Quietude

Quietude provides a distraction-free Android experience through disabling all the system applications that you don't need day-to-day. Think of it as a "LightPhone"-like experience on a regular phone, but where you get to choose your applications.

Applications are disabled in a way that is reversable, but only by plugging in a USB cable and running quietude (or adb) again.

Example

Here's what my phone looks like when I go into my "focus" mode:

A couple of bare-bones applications, presented by the olauncher alternative launcher. There are more applications hidden if I scroll upward, but there is no Chrome, Google Search, Youtube, or Play Store - and no way to enable them either until I'm desperate and at a computer again.

Usage

Syntax:

./quietude.sh [disable|enable] <category>

Disable all built-in distractions and bloat:

./quietude.sh disable all

Re-enable Google Maps:

./quietude.sh enable maps

Re-enable everything:

./quietude.sh enable all

Requirements

• A macOS or Linux host - this may also function within WSL2 (untested)
• A USB cable plugged into your Android phone
• Android Debug Bridge, though if missing, quietude will try to automatically install this on macOS and Ubuntu
• USB Debugging enabled on your phone.

Details

What does Quietude disable on a phone? It depends on the category used:

• all
  • Everything below
• distractions
  • Google Chrome
  • Google Docs
  • Google Search
  • Youtube
• store
  • Google Play Store
• bloat
  • Sound Recorder
  • Youtube Music
  • Google Wellbeing
  • Android Tips
  • File Manager
  • Verizon's built-in Android agents
• gmail
  • GMail
• maps
  • Google Maps

Recommended post-execution steps:

• Replace the Android launcher with a minimalist one, such as olauncher
• Change your phone's language to one you vaguely understand (Swedish!)
• Force your screen into monochrome mode (Settings -> Developer -> Simulate color space -> Monochromacy) or another color simulation.

FAQ

Why is this any different than using "Disable App" in Android Settings?

The technique that quietude uses uninstalls the app from the user, so that it does not show up in the Apps list. This means you can't have a sudden change of heart while your bored, as re-enablivg an application requires plugging your phone back into a computer again and running quietude or adb.

What about disabling installed Social Networking apps?

I don't have any to test against, but feel free to send a pull request if you know the ID of any that ship with a phone.

What phones will this work on?

As far as I know, any Android phone where the USB debugger is available. This should include all Google Play supported devices.

What about ordering in restaurants?

This has happened to me! In the unlikely case that they do not have a paper menu, I just ask the waiter for their recommendations and they are happy to put an order in. They've always made better choices than I would.