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| Google Play Services | |||||||
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| Developer | Google LLC | ||||||
| Release | 26 September 2012 | ||||||
| Stable release(s) [±] | |||||||
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| Preview release(s) [±] | |||||||
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| Operating system | Android | ||||||
| License | Proprietary | ||||||
| Website | developers | ||||||
Google Play Services is a proprietary software package produced by Google for installation on Android devices. It consists of background services and libraries for use by mobile apps running on the device.[7] When it was introduced in 2012, it provided access to the Google+ APIs and OAuth 2.0. It expanded to cover a variety of Google services, allowing applications to communicate with the services through common means.[8]
The package's services include location tracking and geofencing, single sign-on account services, user health and fitness tracking, payment processing, integrated advertising, and security scanning. Many apps on Android devices depend on the use of Google Play Services, and the package requires the user to use a Google Account and agree to Google's terms of service. Distributing Google Play Services on an Android device requires a license from Google, which contractually prohibits device producers from producing Android devices that are incompatible with Google's Android specifications.
Google Play Services is used by almost all Google apps that have system-level powers. Without Google Play Services, these apps may not work properly.[9]
Services
Google Play Game Services[10] can be used by application developers to allow a competitive and social experience through the use of leaderboards, achievements, and multiplayer sessions.[11] Saved Games API is available to sync game saves on Google's cloud infrastructure.[12]
Location APIs provide specifications about the location technologies, providing geofencing APIs for scheduling specific actions when the user enters or leaves specific geographic boundaries, Fused Location Provider acquires location information such as reduced power usage and activity recognition for allowing applications to adapt to the current action of the user (e.g. cycling, walking, etc.).[10]
The Google Sign-in Android API provides single sign-on, authenticating the user inside applications using Google Account credentials.[13]
The Google Maps Android API allows applications to include Google Maps or Street View without the need to open a separate application, allowing full control over the camera and providing a means of adding custom markers and map overlays.[14]
The Google Drive Android API allows Google Drive to be used as a storage structure, providing lookup and syncing of documents along with other file manipulation tools.[15]
The Google Cast Android API adds casting functionality to allow Android applications to display content on TVs using Google Cast, additionally providing various helpers for common audio, video, and image types.[16]
Google Mobile Ads integrates advertisements into applications, allowing monetization by targeting ads based on factors such as user location.[17] The Google Pay API allows purchases of services and goods via Google Pay.[18] Other APIs include the Google Fit API, account authentication methods, and Google Analytics.[8]
Google Play Protect is a unification of Android security systems.[19][20][21] In 2019, the company announced that the software was scanning 50 million apps per day.[22] On 6 November 2019, Google announced the App Defense Alliance. Partners can request Google Play Protect to analyze an app. Results are sent to the partner and Google Play Protect receives results from partners. As of November, 2019, partners of the App Defense Alliance included ESET, Lookout and Zimperium.[23][24] In October 2023, Google announced that Play Protect would scan sideloaded apps for malware at install time.[25]
In May 2016, Google announced Instant Apps, a feature provided via Google Play Services for Android 4.2 and later that allows app developers to provide lightweight versions of their apps without first having to install them from the Play Store.[26] The feature debuted in 2017. In June 2025, Google announced through Android Studio that Instant Apps support would be removed that December.[27] The decision was attributed to low usage of the functionality.[28]
Personal safety services bundled with Play Services, such as Emergency Location Service (ELS)[29] and Earthquake Alerts[30], are managed via system settings rather than through standalone apps.
Adoption
Google Play Services is automatically updated through Google Play on devices with Android 7.0 or newer.[7] This means Google can deliver updates without manufacturers having to update the Android firmware, working around the fragmentation of the platform that has become infamous for Android products.[9][31]
Concerns
The Android Open Source Project (AOSP) was announced in 2007, and was officially founded and launched in 2008. It functioned as the baseline system for all OEMs and firmware modifications such as CyanogenMod and LineageOS. Various AOSP apps were transferred to Google Play with a closed-source model. Many apps (such as Lyft, Uber, and many of the Google apps like Gmail and YouTube) function only when the Google Play Services package is available and enabled.[9]
Distributing Google Play Services as a part of the Google Apps package requires a license from Google, which contractually prohibits device producers from producing Android devices that are incompatible with Google's Android specifications. Others who are interested in modifying the Android system are required to either opt-out of Google Play Services or to obtain the Google apps package from either a device that has them pre-installed or an unofficial source.[9][31]
In order to circumvent this tight coupling with Google products, there have been several initiatives of developers launching and maintaining custom Android distributions, such as LineageOS, CalyxOS, iodéOS or /e/OS, which replace Google Play Services with MicroG, an open source implementation.[32][33] Alternatively, distributions like GrapheneOS implement a sandboxed version of Google Play Services, running with regular permissions but isolated from other processes.[34] This still helps mitigate privacy concerns, but also better preserves compatibility with Google services.[citation needed]
See also
- Google Mobile Services
- Huawei Mobile Services
- MicroG – open source implementation
- FireOS – Popular Android-based OS which does not include Play Services or Play Store.
- Sandboxed Google Play Services – implementation without system-level privileges
References
- ↑ "Google Play Services". APKMirror. Android Police. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
- ↑ "Google Play Services (Android TV)". APKMirror. Android Police. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
- ↑ "Google Play Services (Wear OS)". APKMirror. Android Police. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
- ↑ "Google Play Services". APKMirror. Android Police. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
- ↑ "Google Play Services (Android TV)". APKMirror. Android Police. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
- ↑ "Google Play Services (Wear OS)". APKMirror. Android Police. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
- 1 2 "Overview of Google Play Services". Google Developers. Archived from the original on 7 March 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
- 1 2 "Package Index". Google Developers. Archived from the original on 28 March 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
- 1 2 3 4 Ron Amadeo (3 September 2013). "Balky carriers and slow OEMs step aside: Google is defragging Android". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on 3 September 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
- 1 2 "Build location-aware apps". Android Developers. Archived from the original on 24 September 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
- ↑ "Play Game Services". Google Developers. Archived from the original on 18 December 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
- ↑ "Saved Games in Android | Play Games Services". Google Developers. Archived from the original on 16 July 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
- ↑ "Add sign-in workflow". Android Developers. Archived from the original on 24 September 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
- ↑ "Add maps". Android Developers. Archived from the original on 24 September 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
- ↑ "Drive API for Android". Google Developers. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
- ↑ "Cast". Google Developers. Archived from the original on 10 September 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
- ↑ "Mobile Ads SDK". Google Developers. Archived from the original on 17 September 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
- ↑ "Google Pay". Google Developers. Archived from the original on 12 September 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
- ↑ "Google's security suite 'Play Protect' rolling out to Android phones". Android Authority. Archived from the original on 20 September 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
- ↑ "Google's Play Protect didn't catch obfuscated malware with up to 20 million installs on the Play Store". Android Police. Archived from the original on 20 September 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
- ↑ "Keeping you safe with Google Play Protect". Google Blog. Archived from the original on 20 September 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
- ↑ "Google Play Protect Now Scans More Than 50 Million Apps Per Day". Beebom. 9 May 2019. Archived from the original on 21 September 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
- ↑ "The App Defense Alliance: Bringing the security industry together to fight bad apps". Google Online Security Blog. Archived from the original on 7 November 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
- ↑ "App Defense Alliance | Play Protect". Google Developers. Archived from the original on 7 November 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
- ↑ Amadeo, Ron (18 October 2023). "Android will now scan sideloaded apps for malware at install time". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on 20 October 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
- ↑ Cunningham, Andrew (19 May 2016). "Android Instant Apps will blur the lines between apps and mobile sites". Ars Technica.
- ↑ Whitwam, Ryan (13 June 2025). "Another one for the graveyard: Google to kill Instant Apps in December". Ars Technica.
- ↑ Preston, Dominic (13 June 2025). "Google is shutting down Android Instant Apps over 'low' usage". The Verge.
- ↑ Brian, Matt (26 July 2016). "Android will now automatically send your location to 999 operators". Engadget. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
- ↑ Dumé, Isabelle (15 August 2025). "Android phone network makes an effective early warning system for earthquakes". Physics World. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
- 1 2 Ron Amadeo (21 October 2013). "Google's iron grip on Android: Controlling open source by any means necessary". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on 10 March 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
- ↑ Barker, Shane (9 January 2026). "Reclaiming Your Android Phone: The Ultimate Guide to LineageOS with microG". Archived from the original on 9 January 2026.
- ↑ Name; Milano, Matt (28 February 2025). "GrapheneOS Review: The Most Private and Secure Android OS". WebProNews. Archived from the original on 9 January 2026. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
- ↑ Lamont, Jonathan (20 March 2022). "A week with GrapheneOS exposed my over-reliance on Google". MobileSyrup. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
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