# How can I use Android apps without Google Play Services?

**URL:** https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/how-can-i-use-android-apps-without-google-play-services/42148
**Category:** Questions
**Created:** 2026-11-11T00:16:42Z
**Posts:** 2

## Post 1 by @PurpleDime — 2026-11-11T00:16:42Z

I have a Samsung phone with stock Android 17 / One UI 9 installed, but I am not signed into the Google Play Store or any Google account. All my apps I download from alternative app stores (Aurora/F-Droid/Droidify).

I mostly don’t have any issues, but I just downloaded a security app for work, and I am unable to use it because it asks me to sign into the Google Play Store every time I open it.

[Months ago, I had the exact same issue with PocketCasts](https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/how-do-i-make-pocket-casts-work-without-a-google-play-store-account/38440) after one of their updates, but after I contacted them they fixed the issue.

**How can I use Android apps without Google Play Services?**

My understanding is that [MicroG and MicroG Companion](https://microg.cc/download) are supposed to help me solve that problem, but my phone won’t install them when I try to install the APKs. It says _App not installed_ every time I try.

**Can someone please help?**

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## Post 2 by @Yo — 2026-11-11T02:28:40Z

Secure apps use smth called Google Play Integrity API. When u try to open or login inside this security app of yours, the app calls the API. Google Play Services (or microG) responds and does a server check on google’s servers to see if u meet STRONG\_INTEGRITY. But since u’re not logged in with a google account it fails, since that’s a prerequisite for passing.

Either that, or the app checks its installer, sees something other than Google Play Store and says fuck u. So u need to install the app through the official Play Store, not Aurora Store or sideloading. But u can’t because the stupid play store purposefully won’t let u install new apps until u login.

So what are the solutions? U could try to use aurora store with adb/shizuku and spoof the installation source of the secure app. But that’s only local, it won’t trick google’s servers. No harm in trying ofc.

MicroG, even if u could somehow make it work on an unrooted stock samsung phone (which u can’t because it fails the cryptographic signature check that’s why u get app not installed error), still wouldn’t help. No google account = no STRONG pass, that’s how it works.

So realistically u have very few options.

Since it’s a samsung, u can’t really unlock the bootloader anymore, OEM unlock is gone. No oem unlock = no root. Temporary root wouldn’t help much, and root would prob only make it worse anyway as u’d now have to also hide it.

U could create a throwaway google account and use isolated profile, like a work profile or whatever, but that’s not a great solution. It’s basically giving up, admitting defeat. Profiles don’t perfectly isolate everything, so i would avoid this solution if possible. It’s like last resort but far from ideal.

Ur only 2 real solutions imo are either patch the app with astra/fable/opus to strip away the play integrity check and/or the app installation source check from the code, which may still not work if they check for a valid token server-side (tho it will trick the app locally), or ask ur employer to give u a work phone. If he wants u to download some secure app for work u’re fully in ur right to ask to be provided a phone.