What will you do after Android starts restricting FOSS apps?

install them with adb. its a crucial feature for developers, so they won't easily get rid of it.

I've started donating to PostmarketOS this month, so hopefully I'll be able to buy a device with decent support once my current phone needs replacing.

I already run LineageOS on my phone with microG instead of Gapps, so not much is going to change for me. There'll also be an update to Android 16 for me soon, LineageOS just announced that last weekend.

I only use app from f-droid on lineage and I don't have a google account anymore, if that stops being an option I guess I'll use an old dumb phone and fuck all.

GrapheneOS

I will switch to Android roms that don't have that defect, and continue to buy and tinker with Linux phones when I can afford it, until they become daily-drivable.

I hope there will be a good Linux phone in a few years that I can switch to. Would be great with it was compatible with the latest Fairphone by then, for a true FOSS and ethical phone.

I'll root and/or use ADB to install APKs. Fuck Google.

Staying on Graphene for the time being. AFAIK should be able to still install apps whatever way I see fit.

Graphene's team has stated that they are looking into OEM's to potentially work out a solution to make a suitable device to run GOS, since Google is locking things down.

If it really comes to it, (long term), I'll make the jump to a Linux mobile device, whether that's a phone or a custom solution.

Just because corpo's are making things difficult, doesn't mean I'm going to cave. I started this privacy journey 6 years ago and I'm not about to undo it because of greed and inconvenience.

I moved to GrapheneOS about a month ago, not too long after the announcement. Bought a used Pixel and jumped. TBH moving to Graphene was something I'd considered for a while for privacy reasons but Google gave me that last push.

There are some different ways of doing things but I've really enjoyed the transition overall.

I feel embarassed to say this as someone who is fairly techy, but I'm a little confused by the whole brouhaha.

Is Google making changes to Android, or to AOSP?

If Google is making changes to the Android fork they put on their own phones, then fuck 'em. Use Graphene. Use e/OS/, use Lineage...use something that forks their own branch of AOSP and Google can pound sand because those forks are in no way obligated to make the same changes as Google. AOSP is open source for that very reason.

If Google is making those changes to AOSP itself, which means that anyone who uses AOSP as a base have those changes by default, then isn't Google obligated to keep those changes as Open Source, in which case anyone else who uses AOSP can just remove them from their own fork?

Someone explain like I'm a particularly dim five-year-old, please.

LineageOS user here, so nothing will change for me. Perhaps in the long-term Google might kill off AOSP for good, in which case I'll seriously consider a so-called real Linux device. Cautiously optimistic about the FSF's Librephone project, which right now is attempting to reverse engineer blobs in Android devices.

I already have a Pinephone sitting around so maybe I'll re-flash Mobian on it and play around with it. In the long term my ideal distro would be Guix or some Guix derivative.

I'll happily continue using my GrapheneOS Pixel since nothing will change for 3d-party ROMs :)

Well, I know that I probably wont be buying anymore android devices and I know for sure that I'll never buy an iOS device. But outside of that I'm not sure, I'll have to wait and see how things play out. If possible, I'd like to be able to use Linux or at least custom versions of android but, as of now, most of my devices don't have custom roms available and the two that do haven't been supported in years. I have looked into Linux phones, tablets and other portable devices like the Steam deck and the Legion Go S but they are very expensive and there isn't even a way for me to purchase some them.

I am also aware of ADB commands but I've never used them before. If they are easy enough to use without potentially bricking my devices, I am not opposed to using them.

Well, I did do app development for Android for a couple of years, so I'll be using ADB it install APKs in any device affected if needed.

I'll also never do development work for Android ever again, beyond making utilities for myself if need something like that.

Beyond that, I'll never buy an Android device that cannot be unlocked. Last one I got was a Xiaomi phone, which at the time could be unlocked (which I did and installed an alternative ROM on it before I started using it), but they stopped that so Xiaomi isn't going to be getting any more money from me.

Mid to long-term, I expect Linux devices are the solution. I'm especially interested in getting a Linux tablet (7" or 8") to replace the tablet I currently use mostly for book reading and internet browsing when I'm out and about (hence the size needs to be small enough to fit a back or jacket pocket).

When I started looking into it, my expectation was that Linux tablets would make even more sense as devices than phones since they're closer to notebooks in terms of how they're used, but I haven't really found all that many out there - there are more Linux phones than tablets - and all of them were 10" or more (so, too large for my use case).

(PS: suggestions welcome, even just stuff I can root and install something like Ubuntu Touch on it)

Am I so unusal in wanting an portable computing device with a big enough screen to read stuff, for the purpose of consuming media rather than working on (so no keyboard need), which is not so big that I need to haul it in a backpack, not a full-blown smartphone with all the bells as whistles (I already have a smarphone on my pocket with mobile data, camera and GPS, so why would I need that shit AGAIN on a tablet???) and not a locked-down system like iOS or Android?

I'll just keep using grapheneOS.

I've been using GrapheneOS for a while, which should minimise disruptions, but I'm also hoping the Linux phone ecosystem improves before Google locks down Android completely.

I have read you will still be able to install using ADB and I figure I will do that since I have done that a lot in the past anyway.

If it really interferes, same thing as when YouTube started enshittifying: use it less and likely be better off.

I'm currently using GrapheneOS on my Pixel phone I brought secondhand so think I should (for now) be okay?

Otherwise, Linux phone looks interesting but it just relearning both another OS (like iPhone users trying to learn Android and vice versa) and also just I have low income so buying new tech is just expensive.

I don't want to throw myself a deepend to an OS that I not as familiar with beside on my desktop and Raspberry Pi. Personally, I prefer to know what's there before I just go blind so at least I can manage my expectation than expected it to do 1:1 stuff that I do on my phone right now.

Leaving android

I'm likely going to use ladb to sideload "directly" on the device. I'm really hoping there are some legal challenges and/or bad pr to make them back down. I'm also considering picking up a Fairphone 4 or 5 and running CalyxOS as a plan B.

I don't know yet, I'm going to keep track of developments around this and see what the community comes up with. I refuse to be bent over by tech giants.

Find a phone to use plasma mobile on most likely.

ADB in the meantime.

I'm fed up enough to try Ubuntu on my phone. But probably will use a custom ROM. And I will never ever buy a phone that is not confirmed unlocked. I hope others do the same. And I wish the locked phone companies many hours of doom scrolling on their unsalable phones.

keep using graphene os

Man this is depressing. I'm hoping the EU will put a stop to this.

Use my phone less.

I can't think of a single app I use that doesn't have a desktop/web version.

Keep waiting for a Linux phone that actually works as a daily driver.

Quite frankly im going to keep using GraphineOS, it doesn't really matter for me how much Google restricts AOSP code or sideloading. As much as I care about open source I need something secure and reliable.

Start giving easy to follow de-googling instructions when and where you know them, people.

The bigger and more thorough the head start, the better.

I won't do anything because I've not used a "certified device" in years...

Be fucked? I don't know I already hate most phones on the market and I'm going to need to buy a new one at some point, not looking forward to it...

Slowly switch to Linux devices, or dumb phone, and learning to adapt happily living without some features, but also without control and censorship :)

DeGoogled Custom ROMs

Google can't control the device if you're not running Google. GrapheneOS will still work like before, allowing you to run the apps you want. But the jury is still out on how long... I hope we can have a long term GrapheneOS solution regarding hardware.

I don't have to do anything. I use GrapheneOS btw.

Build a time machine and go back in time to stop WebOS from being sold to HP.

I mean, unless there's some alternative that banking apps and such will work on there really isn't much you can do right?

I only run free/libre Android forks, so I don't care.

Continue using a custom ROM.

If more brands start locking down their devices I'll have a conundrum, and it'll start being about antique hunting. More apps requiring an "approved" OS would also do it, but geopolitics will stop that from going too far in the near future.

I'm gonna get a linux phone. I used a flip phone and windows phone for a long time. I don't actually need any of this bullshit.

GrapheneOS for as long as it s available, then probably PostmarketOS for that Nokia N95 experience

I'll just adb install those same apps from f-droid. But my hope is that I will be using mobile linux more and more as a daily-driver, until it eventually replaces Android 100%

Well because of this, I bought a new phone and am now using GrapheneOS. I'm hoping to last at least 5 years with this, and hopefully by the time I want a new phone, grapheneos will have made a deal to have more compatible phones.

would love it if the community could fund and get a way to create a desktop app (linux, etc) that would connect via adb and sync apks and other apps. just move f-droid and alt app stores to an old school "itunes" method.

Fight it as long as I can with my current fairly new phone. I assume that update by google would require an OS update, not a google play update. I might just not update my OS until I get a new phone.

If I'm lucky I won't need to update for a few years and an awesome linux phone will be available. If not then some de-googled android phone.

If we can, donate to the devs. Let's supercharge the evolution / revolution.

at the moment theres possible to sandbox the store in graphene, or use microg. i think there will be modded gapp packs for certain roms.

if not, the community will come up with a ui for adb install, maybe integrate fdroid and izzyondroid

How likely is that this will happen, unchallenged?

I've honestly just been hoping it never happens, because I don't actually have a plan to deal with it if it does...

I read this from Fdroid (https://f-droid.org/en/2025/09/29/google-developer-registration-decree.html) and I also looked at the Google announcement here (https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2025/08/elevating-android-security.html?m=1)

Things are still murky to me. Google said the following:

To be clear, developers will have the same freedom to distribute their apps directly to users through sideloading or to use any app store they prefer. We believe this is how an open system should work—by preserving choice while enhancing security for everyone. Android continues to show that with the right design and security principles, open and secure can go hand in hand. For more details on the specific requirements, visit our website. We'll share more information in the coming months.

Is the problem then that developers have to register? I see the downsides to this, but does it actually block side loading and using F-droid?

Sony update fails anyway, because i froze a non-essential app too much. Oh noes, my phone could be hacked with physical access, in a few years! But by then the phone is in their Open Firnware program and it's back to a custom ROM again.

The apps are regularly updated of course.

I'm planning to go Graphene but realistically until a solid third option such as Linux phone is able to break the duopoly I dont think we can do much as I doubt devs will update or release many apps with little take up. Probably 90 - 95% of apps on my phone are FOSS derived from outside Play store.

This is only the start I'm afraid. "Big tech" has far, far too much leverage. Google are effectively censoring apps, they will no doubt cave in to any government asking who has (or hasnt) installed a particular app that at some future date is deemed unwelcome. Between this & ill conceived online ID schemes about to be forced upon populations, various minorities are about to be marginalised even further.

Very concerning times.

i don't really use apps on my phone anymore other than for maps. i just my phone primarily as a phone.

I have on my old phone still a custom Android /e/OS. It's a “deGoogled” variant of Android 12 on my S7 Edge. And if I ever buy a new phone again, it will be a direct Linux operating system (I know that Android technically uses Linux as its Kernel) or again an ungoogled custom Android. But as someone who doesn't do much with the phone anymore, I probably won't.

Get a pocket pc, probably. And only use the phone for what strictly requires it.

It'll likely end up being more comfortable from a usability standpoint than it is now anyway.

Is SailfishOS good?

It was the push I needed to start building my dream device. They say Linux phones aren't ready, and they aren't. But the Linux desktop on aarch64 has come a long way thanks to things like the Raspberry Pi so I'm currently working on a Mobian pocket laptop that can replace my phone entirely. You can find a Pixel 3a XL for around $100 with an unlockable bootloader, just don't expect a usable camera. Currently the tradeoff is either freedom of software with some missing drivers (USB host mode in particular) or using a distro like Droidian or UBports which is custom built to run on Halium and the android kernel and can't be easily modified/tinkered with.

Already can't find a phone with the hardware I want. Might as well get an iphone since I won't be able to do half the shit I want to either way.

We'll have to start a movement then.

BTW can anyone recommend me a good lightweight & offline capable RSS-feed reader from Fdroid ?

I would love to go all in on one of the newer Linux distros made for phones. Haven't tried any yet.

Fuck i don't think i can unlock the bootloader of my xiaomi anymore...

I'll go back to Ubuntu Touch. I used it a year ago and it wasn't completely compatible with Fairphone. Now it is.

I guess just don't by one of these "certified Android devices". Might become a selling point. Other option would be to run SailfishOS (buy a Jolla phone) or install Ubuntu Touch / Mobian and use Anbox.

You can install with ADB, with droid-ify you can install apps with shizuku

brute force it with root

you literally cannot prevent root from doing anything.

My old Nokia is still in a drawer, I think with somewhat charge in it. Enough for what I use a phone.

Use a dumbphone and hold onto a smartphone to use only when necessary. I have a Sunbeam F1 Pro for daily use. And I have a Moto G Power, purchased used, that I use maybe once every other week for bike maps, public transit, and restaurant QR codes. I'm hoping with how amazing the battery is that will last until 5G inevitably gets phased out. I was using FOSS apps with that, but I'll just go back to the App Store. Post-DOGE, my threat model doesn't require degoogling anymore.

Maybe eventually I'll move to GrapheneOS, provided it finds a way to exist without using Google products and services. I have high hopes for Ubuntu Touch in the 2030s.

For me it's less about finding a new daily driver and more about limiting the time spent on an Android phone.

CUSTOMS ROMS BABY

I'm still rocking Android 8/10/11, will continue to do so until I can't run a proper web browser.

Will this effect distros like eos?

I'm not very good with technology, so I don't understand most of what you're saying. Could you explain it simply, as if I were five years old, how we protect the FOSS community and stop Google to pressuring us.

OniroOS hopefully will be out by then. If not then PostMarketOS. Harmony OS is rumoured to be launching globally in 2026 but I doubt.

I'm going full dumbphone with a flip phone and using single purpose devices like mp3 players for music and handhelds for gaming and emulation.

Cry, -as it would seem my carrier only supports Android & Apple phones and I am stuck with my carrier.

Continue not using a phone as always

Same thing I do now, don't use android.

TL&DR; PinePhone. Longer explanation below

1. I'll prepare for sacrifices. I should not blame the Open-Source alternatives that they're not on par with Android yet. It was Android's decision to become more closed, and I'll keep remembering it.

2. I'll start using my PinePhone that I already own anyway. I've used it for a while, but there was less push for me to use back then. Without F-Droid, I'll press myself hard to adapt to PinePhone and will just stay there until it improves. I have 1-2 decades of experience of using non-mainstream software and see it improve with time. I'll learn. I'll adapt.

Block or revert updates or install via adb/shizuko if that still works. Otherwise I will have to start saving for an expensive phone that supports custom ROMs.

Install them over ADB like I already sometimes do now

Nothing.

My daily driver is an iPhone. We've always had the problem of limiting sideloading (to be nonexistent for most people) and it's never been a problem for me.

I also have a Galaxy S10, but all my apps on that come from the Play Store.

This won't affect 99% of users, just like it doesn't on iPhone.

I just hope now that they're taking sideloading, and they've already taken memory card slots, headphone jacks... and they're still taking a cut off the back end by selling your personal information... maybe the cost will come down. But I doubt it. Android makes sense when it's cheaper than iPhone. I mean, iPhone makes sense to be expensive. It's a pocket Mac, it's made by a computer company. Sure, they have telemetry but it's not an ad company like Google. So for a phone that's less powerful and still has the same restrictions, and I'm paying with my personal data? I expect the phones to be cheaper. They really should be cheaper.

But I'm gonna let you in on a secret. Smartphone performance plateaued a long time ago. All these new phones are kind of a scam. Okay, so the Pixel 10 has the benchmark performance of an iPhone 11. The Galaxy S25 is like 40% faster than the iPhone 16 Pro until it hits load (like the top 1% of games, maybe) then the iPhone is like 10% faster... Who Cares? My 2019 Galaxy S10 is still a viable daily driver in 2025. So, I think I'm done chasing the latest model for a while. If Apple Health comes to iPad (I'm not sure if it's there or not), I'd even consider replacing my Android phone with a newer phone next, like a gently used Galaxy S24 or S25 (I mean in a few years). These new phones talk about performance numbers, but for most people, they don't really mean shit. Phones don't slow down like they used to. They got a lot better and it wasn't even that recently.