this post was submitted on 25 Jun 2026
21 points (100.0% liked)

GrapheneOS

822 readers
1 users here now

An unofficial discussion community for anyone interested in GrapheneOS.

Helpful links:

Official Graphene OS Discussion Forum

List of official Matrix channels and other contact sources.

founded 3 years ago
MODERATORS
wxboss@lemmy.sdf.org
21
Heaps of questions from a brand new grapheneos user (thelemmy.club)
submitted 2 months ago by philanthropicoctopus@thelemmy.club to c/graphene_os@lemmy.sdf.org
10 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Hi everyone

Writing this on my new (second hand) pixel with grapheneos. Have been watching this project for a few years and stoked to finally be here. I'm getting closer and closer to the online life I want all the time.

I have a few questions:

  1. Sourcing apps - is it safer to use f-droid (in my case I like the neo-store) or obtainium?

  2. For non open-source apps, Aurora or sandboxed google play?

  3. Is it OK to use WiFi at my work? Or at the mall? What are the risks? I've got a VPN but using it prevents me from accessing my server via tailscale

  4. WhatsApp - I've tried to set up whatsapp but I get stuck at retrieving the backup from google drive. I'm seeing conflicting views on weather or not this is possible. It'd be great but its a price I'm willing to pay if it means not using WhatsApp

  5. Can any app be sandboxed?

  6. What else should I know about operating the phone? I'm effectively an absolute beginner to grapheneos

  7. My phone now won't connect to the internet without the VPN, is this normal?

Any advice appreciated, thank you

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] EnsignWashout@startrek.website 1 points 1 day ago

F-Droid is great.

Aurora is more effort than Google Play, but I find Aurora so much more honest about tracking technologies in each app.

Regarding sandboxing, I think so, but installing an app on GrapheneOS is already so much better than on any other operating system.

I just install apps normally and don't give them any permission I don't feel like they need.

If I realize why an app needs some permission, later - I can adjust the permissions and try again.