How to De-Google Your Phone

Okay, so I've been preaching about the importance of digital privacy for quite some time. I even created a seven-hour-long video course in Hungarian about it. Yet, I was still missing one crucial step—the most important one: using a smartphone without Google.

To me, digital privacy means having the power to decide what I share with others, including companies that profit from selling my data to data brokers. I have a YouTube channel and an Instagram account, but I only upload content I would share publicly anyway. However, sharing my location at all times, having all my apps and activities monitored and logged, and other "neat" invasions of privacy? No, thanks.

Naomi Brockwell and The Hated One have been advocating GrapheneOS for a while now, and they recently uploaded detailed instructions on how to install it. So, I figured it was time to make the switch.

Getting Started

Ironically, to escape Google's grip, you need a Google Pixel phone. These devices allow bootloader unlocking and custom OS flashing while maintaining essential security updates—something crucial for privacy-focused users. Since Google had just released the Pixel 9 series (great phones, but expensive), I opted for a Pixel 8 from Amazon. This is my usual strategy: buy slightly older but still high-performing devices at a much better price.

The Pixel arrived the next day, and I got straight to work installing GrapheneOS. There are plenty of video tutorials on how to do this, so I won’t go into too much detail. The process involves turning on the device, booting into the stock OS, enabling Developer Mode, unlocking the OEM, and restarting the device in Safe Mode. Then, you head over to the GrapheneOS website and follow their instructions: connect the phone, unlock the bootloader, download the release, flash it, and finally relock the bootloader. Done.

At least, that’s how it should go. For me, it didn’t flash correctly the first time—no message, just an error. I suspected my laptop's USB port was at fault, so I closed the bootloader and tried again. Then, I got a message saying a factory reset was needed. I tapped "OK," and suddenly GrapheneOS just booted up. It’s been working ever since. I consider myself fairly tech-savvy, but I have no idea why it worked like that. Anyway, first step: complete.

What is GrapheneOS, and Why Should You Care?

GrapheneOS is an open-source, privacy-focused operating system built for Google Pixel devices. Unlike other Android-based custom ROMs, GrapheneOS prioritizes security without sacrificing usability. Here are some of its core features:

• Hardened Security: It improves upon stock Android security with enhanced memory protection, sandboxing, and exploit mitigation.

• No Google Services: Unlike many other privacy-focused ROMs, GrapheneOS is entirely Google-free. However, it allows sandboxed Google Play Services if needed.

• Secure App Installations: The OS comes with a hardened app store, Vanadium (a hardened Chromium-based browser), and full compatibility with F-Droid and Aurora Store for accessing apps without relying on Google Play.

• Advanced Permission Controls: GrapheneOS provides more fine-tuned controls over app permissions, including network access, sensors, and media storage.

• Verified Boot & Lockdown Mode: Ensures that the OS hasn’t been tampered with and offers additional security features like hardware-based encryption.

• Improved Battery Life: By cutting out unnecessary background tracking and processes, GrapheneOS can actually improve battery performance compared to stock Android.

  
  

Setting Up My Privacy-Focused Phone

With GrapheneOS successfully installed, I quickly set up the device and installed F-Droid to get Proton VPN. Then, I used the Aurora Store (an open-source alternative to Google Play) to install the rest of my essential apps: all the other Proton apps, Brave Browser, Session, and Signal. (Also a bunch of other stuff to have fun as well, like NewPipe. )

I opted to use the Aurora Store anonymously—potentially a security risk, but still better than having a Google ID just for app downloads. Some people install sandboxed Google Play Services for better app compatibility, but I decided against it. The only minor downside? Some messaging apps don’t receive push notifications in real-time. Not a dealbreaker for me—I check messages when I actually have time to read and respond—but this might be an issue for others.

The Japanese Input Problem

One major issue: GrapheneOS doesn’t support Japanese by default. Since I live in Japan and write most of my messages and emails in Japanese, this was a big problem. While the missing Japanese menu wasn't a thing I couldn't live without, the lack of proper input support was.

There are open-source Japanese keyboards out there, but none of them are great. So, I decided to tame the beast: I installed Gboard, allowed it temporary network access to download the Japanese language pack, and then revoked its network permissions. Now, I use the pre-installed GrapheneOS keyboard for alphabetical input and offline Gboard for Japanese. Works like a charm.

Final Thoughts

I now have a powerful, privacy-respecting phone without a SIM card, with location services turned off, and always using Proton VPN when connecting to Wi-Fi. I have all the apps I need, and if I want to make a call, I just use Session or Signal. The hardest part? Convincing others to use them too. But hey, that’s a different battle.

I did my part to reclaim my privacy. Your move, chief.