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.

                                          other8026 I have not flashed GoS onto my replacement device since acquiring it, but it's been less than a month since I've last used it and grindr. I was on a pixel 7, and running stock Pixel 7, I can still access it. If you are able, Make it back up, flash stock, and if you are able to download and access then it is certainly available to the Device as a whole.
                                          To my knowledge, unless it has been changed within the last month, it is not dependent on integrity checks.

                                          I would potentially suggest entering safe mode and trying to download it that way, however Play store is not a system app so it will be disabled as it would be a user app.

                                          You could potentially install Aurora store and spoof to a pixel 6, if you are able to access it then it is most likely a permissions issue that you have set for play services system framework and Play store.
                                          I have extensively used this app since I have owned my Pixel 7 running graphing and I have run into absolutely little to no issues , except when running a VPN. This however is intended as it is usually standard for a chat application that shows you surrounding people whereby running a VPN will obfuscate your true location and be prone to abuse.
                                          Other things you could try;
                                          Clear Google Play Store’s Cache and Data
                                          Ensure you have the latest GoS update installed
                                          Delete Google Services Framework’s Cache and Data
                                          Sideload the “Incompatible” App (please ensure the APK and website you pick is a reputable source as sideloading can carry a risk if you install an infected version)
                                          Reinstall GrapheneOS and try again

                                          • alx replied to this.

                                              N3rdTek Thanks. The impossibility to install the app indeed started less than a month ago. You may have stopped using GOS before this change happened. Already tried to reinstall the Google stuff (as per your earlier advice), no change. I'm not willing to engage in more invasive actions such as flashing my phone just for this app :) I'm pretty sure this is about the device not being "certified" when running GOS. The "support" team never wanted to tell/confirm this, despite my requests about this, which were simply eluded. What a poor customer service.

                                              other8026 Thank you too for taking the time to try this. At least, I can now be pretty sure this is not specific to my device or account.

                                                  19 days later

                                                  Just want to echo that I am unable to download grindr from the place store as well with the "This app won't work for your device" message with gos on a pixel 6 pro.

                                                    I would just repeat steps that should work:

                                                    1. install the google trio from apps with internet permission
                                                    2. launch google play, grant it permissions, maybe log in
                                                    3. install aurorastore from auroraoss.com to bypass OS block
                                                    4. download that app, launch it. If not working step 5.
                                                    5. stop it, clear all app data.
                                                    6. If not working, try disabling a VPN, step 5.
                                                    7. If not working, try enabling sensor permission, step 5.
                                                    8. If not working, try enabling native code debugging, step 5.
                                                    9. If not working, try disabling hardened malloc, step 5.
                                                    10. If not working, try disabling exploit mitigation, step 5. (This should be avoided!)

                                                    If the app still doesnt work it may use Safetynet for whatever reason. Guide them to GrapheneOS attestation info.