this post was submitted on 11 Jul 2025
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[–] [email protected] 63 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

Ew, this article is an ad for another company. I feel icky when people try to monetize my basic human rights.

Here's a not for profit article alternative: https://oit.utk.edu/security/learning-library/article-archive/privacy-onboard-ai-google-gemini/

[–] [email protected] 74 points 4 days ago (3 children)

It says to turn it off you open the Gemini app on your Android phone and change some settings. I uninstalled the Gemini app completely. I wonder if it's still running on my account somehow.

[–] Dhar 48 points 4 days ago
[–] [email protected] 12 points 4 days ago (3 children)

My phone won't let me uninstall it. And it shows it's off yet every now and then it rears it's ugly head.

[–] [email protected] 37 points 4 days 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.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 4 days ago (5 children)

Alternatively:

  • Install GrapheneOS
  • Never concern yourself with invasive software again

I've never even seen Gemini on my phone.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 3 days ago (3 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?

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 days 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

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 days ago

isnt it only for pixels.

[–] [email protected] -4 points 3 days ago

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

[–] [email protected] 12 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 days 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.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 days 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.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 3 days ago (1 children)

graphene cant be installed on just any device. the list is quite small actually.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Yeah. If you never install software that is.

A C64 doesn't run invasive software either.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 days ago (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] -3 points 3 days 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.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 days ago

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

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 days ago

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

[–] [email protected] 7 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Use Canta & Shizuku You can uninstall pretty much everything

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 days ago

This combo even got rid of something that was ADB blocked in Android 14.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 days ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 12 points 4 days ago (1 children)

it would be great to have a non-ml degoogle comm. but then i'm also not willing to put in the work to moderate right now so maybe i'm a whiny asshole

[–] [email protected] 6 points 4 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

If nobody whines, people think we are ok with how things are, whining is good, even if we can't do something about it

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 days ago

As far as I know, on Pixel phones it’s integrated. Discovered that my work phone (Pixel 6) suddenly has it, I’ve never installed it, and I can’t remove it.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 days ago

It can be boiled down to: avoid anything big corpos are pushing

[–] [email protected] 25 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Just dropping some links here:

nobody has to use an operating system made by an advertisement company.

Except for people with locked boot loaders. They really are trapped in some corporate hellscape. That stuff should just be illegal.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 days ago (1 children)

nobody has to use an operating system made by an advertisement company.

My device's bootloader can be unlocked in 5 minutes, yet it's not on any of these lists you shared

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Uhhh interesting, what kind of device is that ? Is it really new ? Maybe that's why there is no community support for it. Because nobody has started hacking on it yet

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 days ago

Galaxy S23, sold many units and isn't a last gen device

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 days ago

it’s becoming harder to fully turn off or remove.

They're going to phase out assistant almost completely, migrating features to gemini. Realistically the privacy of assistant was not better, but gemini uses a fully functional LLM and not a huge if-else-switch statement for standard commands.

I think they have the upper hand over AI companies as they own the internet and youtube for training purposes.

But gemini wants to be my friend if I don't stop it, and it's creepy and weird.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 days ago

I think it's different in the EU

[–] [email protected] 16 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Is it true that newer pixels have RAM dedicated to AI? And even if I turn of Gemini and delete the app I still won't able to use that RAM?

Is it counted within the usual 8-12gigs or is it seperate?

Just trying to find out incase I buy one for graphineOS

[–] [email protected] 15 points 4 days ago (1 children)

On Pixel 9 stock they mention you can disable AIcore in the settings, so I would assume GrapheneOS is unaffected.

[–] masterofn001 5 points 4 days ago (1 children)

All I know is Gemini is not on my graphene pixel 9

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 days ago

Pixel 7a and Pixel Tablet since yesterday here.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 3 days ago

“Turn off”

[–] [email protected] 11 points 4 days ago

In Germany we say: "Gemini auf den Sack" and I think it's beautiful.

[–] [email protected] -4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

easy, install graphene instead

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Ah yes, for the whole 5% of people that have a Pixel

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 days ago

no problems, just solutions