I actually tried to get Grindr to work a few days ago after reading this thread, but it didn't work for me. Didn't say anything because I had nothing valuable to add. Still don't, just lots of failure.

I tried on a fresh new profile. Installed all of GMS apps. Installed via Google Play. Logged in to Google Play. Also cannot log in or create an account on Grindr.

Granted literally every single permission to both Google Play Services and Grindr. Didn't work.

Enabled exploit protection compatibility mode. Didn't work.

Tried logging in using Google for single sign on. Grindr shows up in the connected apps, but still doesn't get past that point. Tried creating a user using email + password. Also didn't work.

Didn't try phone number or Facebook login because I'm not sure how I'd explain anything popping up to unwat's better half.

Checked logcat. Nothing helpful there.

    It would seem that if the need to give away all the "keys to the kingdom in" terms of permissions / security is required (and the app still doesn't work), ones threat model is of so little consequence that the use case for a hardened OS is unwarranted.

      Kamaehuakanaloa
      Not exactly. It's perfectly valid to want to use an app like Grindr, contained to its own profile which stays shut down when not in use. GOS is, in my opinion, perfect for this exact use case.

          spiral We will have to agree to disagree on this one. Using a native app like Grindr, for which there is no audited, FOSS alternative front end, is inherently insecure.

              Kamaehuakanaloa
              Of course Grindr isn't a secure app, I didn't say that it is.

              You said, "if you need to give away all these permissions to use an app, then one's threat model is of so little consequence that the use case of GOS is unwarranted"

              I disagree entirely with this statement. Many people who use GOS want to use it because it helps to mitigate the risk of using insecure apps, Grindr being a prime example.

              Obviously no one wants to give away all those permissions to use Grindr on GOS, but even if granting those permissions got the app working I could still contain it to its own profile and keep it shut down for the majority of the time. That's not an "unwarranted" use case of GOS at all.

                  Kamaehuakanaloa
                  Sure, no harm in our mere disagreeing.

                  I would prefer that people who are on this board, searching for ways to make Grindr work, don't walk away with your idea - that their threat model is of little consequence, their use of GOS unwarranted.

                  Plenty of people here are undoubtedly using insecure apps on GOS - Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok, Uber, Facebook - all valid apps to require use of. Grindr is no different.

                    Grindr seems to be working fine for one user (as of last month), not sure if they still use the app but based on their chat history, it seems they've been using it since the beginning of the year without issues. It's common for dating apps to have weird anti-tampering/abuse and bot detection mechanisms. Sounds like that could be the issue with not being able to sign-in, rather than an issue with sandboxed Google Play.

                    Are you signed in to Grindr on any other devices? If you aren't, try signing in and use the app for a bit and then see if it you can sign in on GrapheneOS. If you are using a VPN, consider turning it off or changing servers to rule out any issues with that.

                    a year later

                    Hi,

                    Apologies for digging up such an old topic but it felt more appropriate to use it rather than starting a new one.

                    Since mid-december, the app has been unusable on my device running GOS. The first symptom was that no profile picture would display. Then, I noticed that the Play Store was indicating the app wouldn't work on my device/isn't compatible with it. And it's no longer showing up in Aurora store.

                    Is anyone using that app facing the same issue ? The only changes on my device are the regular updates to GOS (one was released on Dec 12th btw).

                    Any clue appreciated. The app's support team is a dead end.
                    Thank you and happy new year to all of you!

                      alx Then, I noticed that the Play Store was indicating the app wouldn't work on my device/isn't compatible with it

                      I have touched base and wrote up an explanation with cited references in the 'Not compatible' section of the app compatibility with GrapheneOS

                      alx And it's no longer showing up in Aurora store

                      If you are signed into your Google account using the Aurora store then that is explained in link above. If you were using the their anonymous login mode, then see https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/8255-aurora-does-not-install-apps/8

                          spiral I can attest Grindr works perfectly fine. Play services are required, and most Grindr permissions. Rerouting to Google for location is NOT REQUIRED.

                          Sometimes a VPN will work ONLY if location is set to your home state or close enough to physical location. That being said, it sometimes doesn't and I generally would whitelist Grindr to bypass my VPN. Unfortunately, however, I do not have my graphene device on me and I cannot recall if you must also whitelist play services, I do not think you have to

                            Then I'm confused about the reason why it suddenly stopped working properly on my Pixel 6. Knowing the app had not been updated since October, I suppose they couldn't enforce any new system requirement from within the app. That leaves a change in requirements on the Play Store side, but how could this have an effect on the app knowing it wasn't updated recently ?

                            Or, could this be that since the app was installed by something else than the Play Store (Aurora, anonymous mode), it stopped showing it in the Play Store ? I'm lost. I guess I have to uninstall it, to know. With the risk not to be able to reinstall it but I don't really care now that it became unusable.

                              alx Knowing the app had not been updated since October

                              You just literally answered your own question. Please go update your app and try again. This is an app among many others that if not updated for a certain amount of time will literally just stop connecting and or working at all. If not to a point. For example. Maybe you can view what's around you but you can't send a received messages

                              • alx replied to this.

                                  N3rdTek It cannot explain the fact the Play Store indicates "This app won't work for your device". This can't be related to an outdated app. As expected, the app can't be reinstalled, even using a different (fresh) Google account and clearing the Play Store app's storage.

                                      alx this can't explain why that message doesn't show for a freshly installed sandboxed Google Play.
                                      If you have ever partially reinstalled Google Play from the Apps app please 100% completely uninstall ANY and EVERY app(BUT NOT WHAT YOU INSTALLED FROM PLAY STORE) related to the current Sandboxed Google Play installation, reboot, then install it from the Apps app and try again.

                                      During this process your other apps can stay where they are but will complain of missing GMS until Google Play and related services finish installing

                                      • alx replied to this.

                                          N3rdTek Tried that: uninstalled Play Store, Play Services, Services Framework, rebooted the phone, reinstalled them from Apps. Added notification, location (all the time), sensors permissions + unrestricted battery to Play Services. Added notification permission to Play Store. Re-added my google account, opened the Store : the app still "won't work for your device". I'm using a Pixel 6, what is your phone ?

                                          Can an app developer ban a specific device from installing it via the Play Store based on a unique ID of some kind ? Asking because it started while I was travelling. (therefore, with a location mismatched with my IP address)

                                              alx I get the same message that Grindr won't work on my device. Maybe they're only permitting phones that pass Play Integrity to install.