Google Play Services, which is a proprietary background service and API package, is so crucial that no Android shall run without it.
Because all Android versions that has Google apps and services requires a license from Google, this Google Play Services is essential for many Android apps to run properly, especially if those apps require users to use a Google Account, and/or runs any sorts of Google services.
The reason for this is because Google Play Services include location tracking and geofencing, single sign-on account services, user health and fitness tracking, payment processing, integrated advertising and security scanning.
Before this many key features on Android devices might not be obvious to end users.
In an update, Google starts providing detailed explanation directly to users as part of its new approach.
Users can go to Settings to access 'Apps' on Android 13 devices. Then, they can select 'See All' and then tap on 'Google Play Services'.
There, the update includes a section called 'All Services'.
Tapping on this allows users to “See details about the services used on your device.”
In all, Google specifically highlights 17 capabilities. Tapping on the item will redirect users to the item's dedicated settings page.
According to Google:
"Keep in mind that turning off services can impact the way your device works."
Google Play Services is used by almost all Google apps that have system-level powers.
The service is available on all major Android services, giving Google the utmost control of the software and its ecosystem, as well as the many third-party apps that depend on it.
Introduced in 2012, Google Play Services is automatically updated through Google Play on devices with Android 4.4 or newer.
This way, Google can push updates to its apps and services without having users to update the Android firmware itself. This method is a workaround to the fragmentation of the platform that has become infamous for Android products.