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I've been sitting on this for a while but finally decided to speak up on it. I've been reading advice all over since the Froyo days that clearing Google Services Framework is a good idea to solve some play store and/or random app related problems. It is not a good idea to do this. Let me explain why:
Google Services Framework, among other things, contains device data for services like the awesome C2DM (Cloud to Device Messaging) service. What is this you ask? Well, in a nut shell, it is responsible for delivering messages from the cloud to your phone for a particular app without requiring that app to run and constantly maintain a data connection. This was introduced in Froyo (If I'm not mistaken) and helps conserve battery life. For example, Angry Birds Friends has C2DM because it will notify you of someone beating your score without the app running in the background. Angry Birds Friends does not use the on boot permission, so it needs not remain running eating up data just to receive notifications. Understand? A lot of apps are designed like this and it is a very good practice for developers who want to include notifications without needing their app to run in the background all of the time.
Clearing Google Services Framework will cause the C2DM service for every app that uses it to fail until that said app also has its data cleared and is launched and configured again (first time use). If you've ever wondered why your notifications for certain apps stop working, it was probably due to reading advice on clearing Google Services Framework to solve some other problem.
If you don't mind setting up all of your C2DM capable apps again, then go ahead and clear Google Services Framework data. However, if you have quite a few apps, like myself, then clearing it is a bad idea. I found this out a long time ago. There may also be other side effects associated with clearing Google Services Framework, but this is the one I've never seen mentioned before.
Enjoy!
Awesome info ... which leads to a dumb question:
I've never went in and cleared any framework, but I've lost notifications. I've removed and reinstalled apps, get notifications back, but then they stop again.
Is it safe to assume this is something that's been cooked into the ROM?
Live from the outer (S3) Galaxy, via TapaTalk ...
Hmgrepper said:
Awesome info ... which leads to a dumb question:
I've never went in and cleared any framework, but I've lost notifications. I've removed and reinstalled apps, get notifications back, but then they stop again.
Is it safe to assume this is something that's been cooked into the ROM?
Live from the outer (S3) Galaxy, via TapaTalk ...
Click to expand...
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I have had this problem with Facebook if I restore with titanium. I always have to do a clean install for it to notify me...
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda app-developers app
To add on to this, here's what Google engineer Dan Morrill had to say about clearing the Google Services Framework data on Reddit: http://www.reddit.com/r/Android/com...ear_data_for_google_service_framework/cdiymrp
In short, as the OP had said, it's definitely not a good idea to clear the GSF data.
Good to know. Thanks for the informative post!
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N00B_IN_N33D said:
To add on to this, here's what Google engineer Dan Morrill had to say about clearing the Google Services Framework data on Reddit: http://www.reddit.com/r/Android/com...ear_data_for_google_service_framework/cdiymrp
In short, as the OP had said, it's definitely not a good idea to clear the GSF data.
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lol i have cleared the data
now pls help that how to return to og service framework
That checks. Doing this removed my device from the play store and I had to do a soft reset with the keypad
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Hmmm, that's crazy
Sent from the infected viking
C2DM? It seems this is what was used before, but I think things have changed in Android ever since. I'm not an expert or anything, but recent apps are relying on GCM (Google Cloud Messaging) for notifications. The problem is that (to my understanding) GCM comes with Google Play Services and not Google Services Framework. To the point where not only Google Apps need Google Play Services, but other non-Google related apps require it for notifications (such as Facebook's Messenger). So maybe nowadays, clearing data on the Google Services Framework might not imply notification-related problems.
Aldo6 said:
C2DM? It seems this is what was used before, but I think things have changed in Android ever since. I'm not an expert or anything, but recent apps are relying on GCM (Google Cloud Messaging) for notifications. The problem is that (to my understanding) GCM comes with Google Play Services and not Google Services Framework. To the point where not only Google Apps need Google Play Services, but other non-Google related apps require it for notifications (such as Facebook's Messenger). So maybe nowadays, clearing data on the Google Services Framework might not imply notification-related problems.
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+1
I cleaned the Google service frame work
What should I do know to not arise any effects
Any solution?
Whenever I try to download apps from Google Play, it freezes in certain percentage. Then I clear cache in Google play app and Google services framework, it works good. Is there any solution to download without any interruptions?
I am getting the same problems, along with texts sticking at "sending" and after clearing data and messing with these two apps I can get them to work right. Have you disabled any apps or made any mods? I am rooted and have only disabled VZ apps like Message+, Cloud, Support & Protection. And modified the xml file to give write access to the external sdcard.
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shag_on_e said:
I am getting the same problems, along with texts sticking at "sending" and after clearing data and messing with these two apps I can get them to work right. Have you disabled any apps or made any mods? I am rooted and have only disabled VZ apps like Message+, Cloud, Support & Protection. And modified the xml file to give write access to the external sdcard.
Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk
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There is probably something interfering. I had this com.tmobile.pr.adapt just screwing with everything to where i couldn't even download titanium to freeze it. If you have su installed try to disable su in app and see if your getting those errors. If not just re enable su.
I didn't rooted my mobile and not disabled any apps. How to solve it.
shag_on_e said:
I am getting the same problems, along with texts sticking at "sending" and after clearing data and messing with these two apps I can get them to work right. Have you disabled any apps or made any mods? I am rooted and have only disabled VZ apps like Message+, Cloud, Support & Protection. And modified the xml file to give write access to the external sdcard.
Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk
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tpanneer said:
Whenever I try to download apps from Google Play, it freezes in certain percentage. Then I clear cache in Google play app and Google services framework, it works good. Is there any solution to download without any interruptions?
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I am having these same issues. I have a Verizon G4, running stock Android 5.1. No mods, just disabled a few apps (Caller Name ID, Music, Music, NFL Mobile, Slacker Radio, and ThinkFree Viewer)
Whenever I try to update an app, it stops at a certain point, and the downloading arrow notification icon disappears, too. If i open up the "recent apps" window and swipe away Google Play store, the download arrow notification icon reappears and the app usually finishes downloading. Can't find any other fix for this
Also, I have been getting the issue with my text messages just STOPPING. a few times a day, it I just stop getting any and I can't send any. If I reboot, they usually start up again about 10 minutes later, but then will stop at some point as well. It's really frustrating. And, this seems to almost always happen at my home only. I took 2 trips out of town recently and texts worked fine both times. Within 5 minutes of stepping into my house, texts stop again. Verizon is looking into this, but I don't have much faith in them
i have the same problem, but it looks like when uninstalling xposed play store works normally again.
this is strange because the same setup was working for several days without any troubles.
also my alarm app "Alarm Clock Xtreme" stopped ringing and i had to use another alarm app.
maybe the new greenify beta update is the reason? the problems began somewhere around this update.
Like the title says, I've noticed since updating to 7.1.2 at least 2-3 times a day I am thrown a notification for "updating Instant Apps" but it never tells me if it was updated or installed. I tried going to Settings -> Google -> Instant Apps and it is disabled yet these apps are auto-downloading and installing in the background. I have auto-updates off on the play store but this still occurs.
Is there anything I can do to disable or at least cripple the instant apps? I'm reading the purpose of instant apps is so you can try an application without installing it, I do not want to test drive apps like Buzzfeed so however I can disable it would be great
fatapia said:
Like the title says, I've noticed since updating to 7.1.2 at least 2-3 times a day I am thrown a notification for "updating Instant Apps" but it never tells me if it was updated or installed. I tried going to Settings -> Google -> Instant Apps and it is disabled yet these apps are auto-downloading and installing in the background. I have auto-updates off on the play store but this still occurs.
Is there anything I can do to disable or at least cripple the instant apps? I'm reading the purpose of instant apps is so you can try an application without installing it, I do not want to test drive apps like Buzzfeed so however I can disable it would be great
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So, using Titanium Backup I couldn't find the package com.google.android.instantapps.supervisor but using a root explorer I found the application in /data/app/com.google.android.instantapps.supervisor-2
I also found saved data in /data/data/com.google.android.apps.instantapps.supervisor
I have no idea if this will prevent the service from auto-updating as it has been without permission but I know where it is now...
Update: Deleting both folders causing settings to crash when you go to Settings -> Google -> Instant apps, so it might be deleted off my phone entirely. I will update if I see the application re-install itself
Instant apps are temporary apps. So you can't uninstall them or disable it. It's a feature built into Android that is not going away. Your only option is to install a rom without Gapps. Otherwise deal with it.
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
superchilpil said:
Instant apps are temporary apps. So you can't uninstall them or disable it. It's a feature built into Android that is not going away. Your only option is to install a rom without Gapps. Otherwise deal with it.
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
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deleting those two files seemed to have broken that feature.
My issue was that I disabled that service through settings as suggested by one of the google support pages but it would still download and install "Instant Apps" the service throughout the day, not the actual temporary apps themselves. So it's been dealt with lol
oh man, when i saw this i thought i had a virus on my phone.
especially when i couldn't find anything named "instant apps" in the app drawer
I am hoping that this will work for me as well. The first time I saw the instant apps pop up I just connected to a free wifi in Mexico and freaked out. This seriously bothers me. I uninstalled it and it came back update after update. I also will not be using any instant apps, so this is something I want to break.
speedee12 said:
I am hoping that this will work for me as well. The first time I saw the instant apps pop up I just connected to a free wifi in Mexico and freaked out. This seriously bothers me. I uninstalled it and it came back update after update. I also will not be using any instant apps, so this is something I want to break.
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some how it was pushed back on to my phone. this is not a permanent solution...
so I'm trying to disable this through other means now and I found something interesting? I need someone with more experience to chime in as far as what these* lines* do*.. and where I found it...
so in /data/data/com.google.android.apps.instantapps.supervisor/shared_prefs/phenotypeConfigurations.xml there are these three lines:
<boolean name="Supervisor__enable_instant_apps" value="true" />
<boolean name="Supervisor__disable_url_resolution" value="false" />
<boolean name="TestFeature__enable_test" value="true" />
I flipped the value of these three entries to see if this will disable it. I find it odd that for the first line it was set for "true" when the settings say it's off. I will update again if I see this come back. My coworker had suggested that this may be built in to the Google app itself? Let's see...
so I had to unroot my phone because I forgot to log into snapchat, then re-root after, and Instant Apps was back yet again. The changes I made to the XML file persisted but the app was back.
I think I found a way to remove it entirely. I used Root Explorer, idk what other applications would work for this. So I navigated back to /data/app/com.google.android.instantapps.supervisor-1 and I clicked the base.apk and I had an option to uninstall, I did this then rebooted my phone to see if reboots are why it fixes itself except the entry for Instant Apps has been removed from settings. This appears to permanently remove this feature.
every time I think I fix this it keeps coming back lol, I finally called Google Support and this is the first they are hearing of it. The application re-installed itself at 430-some Mountain Time on it's own, other times it re-installs upon reboot. I'm going to find a way to cripple it if google cant
I recommend calling support to let them know that Instant Apps is enabled even though the switch says it is disabled.
fatapia said:
every time I think I fix this it keeps coming back lol, I finally called Google Support and this is the first they are hearing of it. The application re-installed itself at 430-some Mountain Time on it's own, other times it re-installs upon reboot. I'm going to find a way to cripple it if google cant
I recommend calling support to let them know that Instant Apps is enabled even though the switch says it is disabled.
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I have the same annoyances, "Installig Instant apps" notification appears randomly during the last month, and reading in the logcat they are updates/patches to the new feature, managed by finsky app (Play Store). The most scaring thing is that one time it appeared also during mobile data connection, which is not acceptable (and 800kb background data from Play Store). Google is being too aggressive with it. Why not simply integrate it and update it along with Play Services like the other 1000 google APIs ? !on WIFI!
Thank you for your tests, unfortunately the update process seems to be triggered by Google Play services itself or by Google play store.
I searched for related alarms/wakelocks in Amplify and could only found one wakelock coming from com.google.android.apps.instantapps.supervisor itself: .ExperimentUpdateService. I decided to keep it as this probably isn't the trigger.
ninestarkoko said:
I have the same annoyances, "Installig Instant apps" notification appears randomly during the last month, and reading in the logcat they are updates/patches to the new feature, managed by finsky app (Play Store). The most scaring thing is that one time it appeared also during mobile data connection, which is not acceptable (and 800kb background data from Play Store). Google is being too aggressive with it. Why not simply integrate it and update it along with Play Services like the other 1000 google APIs ? !on WIFI!
Thank you for your tests, unfortunately the update process seems to be triggered by Google Play services itself or by Google play store.
I searched for related alarms/wakelocks in Amplify and could only found one wakelock coming from com.google.android.apps.instantapps.supervisor itself: .ExperimentUpdateService. I decided to keep it as this probably isn't the trigger.
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yeah that's now my only worrisome complaint is that it ignores the play store settings and will download over any network connection. You can try submitting feedback through settings and suggest they fix this part so that it updates as you said. Thanks for the additional info, I'll try disabling that and report back if it makes any difference. I doubt that's the source of the problem though so I uninstall the apk so something else must be initiating it.
Thank you guys for this thread! I have the regular Pixel and have been seeing this happen... "Instant Apps" was disabled but somehow still updating either itself or something else, and I wondered if there was an additional switch somewhere to disable it. Looks like the answer is no. ?
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So I noticed every time the play store found an update, magically Instant Apps was back. I began to notice that this may be a service built into Play Store and not the Google app itself. So I had an idea, I went into Settings for Android and turned off background data for Play services. Obviously this will affect quite a bit, but honestly I am at that point from fighting this feature that I'd gladly give that up. So far after 2 days I have not seen the application re-install itself. It has been more permanent that the other solutions I've had so far.
There's an article from XDA in Analysis and Opinion talking about Instant Apps and Play Store 7.8.15, apparently this issue is affecting people all the way down to the Samsung S5... although people are hesistant to believe this issue exists for whatever reason.
You can cripple it by restricting its access to internet via firewall. Unfortunately this method also drives up battery consumption as the firewall does jujitsu with "Google Play services for Instant Apps" - I am actively fantasizing about taking my baby sledge to this thing and going back to a "dumb"-phone that doesn't have all this drama constantly! I'm using an S5 right now. This is definitely a google thing. They have a similar self-install-without-asking "feature" on windows via their chrome browser. Just look up "SwReporter" in that program's directory. It self-populates with an executable as you use chrome normally and there is no option in the program for it to not do that. You can safely make a shortcut to that directory and empty it out regularly to restrict its functionality which is presumably for keeping an eye on you. I am also trying an alternate method of changing security to prevent write access to that directory. I have no idea how to do that on an unrooted android. Any ideas? And does anybody know how to cripple "instant apps" malware/spyware backdoor "feature" on an unrooted device without eating battery like crazy?
Today I noticed that Instant Apps was installing without my permission. When I clicked on that notification, it brought me to the Google Play Store. (In Google Play Store, I have auto updates disabled.) I have an unrooted Galaxy Note 4 and I can't even find the settings for Instant Apps under the Google settings. Why aren't the settings there? I found the app in the Apps settings called "Google Play services for Instant Apps" (thank you G1A). I cleared it's the cache and data and then uninstalled it. So I'm assuming it will not come back but you never know.
EDIT: Well the "Google Play services for Instant Apps" reinstalled itself AGAIN WITHOUT MY PERMISSION. Getting sick of tired of Google's POMPOUS business ethics.
If it reinstalled itself.... then his would require root privileges in order to disable.
yeah this issue is annoying, it seems to initiate the download upon every reboot and each time it checks the play store for updates for any of your apps.
I found a way to disable it but it required freezing the app through Titanium Backup. I have NO CLUE why I couldn't see Instant Apps before in this list but it is listed as "Google Play Services for Instant Apps." It does not re-install or try to even download, does not show in Settings under Google, but if you look at the app itself in settings you will see it does still run. I am not sure to what extent but yeeeaahhh at least it doesnt seem like it can run anything
No problem As an update, changing security permissions (specifically for writing) for chrome's target folder Definitely (in windows 10) serves as an effective measure to blockade its ability to regenerate itself. This same method also works for microsoft edge located in the C-Windows-SystemApps folder. I presume that the programming methods would be analogous with android on google's end. Anybody know how to restrict write access to a folder on android? So long as it checks for a folder existing and it does exist (multi-decade programming approach) then it attempts to write to that folder. However, because it's already running in stealth mode (aka background) then it will never show an error message when it fails to execute, and it won't report back either, as that functionality depends on the contents of the targeted folder it is denied access to. It should be effectively crippled without excessive CPU consumption if you can just restrict its ability to write to the default folder that it installs itself in. Any ideas how to execute this kind of blockade?
UPDATE: As a way to cripple not Instant Apps specifically, but an entire host of functionality on the android platform, something called "Power Saving Mode" seems to knock out a key background runtime required for this pest to run. Unfortunately it doesn't let you pick and choose what it shuts off, so other useful apps may lose their functionality too. Post if anybody finds a more app-specific method!
Does this crap have its own separate package? If so, you could uninstall it and make a dummy APK having the same package name. This could prevent "updates" due to signing key conflicts, but might also break things...
I've searched the Google a few different times, but the wording leads to unrelated results.
I thought it was just a glitch / conflict with my rooted Z2 Play, not receiving notifications from Google Play, when app updates are available.
I have auto update turned off for two reasons. I absolutely hate the new cartoon version of Waze (v4+) and I like to know when apps update, in case I have issues, I can more easily identify suspects.
I fired up my backup phone, VZW Z2 Play and the same thing. No notification with plenty of app updates waiting.
Anyone else experience this?
pizza_pablo said:
I've searched the Google a few different times, but the wording leads to unrelated results.
I thought it was just a glitch / conflict with my rooted Z2 Play, not receiving notifications from Google Play, when app updates are available.
I have auto update turned off for two reasons. I absolutely hate the new cartoon version of Waze (v4+) and I like to know when apps update, in case I have issues, I can more easily identify suspects.
I fired up my backup phone, VZW Z2 Play and the same thing. No notification with plenty of app updates waiting.
Anyone else experience this?
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Clean cache of Playstore maybe?
alienyd said:
Clean cache of Playstore maybe?
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I'm thinking about clearing data.
I found that as a solution for other issues with Google Play, but thought I'd wait for responses here.
Thanks!
even better! if you are still receiving push notification, then Playstore app/service is malfunctioning. Cleaning it up should help.
I have several Google apps (Chome, Duo, YouTube, Google Photos) that I've kept disabled on my OnePlus 3 (Android v9) from the very beginning. For the last two weeks, they keep re-enabling themselves. I've repeatedly disabled them several times but they re-enable in just a few minutes. Any ideas on how to keep them disabled?
shobuddy said:
I have several Google apps (Chome, Duo, YouTube, Google Photos) that I've kept disabled on my OnePlus 3 (Android v9) from the very beginning. For the last two weeks, they keep re-enabling themselves. I've repeatedly disabled them several times but they re-enable in just a few minutes. Any ideas on how to keep them disabled?
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Do you have root? If so, Titanium Backup can be used to freeze them (even remove them) whenever not needed and cut off their market links (Play Store links) so that they don't auto update. I think that that is what is happening in your case. Even when auto update is not enabled, sometimes the Google apps behave different to other apps and update themselves.
TNSMANI said:
Do you have root? If so, Titanium Backup can be used to freeze them (even remove them) whenever not needed and cut off their market links (Play Store links) so that they don't auto update. I think that that is what is happening in your case. Even when auto update is not enabled, sometimes the Google apps behave different to other apps and update themselves.
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TNSMANI, thank you for the response. Unfortunately I no longer have root so TB is not an option. You are correct, however, that the apps get re-enabled when they update. That said, this didn't used to happen as I've had them disabled since I got the phone. It only started happening recently.