RandomStranger wrote on 2026-03-03, 10:18:

Matth79 wrote on 2026-03-01, 21:34:

New to me... and using alt app source is risky and you are warned about it

F-droid is safer than the playstore.

Yup, the irony.

RandomStranger wrote on 2026-03-04, 05:08:

It's already done. There is LineageOS. I use it on an old tablet that can't go above Android 5 on the factory OS. This way it ca […]
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the3dfxdude wrote on 2026-03-03, 19:11:

I dunno, never used that. Might as well fork android

It's already done. There is LineageOS. I use it on an old tablet that can't go above Android 5 on the factory OS. This way it can get as high as 7.1 with LineageOS 14. Still old, but new enough to run the handful of apps I'm using.

Some more recent devices of course support (are supported with) releases based on more recent Android. LineageOS 23 is based on Android 16. The problem is, you have to choose your phone specifically to run the alternative OS. Not everything is supported and even those that are, opening the bootloader can be a pain in the ass. Like with my old Nokia 7 Plus.

You can find unofficial builds for officially unsupported devices on xdaforums, but they can have issues or you might lose features. I tested one with an SM-T280 tablet and had a lot of stability issues and didn't handle the camera well.

There is also GrapheneOS, but device support is even more limited. Exclusively Pixel phones. CalyxOS that only support a handful of devices besides Pixels. There are also some smaller forks mostly not worth bothering with.

Problem is, for some apps these forks fail device integrity check and won't launch. Also, installing these forks are not as trivial as wiping windows and installing Linux in its place.

Something I have no experience with, it the Chinese forks like Xiaomi HyperOS. These were born out of necessity after Google started to block them from using official Android.

Now consider you want the smaller phone, with dimensions like from over 10 years ago. Mission impossible. I wanted something newer for compatibility with few apps that I find handy as Android 7 is getting left behind. Though on the compatibility, I do wonder if some would work if you just decompiled APK and changed minimum SDK value. I've seen one app with changelog mentioning smaller corrections in two instances, where minimum Android version was bumped at the same time. But in my case, Android 7 was already a bit too much for internal storage of old Xperia E3, always low on space.

I settled on Unihertz (Chinese brand) Jelly Max, but, they're not a role model, impossible to make proper custom OS for their phones because they don't publish sources. And GSIs may not have all working hardware functions. This phone has notification LED that presumably depends on custom programming to work right, not like on older phones where apps could adjust LED behavior for themselves. There's also FM radio and IR blaster. All these are rarity these days.

I didn't find Android slow for general usage, though my impression these days is that it needs more memory than Windows 11.

I'd like to replace Google Play Services with microG at some point. I suspect they're significant factor when it comes to battery utilization. But, every time I read into it, I have doubts about the whole procedure and back out.

Hoping wrote on 2026-03-08, 13:11:

theelf wrote on 2026-03-08, 09:47:

Hoping wrote on 2026-03-08, 08:46:

Im still using a Xiaomi Mi Mix 2, its 8 years old and running LineageOS 22.2 Android 15. The only app that does not work from playstore is the eBay app, but it can be instaled by apk. Bank app works, goverment apps work. The Mi Mix 2 still has specs on par with a lot of nowadays phones.

Hi do you use the play integrity fix for whatsapp? or you don use or better, lucky enought not to be in black list?

I don't use any of that, I don't have it rooted, nothing special, everything works without any problems, except for the Ebay app, which cannot be installed from Playstore because it does not recognise the OS and says it cannot work on this device. The Caixabank app, WhatsApp, Signal, Sergas, everything works fine. Even the bank app signature. For me, when WhatsApp doesn't work on my mobile, it will be the perfect excuse not to install it and say I don't have it. I hate WhatsApp, but society forces you to have it.

Yes, i dont like neither but no choise, frorm work to family, whatsapp is a must right now

whatsapp dont care if you have root, but unlocked bootloader, thats why is not possible (at least in all phones i know) to change rom without break play integrity, and whatsapp. If you are lucky and not in a black list, will work with unlock bootloader, but many people, myself included sadly, are there, and as soon detect unlocket bootloader, whatsapp kick me out

https://xdaforums.com/t/guide-play-integrity- … g-apps.4764939/

Thats a big problem for example with alternative OS that can run android app, like Sailfish OS, i tried, but same problem, whatsapp dont want to allow me to login

theelf wrote on 2026-03-08, 14:00:

Yes, i dont like neither but no choise, frorm work to family, whatsapp is a must right now […]
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Hoping wrote on 2026-03-08, 13:11:

theelf wrote on 2026-03-08, 09:47:

Hi do you use the play integrity fix for whatsapp? or you don use or better, lucky enought not to be in black list?

I don't use any of that, I don't have it rooted, nothing special, everything works without any problems, except for the Ebay app, which cannot be installed from Playstore because it does not recognise the OS and says it cannot work on this device. The Caixabank app, WhatsApp, Signal, Sergas, everything works fine. Even the bank app signature. For me, when WhatsApp doesn't work on my mobile, it will be the perfect excuse not to install it and say I don't have it. I hate WhatsApp, but society forces you to have it.

Yes, i dont like neither but no choise, frorm work to family, whatsapp is a must right now

whatsapp dont care if you have root, but unlocked bootloader, thats why is not possible (at least in all phones i know) to change rom without break play integrity, and whatsapp. If you are lucky and not in a black list, will work with unlock bootloader, but many people, myself included sadly, are there, and as soon detect unlocket bootloader, whatsapp kick me out

https://xdaforums.com/t/guide-play-integrity- … g-apps.4764939/

Thats a big problem for example with alternative OS that can run android app, like Sailfish OS, i tried, but same problem, whatsapp dont want to allow me to login

I have two mobile phones with the bootloader unlocked. The question is unnecessary, because without the bootloader unlocked, you cannot change the OS. The Mi Mix 2 with Lineage OS 22.2 Android 15. And the only thing that doesn't work for me from the Play Store is eBay, although I managed to install it with an old APK, but I could use eBay without any problems from the browser. And a Xiaomi MI A2 with Arrow OS Android 13, and everything works too except eBay. If I remember correctly, both were released in 2017.
I also thought that Magisk and Playintegrity fix would be necessary, but nothing. To go from Lineage OS 21 to 22, I had to do a clean install, wipe, data factory reset. And no Magisk or anything like that.

Hoping wrote on 2026-03-08, 14:27:

theelf wrote on 2026-03-08, 14:00:

Yes, i dont like neither but no choise, frorm work to family, whatsapp is a must right now […]
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Hoping wrote on 2026-03-08, 13:11:

I don't use any of that, I don't have it rooted, nothing special, everything works without any problems, except for the Ebay app, which cannot be installed from Playstore because it does not recognise the OS and says it cannot work on this device. The Caixabank app, WhatsApp, Signal, Sergas, everything works fine. Even the bank app signature. For me, when WhatsApp doesn't work on my mobile, it will be the perfect excuse not to install it and say I don't have it. I hate WhatsApp, but society forces you to have it.

Yes, i dont like neither but no choise, frorm work to family, whatsapp is a must right now

whatsapp dont care if you have root, but unlocked bootloader, thats why is not possible (at least in all phones i know) to change rom without break play integrity, and whatsapp. If you are lucky and not in a black list, will work with unlock bootloader, but many people, myself included sadly, are there, and as soon detect unlocket bootloader, whatsapp kick me out

https://xdaforums.com/t/guide-play-integrity- … g-apps.4764939/

Thats a big problem for example with alternative OS that can run android app, like Sailfish OS, i tried, but same problem, whatsapp dont want to allow me to login

I have two mobile phones with the bootloader unlocked. The question is unnecessary, because without the bootloader unlocked, you cannot change the OS. The Mi Mix 2 with Lineage OS 22.2 Android 15. And the only thing that doesn't work for me from the Play Store is eBay, although I managed to install it with an old APK, but I could use eBay without any problems from the browser. And a Xiaomi MI A2 with Arrow OS Android 13, and everything works too except eBay. If I remember correctly, both were released in 2017.
I also thought that Magisk and Playintegrity fix would be necessary, but nothing. To go from Lineage OS 21 to 22, I had to do a clean install, wipe, data factory reset. And no Magisk or anything like that.

the problem with whatsapp is that as soon your number enter the black list, you are out of luck, exept like you say magisk and playintegrity fixes, that is a problem, you live thinking maybe tomorrow whatsapp update and yoour fix will not work anymore

And why aren't my numbers on the blacklist? That's the question, if there is such a blacklist, why aren't they on it? What actually causes numbers to be blacklisted?

I don't have WhatsApp. Does it mean I'm reasonably resisting society's influence? 😜

One thing I'd rather not have on the phone is banking related. But they seem to have delegated certificates as 2FA method to the bin of history. 😒 I think this was better than any SMS, code generator or smartphone app.

UCyborg wrote on 2026-03-08, 15:26:

I don't have WhatsApp. Does it mean I'm reasonably resisting society's influence? 😜

One thing I'd rather not have on the phone is banking related. But they seem to have delegated certificates as 2FA method to the bin of history. 😒 I think this was better than any SMS, code generator or smartphone app.

In my case, the bank verifies all transactions with confirmation from my mobile phone using my signature. You cannot access my bank account without access to the application and my mobile phone, and your password. And to access it from the website, it asks for confirmation of access through the mobile application, so you need to have your mobile phone and the application password to access it from the website, and to access the application, you need to be able to unlock your mobile phone. Quite a few layers, I think.
As for WhatsApp, I avoid it as much as I can. My main messaging app is Signal, and depending on who it is, I tell them it's either Signal or nothing. If they insist on WhatsApp, I ignore them.

Hoping wrote on 2026-03-08, 15:22:

And why aren't my numbers on the blacklist? That's the question, if there is such a blacklist, why aren't they on it? What actually causes numbers to be blacklisted?

For example if you use whatsapp plus, GBWhatsapp etc in past and you get a warning about this, but who knows what else can be. The only thing i know, and community knows, is once your phone number is in there, as soon whatsapp detect unlocked bootloader, kick you out

Hoping wrote on 2026-03-08, 16:10:

As for WhatsApp, I avoid it as much as I can. My main messaging app is Signal, and depending on who it is, I tell them it's either Signal or nothing. If they insist on WhatsApp, I ignore them.

Difficult to ignore family and work

theelf wrote on 2026-03-08, 19:00:

For example if you use whatsapp plus, GBWhatsapp etc in past and you get a warning about this, but who knows what else can be. The only thing i know, and community knows, is once your phone number is in there, as soon whatsapp detect unlocked bootloader, kick you out

Using unofficial applications to utilise someone else's infrastructure, it seems logical that they would block the number on a blacklist. It doesn't surprise me, I wouldn't even think of doing it, because that really is a risk, using an application made by who knows who.
Because of things like this, companies can justify the need to do something like what OP is warning us about in this thread.

theelf wrote on 2026-03-08, 19:00:

Difficult to ignore family and work

Family is the easiest thing to ignore, I don't sell myself short because of that. When I was working, I told my boss that if he wanted to contact me, it had to be through Signal, or nothing, because outside of work, I had no obligation to attend to him, so he installed Signal on his mobile phone. It depends on each person's circumstances and situation, but I don't put up with that kind of thing.

Hoping wrote on 2026-03-08, 20:40:

Using unofficial applications to utilise someone else's infrastructure, it seems logical that they would block the number on a b […]
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theelf wrote on 2026-03-08, 19:00:

For example if you use whatsapp plus, GBWhatsapp etc in past and you get a warning about this, but who knows what else can be. The only thing i know, and community knows, is once your phone number is in there, as soon whatsapp detect unlocked bootloader, kick you out

Using unofficial applications to utilise someone else's infrastructure, it seems logical that they would block the number on a blacklist. It doesn't surprise me, I wouldn't even think of doing it, because that really is a risk, using an application made by who knows who.
Because of things like this, companies can justify the need to do something like what OP is warning us about in this thread.

theelf wrote on 2026-03-08, 19:00:

Difficult to ignore family and work

Family is the easiest thing to ignore, I don't sell myself short because of that. When I was working, I told my boss that if he wanted to contact me, it had to be through Signal, or nothing, because outside of work, I had no obligation to attend to him, so he installed Signal on his mobile phone. It depends on each person's circumstances and situation, but I don't put up with that kind of thing.

In Spanish we have a saying: When I read you, I don't know whether to laugh or cry

theelf wrote on 2026-03-08, 20:46:

In Spanish we have a saying: When I read you, I don't know whether to laugh or cry

We also have another expression, "cada loco con su tema". What's relevant is that Google is trying so hard to block the free use of Android, which is based on Linux. In my opinion. And that's a motive to cry no to laught, I think.

Hoping wrote on 2026-03-08, 21:42:

theelf wrote on 2026-03-08, 20:46:

In Spanish we have a saying: When I read you, I don't know whether to laugh or cry

We also have another expression, "cada loco con su tema". What's relevant is that Google is trying so hard to block the free use of Android, which is based on Linux. In my opinion. And that's a motive to cry no to laught, I think.

This is not "cada loco con su tema", because maybe 90% of the western world use whatsapp, and if left out tech people, maybe 99%. Entonces, todos con el mismo tema

All we have family, and most of us like/need to be in touch, and a lot of people have works that interacts with others... whatsapp

Feel bad for the path is taking android, i want open and not locked, but at the end of the day, is app what you use not OS itself. And if apps can do whatever they want... like whatsapp do, forcing you to use a locked system... break the point of a open os

Someone can say... JUST DONT USE IT... but for most of people is *not* possible, thats the true

theelf wrote on 2026-03-08, 21:57:

Someone can say... JUST DONT USE IT... but for most of people is *not* possible, thats the true

And that, unfortunately, I also believe happens that way, the flock follows the shepherd and nothing more, but if no one complained or did anything, the shepherd would always do whatever he wanted. And that's why we complain about the changes Google wants to implement. Someone has to complain and say no. If everyone says yes, there's nothing left to debate.

I refuse to have something imposed on me that I don't like, that doesn't seem fair, and that I'm not obligated to accept; for that reason, I don't accept it.

I think the OP started this thread along those lines because he don't want to accept that Google imposes its law.

^That's the idea.

Hoping wrote on 2026-03-08, 22:55:

If everyone says yes, there's nothing left to debate.

Or doesn't say anything at all.

UCyborg wrote on 2026-03-08, 23:01:

^That's the idea.

Hoping wrote on 2026-03-08, 22:55:

If everyone says yes, there's nothing left to debate.

Or doesn't say anything at all.

Whatever Google imposes will not affect the majority of the people who don't even know what sideloading (or even rooting) is.

Those who will be affected are already making their opinions seen and heard which is why we get to read those articles, including the page OP linked.

Unfortunately, we're a minority. Our voices can simply be disregarded as noises. Our "1-star"s could barely put a dent on the overall ratings of the apps in question.

So for now, can only watch how this will develop further. What Google will do in the end, and what ROM (e.g. Lineage) and rooting (e.g. Magisk, KernelSU) communities will respond and adapt.

LSS10999 wrote on Yesterday, 01:20:

Whatever Google imposes will not affect the majority of the people who don't even know what sideloading (or even rooting) is.

The interesting part is that this happens right at the time the EU is messing with Apple for not allowing sideloading.

RandomStranger wrote on Yesterday, 05:07:

LSS10999 wrote on Yesterday, 01:20:

Whatever Google imposes will not affect the majority of the people who don't even know what sideloading (or even rooting) is.

The interesting part is that this happens right at the time the EU is messing with Apple for not allowing sideloading.

If this is really true, then for EU and only EU, "iOS is turning into Android".

I have an android phone, which I can barely figure out how to use. I don't have a google account, so no apps for me. The phone is only turned on 2 days a week. Am I missing anything?

It's possible to get by without an account, though you have to get apps through alternative means. Open-sourced ones tend to be published right on GitHub and the like, Aurora is open-source front-end to Google's Play Store, which you can sign into with anonymous account, F-Droid is a repository / store independent from Google. Store app lets you have the overview and way for checking and installing update apps from one place. So in any case, it starts with installing APK (APK is a bit special ZIP, it's how apps are packed on Android) found somewhere on the internet.

Contacts can be imported / exported through VCF file.

These are the most basics I can think of. You can think of it in terms that if it's Google's online service, then it likely needs a Google account.

Of course, for calls and SMSes, you could never think about apps, but then a smartphone might be a bit of an overkill.