The Firefox "strict" setting is an effective means to block ads.

We have Firefox on desktop and laptop. Chrome is default browser on phone. there are 5 or 6 other apps that I use ; Gboard, Playstore, maps, etc. Adguard doesn't work that well so I have been thinking about switching to Firefox. However, it looks like Google is the problem. Then there's the invisible unviewed email. Guess i'll tinker a bit.

You may be able to run all of your desired apps even if you switch over to the Firefox browser on your Android phone.

The reason I discarded Chrome from my Android was that it progressively irritated me. It got to the point that, when I went to type in a search term, an applet appeared to notify me that I could be using voice search instead.

Google has grown to a massive force. I should stop using Gmail. Doing so would be my personal protest to Google's wealth and entrenchment in the web and devices. The anti-trust trial which is just starting takes aim at Google's actions in getting OEMs to set Chrome as the default search engine. Just today, I changed the setting on my Android to make Duck Duck Go my default search engine.

Best wishes for success with your effort to tamp down Google on your device.

But it seems not. Only hit I can find is Google BIE - which is Business Intelligence English. Looks like you've been invaded by AI. Good luck with that.

On edit: Take a look at Brave browser - based on Chrome but without the Google malarkey. I use it on android tablet and sometimes on desktop, it's a good browser and private.

We have Firefox on desktop and laptop. Chrome is default browser, there are 5 or 6 other apps that I use ; Gboard, Playstore, maps, etc. Adguard doesn't work that well so I have been thinking about switching to Firefox. However, it looks like Google is the problem. Then there's the invisible unviewed email. Guess i'll tinker a bit.

Chrome is the browser on the phone, computers use Google.