View source for Archive:Google Play Services

{{Short description|Proprietary software for Android devices}}
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{{Use American English|date=April 2026}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
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{{Primary sources|date=January 2020}}
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{{Infobox software
| name = Google Play Services
| logo = [[File:Google play services logo.svg|80px]]
| logo alt = Picture of the Google Play Services icon
| logo caption =
| developer = [[Google LLC]]
| released = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2012|9|26}}
| ver layout = stacked
| operating system = [[Android (operating system)|Android]]
| license = [[Proprietary software|Proprietary]]
}}

'''Google Play Services''' is a proprietary software package produced by [[Google]] for installation on Android devices. It consists of background services and libraries for use by mobile apps running on the device.<ref name="developer-index" /> When it was introduced in 2012, it provided access to the Google+ APIs and OAuth 2.0. It expanded to cover a variety of Google services, allowing applications to communicate with the services through common means.<ref name="developer-reference-index" />

The package's services include location tracking and geofencing, single sign-on account services, user health and fitness tracking, payment processing, integrated advertising, and security scanning. Many apps on Android devices depend on the use of Google Play Services, and the package requires the user to use a Google Account and agree to Google's terms of service. Distributing Google Play Services on an Android device requires a license from Google, which contractually prohibits device producers from producing Android devices that are incompatible with Google's Android specifications.

Google Play Services is used by almost all Google apps that have system-level powers. Without Google Play Services, these apps may not work properly.<ref name="ars-googleplayservices" />

== Services ==

Google Play Game Services<ref name="developer-services-location" /> can be used by application developers to allow a competitive and social experience through the use of leaderboards, [[achievement (video gaming)|achievements]], and multiplayer sessions.<ref name="developer-services-games" /> Saved [[Games]] API is available to [[file synchronization|sync]] [[saved game|game saves]] on Google's [[cloud storage|cloud infrastructure]].<ref name="developer-services-savedgames">{{cite web|title=Saved Games in Android &#124; Play Games Services|url=https://developers.google.com/games/services/android/savedgames|website=Google Developers|access-date=30 November 2014|archive-date=16 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170716212247/https://developers.google.com/games/services/android/savedgames|url-status=live}}</ref>

Location APIs provide specifications about the location technologies, providing [[geofencing]] APIs for scheduling specific actions when the user enters or leaves specific geographic boundaries, Fused Location Provider acquires location information such as reduced power usage and activity recognition for allowing applications to adapt to the current action of the user (e.g. cycling, walking, etc.).<ref name="developer-services-location" />

The Google Sign-in Android API provides [[single sign-on]], authenticating the user inside applications using Google Account credentials.<ref name="developer-services-signin" /> 

The Google Maps Android API allows applications to include [[Google Maps]] or Street View without the need to open a separate application, allowing full control over the camera and providing a means of adding custom markers and map overlays.<ref name="developer-services-maps" /> 

The Google Drive Android API allows Google Drive to be used as a storage structure, providing lookup and syncing of documents along with other file manipulation tools.<ref name="developer-services-drive" /> 

The Google Cast Android API adds casting functionality to allow Android applications to display content on TVs using [[Google Cast]], additionally providing various helpers for common audio, video, and image types.<ref name="developer-services-cast" />

Google Mobile Ads integrates advertisements into applications, allowing monetization by targeting ads based on factors such as user location.<ref name="developer-services-ads" /> The Google Pay API allows purchases of services and goods via [[Google Pay (payment method)|Google Pay]].<ref name="developer-services-pay" /> Other APIs include the [[Google Fit]] API, account [[authentication]] methods, and [[Google Analytics]].<ref name="developer-reference-index" />

Google Play Protect is a unification of [[Android (operating system)|Android]] security systems.<ref>{{cite news|title=Google's security suite 'Play Protect' rolling out to Android phones|url=http://www.androidauthority.com/google-play-protect-rolling-out-788614/|work=Android Authority|access-date=20 September 2017|archive-date=20 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920142405/http://www.androidauthority.com/google-play-protect-rolling-out-788614/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Google's Play Protect didn't catch obfuscated malware with up to 20 million installs on the Play Store|url=http://www.androidpolice.com/2017/09/16/googles-play-protect-didnt-catch-obfuscated-malware-20-million-installs-play-store/|work=Android Police|access-date=20 September 2017|archive-date=20 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920142129/http://www.androidpolice.com/2017/09/16/googles-play-protect-didnt-catch-obfuscated-malware-20-million-installs-play-store/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Keeping you safe with Google Play Protect|url=https://www.blog.google/products/android/google-play-protect/|work=[[Google Blog Search|Google Blog]]|access-date=20 September 2017|archive-date=20 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920190642/https://www.blog.google/products/android/google-play-protect/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2019, the company announced that the software was scanning 50 million apps per day.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://app.beebom.com/google-play-protect-now-scans-50-million-apps-per-day|title=Google Play Protect Now Scans More Than 50 Million Apps Per Day|date=9 May 2019|work=Beebom|access-date=9 May 2019|archive-date=21 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921082931/https://app.beebom.com/google-play-protect-now-scans-50-million-apps-per-day/|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 6 November 2019, Google announced the App Defense Alliance. Partners can request Google Play Protect to analyze an app. Results are sent to the partner and Google Play Protect receives results from partners. As of November, 2019, partners of the App Defense Alliance included [[ESET]], Lookout and [[Zimperium]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://security.googleblog.com/2019/11/the-app-defense-alliance-bringing.html|title=The App Defense Alliance: Bringing the security industry together to fight bad apps|website=Google Online Security Blog|language=en|access-date=2019-11-07|archive-date=7 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191107031607/https://security.googleblog.com/2019/11/the-app-defense-alliance-bringing.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://developers.google.com/android/play-protect/app-defense-alliance|title=App Defense Alliance {{!}} Play Protect|website=Google Developers|language=en|access-date=2019-11-07|archive-date=7 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191107031610/https://developers.google.com/android/play-protect/app-defense-alliance|url-status=live}}</ref> In October 2023, Google announced that Play Protect would scan sideloaded apps for malware at install time.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Amadeo |first=Ron |date=2023-10-18 |title=Android will now scan sideloaded apps for malware at install time |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/10/android-will-now-scan-sideloaded-apps-for-malware-at-install-time/ |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=[[Ars Technica]] |language=en-us |archive-date=20 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231020045221/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/10/android-will-now-scan-sideloaded-apps-for-malware-at-install-time/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In May 2016, Google announced Instant Apps, a feature provided via Google Play Services for [[Android 4.2]] and later that allows app developers to provide lightweight versions of their apps without first having to install them from the Play Store.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2016/05/android-instant-apps-will-blur-the-lines-between-apps-and-mobile-sites|title=Android Instant Apps will blur the lines between apps and mobile sites|date=19 May 2016|website=[[Ars Technica]]|last=Cunningham|first=Andrew}}</ref> The feature debuted in 2017. In June 2025, Google announced through [[Android Studio]] that Instant Apps support would be removed that December.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/06/another-one-for-the-graveyard-google-to-kill-instant-apps-in-december/|title=Another one for the graveyard: Google to kill Instant Apps in December|date=13 Jun 2025|website=Ars Technica|last=Whitwam|first=Ryan}}</ref> The decision was attributed to low usage of the functionality.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/news/686573/google-android-instant-apps-shutdown|title=Google is shutting down Android Instant Apps over 'low' usage|date=13 Jun 2025|website=[[The Verge]]|last=Preston|first=Dominic}}</ref>

Personal safety services bundled with Play Services, such as [[Advanced Mobile Location|Emergency Location Service (ELS)]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brian |first=Matt |date=2016-07-26 |title=Android will now automatically send your location to 999 operators |url=https://www.engadget.com/2016-07-26-google-emergency-location-service-android.html |access-date=2026-06-26 |website=Engadget |language=en-US}}</ref> and [[Android Earthquake Alerts System|Earthquake Alerts]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dumé |first=Isabelle |date=2025-08-15 |title=Android phone network makes an effective early warning system for earthquakes |url=https://physicsworld.com/android-phone-network-makes-an-effective-early-warning-system-for-earthquakes/ |access-date=2026-06-26 |website=Physics World |language=en-GB}}</ref>, are managed via system settings rather than through standalone apps.
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== Adoption ==
Google Play Services is automatically updated through [[Google Play]] on devices with [[Android Nougat|Android 7.0]] or newer.<ref name="developer-index" /> This means Google can deliver updates without manufacturers having to update the Android firmware, working around the [[fragmentation (programming)|fragmentation]] of the platform that has become infamous for Android products.<ref name="ars-googleplayservices" /><ref name="ars-irongrip" />

== Concerns ==
The [[Android (operating system)#Open-source community|Android Open Source Project (AOSP)]] was announced in 2007, and was officially founded and launched in 2008. It functioned as the baseline system for all OEMs and [[firmware]] modifications such as [[CyanogenMod]] and [[LineageOS]]. Various AOSP apps were transferred to Google Play with a closed-source model. Many apps (such as [[Lyft]], [[Uber]], and many of the Google apps like [[Gmail]] and [[YouTube]]) function only when the Google Play Services package is available and enabled.<ref name="ars-googleplayservices" />

Distributing Google Play Services as a part of the Google Apps package requires a license from Google, which contractually prohibits device producers from producing Android devices that are incompatible with Google's Android specifications. Others who are interested in modifying the Android system are required to either opt-out of Google Play Services or to obtain the Google apps package from either a device that has them pre-installed or an unofficial source.<ref name="ars-googleplayservices" /><ref name="ars-irongrip" />

In order to circumvent this [[tight coupling]] with Google products, there have been several initiatives of developers launching and maintaining [[List of custom Android distributions|custom Android distributions]], such as [[LineageOS]], [[CalyxOS]], [[iodéOS]] or [[/e/OS]], which replace Google Play Services with [[MicroG]], an open source implementation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barker |first=Shane |date=2026-01-09 |title=Reclaiming Your Android Phone: The Ultimate Guide to LineageOS with microG |url=https://expertbeacon.com/reclaiming-your-android-phone-the-ultimate-guide-to-lineageos-with-microg/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260109212120/https://expertbeacon.com/reclaiming-your-android-phone-the-ultimate-guide-to-lineageos-with-microg/ |archive-date=2026-01-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Name |last2=Milano |first2=Matt |date=2025-02-28 |title=GrapheneOS Review: The Most Private and Secure Android OS |url=https://www.webpronews.com/grapheneos-review-the-most-private-and-secure-android-os/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260109212421/https://www.webpronews.com/grapheneos-review-the-most-private-and-secure-android-os/ |archive-date=2026-01-09 |access-date=2026-01-09 |website=WebProNews |language=en}}</ref> Alternatively, distributions like [[GrapheneOS]] implement a [[Sandboxed Google Play services|sandboxed]] version of Google Play Services, running with regular permissions but isolated from other processes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lamont |first=Jonathan |date=2022-03-20 |title=A week with GrapheneOS exposed my over-reliance on Google |url=https://mobilesyrup.com/2022/03/20/using-grapheneos-for-one-week/ |access-date=2026-02-12 |website=MobileSyrup |language=en}}</ref> This still helps mitigate privacy concerns, but also better preserves compatibility with Google services.{{fact|date=March 2026}}

== See also ==
* [[Google Mobile Services]]
* [[Huawei Mobile Services]]
* [[MicroG]] – open source implementation
* [[Fire OS|FireOS]] – Popular Android-based OS which does not include Play Services or Play Store.
* [[GrapheneOS|Sandboxed Google Play Services]] – implementation without system-level privileges

== References ==

<references>
<ref name="developer-index">{{cite web|title=Overview of Google Play Services|url=https://developers.google.com/android/guides/overview|access-date=14 September 2020|website=Google Developers|archive-date=7 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307200926/https://developers.google.com/android/guides/overview|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="developer-reference-index">{{cite web|title=Package Index|url=https://developers.google.com/android/reference/packages|access-date=14 September 2020|website=Google Developers|archive-date=28 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180328042409/https://developers.google.com/android/reference/packages|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="developer-services-games">{{cite web|title=Play Game Services|url=https://developers.google.com/games/services|access-date=14 September 2020|website=Google Developers|archive-date=18 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218093058/https://developers.google.com/games/services/|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="developer-services-location">{{cite web|title=Build location-aware apps|url=https://developer.android.com/training/location|access-date=14 September 2020|website=Android Developers|archive-date=24 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924090317/https://developer.android.com/training/location|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="developer-services-signin">{{cite web|title=Add sign-in workflow|url=https://developer.android.com/training/sign-in|access-date=14 September 2020|website=Android Developers|archive-date=24 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924103526/https://developer.android.com/training/sign-in|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="developer-services-maps">{{cite web|title=Add maps|url=https://developer.android.com/training/maps|access-date=14 September 2020|website=Android Developers|archive-date=24 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924123452/https://developer.android.com/training/maps|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="developer-services-drive">{{cite web|title=Drive API for Android|url=https://developers.google.com/drive/android|access-date=14 September 2020|website=Google Developers|archive-date=12 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812043721/https://developers.google.com/drive/android/|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="developer-services-cast">{{cite web|title=Cast|url=https://developers.google.com/cast|access-date=14 September 2020|website=Google Developers|archive-date=10 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200910074620/https://developers.google.com/cast/|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="developer-services-ads">{{cite web|title=Mobile Ads SDK|url=https://developers.google.com/ad-manager/mobile-ads-sdk|access-date=14 September 2020|website=Google Developers|archive-date=17 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200917132609/https://developers.google.com/ad-manager/mobile-ads-sdk|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="developer-services-pay">{{cite web|title=Google Pay|url=https://developers.google.com/pay|access-date=14 September 2020|website=Google Developers|archive-date=12 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200912043220/https://developers.google.com/pay|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="ars-googleplayservices">{{cite web|title=Balky carriers and slow OEMs step aside: Google is defragging Android|url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/09/balky-carriers-and-slow-oems-step-aside-google-is-defragging-android/|access-date=30 November 2014|work=Ars Technica|date=3 September 2013|author=Ron Amadeo|archive-date=3 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130903011541/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/09/balky-carriers-and-slow-oems-step-aside-google-is-defragging-android/|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="ars-irongrip">{{cite web|title=Google's iron grip on Android: Controlling open source by any means necessary|url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/10/googles-iron-grip-on-android-controlling-open-source-by-any-means-necessary/|access-date=30 November 2014|work=Ars Technica|date=21 October 2013|author=Ron Amadeo|archive-date=10 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170310080416/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/10/googles-iron-grip-on-android-controlling-open-source-by-any-means-necessary/|url-status=live}}</ref>
</references>

== External links ==
* {{Official website}}
*[https://developers.google.com/android/guides/overview Overview of Google Play Services] on [[Google Developers]]

{{Android|state=collapsed}}
{{Google LLC}}

[[Category:Android (operating system)]]
[[Category:Android (operating system) software]]
[[Category:Google software|Play Services]]
[[Category:Application programming interfaces]]
[[Category:2012 software]]