Google Play services is core system software that enables key functionality on every certified Android device, and it is different from the Google Play Store. There are three types of core device features Google Play services provides:
Security and reliability
Google Play services helps to ensure the security and reliability of an Android device, and keep devices updated with the latest security features. This includes:
- Google Play Protect, which can warn users if an app contains known malware.
- Identification and validation of secure connections, such as allowing a device to safely and automatically recognize and connect to other devices, or share files or apps with Android devices nearby, or verify that user activity, including interactions with ads, involves real devices.
- Protection of apps from fraud and security threats through SafetyNet.
- End to end encrypted backup of your data when users have a lock screen passcode.
- Management and protection of your passwords.
Developer APIs
Google Play services provides developers thousands of continually updated APIs that enable them to deliver high-quality experiences in their apps, such as:
- Streaming media using Google Cast.
- Integrating Google Maps to enhance app functionality.
- Providing accurate location information through the fused location provider when apps have permission to access location.
- Enabling services that allow developers to build advertising constructs according to user and app settings.
- Sending timely notifications via a messaging transport layer.
Core device services
Google Play services enables core services on Android devices. For example:
- When users make an emergency call to a supported emergency number, Google helps local emergency services directly receive the device’s location.
- Google’s autofill services help users save time and reduce typing errors.
- Nearby Share allows users to send and receive files with their contacts or anonymously.
- Find Hub makes it easy to locate, lock, or wipe a lost device.
- Fast Pair makes it easy to connect Bluetooth accessories using your Google account.
Google Play services can gradually enable new features, including experimental features, and may disable them based on Google policies. This facilitates the roll-out of new software and also allows Google to collect information to improve its products and services, potentially including services related to advertising.
Also, when a user signs into their Google account on their device, they can update their Google settings, manage the security of their account, and sync important data, such as their Google Contacts, across devices.
Why Google Play services collects data
Google Play services collects data on certified Android devices to support core device features.
Collection of limited basic information, such as an IP address, is necessary to deliver content to a device, app, or browser. Device manufacturers also provide Google Play services with permission to access certain data on a device, such as location and contacts, to support these features.
Actual data collection varies depending on device settings configured by a user, the apps and services installed or used on a device, the device manufacturer, and a user's Google account settings. In many instances, Google Play services will access data locally on the device without collecting data off the device.
To support each of the functions described above, Google Play services may collect information for the following reasons:
Security and fraud prevention
Google collects data through Google Play services to help protect users, Google services, and third party developers' apps and services from fraud, spam, and abuse. This includes:
- Information to validate that a request is coming from a real user and information about installed apps, including the results of malware scans.
- Google Account and login information if a user is signed in on a device or moves their data to a new device.
- Google may collect a device's phone number to provide account recovery services and to log users into phone number based services (like Google Meet).
- Hardware identifiers such as IMEI, MAC addresses, and serial numbers, to update devices with the latest security patches and to monitor trends across the Android ecosystem, such as how long different types of devices stay in service. Google’s Device Configuration Service, which collects data to ensure that devices remain up-to-date and are working as well as possible, is part of Google Play services.
Support and improve the Android ecosystem
As described above, Google Play services provides a number of APIs and core device services that enable Android to be a feature-rich, connected platform. Google may collect data about these services and APIs to help provide, maintain and improve them. Google collects certain information about your device, the software on it, and your usage of it. Depending on device settings, Google may collect additional information about a device. Examples include:
- Google collects data to understand how these APIs are used and to help ensure that they function correctly.
- If Google Location Accuracy is enabled, in addition to providing more accurate location on a device, location information may be used in an anonymous way to improve location-based services. This includes periodically collecting information about the locations of wireless signals and sensors observed by your device to crowdsource location estimates.
- If a device’s usage and diagnostics control is enabled, Google collects additional information about device usage and how well a device is working to improve products and services, like Google apps and Android devices, potentially including services related to advertising. Turning off this control doesn’t affect your device’s ability to send or receive some information, including the information needed for essential services such as system updates and security, and won’t affect info that apps might collect.
Provide Google services
If a user uses Google apps and services on Android, Google collects data through Google Play services to provide and improve those apps and services, including ads shown in those apps and services. For example:
- Depending on a user’s settings, Google collects data like contacts and bookmarks to sync them across devices and the cloud.
- Google Play services syncs a user’s Google account settings across devices, and collects information to help protect their account.
- Google Play services may collect data to enable embedded app functionality like Google Maps.
- Google Play services help users interact and send messages directly to businesses.
- When using Google Pay, Google Play services helps users manage their payment info, make contactless payments, or use a digital car key securely.
- Google collects data when you use a Play Games profile or services.
- For users with the “Saves your activity from apps on this device” setting enabled under Web & App Activity on their device, Google may save activity data from apps on the device to their Google Account so that it can be used to personalize Google apps and services.
Google Play services can use cellular data
To enable the functions described above, Google Play services causes Android devices to exchange information with Google over cellular networks if the device is not connected to Wi-Fi, meaning Google Play services may use your mobile data. This may occur multiple times a day and when you are not actively using your device. How much cellular data Google Play services uses depends on how often the device connects to Wi-Fi, device and account settings, and other factors. While certain user settings may limit the frequency and volume of some of these information exchanges, they cannot be turned off.
How to disable Google Play services
While not recommended, you may choose to disable Google Play services by following these steps:
- Open the Settings app on your Android device.
- Scroll down and tap on Apps (or Apps & notifications
App info).
- Tap on the option to show all apps, which may be labeled All apps, App Info, or require you to tap a three-dot menu icon to show system apps.
- Scroll through the list to find and tap on Google Play services.
- Tap the Disable button.
- You may receive a warning notification about the impact on your device, please review and tap to confirm and disable the app if you still choose to proceed.