I have a google pixel, and I know I could install grapheneOS on it. But I’m very, very hesitant, since I depend so much on my phone.

This isn’t like distro hopping, where I feel more comfortable hot swapping ssds, or making partitions, or using my desktop while I tinker with my laptop. My phone has a SIM and the service I depend on can’t be emulated off this phone.

So what do you recommend I do? Should I move my SIM (my phone service, really) to a new phone while I tinker with this one? Can I just blow up the current OS and wing it? Or maybe theres another option that would allow me to bail back to stock android in case something goes wrong. What do you think?

EDIT: how I use my phone: about everything I use is from fdroid, with the occassional app from aurora. I do use my banking app to cash checks, but I don’t use whatsapp, google pay, which I know arent compatible. So as far as app compatibility I dont think it’ll be a problem, Im mostly worried about my phone number not working. I dont know how SIMs work like I should, I just know Ive had the strangest issues in the past with it, so Im hesitant. Thanks for the replies so far.

  • @GenghisEnglish
    4•5 months ago

    Everything should work perfectly fine.

    Just make sure you know which apps are not supported on GOS such as Netflix, Hulu, Cash App, etc because of the Play Integrity API. Don’t be afraid to use the Play Store as well. Its treated like any other app on the system so it isn’t highly privileged.

    Also, one thing that was a problem for me at first was the restore solution (and backup solution). You will have to transfer your files from an external drive whether its the cloud or a local one.

    Feel free to join the GrapheneOS Discord/Matrix/Telegram server and ask more questions because they’re very knowledgeable people that can support you.