Google: 'Your $1000 phone needs our permission to install apps now'". Android users are screwed

The EU would like you all to bend a little lower and gag

https://github.com/eu-digital-identity-wallet/av-doc-technical-specification/issues/18

Maybe this would be a push for a real open source based phone. GNU/Linux phones needed this push to really get more popularity

Not if age verification apps have any say.
https://github.com/eu-digital-identity-wallet/av-doc-technical-specification/issues/18
You can't sideload on Linux.
- ...because why "sideload"when frontload works directly? I guess..maybe it's your cuckold fetish to watch someone else nerd your box...
  Don't even try to get me started on windoze until the fucking Epstein files are releeased.

I hope this means the resurgence of cheap flip phones. I have no use for a pocket computer that I can't use like a computer. I went with Android because iOS was useless, and now Android is about to be made equally useless.

Will be interesting to see how many people move over to iOS now that Google is trashing Android's redeeming feature.

I've enabled the advanced protection and it's so easy to turn off to install a single app and turn back on but I haven't seen it as an issue. Is there something new now? Because I'm not seeing an issue here.
- Yes they are, for all intents and purposes, making it impossible to turn off advanced protection. The only way to install unverified apps will be via developer mode and if you turn that on a bunch of apps refuse to run until you turn it back off

Well, I never gave them permission to install Google Chrome. Maybe they should start thinking about their self first...

https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/26337-android-developer-verification-are-we-screwed-no-doesnt-apply-to-gos

Won't impact gos.

Still sucks for the OSS community as a whole though.
Didn't Google just fuck with them by making it really hard to developed graphene for pixel 10? If graphene os depends on the aging fleet of pixel 9s and older, they're a few years away from being screwed too.
- Yeah sort of. I think they're working with an OEM so they do get security patches early, but yeah. They stopped publishing the reference device tree or something and now it's harder to support new pixels AFAIK. Yes. I imagine graphene is going to try to switch to a new OEM phone they can have more control over, but we'll see. Really sucks and fuck google. They're just trying to lock android down like apple to ensure they get a % of all profits. (IMO)

I have my Pixel 9 pro with GrapheneOS. Google ain't telling me shit about what I can or can't install.

Are the banking apps still blocked? How's the camera? It's been a while since I installed grapheneos...
- I use a credit union, and they whitelisted the OS about a week after I told them about it.
  The camera is really good.
- I recently did graphene on a new pixel. My bank app (Chase, in the US) did not work immediately but did after lifting Graphene's default app restrictions, strictly for that one app.
  Namely "exploit protection compatibility mode" being enabled did the trick.
  Camera on the 9a is fine, but I'm not a photographer. I take photos of serial numbers and server rooms. /Shrug
- Are the banking apps still blocked?
  Depends on the app.
  You can just install Googles Camera without Gservices if you want
Pixels are made by Google? You're supporting this hot mess? They can lock the bootloader any time?
- I locked the bootloader back after installing GrapheneOS. You have to have physical access to the device to do that.

Ive had grapheneOS for years, is every customer android rom done for? I may just get a "dumbphone" or maybe back to iphone? I wish I could just have no phone but obviously need close family to contact me at anytime

It's very strange that you are considering moving to a dumbphone or an even more locked-down platform because google is locking down android.
They're taking away a vital feature, so you want even more taken away?
- What would you recommend? Apple tracks a ton of data but also blocks 3rd party trackers at least

Take the one thing Android has over Apple away. Why go Android then? Might as well go with the device that has close ties to the hardware. Guess we are going back to the days when only nerds that knew how to flash better roms will be using Android.

Take the one thing Android has over Apple away. Why go Android then
They've passed the critical mass wherein they can dictate anything they want without losing any significant userbase. The only people that this is going to affect is a tiny minority of people who even know what sideloading is. If you don't think so, you're in a bubble.
These fuckers never wanted to be user centric opposite to apple, they wanted to be alongside apple in telling users what they can or cannot do. They're worse because of the whole advertising monopoly but most people don't even know what any of the above matters. They'll continue on like everyday.
Guess we are going back to the days when only nerds that knew how to flash better roms will be using Android.
Google is closing those gates as well. Pixel 10 drivers aren't in the new AOSP build. Graphene has been updated to the Android 16 core, but as Google tightens the leash, it will be more difficult. Google's plan to combine ChromeOS and Android into a MegaBloat will further make it so AOSP is useless.
Every time Google releases a new app for the core OS, they stop supporting the open-source flavor of it, which is why apps like the AOSP messaging app can't do RCS. Eventually all that will be left of AOSP is a mostly useless husk.
Google's intended use case for AOSP going forward is for vendors to be able to test pre-release things, primarily in an emulator environment.
Couple that with things like Samsung's Qualcomm phones can't be bootloader unlocked, and less and less phones in general can be bootloader unlocked, it is going to be an uphill battle for alt OSes.
Hopefully, this will drive enough dev time towards getting a proper Linux-based mobile device in the works, but even that will be problematic as most modems/chips available for that kind of project are inferior, slow, do not support all the bands/modes of modern carrier networks, and even after all of that, the carrier can still reject to certify the device for the network.
It isn't hopeless, but everyone is going to have to get creative and driven if we have any intention of retaining free and open mobile devices.
- GrapheneOS said they are working with an unnamed OEM to make devices compatible with GOS. Hopefully they are good, because Pixels may indeed be a dead end.
- Well said, and you're right, it's not hopeless. Most people don't need the latest superphone, personally I want to carry around a good music device, that I can read books on, and preferably have maps. Many like cameras, but I like the idea of a devoted one. The communications (/surveillance) device is a separate thing and perhaps we should think seriously about breaking these things apart, hotspot that you turn on when needed for example. How about a nice general purpose pocketable linux gadget and a secure simple telecom to give it a connection?
- https://opendevices.ix5.org/
  There is still this. SONY's phones are expensive, unfortunately.
Many are going even further. Both my friend and I are planning to get dumb flip phones next. Forget also this smartphone always online stuff
- no option for secure messaging on a flip phone
- That's not a bad idea.
  Why not completely divorce your phone from your portable computing device?
  Before smartphones, they were getting pretty small. You could probably make a phone that was just a voice activated earbud now. Then have a device that was everything but the "phone" bits. You wouldn't have to accept the locked down aspects that the cell providers demand, you could have all the variety and functionality of your home computer or laptop.
- I'm looking forward for a Sailfish OS device tbh
- They are going to get rid of those too, at least ones without gps and stuff. The age of cell phones is just over until we can get back control of our state from the superpacs and internationalist psychos who want to control everyone.
- I like the idea, but there's a lot of things that I truly want on my phone. Like Google Maps and the Garmin app for my watch.
- Can dumb flip phones provide Internet hotspots?
this is honestly my ideology at the moment... like freedom was the main reason I'm on android. Price wise it's already getting close, and most flagships have removed microSD card support by now. I'm seriously debating my next phone being an iphone just because most of my family uses them, and my convenience being on android is being actively removed anyway.
I can't even imagine that transfer, I've been android my entire life but, every time I talk to my family I list what I want in a phone, and every time I talk to them it seems apple has marked another issue off the list with an update.
- every time I talk to them it seems apple has marked another issue off the list with an update.
  Like what? You can't even Bluetooth a file on an iPhone over to anything.
- I went Apple for a bit around iphone 6. then back to Android. But Apple has solved most of my OS complaints since and I'm still Android mainly because it's open. I already know Google is making bank off my info, if they do this bullshit, I'll go Apple until Linux is baked.
  TBF, I could also see myself with a mobile access point and a small linux tablet but I don't see much in that realm either. .
- Same here. I hope we're not the only ones to switch. I hope it affects their bottom line even in a microscopic way. eheh
Guess we are going back to the days when only nerds that knew how to flash better roms will be using Android.
Will we even have that? IIRC, Google's changing the open source model for Android so its going to be a lot harder from ROM devs to keep up to date with security patches, and then more importantly, have access to device drivers
Maybe there's a silverlining of the custom rom scene interest growing again like when Android first came out among enthusiasts. Lot over the years just stopped flashing roms, since phones got "good enough" that it stopped being worth the hassle.
But, losing easy sideloading without need for adb is a pretty big deal for enthusiasts that more might start looking into custom roms again.
- And that's all assuming the few OEMs that still have unlocked bootloaders will continue to do so.
  It wouldn't surprise me if Google starts requiring locked bootloaders in some future version of Android in the name of "security".
It's nearly impossible to even flash a rom these days, they made sure to cover that first. They want to make sure you are only allowed to watch or read what they approve of. That's what it's all about. Next time they get a democratic in, they won't even give trans people their rights back, they are just going to go after gun rights hard. Mark my words.
- I personally found it very easy to install Graphene and get it up and running.
I was wishy washy on whether my next phone would be android or iOS for years, but with this change my decision got a lot easier. Was fun while it lasted, Android - but if you're going to become a walled garden I'd rather be in the better one.
- Wait a little bit longer and get a Linux phone
  Purism - Librem 5 running PureOS (or whatever Linux distro you want)
Yeah, this seems crazy to me. This is a big differentiator. I still hate apple's ui and several other things but now I can see myself being convinced to get an iPhone. There was zero chance before this decision. If apple ever allows real third party launchers and browsers that aren't just safari skins (or if android ever disallows launchers and makes all browsers chrome skins), I'd be pretty close to 50-50.
- Ngl. Emulators now being on the app store is huge. Between that and easy SSH access to actually private boxes, I'm on the cusp of going back to iOS on my main phone.

I mean, this is terrible garbage, but if Google is going to fully ruin Android then at least the news being out might push resources towards mobile Linux faster.

I'm actually using an old iphone. I look at it like an appliance to connect with mainstream institutions (including local people like other school parents), and take pictures. I have other appliances of varying complexity up to and including my car that run systems I know nothing about as well. I'm not happy about that either, but these are the compromises that happen in the real world.

The closed system isn't appealing to me, but the mass market appeal of the device is. A stunning majority of my direct acquaintances use it. It can streamline interactions sometimes.

And you know, I don't trust them of course, but at least Apple has actually said out loud in high profile presentations that privacy is a fundamental human right, and they always point out when they can keep personal things on-device. And they fight orders to unlock phones. Plus they make their money on hardware sales and services for the most part.

Google, on the other hand, exists pretty much solely to vacuum up data and keep us online and cloud-connected. They typically get major points for interoperability from me, but then I ask how often is it just a cynical embrace/extend/extinguish strategy?

Any big mainstream phone now is just a locked down disposable product of a megacorp. It's also a data scraping tendril of said megacorp loaded with sensors and a fast data connection. And now as a bonus for those of us in the US - it's probably a convenient backdoor warrantless wiretap that the oligarchs can just accidentally forward the government the passwords to.

My COMPUTER runs Linux. I can't wait until I can have a real linux computer in the form factor of a high quality phone.

I have an old phone how would I install Linux and still use it as a phone, for texting etc?
- Unfortunately it isn't as simple as just needing the right Linux distro with a touch-friendly "DE."
  We essentially need the "IBM compatible" equivalent phone platform like how modern PCs got started.
- Look at postmarket OS. Unless you are really lucky, texting, calling, wifi, etc is not or barely working.

We kind of need the Linux Foundation or Fairphone or similar to fork android or create a solid base for an alternative. Otherwise, we are screwed.

Fairphone is already collaborating with a fork, /e/OS
I don't see that happening since the Linux foundation gets a bunch of funding from Google
- Yes, but Google is probably happy to host their whole datacenter infrastructure on Linux and won't have to buy expensive Windows server licenses and wants to keep it this way.
- Wtf? So Google has basically “bought” the only competitor that isn’t big tech
Like lineoageOS?
- AFAIK, LineageOS is not a fork but a version of Android that is built on top of the Android Open Source Project (AOSP).
- I imagine it would be the likes of Graphene, Lineage, Calyx, and some others at the core. Probably some hardware vendors like Fairphone, Shiftphone, and probably a Xiaomi or Huawei.
  Edit: ROMs maintain their own code base, but I'm pretty sure OP was talking about a larger fork of AOSP. That's what I've suggested recently, anyway.
- LineageOS has a great offering but you have to wait until your phone gets outdated because even hoping that it'll be compatible with your model

not sure how these are, but i'm planning on getting one at some point. These should have some other os called murena, which is close to android but not quite, according to the website.

https://murena.com/products/smartphones/

based on android. similarly to how samsungs and xiaom8s system is also based on it.
- as long as google doesnt control it, its good enough for me

Lol this is old news brah 😅

Still waiting my Moto G 5G 2024 to have the "Allow OEM Unlocking" option to become un-greyed... it's currently day 2/7 I think?

(supposedly it takes 7 days after being connected to the internet, even tho I already got the unlock code... 🤷‍♂️)

Would you mind letting me know if it works out? Was thinking of getting a Moto G, I'm using an elderly Samsung and no way will I replace it with another Samsung.
- I'm not sure if the same issues are present in the phone you guys are referring to but I had a terrible experience with a G35. More here https://samartean-rares.com/moto-g35-terrible-software-decent-hardware-117 . Idk use your own judgement ofc but perhaps be wary that what you buy won't be hot garbage. That G35 that I had truly was hot garbage, but it's an entry level phone I guess.
My last phone was Moto G 5G and it got destroyed...
- Did you drop it, or are you saying its motorola's fault?

I've been an android user for a long ass time. I want to install grapheneOS on my next phone since my current Samsung S23 won't allow that. After that, what would be my options?

Any of the recent Pixels, though I'm not sure about the 10. And that's it.
I'm running Graphene on a 9 and it's solid.
- I'm not sure about the 10.
  Exactly the problem; current phones are good for the short-to-medium term, for anyone willing to use aging hardware, but what are the long-term prospects?
  I'm hoping this will increase true open source phone OS development, like a Linux phone, but we'll see. If there's a way to really get Android or iOS apps onto a Linux phone (after these changes) then true open-source apps can fill most use-cases, but everyday users can still use the latest games/apps they expect to "just work". That might be the ideal future option, at least until if/when Linux gets enough market share to get its own mainstream support (like the Steam Deck has brought to gaming).

Android's future goes bleak as updates passby.

This linux phone by Liberux seems like the most promising option in the near future. The crowdfunding campaign failed this summer but the project is still moving forward, just waiting to hear more from them @Liberux

Also GrapheneOS but not sure how far along any of this is: "We plan to partner with OEMs to have devices produced meeting all our requirements, providing additional privacy/security features beyond them and ideally shipping with GrapheneOS rather than massively lowering our standards."

Edit: here's a recent post from GrapheneOS from August 2025:

We're working on GrapheneOS support for future generations of a subset of the device models provided by a major Android OEM. Their current devices don't provide the updates and security features we need, but they're capable of doing it. We're working with them towards providing this so we can support their devices. They may end up officially selling devices with GrapheneOS as an option but that's not the bare minimum and it can be successful even without initially having that.

So any rumors on that major Android OEM?
Unfortunately for the US (possibly other countries?) we've shut down 2g/3g. 4g/5g here don't support calling only VoLTE and Vo5G and as far as I know Linux phones haven't figured those out meaning calling on Linux isn't currently a thing.
- Of course they have. We even have the Librem 5 that's sold here. The big problem the linux phones face is the cost of getting certified by all three carriers here — and without carrier cert, they just don't work.
That Liberux phone looks pretty cool, though I'm not sure how Linux apps would work. Does it just use Android apps? I can't imagine too many Linux programs would work well on a phone, both because of the size as the screen as well as battery usage/background sleep.
- Linux phone OSes can usually run Android apps through a VM but generally you want to avoid it for performance and privacy reasons.
  There are apps available for mobile Linux that are optimized for small screens and touch. Just not a ton understandably due to low userbase.
Isn't Liberux a crowdfunfing scam?
- Why do you make baseless claims like that? They refunded everyone when they didn't meet their funding goals, and also committed to creating a special edition phone in the next campaign for everyone who supported. You can see the campaign here on indiegogo
  Edit: Librem and Purism the controversial ones, not Liberux

I have a question for all Pixel/Graphen OS users. Will these changes affect new users (I am currently interested in purchasing a Pixel 8 to install Graphen OS for the first time and want to use apps from outside the Google Store) and current users (if I want to install an app on GraphenOS, e.g. via F-droid or Aurora Store, will I be able to do so in the future, or is there no information on this and only time will tell)?

Not a GOS user, but as far as I know, you will still be able to install shit on GOS
- Thanks dude!

While it sucks at least they say adb install will continue to work (for now)
https://developer.android.com/developer-verification/guides/faq

Can we update without adb? If updating all the apps also require ADB, this will get annoying fast.
If EU doesn't step in, I'm moving to custom ROM
- Shizuku is about to get more popular, lol

Build up graphene and Linux phones!

GrapheneOS is probably not long for this world with how much Google has been fucking with AOSP's source code releases. We need full-fat mainline Linux on our phones, with no Android code included.
Lineage OS works for me
- it is not secure for modern threat models... even of basic normie. unlocked bootloader with ice around is unacceptable.

Sounds like I'll be using a "phone" with Ubuntu Touch or similar with a VoIP SIP app running. As long as I have 4G/5G data, that'll probably work as well as anything I'm willing to use.

For me, this has the added bonus of being able to configure my VoIP service however I want. Mine lets me do custom menus and such, easier to filter out robots that way.

Let's see if I have an old Pixel 3a around...

Is it offering SMS? I ported to jmp.chat recently, using their XMPP gateway for voice and SMS. They offer a VOIP option, but don't support SMS.
I like being able to SMS, and I guess call, from my laptop. But there aren't any Linux XMPP clients that I'm particularly happy with, so I'm just using Cheogram in Waydroid. It's not exactly optimal.
- I'm using VoIP.ms and yeah, they do SMS and MMS ($0.0075 per SMS, $0.02 per MMS). They have both an online portal and an Android app. There are a few limitations, but it seems to work pretty well overall.
They need more donations and bug reports!
Ubuntu touch works on pixel 3s. It was incredibly easy to install. I set aside an afternoon to make it work, and I was done in line 15 minutes. I was shocked. It has some rough edges but its usable. The biggest issue is the lack of apps. Also, i couldnt figure out the sandboxing thing that lets you run any limux app. I think maybe the UI had some bugs or something, it wasnt very intuitive.
- It's running on Halium, it's still an Android core and drivers. It is at least private.
  Running android apps destoys the battery and the linux apps available are scant. But it's honestly probably the best thing we have.

Cans and string are about to make a comeback?

Meshtastic lol.
Or ham radios, or use a bright light to send morse code (using on/off flashes)
Use One Time Pad to encrypt the text.

Has the update dropped yet? I'm checking before I update my phone, once it does I'm off for good

I disabled OS updates on my phone, we'll have to see how long that lasts.
- Yeah that's what I plan once I know I'm at the version cap
- until google remotely enables them again. Fuck google.

My 320 EUR Pixel 7a is running GrapheneOS.

It's just Android. You're as subject to this as anyone else is, if not moreso.
- It is an a degoogled by default open source Android fork. I am writing this on a Pixel tablet running GrapheneOS with zero Google software sources on it. Google Play has no power here, and is running sandboxed if you choose to install it.
- Yeah, if devs stop developing apps for android. It won't matter if you use android without play services.
- No. It's removed downstream. Anyone with a degoogled Android phone is not subject to this.

!rossmanngroup@peertube.gravitywell.xyz

https://odysee.com/@rossmanngroup:a/google-'your-1000-phone-needs-our:2

you know thier desperate if they want thier money sink of AI scheme to be jammed into the phones.

Your™

Us: nope, I degoogled my Android phone. Good luck.

MicroG is amazing

1k? Must be in Euros or USD.

On a related note, Ive always wanted to try shoving a sim card in my Linux laptop and use a voIP phone line with jmp or something.

Good way to get your laptop infected.

I swear ~~white guys and Indian guys~~ capitalism ruin everything.

At this point im not sure why I dont just get an iphone

Going from needing Google's permission to install apps to needing Apple's permission to install apps. How would that help in any way?
- It's not about them being better, it's about them basically being the same.
  Although I'm not saying I trust Apple for privacy, I trust them more than Google on that front.
- For those that don't install custom roms it may be preferable to entrust their data to Apple than Google if they are having to end up in a closed ecosystem.
  Rest of us are enthusiasts so we can just pick phones with custom rom support, but its not something every Android user is willing to do.
Ok?
Because this headline is bunk