Do you still use Android? I don’t feel like I can genuinely be off of Google until I find a way not to have them in my phone. Apple isn’t much better, especially for the featureset sacrifice
the android which most phones use is android+gapps (google apps), which is a closed source fork/distro of android made by google. base android and grapheneos (based on android 13) are open source. grapheneos does not have google play services, so most google apps will not work at all, but play services can be installed (although i dont recommend).
If by side-loading you mean installing from a ‘non-trusted’ or ‘unofficial’ source (apps other than google play store), then yes, that is the only option. however, this is not much less convient or secure.
There are a few ways to install apps (these should work with any Android phone, not just Grapheneos):
Any non-paid apps on google play can be installed using Aurora Store. supposedly you can use it without even logging in to google account (but i havent gotten that to work). Eg. Facebook
Most FOSS apps will be in the F-Droid repository, and can be installed with the F-Droid app, or other similar apps such as Droidify. Eg. K-9 Mail
If an app is not on the main F-Droid repo, alternative repositories can be added to your F-Droid client.
APKs (app packages) can be installed from the web. this is how F-Droid is usually installed for the first time. Eg. Signal is not available on F-Droid (for reasons)
Basically, if you need a proprietery app like Facebook, use Aurora; if you need an open source app, look for it on F-Droid or download the APK.
There are of course pros and cons of each method in terms of security and convenience.
i like my pixel features a bit too much lol. i have tried graphene os, an os build specifically for pixels, but there’s just so much stuff that google has in the software. it’s like the main reason i got a pixel
Yeah, its hard to give it up for sure. I did it back in 2019 but it took me like 6 months to replace everything and learn new habbits. I still catch myself looking something up on google maps every so often. I still use youtube but only through newpipe
Do you still use Android? I don’t feel like I can genuinely be off of Google until I find a way not to have them in my phone. Apple isn’t much better, especially for the featureset sacrifice
GrapheneOS is the go torecommendations.
I’m using a pixel with graphineos rn and its the best mobile experience I’ve ever had without using google products.
Seconded
How different is it? Just removing Alphabet software or does it start from scratch?
the android which most phones use is android+gapps (google apps), which is a closed source fork/distro of android made by google. base android and grapheneos (based on android 13) are open source. grapheneos does not have google play services, so most google apps will not work at all, but play services can be installed (although i dont recommend).
So if you want graphene you either have to side load everything or use webapps? Or would side loading not even work?
If by side-loading you mean installing from a ‘non-trusted’ or ‘unofficial’ source (apps other than google play store), then yes, that is the only option. however, this is not much less convient or secure.
There are a few ways to install apps (these should work with any Android phone, not just Grapheneos):
Any non-paid apps on google play can be installed using Aurora Store. supposedly you can use it without even logging in to google account (but i havent gotten that to work). Eg. Facebook
Most FOSS apps will be in the F-Droid repository, and can be installed with the F-Droid app, or other similar apps such as Droidify. Eg. K-9 Mail
If an app is not on the main F-Droid repo, alternative repositories can be added to your F-Droid client.
APKs (app packages) can be installed from the web. this is how F-Droid is usually installed for the first time. Eg. Signal is not available on F-Droid (for reasons)
Basically, if you need a proprietery app like Facebook, use Aurora; if you need an open source app, look for it on F-Droid or download the APK. There are of course pros and cons of each method in terms of security and convenience.
Ahhh okay thank you!!
np ;)
I use android, but you can run android without google with LineageOS
i like my pixel features a bit too much lol. i have tried graphene os, an os build specifically for pixels, but there’s just so much stuff that google has in the software. it’s like the main reason i got a pixel
Yeah, its hard to give it up for sure. I did it back in 2019 but it took me like 6 months to replace everything and learn new habbits. I still catch myself looking something up on google maps every so often. I still use youtube but only through newpipe
For Google Maps you can try instead OpenStreetMap.
Agreed
I’d really recommend /e/OS if you want a completely degoogled android OS
i mean i use a Google pixel, so it’s a bit tough to run away from google lol. but I’m doing my best
GrapheneOS takes minutes to set up. Its awesome.