NanoDroid

Current Stable Release

15.1.20180119

Downloads

• Stable Downloads > Androidfilehost
  • Archived Stable Downloads > Androidfilehost
• Beta Downloads > Androidfilehost
  • Archived Beta Downloads > Androidfilehost
• Snapshot
  • on GNU/Linux, MacOS or *BSD clone this repository and use the provided build-package script like
    • first step:
      • build-package pull to download all required apks for Full, microG and F-Droid package
    • second step:
      • build-package full to create the full package
      • build-package microg to create the microG only package
      • build-package fdroid to create the F-Droid only package
      • build-package patcher to create the on-device framework-patcher package
      • build-package uninstaller to create the uninstaller package
      • build-package setupwizard to create the Setup Wizard package
      • build-package all to create all packages at once
    • third step:
      • build-package u-microg to update microG
      • build-package u-fdroid to update F-Droid
      • build-package u-apps to update (most) applications
      • build-package u-swipe to update swipe libraries
      • build-package u-gsync to update Google Sync Adapters
      • build-package pull to update/re-download everything

for apks downloaded from F-Droid or microG repository or from APK Mirror, build-package checks the SHA256 hash.

The build-package script additionally supports the following parameters:

• check check if all files were properly downloaded
• clean remove any untracked files from the repo (e. g. from build-package pull)
• dalvik [.jar] prepare a jar file for use with DalvikVM
• ver [version] [date] change project version
• bump increment Magisk module version by 1

the build-package script does not download/update the following applications:

• Play Store (reason: re-signed and modified to support (in-)app-purchases with microG GmsCore)
• Fake Store (reason: built with CHECK_LICENSE permission)
• MPV (reason: last F-Droid build outdated)
• OpenLauncher (reason: last F-Droid build outdated)

those are still included in the repo itself. Also build-package now looks if the configuration files

• .nanodroid-setup
• .nanodroid-apps
• .nanodroid-overlay

exist in the data directory of the repository, if so, those files are used when creating packages instead of the default ones.

See the documentation below for more information on those files and what they do.

Supported Android Versions

NanoDroid officially supports the following Android versions:

• 4.4 / SDK 19 (KitKat)
  • System Mode only (Magisk does not support KitKat)
• 5.0 / SDK 21 (Lollipop)
• 5.1 / SDK 22 (Lollipop)
• 6.0 / SDK 23 (Marshmallow)
• 7.0 / SDK 24 (Nougat)
• 7.1 / SDK 25 (Nougat)
• 8.0 / SDK 26 (Oreo)
• 8.1 / SDK 27 (Oreo)

earlier versions will never officially be supported (you may still report bugs, though).

Future versions will be officially supported, eventually.

Support

> XDA Support Thread

ChangeLog

Full, user-readible > ChangeLog

Summary

NanoDroid can be installed as a Magisk Module or directly to /system, though a bit functionality is only available with Magisk.

More information about Magisk > XDA

NanoDroid includes

• microG and it's companions
  • on-device framework-patcher for microG support (signature spoofing)
  • on-pc framework-patcher for microG support (signature spoofing)
• F-Droid and it's privileged extension
• modified Play Store to allow (in-)app-purchases with microG
  • this required the Play Store to be modified, see the > patch
  • alternatively Yalp Store can be installed instead
• custom init scripts
• pseudo-debloat feature (Magisk-only)
  • disables applications systemless-ly
  • pre-configured > default settings
• several Open Source applications
  • include replacements for the pseudo-debloated applications
  • full list of > included applications
• additional components
  • GNU Bash shell
  • GNU Nano terminal editor
  • several utilities from util-linux, bsdmainutils and more
• The Legend of Zelda ringtones and sounds

Packages

Modules

Module packages, flashing through TWRP recommended, though flashing through Magisk Manager works aswell.

• NanoDroid: includes
  • everything mentioned in the Summary
• NanoDroid-microG: includes
  • microG and it's companions
  • GNU Bash
  • pseudo-debloat feature
  • app store(s)
• NanoDroid-fdroid: includes
  • F-Droid and it's privileged extension

Extras

Extra packages, always flash through TWRP.

• NanoDroid-patcher: includes
  • on-device framework-patcher for signature spoofing support
    • optionally can patch user interface for it into Developer Settings
  • creates the file /data/adb/.nanodroid-patcher after successful patching
  • installs an addon.d script for automatic re-patching after ROM update
    • addon.d support files reside in /data/adb/nanodroid-patcher/
  • the original, unpatched services.jar (and optionally Settings.apk) are backed up to /sdcard/
    • respectively SecSettings.apk on TouchWiz ROMs
• NanoDroid-setupwizard: includes
  • AROMA based Setup Wizard to create the configuration files
  • user can choose where to store the configuration files
    • /sdcard
    • /external_sd
    • /data (fallback)
  • NOTE: AROMA only works on arm and arm64, if your device is x86 or x86_64, it won't work
• NanoDroid-uninstaller: includes
  • uninstalls all NanoDroid Magisk Modules
  • uninstalls NanoDroid installed in System Mode
  • uninstalls NanoDroid configuration files
  • uninstalls NanoDroid-Patcher addon.d environment
  • if services.jar or Settings.apk backups are found they get restored
    • respectively SecSettings.apk or SecSettings2.apk on TouchWiz ROMs
  • if com.qualcomm.location backup is found it gets restored

Scripts

Misc. Script for use from PC/Notebook, while device is in TWRP.

• framework-patcher (clone this repository)
  • on-pc framework-patcher for signature spoofing support
  • creates the file /data/adb/.nanodroid-patcher after successful patching
  • invoke like framework-patcher [ver] [--gui]
    • where [ver] is your Android version (6.0, 7.1, ...)
    • where --gui is an optional switch to patch a global toggle for signature spoofing into Developer Settings
  • the original, unpatched services.jar (and optionally Settings.apk) are backed up to /sdcard/
    • respectively SecSettings.apk on TouchWiz ROMs
• force-debloat (clone this repository)
  • system debloater
  • the list of applications resides in the script itself
  • needs to be run from TWRP, requires explicit user acceptance
  • supports .nanodroid-overlay configuration file
    • uses fallback values, if none found
      • which are in the script itself and can be edited
  • has a test mode which prints what would be done
• mount-magisk (clone this repository)
  • script to mount or unmount Magisk in TWRP
  • script toggles mount-state (read: will mount Magisk if unmounted and unmount Magisk if mounted)

Details

NanoDroid

This lists features unique to NanoDroid.

nanodroid-overlay

The nanodroid-overlay script handles the following features

• pseudo-debloat (Magisk-only)
  • show the list of pseudo-debloated apps
  • add or remove apps from the list of pseudo-debloated apps
• add system properties (Magisk-only)
• grant signature spoofing permission to microG and Play Store if required
  • both in Magisk and System Mode
• issue nanodroid-overlay --help for the full list of options

Full details on the nanodroid-overlay Script > Details Full details on the pseudo-debloat feature > Details

init scripts

The following init scripts are bundled with NanoDroid

• external_sd
  • symlink SD Card mount point to /external_sd
  • SD Card needs to be inserted upon boot
• fstrim
  • trim file systems (may increase speed)
• logscleaner
  • clean up log files
• sqlite
  • clean up sqlite databases

When in Magisk Mode the init scripts create their log files in

/magisk/NanoDroid/.logs/${script}.log.${date}

When installed to /system your ROM needs to support running scripts in

/system/etc/init.d

or you can use Kernel Adiutor's init.d emulation.

Shell Utilities

Several utilities from bsdmainutils and util-linux

• > bsdmainutils Launchpad
• > util-linux GitHub

are included:

• col
• colcrt
• colrm
• column
• findfs
• findmnt
• hexdump
• look
• lsblk
• lscpu
• lsipc
• lslocks
• lsns
• ncal
• setterm
• whereis

Other shell utilities

• aapt > eLinux Wiki
• less > Website
  • lessecho
  • lesskey
• unzip > Website

GNU Bash and GNU Nano

NanoDroid includes GNU Bash shell and the GNU Nano terminal editor.

• > GNU Bash Website
• > GNU Nano Website

microG

microG is an Open Source replacement for Google Services, full details can be found at the microG homepage > Website

NanoDroid includes microG as follows

• microG GmsCore > GitHub and Play Store > APK Mirror modified to allow (in-)app purchases
• with Déjà Vu location provider backend > F-Droid
• with Mozilla location provider backend > F-Droid
• with Nominatim adress provider backend > F-Droid
• with microG GsfProxy > GitHub
• with microG DroidGuard Helper > GitHub
  • required for SafetyNet support
• support for Maps API version 1
• support for Google Calendar and Contacts Sync
  • disabled by default
• optional Swipe libraries
  • disabled by default
• choose between official Play Store or unofficial Yalp Store > F-Droid
  • Yalp Store can use system permissions to install packages, so you don't need to enable Unknown Sources
    • got to Yalp Store > Settings > Installation Method > Using system permissions
  • Play Store is modified to allow (in-)app-purchases with microG
• if com.qualcomm.location exists it will either be
  • pseudo-debloated (in Magisk Mode)
  • moved to /sdcard (in System Mode)
    • it conflicts with microG's location backend

F-Droid and Applications

F-Droid > Website is an app store for Open Source applications.

NanoDroid includes both F-Droid and it's Privileged Extension > F-Droid, so you don't need to enable Unknown Sources.

Additionally NanoDroid includes a variety of applications, check full details > GitHub

The Legend of Zelda ringtones and sounds

NanoDroid includes The Legend of Zelda > Nintendo ringtones and sounds, because it's dangerous to root alone.

Full > Details

Installation

Alter Installation

NanoDroid supports altering the installation settings to a certain degree.

Full > Details on altering installation manually, or use the Setup Wizard (if you've got an arm/arm64 device).

Installation Process

NanoDroid

• Use Setup Wizard to create configuration files (if you've got an arm/arm64 device), or create manually (see above)
• Download pre-built zip or create one from this repository
• perform full wipe (/system, /data, /cache, Dalvik/ART cache)
  • recommended, but not required
• install desired ROM
  • make sure it does not include GApps if you want to use microG
  • either pre-patched with signature spoofing support or deoxeded so you can patch yourself (instructions follow)
• install Magisk
  • recommended, but not required
  • if Magisk is installed, NanoDroid will be installed as Magisk-Module, else it will install into /system directly
• install desired Kernel (if any)
• install NanoDroid
• reboot into ROM

microG

Signature Spoofing Support

For microG to work, your ROM needs to have signature spoofing enabled (or a deodexed ROM to patch yourself).

If your ROM does not have signature spoofing support, you can manually patch it either

• flashing the on-device Patcher zip
  • it also installs an addon.d script that auto re-patches the ROM upon update
• running the framework-patcher script
  • use from your PC or laptop while your device is in TWRP. This shell script for GNU Bash (and compatible shells) works on unixoid operating systems like GNU/Linux, BSD or MacOS. It automizes the process of downloading Haystack > GitHub, pulling files from phone, patching and installing the modified services.jar on the device.

Both patchers support installing the patched services.jar into the following locations:

• NanoDroid Magisk Module
• NanoDroid-microG Magisk Module
• directly into /system

So you can use them regardless whether you're using NanoDroid or not.

microG Setup

Once your ROM supports signature spoofing, you need to setup microG like this

• go into microG settings and set up everything like:
  • check results in Self-Check, grant missing permissions (by tapping on them)
    • especially the Battery Optimization item
  • enable Google device registration
  • enable Google Cloud Messaging (only if you want to receive push messages from your applications)
  • enable Google SafetyNet (required for applications that utilize SafetyNet, for example Pokémon GO, ...)
    • '...' menu > set to use the Official Server
  • in UnifiedNlp Settings choose
    • Déjà Vu or Mozilla as Geolocation backend
    • Nominatim as Address lockup backend
  • after everything is done, reboot
  • go to Play Store, setup account and install your apps

License & Credits

My own work (NanoDroid itself) is licensed under the GNU General Public License version 3 or newer > GNU

For more details (including authors and license) on every provided application or Software press the link next to it.

Additional credits go to

• Mar-V-In for microG
• topjohnwu for Magisk
• Lanchon for dexpatcher and haystack
• osm0sis for GNU Nano build

Special Thanks to the beta testers

• xenithorb
• ShapeShifter499

Issues

List of known issues

• SafetyNet check fails with Google Play Services not available
  • you did not setup microG (or did not reboot afterwards)
• Play Store lacks fake signature spoofing permission
  • on ROMs like crDroid or OmniROM, that have built-in signature spoofing, in some cases the Play Store is not granted that permission automatically, to fix this either
    • issue the command nanodroid-overlay --permission as root
    • go to Settings > Apps > Gear Icon > App Permissions > Signature Spoofing > Enable for Play Store
• Google Sync adapters lacking permissions
  • to fix this either
    • issue the command nanodroid-overlay --permission as root
    • go to Settings > Apps > Google Contacts/Calendar Sync > Permissions > grant permissions
• Battery Drain
  • microG fails to register applications to GCM (Google Cloud Messaging) if they were installed before microG, but the apps keep trying to register and that causes the battery drain, all apps installed after microG are properly registered, to fix the battery drain either
    • do a clean flash of your ROM (, Magisk) and NanoDroid and install your apps after microG setup
    • uninstall and re-install all your applications (backup application data if required)
• microG lacks features
  • if you use AppOps, PrivacyGuard or the like you have to grant microG GmsCore all permissions, if you prevent some permissions, some apps or features might not work as expected or not at all. Note: some APIs/features are stubs in microG GmsCore, meaning they exist that apps don't complain, but they do nothing - thus blocking microG GmsCore is pretty much of no benefit.

Additional helpful information in the microG > Wiki.

TODO

• better error handling in on-pc framework-patcher
• split installer code into module-specific and non-module-specific to prevent duplication

FAQ

Q: will there be a GApps version, instead of microG?
A: no. but you can choose not to populate microG.

Q: what devices is this tested on?
A: Moto X Play (lux), Nexus 6 (shamu)

Q: what ROMs was this tested on?
A: LineageOS, Resurrection Remix, AICP, AOSP Extended, crDroid, should work on any LineageOS / AOSP based ROM that is working with Magisk.