Successfully updated to MacroDroid Pro

[Mumblefratz]

I'm sure it doesn't sound like a major technical hurdle but for me it kind of is.

I wouldn't usually mention it but I do wonder if anyone else has similar concerns.

Anyway, I'm very particular about what apps I allow on my devices. Specifically I won't install an app that requires Google Play Services for it's normal operation. Of course pretty much every app requires both Google Play Services and the Play Store for installation, update and upgrade so I need to be able to enable Google Play Services and Play Store when required, but in general I leave both of these apps uninstalled on all my devices.

So in order to upgrade to Pro I had to enable wifi and wifi debugging to reinstall Google Play Services and Play Store using LABD (adb shell) pm install-existing commands. Then I can go to the Play Store first in Firefox then in the Play Store app to make sure Google recognizes both my Google account and the specific device I want to update. Only then can I go into MacroDroid and run through the 2-step authorization upgrade process at the Play Store.

Once complete I then re-enable wifi and wifi debugging to run LABD (adb shell) pm uninstall -k --user 0 commands to uninstall Google Play Services and the Play Store apps.

It sounds like a pain (and it is) but then I don't have to worry about what any of the 15 separate services that Google Play Services spawns, most of which are involved with spying on aspects of my privacy, none of which are operating for my benefit, are doing.

I used to be content to simply disable and force stop Services and Store apps until I discovered that the Samsung Galaxy Fold3 (and Flip3) still caches Services and Store apps in the background even though both these apps are supposedly disabled.

Since I have no clue as to what action, such as turning on cellular data or whatever, might cause a background app to activate, I simply feel safer with Google Play Services and Play Store uninstalled.

So am I the only one that feels like Indiana Jones in a pit full of snakes whenever Google Play Services and Play Store are enabled or is it just me?

 

[Jacob L]

You'll need to email support@macrodroid.com.

You can also use Hail to enable and disable apps on the fly: https://github.com/purofle/Hail

 

[Endercraft]

I'm sure it doesn't sound like a major technical hurdle but for me it kind of is.

I wouldn't usually mention it but I do wonder if anyone else has similar concerns.

Anyway, I'm very particular about what apps I allow on my devices. Specifically I won't install an app that requires Google Play Services for it's normal operation. Of course pretty much every app requires both Google Play Services and the Play Store for installation, update and upgrade so I need to be able to enable Google Play Services and Play Store when required, but in general I leave both of these apps uninstalled on all my devices.

So in order to upgrade to Pro I had to enable wifi and wifi debugging to reinstall Google Play Services and Play Store using LABD (adb shell) pm install-existing commands. Then I can go to the Play Store first in Firefox then in the Play Store app to make sure Google recognizes both my Google account and the specific device I want to update. Only then can I go into MacroDroid and run through the 2-step authorization upgrade process at the Play Store.

Once complete I then re-enable wifi and wifi debugging to run LABD (adb shell) pm uninstall -k --user 0 commands to uninstall Google Play Services and the Play Store apps.

It sounds like a pain (and it is) but then I don't have to worry about what any of the 15 separate services that Google Play Services spawns, most of which are involved with spying on aspects of my privacy, none of which are operating for my benefit, are doing.

I used to be content to simply disable and force stop Services and Store apps until I discovered that the Samsung Galaxy Fold3 (and Flip3) still caches Services and Store apps in the background even though both these apps are supposedly disabled.

Since I have no clue as to what action, such as turning on cellular data or whatever, might cause a background app to activate, I simply feel safer with Google Play Services and Play Store uninstalled.

So am I the only one that feels like Indiana Jones in a pit full of snakes whenever Google Play Services and Play Store are enabled or is it just me?

To buy MacroDroid, you could have contacted the dev at support@macrodroid.com and bought a serial code there. It's simple and fast.

Some functionalities of MacroDroid won't work without Google play services, like webhooks and Google maps (so no location related triggers and no weather trigger too).

...

 

[Mumblefratz]

You'll need to email support@macrodroid.com.

You can also use Hail to enable and disable apps on the fly: https://github.com/purofle/Hail

I'm all set, no support needed. As I said, I successfully upgraded to MacroDroid Pro.

Thanks. Package Disabler has also been often recommended but I'm happy with LADB. Being able to execute ADB shell commands locally is far preferable to having to connect a USB cable and sit at the PC for every little tweak.

You always need to be careful with ADB whether locally or using a PC. For example you can't uninstall Device Services (com.android.samsung.kgclient) but you can disable-user it. If you do disable Device Services it'll lock the phone but you can unlock it by connecting the phone to the PC and executing "adb shell pm enable com.android.samsung.kgclient".

 

[Mumblefratz]

To buy MacroDroid, you could have contacted the dev at support@macrodroid.com and bought a serial code there. It's simple and fast.

Some functionalities of MacroDroid won't work without Google play services, like webhooks and Google maps (so no location related triggers and no weather trigger too).

I'm sure I could have contacted support but all my method took to accomplish was 8 taps to enable Services and the Store (2 quick links to enable wifi and wifi debugging, a tap on the LABD icon then 4 taps to retrieve and execute the 2 bookmarks I have setup in LABD to install-existing Services and Store apps. A final tap to exit LABD and I'm all set. To re-uninstall Services and Store apps takes another 8 taps. 16 taps doesn't get me past the first line of an email.

As far as functionalities lost, the only things lost are all the things that I explictly uninstall from all my devices like maps, location and weather. I have a bat file on the PC that I've executed on all 4 of my Samsung devices that uninstalls over 250 apps that I consider to be bloatware. As I said in the OP I'm very particular about what apps I allow on my devices.

 

[Mumblefratz]

Just to clarify, I have no problem with MacroDroid's installation or update process. The purpose of the original post was to try to explain my desire to be in control of what processes and services are executed on my device. Anything executed on my device should for my benefit not for google, samsung, microsoft or other entity trying to monetize me or my data.