How to make the Temperature Sensor / Pixel Thermometer work

MrSwiss

Yes, the temperature sensor is finally supported!!1!

After the hard work of the team, it is finally able to use the temperature sensor. Since I was facing some issues, I hope my time spend will save yours.

Supported devices are Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL while I tested on Pixel 9 Pro XL.
I do not have any Google component installed.

First of all, make sure you have the latest version of GrapheneOS installed. I am using 2024091700 while future updates should be supported as well.

Then check if the special permission is enabled located in Settings > Apps > Special app access "Special access to hardware accelerators for Google apps". This is enabled by default.

Then install Pixel Thermometer app. Since I do not have Play Store and Aurora Store cannot install the APK, so I chose ADB to install the app via my PC and overcome the restriction. You find separate tutorials for how to enable USB debugging and how to run the command “ADB install PixelThermometer.apk”. I am using the latest version 1.0.654975759.

Due all my tries to get it work it first said the sensor is not available. So, I deleted all app data / full app reset and restarted the phone. Afterwards the app was working as it should.

For your information: The version I am using does not request internet at all.

Dumdum

MrSwiss
I thought the thermometer was available in the GOS App store, no?

Carlos-Anso

Dumdum
Yes it is available in the GrapheneOS app store

words

Carlos-Anso I still don't see it in Graphene App Store. 2024092900. I remember downloading one of the previous updates back when it was in beta and not seeing it App Store.

hemlockiv

You mean the actual Graphene default "Apps" app, or in Accrescent? I can't find it in either :(

I installed it from apkmirror and even though I followed the instructions you posted it still says Temperature Sensor Unavailable (I'm on 8 Pro)

de0u

hemlockiv You mean the actual Graphene default "Apps" app, or in Accrescent? I can't find it in either :(

I believe the old "Apps" app has been renamed to "App Store". If the app is still called "Apps" on your device, maybe something is out of date?

Murcielago

Murcielago referring to hemlockiv

hemlockiv

hemlockiv I installed it from apkmirror and even though I followed the instructions you posted it still says Temperature Sensor Unavailable (I'm on 8 Pro)

Turns out I just needed to update Graphene lol. It all works as expected now

hemlockiv

de0u you're right, it is called App Store. I didn't look closely at the name because I was so used to it being called Apps. But still, it doesn't have thermometer in it

de0u

hemlockiv Which version of App Store is installed?

Murcielago

Just to be sure - are you using a compatible device (Pixel Thermometer app is available from GrapheneOS App Store for the Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL)?

source: https://grapheneos.org/releases#2024083100

hemlockiv

Murcielago Yes, I mentioned I'm on Pixel 8 Pro

Murcielago

hemlockiv
now I see it too, I overlooked it. Sorry for that!

Graffiti

While we are on the subject, there is something strange occurring with the icon contained in the Pixel Thermometer app available on the GrapheneOS app store.

I use Smart Launcher as the default launcher. Among its features, it supports themed icons, including the ones generated algorithmically by the companion app Icon Pack Studio. Now, when there is no icon theme pack applied, the Pixel Thermometer icon is properly rendered, as per the screen snippet below:

No icon pack applied

However, when the Icon Pack Studio generated icons are applied (independently from the algorithm selected), the Pixel Thermometer icon is not drawn at all, as below:

With icon pack applied

You will pardon me for the eventual absurdity I am going to write, but it seems like the icon stored in the Pixel Thermometer app is not vectorial, or not standard. In the screen shot below there is another icon which does not behave correctly, the lite version of Trip Advisor provided by the Hermit app. Indeed, I opened a case also with the relative maintainer.

Yes, it's a nuisance, and to be honest it's not clear if the original app available on the stock firmware has the same issue, or not.

de0u

Graffiti I believe the Pixel Thermometer app installed by the GrapheneOS App Store is the same app as Google's app. This is especially likely to be true if the source shown in the App Store is "Google (mirror)" (I don't have an entry, but I expect that's because I don't have a device with a temperature sensor).

roamer4223

de0u I agree, I think it is the same as the Google app. However, before GOS added support for it, you could download it from the Play Store (it just didn't work). Now, even if it is not installed from the GOS app store already, the Play Store version won't install. Also, according to the release notes of the OS version (2024083100) that included support for it, they also added strict isolation from other apps to the Thermometer app. here are the release notes:
add support for Pixel Thermometer app available from our App Store for the Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL with strict isolation from other apps
So @Graffiti I don't know if the isolation measures added by the GrapheneOS team has something to do with the icon issues you're having as I don't understand the technical details, but I suppose it's possible. Maybe it causes your launcher or icon pack to not see it as the correct app. No idea but it seems plausible

other8026

words App Store should be recent enough to show the Thermometer app if you're on 2024092900. You have a Pixel 8 Pro, a Pixel 9 Pro, or a Pixel 9 Pro XL, right?

Carlos-Anso

words
Could you be blocking app store from connecting to the server so it cant update the list of apps?

words

other8026 I do have a thermometer compatible device, yes.

Carlos-Anso

I don't block App Store and double checked using tcpdump just to make sure my ISP isn't butchering packets. In GrapheneOS App Store itself, all auto updates are allowed, with the default interval period, and i allowed it to perform updates on any type of network. I do restrict GrapheneOS autoupdating on metered network, but that's a separate thing. Moreover, the App Store itself receives core app updates in a timely manner. Any ideas what could be happening here?

de0u

words Which version of App Store is installed?

words

de0u 26.