this post was submitted on 11 Jul 2025
396 points (97.1% liked)

Technology

73371 readers
4162 users here now

This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.

Our Rules

  1. Follow the lemmy.world rules.
  2. Only tech related news or articles.
  3. Be excellent to each other!
  4. Mod approved content bots can post up to 10 articles per day.
  5. Threads asking for personal tech support may be deleted.
  6. Politics threads may be removed.
  7. No memes allowed as posts, OK to post as comments.
  8. Only approved bots from the list below, this includes using AI responses and summaries. To ask if your bot can be added please contact a mod.
  9. Check for duplicates before posting, duplicates may be removed
  10. Accounts 7 days and younger will have their posts automatically removed.

Approved Bots

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
L3s@lemmy.world
enu@lemmy.world
technopagan@lemmy.world
L4s@lemmy.world
L3s@hackingne.ws
L4s@hackingne.ws
396
How to turn off Gemini on Android — and why you should (proton.me)
submitted 2 weeks ago by Pro@programming.dev to c/technology@lemmy.world
43 comments fedilink hide all child comments
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] squaresinger@lemmy.world 37 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)
  • Install adb on your PC
  • Enable developer options on your phone
  • Enable USB Debugging inside the developer options
  • Connect the phone to the PC using USB
  • Open a console window of your choice
  • Execute adb devices and allow USB debugging for this PC on your phone
  • Execute adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.apps.gemini
  • Done

You can do that with any app you like, they can all be disabled that way. Beware though: if you disable critical system components (like e.g. your last launcher, keyboard or systemui) you might not have a great time using your phone afterwards.

[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 9 points 2 weeks ago (5 children)

Alternatively:

  • Install GrapheneOS
  • Never concern yourself with invasive software again

I've never even seen Gemini on my phone.

[–] kbobabob@lemmy.dbzer0.com 13 points 2 weeks ago (4 children)

So are we just casually mentioning Graphene in every Android article like Linux is mentioned in every Windows article? How many new phones actually support Graphene?

[–] Redex68@lemmy.world 8 points 2 weeks ago

The circlejerk around Graphene is insane, it wouldn't be as bad if it wasn't literally only supported by Pixel phones that have 2% marketshare

[–] Tollana1234567@lemmy.today 5 points 2 weeks ago

isnt it only for pixels.

[–] XLE@piefed.social 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

To be fair, the article itself recommends it.

[–] kbobabob@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 1 week ago

Fair enough. Unfortunately, that only covers around 5% of Android users in the US.

[–] Ulrich@feddit.org -4 points 2 weeks ago

Pretty much. For all the same reasons. Both of them solve all sorts of problems.

[–] UnsavoryMollusk@lemmy.world 12 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

None of my work apps nor my banks app are compatible with Graphene. We need legislation at this point.

[–] blobchoice@feddit.uk 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Do I:

  • Run a few commands to disable one app and keep my phone intact

OR

  • Install a whole new OS to avoid one dumb AI app, and the OS only works with Pixel phones (which isn't even my phone as I actively avoid touching anything Google in the first place)...

A tricky decision, indeed.

[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 0 points 2 weeks ago

If it were about one app, and you could do that, I would be inclined to agree. But it's not and you can't. It's about new bullshit constantly being shoved down your throat.

[–] squaresinger@lemmy.world 0 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Yeah. If you never install software that is.

A C64 doesn't run invasive software either.

[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Yes. A GrapheneOS device and a Commodore 64 are basically the same thing.

[–] squaresinger@lemmy.world -3 points 2 weeks ago

GrapheneOS without any invasive apps is really bare-bones and limited, that's what I wanted to say using hyperbole, but I guess figures of speech are too advanced for some people.

[–] Fredselfish@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

Thank you definitely few apps I want to remove off my phone.

[–] Hawk@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 2 weeks ago

I don't have a Gemini app on my phone. The only way to somewhat disable it is through the settings app.