How Google tracks Android device users before they've even opened an app

Re:How Google tracks Android device users before they've eve... by dredmorbius on Tuesday March 04, 2025 @11:56AM (#43257225)

Can anyone ELI5 what the situation with the Android ID is when no Google account has ever been created, and all app installs are through an alternative store interface, whether a front-end to Google Play (e.g., Aurora) or a freestanding store (e.g., FDroid)?

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Re:How Google tracks Android device users before they've eve... by gruez on Tuesday March 04, 2025 @03:50PM (#43259675)

It's generated by the operating system itself, not google play services. So being logged into a google account or not doesn't affect the value. There's also a gsf id which is generated by google play services, but that's generated regardless of whether you're signed in or not.

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/65649831/two-different-a...

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Re:How Google tracks Android device users before they've eve... by dredmorbius on Wednesday March 05, 2025 @05:30AM (#43264984)

Thanks!

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