Linux has dominated pretty much all forms L of computing, except perhaps the desktop. The top 500 supercomputers all run Linux, it’s in embedded systems, it’s in cars. It’s in Chromebooks and tablets, too, in the form of ChromeOS (itself based on the open source ChromiumOS, which is based on Gentoo). And we can’t mention one Google operating system with roots in open source without mentioning its mobile offering – Android. There are currently close to four billion Android devices out there. Plus a few billion that are either in limbo in the grey market or in landfill. That’s just too much Google, if you ask us.
Running an alternative mobile OS – either based on Android (like LineageOS), or something with different provenance, like PostmarketOS or Ubuntu Touch – has been popular with tinkerers for some time, and it’s never been easier. But before we go further, we’ll direct you to the box (below) warning about potential dangers and pitfalls. Rather than risking your shiny new mobile device with most of your life on it, you might prefer to first try an Android derivative on different hardware. Most people have an old phone (or several) in a drawer, and in many cases, these devices no longer receive security updates. If you go into Android’s settings, you’ll see whether the manufacturer supports a newer version of Android or if it’s still providing security updates. Popular flagship devices might be supported for ages, whereas more niche offerings (such as our Sony XZ1) might see support dry up in less than two years’ time. Thanks to open source, you can get those critical security patches and save your devices from landfill. Oh, and save yourself from one pretty major aspect of Google’s data harvesting.
DANGER BEWARE
Much like replacing any operating system, replacing your mobile OS is not something you should even think about unless you’ve backed up anything important from your device. The main storage will be completely wiped, and you should probably remove your SD card (if you’re not going to back up everything on it elsewhere) to ensure its data survives. These days, many people use Google Authenticator (or a less Googley service) for two-factor authentication. This is great but if those codes disappear, you lose access to everything. So, make sure you have backup paper codes, or move the authenticator to a new device. One that you’re not about to wipe.
Android apps generally work fine on Android-based OSes (and even on some non-Android ones, thanks to Waydroid and such) but there are exceptions. Some apps require Google Play Services to be installed, and you need to install this at the same time as your new OS. There are the usual Googley concerns with this, which we cover over the page. Some banking apps (and Google Pay) also don’t work with other OSes (even with Google Play Services installed), thanks to Android layers such as SafetyNet and Play Integrity. This affects other popular apps (such as Pokémon Go, Uber and Netflix), so check before you switch your primary mobile device to open source.
DANGER BEWARE
Much like replacing any operating system, replacing your mobile OS is not something you should even think about unless you’ve backed up anything important from your device. The main storage will be completely wiped, and you should probably remove your SD card (if you’re not going to back up everything on it elsewhere) to ensure its data survives. These days, many people use Google Authenticator (or a less Googley service) for two-factor authentication. This is great but if those codes disappear, you lose access to everything. So, make sure you have backup paper codes, or move the authenticator to a new device. One that you’re not about to wipe.