Air-droid

Practical guide on how to build a sans-google phone

Steps to perform to increase compatibility

1. Install [LineageOS](http://lineageos.org/) without installing GApps

• This is the starting point, you have a web browser and stock applications

2. Install [f-droid](https://f-droid.org/)

• Access to a large collection of open-source applications such as k-9 mail

3. Add your gplayweb private repo to f-droid

• Access to all GooglePlay-only applications which do not use Google Play Services

• Whatsapp (with large delays in notification due to missing gsf)
• Telegram (working perfectly)

4. Patch your rom to enable signature spoofing with [tingle](https://github.com/ale5000-git/tingle) 5. Install the latest complete version of [microg](https://microg.org/)

• Selected applications can now use GoogleServicesFramework

• Whatsapp will now work perfectly
• Assisted GPS location using third-party services such as Mozilla Location
• Opt-in into google services for using almost every Android application
• Use applications which use maps API such as Citymapper

6. Install [mapsv1](https://github.com/microg/android_frameworks_mapsv1)

• Use applications such as My Vodafone Italia which rely on legacy maps apis

7. Install [magisk](https://forum.xda-developers.com/apps/magisk/official-magisk-v7-universal-systemless-t3473445) and enable suhide for selected applications

• Super Mario Run, Google Pay, Home Banking applications will now work
• All the applications which check root privileges without safetynet can be used

8. Install droidguard helper and achieve safetynet certification

• Play PokemonGo and other applications which perform a safetynet check

Detailed instructions to perform single tasks

• [Private fdroid repo with play store apps](https://fxaguessy.fr/en/articles/2017/02/11/effectively-using-android-without-google-play-services-gplayweb-in-docker/)

  • to authenticate succesfully follow [https://github.com/matlink/gplaycli/issues/30 this procedure] and register an android id corresponding to your device with DummyDroid.

• Calendar and Contacts synchronization
  • Install DAVdroid with fdroid.

  • status: Radicale [https://github.com/tomsquest/docker-radicale docker] works flawlessy, follow [http://radicale.org/user_documentation/#idid11 this guide] to setup with DAVdroid

  • remember to put calendar as https://<radicaleurl>/user (user mode) not as system https://<radicaleurl>/ (system mode) otherwise your calendars will be visible to every other user of the radicale server.

• microG Unified Network Location Provider

  • On Lineage 7.1.1 follow [https://github.com/microg/android_packages_apps_UnifiedNlp#usage these instructions] note, you have to install unifiednlp as system app, otherwise it won’t register as system location service provider.

  • As location backend you can use Mozilla (needs internet, reliable) as backup service and LocalGsmNlpBackend (offline) as primary services. The latter uses gsm cells to aid geolocation, or if you use low-power mode gsm cells are used without gps to provide location.

  • It is suggested to build the cells database on a laptop, to do this download (this script)[https://github.com/sobrus/FastLacellsGenerator] and edit the config file with your [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_country_code country code] and [https://opencellid.org/ OpenCellId] account.

  • The script will take some time, after that put the generated db file in <code>/<androidhome>/Android/Data/org.fitchfamily.android.gsmlocation/files/lacells.db</code>.

• CityMapper and ATMapp support

  • These apps use google maps services instead of google location services, so they need microG gmscore.

  • To install microG gmscore, signature spoofing is required, just clone [this](https://github.com/ale5000-git/tingle) repo, connect your phone via adb and run main.py

  • [https://blogs.fsfe.org/larma/2016/microg-signature-spoofing-security/ This] is an interesting article on the security implications of signature spoofing. Apparently if used carefully it does not lower the security level of the device. For enabling signature spoofing without recompiling the CustomROM [https://github.com/ale5000-git/tingle this] works flawlessly.

• [TODO] SeaFile

• [TODO] LineageOS build server

• [TODO] Enabling signature spoofing for microG GmsCore (Google push notifications) at ROM compile time

  • [https://github.com/microg/android_packages_apps_GmsCore/tree/master/patches This patch] must be included in LineageOS build image.

• [TODO] OTA updates