Soft degoogling doesn’t require a custom ROM, but you can still cut your Google exposure by most of the way. You keep your stock Android setup while stripping out Google’s bloat, replacing their apps, tightening permissions, and routing all connections through privacy-respecting tools.

Start with Shizuku, since it gives certain apps elevated permissions without rooting. Install the APK, enable Wireless Debugging, pair it, set its battery mode to unrestricted, and get it running.

Then replace Google Play with F-Droid (use Droid-ify), install App Inspector, and use aShell (or any ADB shell tool) with Shizuku permissions. Identify every Google package you want gone and uninstall it with

pm uninstall -k --user 0 package-name.

If you remove system apps like Messages, Keyboard, or Dialer, make sure you’ve already installed alternatives and granted permissions. You can reinstall any package with

pm install-existing package-name.

Fossify for basics, Quick or Right Messages for SMS, Ente for photos, Proton services for mail/storage, DuckDuckGo or other privacy browsers, HeliBoard or Fossify Keyboard, Notesnook or Standard Notes for notes, Signal (use Molly - Signal Fork) through APK, ReVanced for patched media apps, and OpenStreetMap/OsmAnd/Organic Maps for navigation.

Add tracking protection through TrackerControl, DuckDuckGo’s protection, NetGuard, AdGuard, or similar tools. These act as a private DNS layer and let you manage all outgoing connections app by app. On-device Private DNS should be off if you use these, otherwise configure a trusted DNS like ControlD, Quad9, Mullvad, or AdGuard.

Freezing apps with SuperFreezZ or Heil keeps them fully shut down. Grant any needed permissions through ADB commands if they aren’t available in settings.

Delete your advertising ID, restrict location access, deny mic/camera by default, pause Google’s activity tracking, and turn off diagnostics. Enable app hibernation for anything unused. Consider a separate work profile via Shelter for apps you don’t fully trust.

It’s an ongoing process. Keep refining your setup and, when possible, switch to a non-Google OS for an even cleaner slate.

Recommend: Tools like Canta or UAD can handle package removal through a GUI if you don’t want to run commands manually.