GrapheneOS FAQ

nandohyphen1

GrapheneOS FAQ

Here's an FAQ of GrapheneOS. There is a lot of material to cover, so I recommend reading through the official website.
https://grapheneos.org
There is a lot of information on there. Look through all the pages.

What devices are supported?

The complete list of supported devices can be found at;
https://grapheneos.org/faq#supported-devices
As of this writing, supported devices are as follows;
Pixel 6 Series
Pixel 7 Series
Pixel 8 Series
Pixel 9 Series
Pixel 10 Series (Experimental!!)

ONLY Google Pixel phones work. Nothing else.

What are the requirements for installing GrapheneOS?

Read this here;
https://grapheneos.org/install/web#prerequisites
Your Google Pixel phone must be both Carrier Unlocked AND OEM Unlockable. If a retailer says the phone is "unlocked", they are most likely referring to it being carrier unlocked. Best places to get a compatible phone is from the Google Store or Best Buy.

What apps work on GrapheneOS?

Almost all apps work. If you install Google Play Services, all apps should work. The only app that doesn't work is Google Wallet/Pay. This is a nice post on App Compatibility on GrapheneOS that @akc3n created;
https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/8330-app-compatibility-with-grapheneos

Useful information about GrapheneOS

Contact Scopes
https://grapheneos.org/features#contact-scopes
Contact Scopes let an app think you gave it contacts permission when you really didn't. So Telegram for example, wants to access your contacts. Set up Contact Scopes and the app thinks it can access your contacts, but it really can't, so then you can only choose a few people out of your contacts list instead of letting Telegram see all your contacts.

Storage Scopes
https://grapheneos.org/features#storage-scopes
Storage Scopes work in a similar way to Contact Scopes, but for your storage permission. If an app wants to access your files and photos, set this up and it will think it has access, but it does not.

Auto Reboot
https://grapheneos.org/features#auto-reboot
Set Auto Reboot for your phone to automatically reboot if it hasn't been unlocked within a certain period of time.

Duress PIN
https://grapheneos.org/features#duress
The Duress PIN will factory reset your phone when it is entered. At any spot on your phone that GrapheneOS asks for your PIN (ie; lock screen, private space, etc.), if you enter the Duress PIN, it fully factory resets your phone and is non reversible after it is entered.

Sandboxed Google Play

https://grapheneos.org/features#sandboxed-google-play
Google Play is not included installed by default, but can be obtained in the GrapheneOS app store. It runs as an app, rather than a system app, which gives you more control over permissions.

Private Space
https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/16670-private-space-on-android-15-grapheneos/197

Complete list of GrapheneOS Features can be found here;
https://grapheneos.org/features#features

Do I lose any functionality by using GrapheneOS?

No, you do not. GrapheneOS can do everything your regular phone can, all while being more private and secure.

Can I revert back to stock Android if GrapheneOS isn't for me?

Yes, you can go back to stock Android by following these directions;
https://grapheneos.org/install/web#replacing-grapheneos-with-the-stock-os

More Information

You can find more information by reading the FAQ on the official website;
https://grapheneos.org/faq#faq
The FAQ here is only a small handful of the most common questions, but most of your questions can be found on the website or by searching this forum.

Note to the @mods;
Please feel free to edit, add, or update this post. Also feel free to sticky it.

nologo

nandohyphen1 If you install Google Play Services, all apps should work.

This seems to suggest installing Google Play is required. I think you should mention (1) lots of apps work perfectly fine without Google Play Services, and (2) that some apps requiring Google Play Services still don't work with it installed because of the API Integrity check thing.

billbutter

nandohyphen1 Do I lose any functionality by using GrapheneOS?

No, you do not

This simply isn't accurate. It's close, but there are notable exceptions. Play integrity and Banking come to mind. Also, like, Egg inc for some reason.

nandohyphen1

nologo yeah I can't edit it anymore. But GrapheneOS does recommend installing Google Play Services, especially for beginners. I'd recommend it too, until people can completely learn the OS and feel comfortable without Google Play Services. But yes, if I could edit it, I'd change it a little. Maybe a moderator will. :)

nandohyphen1

Getting help from the GrapheneOS forum

If you experience a problem with your device that you need help with, you can ask here, in the GrapheneOS Discussion Forum. Or you can ask in the Chat Rooms
https://grapheneos.org/contact#community-chat
You should keep Developer Options turned OFF. anything you enable in developer options could possibly permanently brick your device. If something goes wrong with your device because you have Developer Options enabled, we will do our best on the forum to help, but it can be hard, since these aren't meant to be used. Please keep Developer Options turned OFF!

ADB & Shizuku

Using ADB and/or Shizuku on your device can have problematic effects and will also weaken the security of the device. You could brick your phone using this and it is not recommended at all. Again, these problems can be hard to fix (sometimes impossible) so please don't mess with this and use it on your device.

Locking the bootloader

Also keep the bootloader locked as soon as installing GrapheneOS is done. Leaving it unlocked can also have problematic effects on your device.

Security Preview Releases

It is recommended to enable Security Preview Releases. For more information on this, see this thread;
https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/27068-grapheneos-security-preview-releases

Google Play Services (Updated)

Google Play Services are not needed to use your device. Almost all apps work without Google Play Services, so they are not needed at all if you don't need or want them

Novalissoide

nandohyphen1 🤸‍♀️

Novalissoide

nandohyphen1 Getting help from the GrapheneOS forum

These points in this compacted and very easily readable format, not redundant since users so often seems clueless about it.

charles25565

GrapheneOS already has an official FAQ page that goes into far more detail and covers essentially the same information, which is the very one you linked.

Your FAQ is redundant and if you have any info you want to add, fork the website repo on GitHub, create a branch, then edit static/faq.html, and then make a pull request.

nandohyphen1

charles25565 GrapheneOS already has an official FAQ page

Like the one on the website? I know an FAQ exists on the website (and thats why I have links to it). But it seems like a lot of people lately are asking questions that are on the website, but they aren't reading the website first. This is a Forum FAQ to point people to the right place for all the FAQs. I'm not trying to put the entire website as a forum post - just common questions that people want to know (like which devices are supported). The supported devices list is on the official website. But nobody seems to look there... So I've at least tried to make a helpful FAQ to point people to the right place. :)

userofgos

nandohyphen1 I know your intent is good, but I don't think this will make a difference. If forum users aren't going to read the website or search the forum before posting, they aren't going to bother searching for or reading this thread.

Also, like you experienced above, there are restrictions on editing you posts/replies which makes it harder to keep things clear, concise, and factual.

charles25565

nandohyphen1 GrapheneOS can sticky their own post which can be a simple link to the FAQ.

fid03

nandohyphen1 But it seems like a lot of people lately are asking questions that are on the website, but they aren't reading the website first.

This has always been the case and I think will be the case as long as GrapheneOS has any number of users. Some people simply won't try to look for information before asking. I think only thing we can do is to ask them to please read the official FAQ, then report the thread as solved so the moderators can mark it as solved so forum users know it has been answered and they can now ignore it. The increase you're seeing might be because GrapheneOS' user base is increasing.

This is a Forum FAQ to point people to the right place for all the FAQs.

Currently, we are directing users toward the official FAQ. What you're suggesting would add another link to point to the correct link. I think that users who already don't put effort into clicking on things on an official website probably don't want to click on an additional link to get the information, especially if they have to scroll down in another forum post to find the link.

I think there is room for an unofficial community-made FAQ for questions that might not fit on the GrapheneOS website (such as, risks involved in using developer options, root, etc). But I also don't think a forum is the right place for it. There is currently SePrAnd which hopefully will be expanded.