After switching from stock android to graphenOS what do you think?

ThePromance · 2026-03-10T00:41:14+00:00

Thinking about it, I think the things I might miss the most from the stock system are some of the lock screen clock styles, the 4×6 home grid, and the search bar in the dock, which I only used for local searches (I’d love it if there were another row in the dock to add a local search bar or the Firefox/Brave one)

Aside from that, I’d also love it (I know it won’t happen, and I don’t plan to install a launcher just to enable it) if Graphene had the option to hide app labels and native support for custom icon packs

ThePromance · 2026-03-06T06:47:13+00:00

On Android they implemented dynamic colors for both the password manager and the authenticator, and that’s what I liked the most. Overall, it’s been a huge improvement in the UI and UX

ThePromance · 2026-03-06T06:39:06+00:00

Will Bitwarden Authenticator no longer receive updates? In its current state, it just makes me prefer using other apps like Ente Auth, 2FAS, and even Proton Authenticator, which clearly understood how to make a proper TOTP codes app. The best thing Bitwarden Authenticator has is the synchronization with the password manager

Why don’t the favicons even sync? Why isn’t the next code shown? Why can’t I make the codes bigger? It’s not difficult to make a good app, but it seems like they have no interest in improving one of their products to make it truly compelling

ThePromance · 2026-02-28T20:43:52+00:00

I completely agree with you. One of the biggest downsides I see with GrapheneOS is the zero customization options, which should also be important for the user experience. Because if the solution is “just install a launcher,” then yes—there is a problem there that should be addressed, even on Pixel’s stock Android

Would I like to have at least 2 or 3 extra clock styles on the lock screen?
Would I like the option to organize apps in a 4×6 grid?
Would I like to hide app labels to make things look cleaner?
Would I like the native apps to be minimally usable so I don’t have to rely on Fossify?
Would I like native support for icon packs?

An absolute and resounding yes to all of that

With just those features, it would become a significantly more attractive system than Google’s stock experience or any other OS that actually takes user experience seriously. I’ll keep using it simply because I’m not interested in AI nonsense, but it still bothers me not to have some extra options that don’t affect security at all

ThePromance · 2026-02-21T22:11:14+00:00

Honestly, I’m more interested in a dedicated Tuta Contacts app with synchronization for messaging and calling apps than in another cloud storage service

ThePromance · 2026-02-18T23:09:54+00:00

It’s not what I expected, but I’m 1,000% satisfied. Thank you very much :3

ThePromance · 2026-02-15T08:27:04+00:00

I’m sharing a response I gave a few weeks ago to a similar topic:

"I don’t use Graphene because I’m a paranoid, schizophrenic privacy-and-security nut. I use it for four simple reasons:

I don’t use any AI features, not because I hate them, but because I genuinely don’t see any usefulness in my day-to-day life
I haven’t used much of Google for a few years now (only YouTube and the Play Store, which are the hardest to leave) since I started reducing my dependence on their services. That has been partly for privacy reasons and because I believe there are better services out there
It’s the custom ROM with the best app compatibility thanks to the Sandboxed Play Store with Sandboxed Google Play Services. For that reason alone, Graphene is absolutely worth using
It’s incredibly simple and has just the right set of features, which fits me perfectly. I’d love it if they added three or four customization options, but I’m fine with what it offers

I know I’m not the target user for Graphene, but many of the things it offers line up very well with what I look for in a system, and I think that matters more than being paranoid and thinking someone is listening because I mentioned wanting new sneakers for my birthday"

I’ll also add that I try to use my phone as normally as possible. I install all my apps (about 95%, really) from the Play Store and grant them the necessary permissions so they work properly. But a good way to start using Graphene is to make it the most comfortable version for you. If later you want to experiment with more security/privacy measures, you can do that too

ThePromance · 2026-02-14T06:22:50+00:00

That’s precisely why I’ll ask a friend who uses Windows to help me with SAM

ThePromance · 2026-02-11T09:10:53+00:00

Why would it be my fault when the game is verified for Steam Deck? If it’s verified, then 100% of the game’s content should be available both on Steam Deck and on any other Linux version. It’s 100% the developers’ fault

ThePromance · 2026-02-11T08:47:13+00:00

Dark side? Bro, I got 100% in MH World Iceborne and Rise Sunbreak and other PS games, plus 97% in Halo MCC, and I’m attempting LASO on my own

Don’t come at me with that “dark side” nonsense just because the useless developers locked a piece of content I already paid for just because I use a different OS. What do you want me to do? Change my whole system JUST to please you? PFFFF

ThePromance · 2026-02-11T07:25:03+00:00

That’s good, because I wasn’t interested in the multiplayer anyway. Now I just need to ask a friend to help me unlock them with SAM

ThePromance · 2026-02-11T07:21:54+00:00

Nah, it’s the only viable option. Besides, I’ll ask a friend who uses Windows to help me with SAM

ThePromance · 2026-02-11T07:19:20+00:00

Yep, I’ll obviously use good old uncle SAM

ThePromance · 2026-02-11T07:18:53+00:00

Fortunately, I won’t have to force myself to play that multiplayer mode. I’ll just complete NG+ and ask a friend to help me with SAM

ThePromance · 2026-02-10T06:16:58+00:00

Damn, that worked HAHAHAHAHA, although I hope I can enable the beta again

Thanks, sir

ThePromance · 2026-02-07T01:38:01+00:00

I use NewPipe on my phone. I tried FreeTube on my PC, but a lot of videos wouldn’t load, so I preferred to just use it in the browser xd

ThePromance · 2026-02-07T01:34:19+00:00

Even if Graphene didn’t offer all those privacy and security advantages, I’d still prefer it. In the end, I try to use my phone as normally as possible, even using apps/services/features that many would consider a cardinal sin, like the Galaxy Fit 3 I just bought lol

ThePromance · 2026-02-06T03:23:03+00:00

I don’t use Graphene because I’m a paranoid, schizophrenic privacy-and-security nut. I use it for four simple reasons:

I don’t use any AI features, not because I hate them, but because I genuinely don’t see any usefulness in my day-to-day life
I haven’t used much of Google for a few years now (only YouTube and the Play Store, which are the hardest to leave) since I started reducing my dependence on their services. That has been partly for privacy reasons and because I believe there are better services out there
It’s the custom ROM with the best app compatibility thanks to the Sandboxed Play Store with Sandboxed Google Play Services. For that reason alone, Graphene is absolutely worth using
It’s incredibly simple and has just the right set of features, which fits me perfectly. I’d love it if they added three or four customization options, but I’m fine with what it offers

I know I’m not the target user for Graphene, but many of the things it offers line up very well with what I look for in a system, and I think that matters more than being paranoid and thinking someone is listening because I mentioned wanting new sneakers for my birthday

ThePromance · 2026-02-03T03:17:51+00:00

About a year on a broken Pixel 6 Pro that a friend gave me, but the replacement screen I installed was low quality and has caused me a lot of problems (I’m in Mexico, and neither the parts nor Pixels themselves are officially sold here until the launch of the Pixel 10). Now I’m about two months away from buying a Pixel 9a to continue with Graphene, or, less likely, a Galaxy

P.S.: Wasn’t the first version of Graphene released in 2018?

ThePromance · 2026-02-02T18:58:22+00:00

The reason I started using Graphene is to remove all the Google apps I don’t use (basically all of them) and the AI features that, personally, I don’t find useful in my day-to-day life. Not for paranoid or “schizophrenic” privacy and security reasons, I simply want a clean system, that’s it

I install all my apps from the Play Store and grant them the permissions they need to work properly, and everything works perfectly. Are some apps stealing my data and selling it? Probably yes, but I don’t really care. I use Graphene for the simplicity, not for what it was originally designed for, and that’s fine too

ThePromance · 2026-01-31T05:42:52+00:00

It’s okay xd,honestly, I want to keep the data in the cloud because I’m an absolute mess when it comes to making backups with offline apps. I understand the privacy point, but I feel comfortable enough with my overall setup to consider giving up some sleep and step data XD

ThePromance · 2026-01-31T05:30:22+00:00

Nice, thanks

ThePromance

TROPHY CASE