Those of you who install non-google-play apps (aka: sideloading), what's your gameplan for the upcoming Google restrictions on Sideloading?
Edit: Replaced "Restrictions" in place of the word "Ban"
Waiting for someone in Europe to sue them.
Chaos and rebellion.
Sell off any phones that I can't modify. Aggressively de-Google while setting up fake accounts to send garbage into their system training.
Light my way with the burning of bridges.
I use F-droid for everything. I'd truly be fucked.
Hoping that EU comes to the rescue.
google saw that EU allowed apple to do something similar, so why not take the chance to lock the garden...
Nah they wont.
Sure, they are really good on the right-to-repair issue, but that's because they want to be more independent and less reliant on other countries to make new phones. As for privacy and information control, the government don't really have an incentive to give people more privacy and freedoms. They are still trying to pass chat control with a majority of the EU members in support (the only reason its not passed yet is because EU laws need to be unanimous)
You obviously don't understand EU, it's far from only right to repair, but EU has many protections against American shenanigans, like tracking and storing of personal data, and right to be forgotten (GDPR). EU Also dictated Apple should allow sideloading, something Apple of course mostly circumvented, but they could face steep fines for that too.
EU also has way stricter regulation than USA and UK on mass surveillance. And generally way better consumer protection than USA.
For the immediate future, I'll be all set with GrapheneOS.
Beyond that, I'll suffer whatever inconveniences I need to in order to avoid this bullshit. If that means I can't use my banking apps, I'll find a better bank, or use the web site, or just say "fuck it all" and stop banking on my phone altogether. I've already given up NFC payments. It's not the end of the world.
This will only become a bigger pain in the ass as time goes on, I'm sure, but I will die on this hill. I suggest that everyone draw their lines in the sand sooner rather than later.
this pain in the ass seems to be cyclic with regards to open source things. over the last 30 odd years of my being in the flow of doing my own thing with my own hardware, it seems like we hit peaks and valleys of "company does something frustrating" -> "community sorts it out". rinse and repeat.
it'll be bumpy but someone will figure it out and we'll start the cycle again.
I hope so. There is some apps that I've simply grown accustomed to using on a phone and I know will not be supported on a Linux phone
Yep. Me too. I'll be OK for now with GrapheneOS, and as time goes on I'll make changes as needed. I'm actually optimistic things will work out before it gets to that point, but if it doesn't I'm willing to do what I need to. I will die on the hill with you.
Once my phone becomes that limited I may as well go back to a feature phone after mine stops being usable.
Honestly no idea. It's hard enough finding a phone with an audio jack, and now I have to find a phone with an audio jack, and an unlockable bootloader so I can install another OS?
Just seems like my way of living is incompatible with modern society. It's all just too hard
Just seems like my way of living is incompatible with modern society. It's all just too hard
I know right?
Used a locked phone! Submit your ID to the web! Create a Instagram account! SUBMIT! SUBMIT! SUBMIT!
yeah so hard to switch to wireless audio. horrible even.
Idk if you're aware of this. But phones with headphones jacks still have Bluetooth. I use wireless earphones occasionally (and yes, it is horrible) but I also need to be able to plug in to my home hi-fi system
I'm so tired of this shit man, I no longer have any real plan.
I'm seriously considering carrying the smallest x86/ARM Tablet capable of running Linux I can alongside some cheap phone for 4G hotspot and calls/strictly necessary.
Guess PC land is the last place we still have freedom (for now!!!! 🙄🙄🙄)
Not for long, the Microsoft boot secure thing is sus
I’m not one to bang on about the year of Linux, but honestly, the floor is falling out from under ‘consumer Windows,’ and they are doing little to stop it.
At some point, even OEMs are going to get fed up and start offering their own wine/proton centric distros on some laptops/big tablets. They will be awful and bloated, and business laptops will probably be stuck with Windows forever, but still.
If my job didn't require MS Authenticator I would just be carrying around a dumb phone and my work laptop.
You can use a MiFi router with tablet and a dumbphone just for calls.
The ban is only in Brazil, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia. Terrible, and those are some of the bigger markets, but I am not affected in a years time. I will have to see more as we approach the date on working around it.
The change is global, but it's hitting those countries first (2026).
From the official post about the change:
I think it was clear I know about it, because I said "in a year's time". I even already sent this exact timeline in this thread
What's their PR flavour text for that?
And how does a company get the authority to do a "ban"? Isn't that supposed to be a Government thing?
Seems like their real goal is to make the users of their devices as vulnerable as possible. How?
This comment is very conspiratorial. While this change is making people more vulnerable to malware and lessening their freedom, the screen lock thing is complete nonsense. Your launcher has been given permission to keep the screen on. If it is the system launcher and that permission was provided automatically, all you need to do is use another launcher.
The official Google blogpost states this timeline:
There is no PR stunt here, just the need to read. Unless you are considering a PR stunt the claim that it is 50 times more likely to get malware from outside of the Play Store, that is just a complete lie as the Play Store is filled to the brim with malware.
I'm probably going to spam this around a bit, since most people don't seem to know about it, but a reminder that FuriLabs has a (GNU+)Linux phone with decent spec.s and the ability to run Android app.s (from what I've heard) pretty decently: https://furilabs.com/
Biggest drawback is it's based on Halium. Usual growing pains of a new product/company apply but apparently the company is pretty responsive and their dev.s have worked with customers to get things like calling working with the carrier and bands of their country where it hasn't worked before so improvements move pretty quickly.
Collection of different experiences I've variously seen online over the last year or so:
I don't own one, myself, so I can't give any personal experience but I've seen it around for a few years now but most people don't seem to even know about it. Maybe there's a reason for that? But none I've ever seen anyone say.
(all that said, – if they take PayPal – I'm gonna buy one with PayPal credit as soon as humanly feasible; the end goal, for me, was always to move to Mobile Linux, eventually, so I'm very interested to try out if this makes it finally feasible, for me)
This is what I have my eye on. That or a sailfish phone. Reviews seem really good so they gives me hope. Still going to be inconsistencies but that's a tradeoff I'd make.
I think I want this. I just can't do without rcs messaging. My family won't switch to the apps
FLX1 has an audio jack, SD card, and removable battery?? If they continue to develop this (if it doesn't die by the wayside, as the others have), and Signal continues to work on it, I'm in! From this cursory look, it seems to be exactly what I was looking for.
We'll have to see how they implement it first. If it's just through Play Protect, I'm fine as I'm already not using that. If not, guess I'll have to make-do with a Linux phone.
There hasn't been anything Google on my phone for a while now, so I'll first wait and see how they regain control over my phone :D
the ":D" really made the comment, its like the "this is fine" meme, but simplified to 2 characters xD
Basically, yes
All we can really do is deal with shit as it arises, but it's still shit
Gonna push me to using a dumb phone and a Linux laptop I guess.
i've tried to do this on several occasions but sadly i have to travel at odd intervals for work. part of that is ride "sharing" services, apps to unlock doors (no web alternative), and notifications from work on the go.
the last time i tried this i simply kept a spare stock phone for when i had to travel for work and i just set it up before a trip and then wiped it after. it's extra effort but it's doable.
Doesn't sound bad at all really when you think of it.
So how long until celluar providers also say you have to have a trusted device to activate your SIM? Apple, Google, Samsung, automotive and Windows would be fine and they’d probably allow their branded or limited hotspots.
This would basically eliminate any Linux option (pc or phone), and DIY devices. I could see other OOB vendors getting on board to be certified to have a certificate issued to them.
Not impossible, but SIMs go in all kinds of devices nowadays including tons of generic IOT gadgets.
I'm going to wait for someone else to figure out a workaround and write a tutorial. Then wait for some indian youtuber to make a video tutorial out of that.
Without someone mumbling into a buzzing mic, I don't believe its authenticity.
Not updating my phone for now. Installing a custom ROM on my next phone
my plan is not updating my phone until the google plan is reversed.
I'm not sure really.
I like the idea of alternatives like a Linux phone OS or a custom ROM like Graphene, but I also hate the idea of needing to faff around with my phone to make it work how I want it to.
Get a Fairphone. Install Lineage on my current phone, install Linux on the Fairphone.
Probably grapheneos until it dies (thanks Google) then 2 phones, a cheap stock one at home shutdown and no sim, only for critical services that are exclusively app based, and a Linux phone as my main.
Good transitional way to do it too. I thought of similar for travel. Have a "travel phone" for flights, rental car, ride share, whatever. And it goes off as soon as you're far enough along to not need it anymore. On for return trip, then back in the drawer it goes.
Hopefully GrapheneOS can be my solution since I've got a Pixel 7a, but I first need to move over all my 2FA accounts because Twilio Authy does not work on GrapheneOS 😭
FYI, Aegis works on GrapheneOS if you need a recommendation (in terms of an app for 2FA).
1 plus for Aegis.
Backup all your codes to an encrypted file you can do whatever you want with.
No cloud, no "automagic", no obfuscation.
True peace of mind.
I ordered a Pixel and plan to flash Graphine. I hate the cruel irony of paying Google to degoogle a phone, but my current phone is on its last legs.
Hope to keep this one alive a good few years, after that I have no clue. I hope Linux phones catch up.
GrapheneOS is a lot more smoother experience than LineageOS.
Either that or CalyxOS
I have been using custom ROMs since CyanogenMod and am currently mostly on GrapheneOS, some of it entirely Google-free.
I used to use cyanogen mod but have not used a custom ROM in years. How difficult is it to setup these days and how difficult will it be to adjust?
GrapheneOS is very easy and smooth, but only works on Pixel hardware. LineageOS is more rough around the edges and considerably less secure.
Burn google down
Im sorta lazy. Did not switch to linux until windows 11 even though I should have after windows 7. I use the android that came on the phone because im lazy but I have to be able to sideload so this may turn out to be androids windows 11.
I've been meaning to get around to installing GrapheneOS on my phone (Pixel 7 pro) for a while now. I'll make sure my next phone has a LineageOS ROM available.
Can wholeheartedly recommend gos.
I'm probably going to have get a separate phone for work, need a few apps that I don't foresee working on a Linux phone anytime soon.
"The apps don't work on my phone" won't fly as an excuse lol, and I like my job most days.
This is likely my result as well. I've tried to avoid needing 2 phones but... I think it'll be nice to explore Linux phone options.
Well hey, having clear separation between work and personal could be a plus. Hopefully enough to offset the annoyance of carrying 2 devices...
Use whatever I got for now and then hope that phones that allow custom Roms don't die out when it comes to buying a replacement in the future.
I don't even use gmail anymore which made it easy to start degoogling and moving away from using Google account based stuff like Google Keep and opting for Foss variants. So hope custom ROM scene can survive or look into Linux phones.
I've been looking into pure Linux Phones like Ubuntu touch and the Kali Mobile thing. Shame that its limited to hardware that I can't find here
I haven't fully researched that topic yet but should I be safe with e/os?
For now... Google is developing AOSP more and more behind closed doors, which is more troubling for other Android based OS's. So even if e/OS is not (much) effected by this 'sideloading' thing, other choices Google makes will destroy something at some point.
If Google is going to build this "sideload protection" in the core of Android, this is going to be very bad, even for e/OS.
Fuck Google.
I've been using LineageOS for years, and have been planning for my next phone to be a used Pixel running GrapheneOS. While this announcement from Google sucks shit, it won't affect me I don't think. More worrying are the other changes in the pipeline that would stop development of GrapheneOS. I am dying for a working Linux phone.
It won’t apply to GrapheneOS. It only applies to certified OSes and GrapheneOS is not certified because it doesn’t license Google Mobile Services.
I get that. I'm more worried about other planned changes that will affect Grapheme development.
If this actually happens, my next phone will probably be a dumb phone, unless I can find a true linux phone.
What about Aurora Store and F-Droid?
You have to "side-load" those apps, so they will at least need to register with Google. Aurora is unlikely to be granted such dispensation. Apps that are currently only offered through F-Droid will also need to be registered with Google. I doubt they'll look kindly on apps like NewPipe, or AdAway.
Each individual app developer will have to register with Google, regardless of where you install the app from: F-Droid, Aurora, Obtainium, directly getting the APK from GitHub, doesn't matter.
This is coming off like the nightmare scenario that Valve thought would happen to Windows that led them to start investing into Linux as an alternative.
What are you talking about a ban on sideloading?
PinePhone?
It affects only people using factory roms and google play services. I don't remember the last time I used a factory rom, I've use microg for nearly a decade, (and I'm a mod of !microg@discuss.tchncs.de) and I'm not planning to change this workflow even when I will replace my phone, so I'm pretty sure I'm not affected at all.
See the thing with this is, Google would be forcing manufacturers to meet their "requirements" in order to get Google Play Certified, now they are using the requirement list to force this change, they could also add a "Disable Bootloader Unlocking" requirement to certification.
Its the mobile equivalent of the "Windows 11 TPM Requirement".
Unlockable bootloader is indeed more and more important. Hopefully a handful of manufacturers still allow that
I think the only thing I sideload is AdGuard, and they're already verified. So it shouldn't really affect me.
I'm still against it on principal.
Well, I don't like throwing away devices I can still do something with, so I'm going to keep using the android devices I have until they stop working. After that, I'm not actually sure. I don't want to completely give up on mobile gaming because I do like having an easy way to play games away from home, but I haven't found a good alternative yet. Mobile Linux devices either aren't worth their price or, if they are, I have no way to purchase them.
I would just install a mobile Linux distro onto newer android devices but on top of the fact that you can't just install Linux onto android devices like you can on PCs, I've heard that, at least with some manufactures, that's soon to be impossible as well.
This seems like an ideal opportunity for samsung to fork android.
Judging by the "Galaxy Store" they tried to get people to use, Samsung would just make apps go through their approval process instead, not that much better.
The only reason I'm on a Google rom is because I can't get confirmation that I can cast Netflix to a Chromecast with microG. It's the only Google ecosystem thing that matters to me. If they try to break my phone then I finally get to get over that hump, no loss. Almost everything in my phone is F-Droid ("side-loaded" is such a loaded phrase)
I'm also hopeful that this move will get struck down given the recent anti competitive practices cases they've lost.
That was a completely different environment. Dont forget who was watching from the balcony at inauguration.
i have a degoogled Samsung something running lineageos and was able to easily cast to a friends google tv thing through vlc
Have two phones: one rooted with a custom ROM and the other one for banking. 🤷♂️
If banking apps don't work, can you use the website?
Like for example if "Bank of whatever" app doesn't work, wouldn't bank-of-whatever.com still work?
what are the downsides of rooting?
My banking and government apps don't run on rooted phones
No more over-the-air updates, no more locked bootloader. Those are both significant security downgrades that usually come with rooting Android.
Edit: downvoters apparently dont know that the main rooting methods all modify the boot partition, which prevents OTA updates from succeeding. Updates are very important to protect your phone with security patches against zero days and other vulnerabilities. Likewise modifying the bootloader requires unlocking it - which means no more secure boot and anyone who takes your phone can happily boot whatever they like on it. This is also bad.
Custom roms. Support them all
I am hoping, that I can switch to a Fairphone with a custom ROM til next year. If I can't get the money for it until then, I Am just hoping that it will be implemented through an android Update, because in that case it won't affect me, since I Am already stuck on Android 11 or so.
Fairphone makes an effort to open source all code including device trees and encourages the developement of custom roms and alternative oses like Linux mobile. So I'll just switch to a Fairphone with a custom ROM.
I won't switch to mobile linux though since I don't want to go back to an unsandboxed environment.
Does anyone know how graphine performs on foldables? The big reason I haven't just switched to it is a healthy skepticism about it's ability to handle the two screens well.
Using graphineos on a pixel fold, only complaints is that the taskbar isn't editable like it is in stock android, and sometimes it does not enable the inner screen when I unfold it, but only when full screen stuff is open. Close it and it works fine.
Super small nitpicks overall. Everything else works as expected for me.
That is very surprising and promising, thanks for the feedback
SailfishOS on a Jolla phone.
I'm on eOS, so this specific thing will be a non-issue.
I already have an old dumbphone as backup. It might actually get some use going forward. Installing Linux on my current main phone may be in order.
Another thing I'm thinking of is potentially combining the dumbphone with a tiny laptop, say 10-12 inch. We used to have this category of device in the early 2010s. With today's manufacturing it could be made to fit into a large coat pocket or purse. Need to look up if anyone is making these at this time.
Isn't eOS still android?
yes, but this change only affects certified Android devices (ie, ones that run software that Google put their blessings on), and /e/OS is squarely an uncertified (and Google-free) Android fork
My eeepc still works. That PC is like a toughbook.
GPD Win?
Or you can get a handheld like Steamdeck and you can use it for both portable gaming and on-the-go computing.
Use whatever I have for now, with less and less apps. Turn the device off when I am not using it. Start experimenting with project boards with modem cards.
OG iPad with a Bluetooth headset would have been a goto mobile device for most things in size, battery life, cellular reception. Never happened, of course, when they could sell you 30 devices kneecapped in various ways instead. So if what I end up building is a bit large, that is just fine.
No plan required, as I'm not using stock Android of any kind.