I have not any prior experience with installing custom ROMs, but after trying it out (and getting stuck, and googling and finding answers) I successfully did it. Below is my home screen if anybody is curious:

I use OpenBoard for my keyboard. Unfortunately I am still dependent on Play Store since some of the apps I need can only be found there. Sometimes it feels meaningless committing to this whole thing because I’m not perfectly private; then I think this is better than using a regular iPhone or Android phone.

So far I’m liking it. I am naturally inclined to feel hesitant about using this as my main phone and plugging in a SIM since it’s custom, but I’m slowly making the transition.

Feel free to share any beginners advice or your own experience using GOS for the first time. Cheers!

  • T (they/she)@beehaw.org
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    4 months ago

    I’m curious why no one recommending FlorisBoard.

    I’ve been using GraoheneOS as my daily driver for months now. I still have issues with things that need Google Localization (car sharing program in my city for example) and I’ve had a few banking apps complaining when being installed from the Aurora Store.

    I miss having my cards on my phone quite a lot.

    • lseif@sopuli.xyz
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      4 months ago

      +1 for this, but i will mention that suggestions/autocorrect is not stable yet if that matters for people.

      • sparkle@lemm.ee
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        4 months ago

        Suggestions/autocorrect will likely come within the next 2 months when 0.5 releases

        It’s also easily customizable and will likely have an in-app layout editor by 0.6

  • Linsensuppe@feddit.org
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    4 months ago

    Every step you take towards a more private digital life is essential. I mean you have to start somewhere right? And the phone is in my opinion the biggest privacy thread out there. I am not on GrapheneOS but I’m considering switching soon.

    • windlas@lemmy.ca
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      4 months ago

      I switched over a year ago and have no regrets. It does everything I want (including android auto now) and gives me at least a little but more privacy than a stock android image.

      The more people who use it the more impetus there is to further develop it.

      Give it a go! Its a great.

  • lseif@sopuli.xyz
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    4 months ago

    Sometimes it feels meaningless committing to this whole thing because I’m not perfectly private

    every small change matters

    • The Cuuuuube@beehaw.org
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      4 months ago

      Exactly. I don’t even think of myself as having escaped surveillance capitalism. I’ve made it less lucrative though. All that data they’re mining? I’ve done a little bit of work to make sure the mines are tapped out. I’m gonna keep working to convince others that there’s value in doing the same. Its all part of telling these greedy shitheads we won’t accept their global destruction anymore

      • Oneser@lemm.ee
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        4 months ago

        Some apps are not available in my Google store due to geoblocking. Can aurora circumvent this? Or is it a front end of the “local” google play store?

        • OhVenus_Baby@lemmy.ml
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          4 months ago

          A reputable VPN can block this. I’m not sure if the store can solely. I don’t believe so. If your blocked for any reason you need a good VPN. ****

          • Oneser@lemm.ee
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            4 months ago

            You are correct, re-loading the aurora store after shifting my vpn to the target country (and anonymous login) seems to change the aurora storefront too :)

      • Honytawk@lemmy.zip
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        4 months ago

        Nah, I prefer F-droid wherever I can. The mentioning when an app has anti-features is so helpful.

        But Aurora is a great second option.

        • The Cuuuuube@beehaw.org
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          4 months ago

          Yeah I use play store because I have to have some stuff furnished from play store for work but aurora store is a great way to acquire those apps you do need to get through life but that aren’t open source

  • Sivilian@lemmy.zip
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    4 months ago

    I have been using lots of the different private keyboards that have been out for a while but FUTO just came out with a amazing Keyboard that has better then Google Voice typing.

  • WhiteBerry@lemmy.ml
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    4 months ago

    Sorry for the noob question, but are you able to access your banking apps with GrapheneOS? If so, how?

  • TheSun@slrpnk.net
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    4 months ago

    Look into the user profiles feature to further isolate any play store apps you still use. I have one profile called gshit and thats the only one I install anything non-opensource on from the Aurora store.

    This prevents any playstore apps from accessing say photos, contacts, messages, etc on your main profile.

    PS. If you don’t like the stock launcher either you should check out KISS launcher (minimal mode)

      • TheSun@slrpnk.net
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        4 months ago

        Hmmm nope I just updated some apps yesterday. I had to uninstall and reinstall Aurora store cause it wasnt showing the anonymous option anymore, but after that it popped up and worked like normal, no sign in.

      • BearOfaTime@lemm.ee
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        4 months ago

        Logging in via Aurora can get your Google account banned.

        Only read about it once or twice, so take that warning with a grain of salt.

  • MigratingtoLemmy@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    I think I can live without playstore completely but I might need K-9 with Google emails for some stuff on my device, so I guess I’m not escaping Google spying on my IP address anytime soon. Other than that, I don’t use Google or apps from the playstore at all

    • communism@lemmy.ml
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      4 months ago

      I guess I’m not escaping Google spying on my IP address anytime soon

      Use a VPN. No reason not to if you’re concerned about privacy—otherwise you have no privacy as your ISP can monitor you. If cost is an issue, ProtonVPN has a free tier, otherwise I recommend Mullvad as an affordable and really reliable and decent option imo. I found ProtonVPN’s connection to be kind of volatile when I used it (I paid for it too, on the highest tier). Mullvad has always been super reliable though. Whenever I’ve had connectivity issues it’s always been because of whatever network I’m connected to, not because of Mullvad.

      • MigratingtoLemmy@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        Yeah I probably should but the WiFi at work doesn’t let wireguard through (I have a wireguard server running on a VPS)

  • HappyTimeHarry@lemm.ee
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    4 months ago

    Even if apps you use depend on play store one of the things you can do on GrapheneOS is temporarily disable it and only turn it back on when apps refuse to run, another option is just keeping those apps in a separate work profile.

  • g1ya777@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    I just keep Play store installed with all permissions disabled, including network, and use Aurora store instead.

    • Wild Bill@midwest.socialOP
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      4 months ago

      What is the main difference between using Play Store and Aurora store (logged in with your Google account)?

      • communism@lemmy.ml
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        Aurora is a foss wrapper with fewer anti-features like ads. You could trust the client more ig if you’re using Aurora. I use F-Droid for most things and then Aurora for like 3 apps I’m not willing to give up and have no foss alternatives. I mostly just use Aurora out of principle for the apps I can’t get from F-Droid, but also I guess out of a lack of trust for Google (which I suppose is related to the principle of not using proprietary software anyway)

        • Wild Bill@midwest.socialOP
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          4 months ago

          I’m more curious about the privacy aspect of using Aurora over Play, especially considering since I will be logged into my G account.

          • yonder@sh.itjust.works
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            4 months ago

            When starting Aurora, you can choose between an anonymous account or your own. You can still use the anonymous option even if you are logged in to other services with google. If you go logged on anyways, I guess Google will not know your every tap with Aurora? I would think logged in, google play store and aurora would be comparable (not private).

                • Wild Bill@midwest.socialOP
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                  4 months ago

                  I have heard Aurora is more insecure and you can risk getting your Google account blacklisted or banned using it. Do you have any experience with this or know how common it is?

              • shekau@lemmy.today
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                4 months ago

                By not using your own g account I meant not using account that is assigned to your identity or account that you use for official things.

                Unless you have some purchases on there and you want to use these, but you shouldnt use your own account for that in the first place.

  • Facebones@reddthat.com
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    4 months ago

    Welcome! My experience has been seamless, I think most of the idiosyncrasies have been covered in other comments already but Ive had zero issues with base functionality “out the box”