Help How do I detach an app from the Play Store?

[Shotgun84]

I'm running a rooted S8 and used Magisk to load a custom version of YouTube which plays in the background and has no ads. It means YouTube can be used as a music player when needs be. The only problem is that the Play Store keeps trying to update YouTube which will replace the custom version. I've turned off auto update but I still keep getting notified that an update's available. It also stops me being able to press the update all button for all those lingering apps. I know there was an app that could detach apps from the market but it never worked for me and I can't remember the name. I'd assume there's got to be a way of doing it with root privileges. Any help would be appreciated

 

[Mikestony]

titanium backup? Doesn't that have an option to unlink any app from Play?

 

[Fox Mulder]

titanium backup? Doesn't that have an option to unlink any app from Play?

It does but it's not persistent. The unlink action is only temporary.
AFAIK there is no way to do this so it's permanent.

 

[Shotgun84]

You're right it was titanium backup. It had never survived a reboot for me in the past. Just detached again now let's see (^ninja )

 

[Shotgun84]

It does but it's not persistent. The unlink action is only temporary.
AFAIK there is no way to do this so it's permanent.

Yeah just tried again and after the detach if I search YouTube it says open. If I reboot my phone and search again it says update.

 

[Shotgun84]

Surely there's got to be some way to stop the play store picking it up

 

[Shotgun84]

Play Store doesn't pick up side loaded apps which aren't in the play store in the first place. How'd I go about editing the apk into something unrecognizable but still workable?

 

[Mikestony]

Play Store doesn't pick up side loaded apps which aren't in the play store in the first place. How'd I go about editing the apk into something unrecognizable but still workable?

Not sure mate. If you rename the apk, I wouldn't think it would work.

 

[Shotgun84]

Not sure mate. If you rename the apk, I wouldn't think it would work.

Yeah tried that with root explorer. Half expecting it not to work at all but it still does and play store picks it up. My last thought would be to decompile and recompile but honestly not sure how to do that.

 

[Shotgun84]

Although if that worked I'm sure the guy who modded it in the first place would've done that. Yeah it might be a dead end

 

[Xavier Black]

Have you tried the apk extractor?..first you have install the application you want to manipulate in the regular way from the play store..then you extract it..then you uninstall the one from the play store..clear cache and data..then install the extracted one..

Let me know how it goes..

 

[Shotgun84]

Have you tried the apk extractor?..first you have install the application you want to manipulate in the regular way from the play store..then you extract it..then you uninstall the one from the play store..clear cache and data..then install the extracted one..

Let me know how it goes..

Does it manipulate apps which weren't from the play store as well? Honestly I'm probably a little bit too tired () to be doing it right now. I'll let you know tomorrow or later today

 

[Xavier Black]

I feel you bro..no, this one doesn't manipulate apps..the one that does is apk editor..

 

[Bg260]

I think since YouTube is a Google app, it probably needs Google Play Services to run. Sort of hard baked in, you could say.

 

[mikedt]

I think since YouTube is a Google app, it probably needs Google Play Services to run. Sort of hard baked in, you could say.

Oh yeh the YouTube app definitely needs Google Play Services in the system to run.

 

[Xavier Black]

Unless you open your YouTube through the browser..that's what I do..I deleted the YouTube app long time ago..and that way doesn't bring crap..and keeps the memory usage on the minimum..

 

[Xavier Black]

I recommend you this Samsung Browser Beta..it has undeliverable capabilities..including an awesome volume output level..among other "stuff"..I don't know if you will find it in the regular route, thugh..

 

[Shotgun84]

Let me know how it goes..

Soz for the delay. I couldn't get it to work. Really don't think it's possible. It even has a habit of auto updating the YouTube app even though it's selected not to. I've even checked after it auto updated and the tick box is still unticked. Oh well just one of those things I've got to put up with. Life's given me more crap than this before so no worries

 

[dontpanicbobby]

You Devs speak a different language than Users

 

[Hadron]

You Devs speak a different language than Users

I have more trouble when I have to work with the Finance people: they definitely do speak a language of their own.

 

[Fox Mulder]

This isn't a dev thing, more of an advanced user thing. I'm hardly a dev and I don't think anyone else in this thread is either.

 

[garbonzo17]

Detaching General programs can be a pain in the ass, but Vanced is very simple, they have a built-in method for it... There's one way by downloading the universal installer and then the detach.plz file, but the simpler way is just create an blank file called enable_detach in the cache folder..
The guy jsaxon2 on XDA shows it in root/cache but that didn't work for me, so I copied it to the /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.google.android.youtube/cache folder and bingo, next reboot its not listed under updates... now if I could only do the same thing with Facebook Messenger so I can keep version 146 without going up (I like dark themes)
Best of luck... it really is much easier than my explanation, I'll just go back and bold the important parts.