Yet another Corporate Privacy test 7 - fresh install (Android 9.x; Earlier versions vary)
So I got curious as to whether constantly changing settings on the phone "did stuff" to the software.
Somehow I got the Google Play Services app itself to become disableable, but carrier services complained… All without rooting the phone..
.. So I started fresh fresh:
If the handset is new, unbox it and turn it on.
If you are resetting an ID locked phone.. Do it. for science..
Once the phone is at the first run welcome screen:
Press the 'Start' button.
Skip wi-fi setup.
Press 'Continue' to confirm skipping wi-fi setup..
Turn off all selections on the Google Services set up page and press 'Accept'.
Skip 'Unlock with your fingerprint' setup.
Select the screen lock of your choice and follow the prompts.
Decline installation and first-run configuration of all other pre-installed apps and finish the first-run set up. Reboot the phone.
Go to Settings → System → Advanced
Go to the Privacy info page (if it exists) and turn off all data sharing.
Go to Settings → Connected Devices
Go to Connection preferences and turn off NFC
Go to Settings → Apps & Notifications → see all apps → Google app info page.
Go to the app storage page.
Clear app cache and storage.
Stop the app process.
Go to the app permissions page.
Turn off all permissions listed on the permissions page.
Go back to the app info page.
Disable Google app.
Go to Settings → Apps & Notifications → see all apps → Google Play services info page
Go to the app storage page.
Clear app cache and storage.
(This app process can not be killed)
Go to the app permissions page.
Turn off all permissions listed on the permissions page.
Go to the app notifications page.
Disable notifications.
(This app can not be disabled)
Google Play services will complain that it is blind and deaf.
Go to Settings → Apps & Notifications → see all apps → Action Services info page
Go to the Notifications page.
Turn off 'Google Play Services availability' notifications.
Call your voice mail. Google Play services will complain that it is blind and deaf, again.
Go to Settings → Apps & Notifications → see all apps → Phone info page
Go to the Notifications page.
Turn off 'Google Play Services availability' notifications.
(This will need to be done for every app that shows the 'Google Play services error'; The notification option itself does not appear in the settings until after the error is triggered for the first time, for each effected app)
Go to Settings → Security & Location → Advanced → Device admin apps
Turn off Find My Device
Select 'Deactivate this device admin app'
Reboot the phone. Google Assistant and Google Play Services are disabled and no longer have permissions to collect your data. Be advised that apps that make use of Google Play services may no longer function correctly.
Go to Settings → Accounts → Add account
Add an email account that is not a Google account. ← Important!!!!! Signing into the Google Play Store app will create a google account on your device. You've been warned!