This button is still visible there the first time you make a private space, it still ended up being confusing as a first time user because it didn't do anything :P
Private Space on Android 15 GrapheneOS
cybermattic I flashed my phone to use the stock Android. I couldn't find the Private Space feature. So I talked to the Google support. Here is the answer. The Pixel engineering team decided to remove the Private Space feature.
That's not true. I flashed stock PixelOS Android 15 February 2025 patch on my Pixel 8 a few days ago, and the feature was there. It was also only introduced in Android 15. The Google support employee either didn't know what they're talking about, or you misunderstood what they were saying.
You probably flashed Android 14. Do a check for system updates.
[deleted] I just created the Private Space today and I have the same issue with build 2025021100 on Pixel 6. Every time the Private Space is unlocked all but the lower 5 GOS apps (Files, Gallery, Info, PDF Vie..., Vanadium) are invisible. Also the settings button is missing and the Lock button is only the icon (does not include the word Lock). If I enable and disable Hide Private Space... while it's unlocked, the apps become visible, the settings button returns and the lock button says Lock.
7 days later
r134a Yes, I did. Thank you. Enabling it fixes that but slows interactions with the device such as unlocking the screen, opening apps, the auto closing of the recent items screen and locking the screen :(
kwikk Also have this setup (owner for app install only) and would welcome Private Space support in non-owner profiles.
@GrapheneOS would this be considered for the roadmap?
arg https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/19501-app-communication-scopes-status/10 My own interpretation from this post is that it could be considered (Either multiple private spaces in owner or private space in secondary profiles, not sure), but it probably heavily depends on how feasible it would be to implement from a developer perspective.
yore i feel like private space has con's (just from usability perspective) only. The vpn which should behave sandboxed from each other interfer/interact with each other. When i do something with vpn in private space, it's changing the vpn app's behavioir in owner profile. Private space settings menue are mixed with owner profile settings which is confusing and an adds unneccessary user mistake potential. It's all very complicated to handle and to ceep everything in sight. I can't just install avalable apps like in secondary user profiles. If private space has any benefits compared to user profiles, i can't see them. I tryed out private space a couple of times but i ended up just deleating it frustraded every time. With user profiles its so easy. i set it up and tap on the app's i want to use. I can update all installed apps from the owner profile and set up restrictions to the user profile. Easy peasy lemon squeesy.
So GrapheneOS deverlopers say they highly recommend private space over user profiles. I have a realy hard time to understand that statement. Mabe on a technical level, private space has better sandboxing which means better security,
(Which i also have ha hard time beleaving it because one of the first things i noticed was interference between vpn apps which is a sign for not goot seperation between the apps. It should not be possible.),
but at least to me, it don't seem to be worth it.
And i am no grandpa who strugles to use whatsapp (don't panic, i don't use whatsapp). I have no developer knoledge but from a user perspective i consider my skill to use a phone pretty decent. At least i have no problems, most times. (As far as i don't try tonunderstand any system apps behaviour or any development option).
But normallily i should not have any problems to master the private space feature like i mastered the user profiles feature.
So i blame the private space feature to be too complicated and too unfunctional.
But what do i know.
I'm just some noob
X000X if you are not comfortable using certain OS features, just steer clear after trial. Just because you find it difficult or confusing to use doesn't yet mean others don't find any value in it.
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The vpn which should behave sandboxed from each other interfer/interact with each other.
Could you elaborate on that? I use Proton VPN in Private Space and sometimes in Owner Profile - it works fine for me.
Private space settings menue are mixed with owner profile settings which is confusing and an adds unneccessary user mistake potential.
Could you explain this in more detail? The only thing I sometimes have difficulties telling apart is when two VPNs are running simultaneously (solution: i named the VPN profiles in Proton acorordingly).
Using the same apps in Owner Profile and Private Space (e.g. 2x Vanadium -1x Owner 1x Private Space) you can easily recognize which app belongs to what in the App Switcher by the small Private Space icon buttom right off the App Icon.
I can't just install avalable apps like in secondary user profiles.
I agree - that's a disadvantage.
If private space has any benefits compared to user profiles, i can't see them
Perhaps they do not exist in the way you setuped your device and you are better off with User Profiles. And that's fine. But there may be other setups and needs where the way Private Space works fits better.
I for example used to have different User Profiles - Owner Profile to distribute apps, a degoogled Main Profile and a Profile with Google Apps.
Nowadays i use Owner Profile degoogled as my daily driver and can quickly open Private Space if i need Apps requiring Google Play services - f.e. Google Maps instead of Organic Maps or Pixel Camera instead of GrapheneOS Camera.
So driving using google Maps i simultaneously can read an incoming SimpleX Message (although i probably shouldn't) or do a Signal Call without jumping back and forth between profiles.
I also can access Social Media Apps quickly. File Sharing via File Picker i personally find easier than in my older setup (i used Syncting and Cloud to share files between different Profiles - i have to admit that Inter Profil Sharing might have been a better solution though). Passwords from Keepass or OTPs from Aegis i can just copy paste - no more need to sync databases between profiles.
I think Private Space is a handy solution - and more secure and better implemented than workspaces like Shelter.
It definitly has its flaws (it would be great f.e. if you could install apps from the Owner Profile in the Private Space as you can do with User Profiles and access files in Private Space via USB) but overall it made my daily digital life much easier.
6 days later
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Oggyo Correct. They have never said that.
Murcielago if you could install apps from the Owner Profile in the Private Space as you can do with User Profiles and access files in Private Space via USB) but overall it made my daily digital life much easier.
What can be the reason for this feature not existing? From what I notice app updates occur seamlessly in private space if signatures match with an app in Owner that gets updated. Likewise, if I try to install an app in the private space, that has the same ID but different version or signature than in the owner, then installation errors out.
I wish we could have private space in secondary users :/
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Sorry, I can't answer that.
But there is an open issue on Github for this:
Oggyo "We strongly recommend it as a replacement for a work profile managed by a local profile admin app. It has better OS integration and isolation."
Out of this discussion:
https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/16670-private-space-on-android-15-grapheneos
14 days later
Oggyo what is the definition of "work profile" isn't a work profile any profile but the owner profile?
Fartimoji what is the definition of "work profile"
https://support.google.com/work/android/answer/6191949?hl=en
isn't a work profile any profile but the owner profile?
No.