So I bought my Pixel XL from the Google Store unlocked, and I'm using Verizon still. After completing the setup wizard with my Verizon sim in the phone, I noticed that there Verizon apps were automatically downloading from the play store. Wondering if anyone else had this happen and if it is only on Verizon that apps download automatically based on sim card.
Ganondroid said:
So I bought my Pixel XL from the Google Store unlocked, and I'm using Verizon still. After completing the setup wizard with my Verizon sim in the phone, I noticed that there Verizon apps were automatically downloading from the play store. Wondering if anyone else had this happen and if it is only on Verizon that apps download automatically based on sim card.
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Same here, there are a few other threads already started that talk about this in more depth, just search like i did using 'verizon sim'
I set my Play Store purchased Pixel over WiFi without putting in my VZW sim card. After I had done all that I was able to over WiFi, I shut down the device, inserted my VZW sim and rebooted. It updated to the then latest build. I never saw any VZW apps in my app drawer, but there are the ones necessary for it to work on their network.
This is normal when installing with a Verizon SIM.
The app's are completely uninstallable.... 100% .
I am aware of only 3 app's that Verizon forces to the phone... Message + / My Verizon / Go360
Bought Unlocked Pixel 3 From Google, & T-Mobile Crammed an App Onto the Phone Anyway!
How to make a customer very angry, and concerned about security...
Bought a brand-new Pixel 3 from Google, inserted my T-Mobile SIM card, (Goodbye Sony Xperia Series! Good Riddance!) and went about my business with my new Android 10 phone.
But a few days after, just today, I see a screen pop up that was pink - I asked me if I wanted to check and see if my phone was "eligible" for unlocking.
One surmises that T-Mobile noticed the new device ID associated with the same old SIM card, and downloaded the app WITHOUT PERMISSION AND WITHOUT ANY NOTICE THAT THEY WERE DOING SO. They also did not even bother to check the ID against their own inventory to determine if they had sold the phone or not, if they did, they would have seen that it was a Pixel, which they don't offer.
At no time did I visit a T-Mobile sit or download any T-Mobile related apps. They just took it upon themselves to silently install software without even asking.
So here's the punchline - what ELSE might they have installed, and how can I be sure about this?
What else might they install in the future? On whose behalf?
packetfire said:
How to make a customer very angry, and concerned about security...
Bought a brand-new Pixel 3 from Google, inserted my T-Mobile SIM card, (Goodbye Sony Xperia Series! Good Riddance!) and went about my business with my new Android 10 phone.
But a few days after, just today, I see a screen pop up that was pink - I asked me if I wanted to check and see if my phone was "eligible" for unlocking.
One surmises that T-Mobile noticed the new device ID associated with the same old SIM card, and downloaded the app WITHOUT PERMISSION AND WITHOUT ANY NOTICE THAT THEY WERE DOING SO. They also did not even bother to check the ID against their own inventory to determine if they had sold the phone or not, if they did, they would have seen that it was a Pixel, which they don't offer.
At no time did I visit a T-Mobile sit or download any T-Mobile related apps. They just took it upon themselves to silently install software without even asking.
So here's the punchline - what ELSE might they have installed, and how can I be sure about this?
What else might they install in the future? On whose behalf?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I noticed the same thing on my pixel 3 xl and I'm on Google Fi and I can't uninstall that app to unlock my phone, I can only disable the app
lavin40 said:
I noticed the same thing on my pixel 3 xl and I'm on Google Fi and I can't uninstall that app to unlock my phone, I can only disable the app
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What's worse is that the app itself claims that you CAN remove the app, after it has (correctly) determined that the phone is not locked.
Is your app also a "T-Mobile" app with a pink icon, or is it a variant that is branded for the Google FI service?
packetfire said:
What's worse is that the app itself claims that you CAN remove the app, after it has (correctly) determined that the phone is not locked.
Is your app also a "T-Mobile" app with a pink icon, or is it a variant that is branded for the Google FI service?
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Click to collapse
The app is pink I believe I got a Verizon pixel 3 xl cause the OEM unlock option is greyed out so I can't even root the phone
During the initial setup, there is a "sneaky" screen that asks if you want to finish (or something, I forgot). But if you expand that screen, there are several apps that Google intends to install, and you can opt out right there. Duo is definitely one of the apps, and several T-Mobile apps (I'm on TMO) as well as some others. I opted out and don't have any TMO apps.
Just like the above comment, it's in your 'additional-apps' section of the initial setup. If you uncheck? It doesn't install.
jbarcus81 said:
Just like the above comment, it's in your 'additional-apps' section of the initial setup. If you uncheck? It doesn't install.
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Yep. This. If the app(s) are installed it's because you let the setup install them. They (Google/T-Mobile) didn't install them on the phone without your consent. You just missed where you have the option to not install them.
ktmom said:
During the initial setup, there is a "sneaky" screen that asks if you want to finish (or something, I forgot). But if you expand that screen, there are several apps that Google intends to install, and you can opt out right there. Duo is definitely one of the apps, and several T-Mobile apps (I'm on TMO) as well as some others. I opted out and don't have any TMO apps.
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Click to collapse
Well, that must be how it was done - anyway, the app is gone now, all by itself, so it appears to be yes, an undetectable silent install of an undelete-able "system app", but it seems that once you are verified as "unlocked", it self-deletes.
But I got nothing but the "unlocker", no Duo installed for me. (I like Google Authenticator - 2FA without anything else to carry, and SIM-swap-proof).
So this was the paternalistic Google trying to be helpful, but creeping people out yet again with their presumptuousness.
packetfire said:
Well, that must be how it was done - anyway, the app is gone now, all by itself, so it appears to be yes, an undetectable silent install of an undelete-able "system app", but it seems that once you are verified as "unlocked", it self-deletes.
But I got nothing but the "unlocker", no Duo installed for me. (I like Google Authenticator - 2FA without anything else to carry, and SIM-swap-proof).
So this was the paternalistic Google trying to be helpful, but creeping people out yet again with their presumptuousness.
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Click to collapse
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tmobile.pr.mytmobile
Tmobile silently installed this app on my unlocked pixel 3xl from best buy just yesterday after I set up my playstore account!
As a User app though.
packetfire said:
How to make a customer very angry, and concerned about security...
Bought a brand-new Pixel 3 from Google, inserted my T-Mobile SIM card, (Goodbye Sony Xperia Series! Good Riddance!) and went about my business with my new Android 10 phone.
But a few days after, just today, I see a screen pop up that was pink - I asked me if I wanted to check and see if my phone was "eligible" for unlocking.
One surmises that T-Mobile noticed the new device ID associated with the same old SIM card, and downloaded the app WITHOUT PERMISSION AND WITHOUT ANY NOTICE THAT THEY WERE DOING SO. They also did not even bother to check the ID against their own inventory to determine if they had sold the phone or not, if they did, they would have seen that it was a Pixel, which they don't offer.
At no time did I visit a T-Mobile sit or download any T-Mobile related apps. They just took it upon themselves to silently install software without even asking.
So here's the punchline - what ELSE might they have installed, and how can I be sure about this?
What else might they install in the future? On whose behalf?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just to show that it was indeed installed to the device...
dirtyreturn said:
Just to show that it was indeed installed to the device...
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Click to collapse
As stated in this thread, you accepted the install of the T-Mobile app during the setup process.
ktmom said:
As stated in this thread, you accepted the install of the T-Mobile app during the setup process.
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Click to collapse
That's just exclusive to the pixel 3? Stock Rom?
Just wondering since it's a first that this happened for me. Being on the same carrier with previous phones this did not happen.
dirtyreturn said:
That's just exclusive to the pixel 3? Stock Rom?
Just wondering since it's a first that this happened for me. Being on the same carrier with previous phones this did not happen.
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Click to collapse
I think I had to disable TMO apps during setup on my PH-1. I'm sure that Google has agreements with the carriers who offer the device. Even (esp?) when the device comes straight from Google.
And yes, stock ROM.
Is there a way to downgrade the Google app? I have tried to uninstall on titanium backup but it will not fully uninstall. It will only downgrade to what I would assume is the stock version the phone came with. I then tried to install my older version but to no avail and the one that came stock on the phone is newer so it can't "update" with a older version of the app.
The reason why I want you to is to use Google voice to unlock the phone perform all tasks. I purposely kept a older version on my previous phone because of this reason. Or is there another way to enable it on a newer version of Google?
as far as I'm aware all versions of google allow voice unlock if you have taught the app to recognise your voice, I just had to stop using it as the phone would recognise my dads voice as me, so it's been a year or so since I used it, since my dad using google home and such when I was there would trigger my phone as well as the google home.
Belimawr said:
as far as I'm aware all versions of google allow voice unlock if you have taught the app to recognise your voice, I just had to stop using it as the phone would recognise my dads voice as me, so it's been a year or so since I used it, since my dad using google home and such when I was there would trigger my phone as well as the google home.
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Click to collapse
No it actually doesn't fully unlock the phone. Because it doesn't it doesn't perform version tasks you ask it too. Unless I'm missing something here. Please feel free to fill me in. I have included a screen shot of my old phone with this option.
Well it seems it will not let me add my screen shot
Bump....
Anyone?
Longtime Pixel user here...first Samsung phone. Bought the unlocked Z Fold 3, was told it worked with Google Fi...it does, however I don't believe I've been on any other network than T-Mobile. I'd like to be able to force switch carriers or even have the phone switch carriers when necessary...any Samsung tricks I am not aware of here?
Get the app FiSwitch (or similar) there are many on the play store.
I have tried a few.. none allow for carriers switching. Looks like there are some permissions missing
Tiring to sync to other programs but not having much luck yet. Not to the watch either, have to use Samsung Health.
I recently switched cell phone providers from T-Mobile to Verizon. The next day, I noticed a ton of crappy apps, mostly dumb games, were installed on my phone, a Samsung Galaxy S22, which I originally bought directly from T-Mobile.
As I already have a lot of problems with bloatware, I uninstalled these apps, and want to ensure that Verizon doesn't install anything else without permission. The idea of a big creepy corporation installing unknown things on my cell phone is unnerving.
My phone's not jailbroken. However, a lot of guides suggest uninstalling the app called "Verizon App Manager", but I didn't even have an app called "Verizon App Manager", just "Verizon Services". Then I uninstalled all the app's updates, and viola, its name reverted to "Verizon App Manager". However, the app can't be uninstalled.
I removed all of its permissions, but as Verizon was able to install this app without permission, I doubt how long that will work.
Is there anything else I can do, or do I just have to live with Verizon reprogramming my phone all the time? Even if I rooted my phone, what could I do?
I've noticed this too. Data wipe on my Pixel 5 somehow includes a bunch of Verizon apps when I restore apps from Play Store. I have a feeling this has more to do with Google than with Verizon...