found that the Google Play Services app is a real battery dump. Users have also found that their devices work more fluidly and quickly without Google Play services with them. But of course, without Google Play services, your Android is as good as an old Nokia phone. This MicroG is same for all version of android. You will not have to download separate version of like MicroG for Oreo, MicroG for Nougat or may be like MicroG for Lineage etc. You can use same for all the OS.
ALSO READ :HOW TO ROOT ANDROID 8.0 OREO ON GOOGLE PIXEL / NEXUS DEVICES
What is microG?
The microG project is “a free software clone of Google’s proprietary core libraries and applications”. To be more specific, it is a FLOSS (Free / Libre Open Source Software) box that allows apps designed for Google Play services to run on systems where Play Services is unavailable. It provides all the necessary APIs provided by Google Play services, so that apps that depend on it can run normally.
Downloads
How to install microG
Most, if not all, Android devices are powered by Google apps and pre-installed Google Play services. However, most custom ROMs do not. When you install a custom ROM, it is usually required to manually flash the Google Apps package or the GApps package to access the Google Play Store and other necessary Google services. Now instead of GApps, you can install microG instead. The benefits of using this suite of microG applications and libraries vary from better battery life to reduced data sent to Google (privacy issues).
- First of all install a custom ROM without GApps. Most custom ROMs support signature faking from the box however if your ROM does not, you may take advantage of Fake Gapps Xposedmodule.
- When you have a fresh new ROM installed on your device, go to Settings > Security and enable Unknown sources.
- Now download the Services Core APK in the download section and install it on your device.
- If you need to use Google Cloud Messaging (Push Notifications), then you have to download and install the Services Framework Proxy APK also.
- You might also want Play Store access because why not, therefore you might also want to install the Blank Store APK. If you would rather not have access to the largest library of Android apps, install the Fake Store APK instead.
- Launch the microG settings which you ought to see in your program drawer and then tick both checkboxes for background services.
- Once done, reboot your device. It’s an important step.
Make sure that all the apps you install are installed after installing all of the above APKs. Any applications that have been installed before may not be able to function, as supposed, especially to those who depend on these services. You can try Google Cloud Messaging to work with Push Tester Notification.
