Is there a place I can follow to get patch notes for GrapheneOS?

ardishco

I am a CalyxOS user looking to switch to GrapheneOS, but I need MicroG for most of my apps that I use, even the ones I use other than games. I am aware of some of the bugs and vulnerabilities that MicroG has had in the past but there is no better alternative other than sandboxing Google Play in a different profile (or so I have heard) as of right now. (Because If I were to do that, I would have to use the profile for daily usage and that would not be great with google services running in the background.)

I want to know when there is support for MicroG so I can make the switch and try it out when they add support for it.

f13a-6c3a

ardishco when there is support for MicroG so I can make the switch and try it out when they add support for it

What do you mean support for it? MicroG can be used now, there is not going to be anymore support for it than now, it's just an app

matchboxbananasynergy

ardishco GrapheneOS will not integrate MicroG in the OS like other OSes do. As @f13a-6c3a mentioned, one can install MicroG on GrapheneOS (although there's no reason to do so), but as a regular app, it won't have most of its functionality intact.

Sandboxed Google Play, in my eyes, essentially obsoletes the MicroG approach with something much better.

Even with the privileged access that it has when it's installed in other OSes directly, Sandboxed Google Play is the superior option (doesn't require giving anything privileged access, and has far better app compatibility).

You don't have to use Sandboxed Google Play in a separate user profile. It is true that you can choose which profiles have Play Services installed with this method cause it's not a privileged component that has access to all profiles, but rather regular sandboxed apps just like any other apps you installed.

I recommend reading more about Sandboxed Google Play to understand it as a feature:

https://grapheneos.org/features#sandboxed-google-play

Edit: Just to elaborate on this -

and that would not be great with google services running in the background.

It is important to realize that with Sandboxed Google Play, it's not a special sandbox made by GrapheneOS that these apps are contained in. it's the regular app sandbox that all regular apps are contained by. Play Services will not have more access to your data than any other app you install. You get to control what they can access via permissions etc.

If you have any further questions, just let us know.

f13a-6c3a

https://grapheneos.org/releases

ardishco

f13a-6c3a as matchboxbananasynergy said, there will be some functionality missing. That's what I meant by support.

ardishco

matchboxbananasynergy This is not related to this topic, but does GrapheneOS have that feature where If you try to call someone, it will give you a prompt to either call regularly, or from Signal? (Or Whatsapp If you have that installed)

And, in addition: Is there a way I can back up my data before switching? I have apps that are tied to things irl like my gym membership. My gym basically has its own app it uses that lets you track things and grant you passage at the entrances. I would have to ask them to migrate my device once more If I were to delete everything for GrapheneOS.

And about Google Play's permissions, If I grant it something like location services, It will track my location like stock android, right? So does that mean I can grant it permissions per app that uses Google Play? (But since you said It's not different than regular sandbox, It would do what I said (?) )

unwat

ardishco Is there a way I can back up my data before switching?

I believe CalyxOS uses Seedvault for backups. GrapheneOS also has Seedvault, so restoring should be the same as it is on CalyxOS.

ardishco If I grant it something like location services, It will track my location like stock android, right?

Google can track your location if you grant Google Play Services access to your location.

ardishco So does that mean I can grant it permissions per app that uses Google Play? (But since you said It's not different than regular sandbox, It would do what I said (?) )

Not sure I understand what you're asking, but if I do, then no. I'd suggest you read this part of the site for more info: https://grapheneos.org/usage#sandboxed-google-play-configuration

The way most apps seem to work is they ask Google Play Services for the phone's location. They don't ask the OS. Like this page says, "Using the Google Play services location APIs, your app can request the last known location of the user's device."

If you only want Google Play Services to have access to location from time to time when it's needed, I'd suggest using the quick settings location toggle. If you turn off location there, no app has access to location, including Google Play Services.

matchboxbananasynergy

ardishco This is not related to this topic, but does GrapheneOS have that feature where If you try to call someone, it will give you a prompt to either call regularly, or from Signal? (Or Whatsapp If you have that installed)

When you tap on a contact in the Contacts app, if you have that number in Signal as well, you'll get the option to message them / call them on Signal along with the option to make a regular carrier call. Is that what you're asking?

ardishco but I only have one problem and that's Seedvault. It fails the backup every time I try to, says nothing has been backed up but creates some files when I check the backup location. I know this isn't exactly a GrapheneOS question, but I thought it would be worth mentioning in case someone knows a fix for this.

Agreed. GrapheneOS knows that Seedvault is not ideal at all. It plans to make a replacement for use in GrapheneOS that's much better / more reliable. I don't have an ETA for that at this time, but rest assured that we know about the issues with Seedvault and want to address them.

ardishco

unwat Oh okay, thank you. The documentation was a bit confusing when I first read it. I'm fine with everything you mentioned, but I only have one problem and that's Seedvault. It fails the backup every time I try to, says nothing has been backed up but creates some files when I check the backup location. I know this isn't exactly a GrapheneOS question, but I thought it would be worth mentioning in case someone knows a fix for this.

ardishco

matchboxbananasynergy

matchboxbananasynergy When you tap on a contact in the Contacts app, if you have that number in Signal as well, you'll get the option to message them / call them on Signal along with the option to make a regular carrier call. Is that what you're asking?

Yes, that is exactly what I was asking. Thank you for the answer.
Also, I am just figuring out the cool features of this forum just now lol.

matchboxbananasynergy Agreed. GrapheneOS knows that Seedvault is not ideal at all. It plans to make a replacement for use in GrapheneOS that's much better / more reliable. I don't have an ETA for that at this time, but rest assured that we know about the issues with Seedvault and want to address them.

So is there an alternative I can use to do backups? I can install GrapheneOS without backing up but It will be a huge pain to set everything up again when I set up CalyxOS for the first time. I don't have root, by the way. I can't use Titanium because of so. I'll probably have to talk to my gym admin aswell for the second time this month.

matchboxbananasynergy

ardishco So is there an alternative I can use to do backups? I can install GrapheneOS without backing up but It will be a huge pain to set everything up again when I set up CalyxOS for the first time. I don't have root, by the way. I can't use Titanium because of so. I'll probably have to talk to my gym admin aswell for the second time this month.

There is no way to do backups in a better way, currently. Your best bet is to look at whether your apps themselves have a backup mechanism which you can use.

And even when Seedvault's backup replacement comes to GrapheneOS (the one that will likely be developed in-house), it won't really help if you're migrating from another OS, as that OS would need to include it as well.

It will however be great for GrapheneOS-to-GrapheneOS backups.