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Comment by foofoo4u | Hacker News Reader

I want to throw my phone away and switch to a "dumb" phone so I can rid my addiction to it, but I have become dependent on several core apps such as Google Maps. I wish Android would allow me full control to delete every app on there but the ones I most need. But unfortunately, its restrictions prevent me from doing so. For example, I want to delete all web browser apps so I am not tempted to the addiction of the internet, but Android won't let me. Does anyone here know how I can bypass this? I am close to purchasing the Light Phone 2 as a means to address my addiction, but again, it is missing Google Maps which I am heavily dependent on.

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A simple solution is to:

1. set up parental-control restrictions that lock you out of these apps;

2. hand your phone to someone you trust, and tell them to set the unlock password for the parental-control restrictions (so that only they will know it);

3. ask that said person also does you the service of typing the password to disable the restrictions when requested—but only with 24 hours' notice. (I.e. you ask, and then 24 hours later they'll do it.)

That way, you'll never be tempted to unlock the restrictions for trivial things; but you can still e.g. reset the phone if you want to sell it. (You just need to wait 24 hours first.)

Brilliant. This might be the way I'll do it.

Solo tech fun:

- Set a long parental control password, you won't remember.

- Write it into some file.

- Put that file into an encrypted container, with a short to medium generated random password you won't be shown .

To access the phone you have to brute-force the container password.

Makes me picture a person who wants to learn lock-picking, putting randomized locks on internal doors between rooms in their house :)

There are dedicated GPS devices (by TomTom, Garmin, etc) which are much cheaper than smart phones. In the past they provided a far better experience too, I'm not sure how they compare to Google Maps nowadays though.

I got myself a Garmin device for exactly this purpose. Put your own OpenStreetMaps on it and you‘re good to go. Perfect GPS reception and much longer battery life included.

But note that it‘s not the same als Google Maps/Apple Maps. If you want to test it out first, use an OSM-based app for a while, like OSMand, and see if it fits your bill. You get better hiking maps, but you might miss the integration of business opening hours, Yelp, traffic, etc. But for me it‘s worth it, for GP‘s reasons.

People used to live without all these features before, after all.

Try using the LessPhone[0] launcher. I have used it off and on and had some success with it. It locks you down to a slim set of apps (configurable), in a plain black and white interface. It's not perfect, but it's helpful.

[0] https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=me.aswinmohan....

Thank you! This is close to what I am looking for. I'll give it a shot and see if it addresses my problem.

update1: Hmm. So it doesn't exactly address the core problem, which is I can still easily access those other apps that I wish to uninstall. So in a way, this app helps by making the UI less enticing to click on, but it doesn't address the core problem, which is to fully uninstall.

On Android if you have Digital Wellbeing you can set a timer for each app. Just set it at 1min for Chrome

I haven't seen anybody else mention it, but there is a method you can use. I've used it on my (unrooted) BlackBerry KeyOne to remove all Google apps, including Chrome and the Play Store.

The Android Debug Bridge allows disabling packages and APKs. There's a walkthrough on XDA Developers [1] that (I assume) is more than enough for any HN reader. If not, shoot me a message and we can walk through it together :)

[1] https://www.xda-developers.com/disable-system-app-bloatware-...

I have the exact same desire. I want to delete my web browsers and just keep google maps. My solution to this is to download a parental control app (I use AppLock), and block the web browser and google play.

Thanks. I'll give this a shot as well.

I can advice you the Nokia Tough 800, I got it for exact the same reason. it’s a decent device that runs kaiOS, has maps, whatsapp and browser. The browser is so slow that it doesnt really become a time sink, (The bulk of websites are clearly not made for this screen size) so, I just check what i need to and that’s it. Maps works really nicely on it.

You could block internet access for your browser. There are a lot of apps that let you do that (and in some cases I think you can also manage internet access in your settings).

I look up directions before-hand and draw maps. It works most of the time as long as you plan to be a little late "snoopin" around.

Reviewing your route and drawing it out beforehand works amazingly. You learn the route pretty damn well, and hardly have to even look at the map. This makes your whole drive safer as you're not looking at a screen watching the countdown to the next intersection. You learn how to actually get where you are going, and you learn your way around town better as a result. Using GPS with turn-by-turn directions forces me to rely on it, as I don't tend to remember the route for the next time I go to that location.

I also find that if you look at the map and review it before you go, you can simplify most directions. Turn-by-turn directions tend give you every little detail that you may not need to remember to get to where you're going.

Duh. Get two.

Is it so difficult to practice self-control?

He did mention he's addicted, so yes.

It seems that the american/OP mindset is all about throwing dollars to the problems. No, you don't need to buy another phone so you reduce phone usage.

Why do you assume that OP is American? Consumerism is a worldwide problem.

You say that but can't provide any alternate solutions/suggestions/strategies?

Not spend money in yet another phone and try to limit the usage of the current one?

Nothing like telling an addict that they just need to stop being addicted. Simple answer, problem solved, right?

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