Hi everyone! I have a Samsung Galaxy S23 FE US version so I'm forced to stay on stock ROM due to the bootloader not being allowed to be unlocked. I used Shizuku and Canta to DeGoogle my phone over a year ago, and I absolutely love it! my biggest problem, though, is the fact that most apps refuse to launch without Google Play enabled on my device. I really don't know how to circumvent that, and my work app where i go to see my schedule requires Google Play (for some reason lmfao) to be enabled and I'm tired of using Bluestacks on my PC to check it lol. Is this just a consequence I have to deal with for DeGoogling my phone?

Use websites whenever possible instead of apps. And try your best to use FOSS apps from places like FDroid as much as possible.

Is there a way you can install Google Play as a user app? Maybe in a second profile? Just a matter of switching to the second profile when you want to check your schedule.

If a second profile isn't an option, GP could be disabled until you need it.

I can't say what's involved in doing this but it must be possible as GrapheneOS does this.

i use websites as much as possible but unfortunately it's app only😭 I love fdroid! and I use aurora store when there are specific apps I need

i can look into it! i haven't thought about a second profile. thanks!

So, I'm not familiar with the Shizuku/Canta method, but would it be possible to install microG [F-droid repo] to spoof the presence of Google Play?

doesn't that require root? i dont have root access. it won't install from f-droid either I keep getting an unknown error. i try getting it from github and it can't be installed due to "conflicting packages" but I don't have anything that would conflict with it

You're welcome. Fingers crossed.

i just set up my 2nd profile using Island from f-droid and this is amazing! thank you!

my apps work under the 2nd profile and it only needs google play store enabled and I just download my apps from aurora store. :-)

Google Play Services or Store? If it's Services, you could make an exception and keep it, because many third party apps need it to work. I kept it and removed all the other Google apps. So they get no ad revenue from me.

You're right, my mistake! I forgot exactly what Shizuku does. Please disregard.

Glad it worked out.

Find alternatives to the ones that require play. See if they host their apk on their site or on other storefronts.

I dropped the Mistral AI because it required google, and also it was shit.

I think you're out of luck if you're looking for a drop-in replacement for Google Play Services if you're on a device that prevents you from uninstalling it entirely. Which appears to be the scenario you're in right now. MicroG wants to sit where Play Services is, and without root, you can't delete it.