Degoogle Your Phone With CalyxOS¶
Tech giants prioritize profits over privacy. Smartphones routinely send personal data to Google, Facebook, and Apple. Your data is then sold to various entities, including advertisers and law enforcement. For instance, Android devices transmit 12 megabytes of data to Google daily, even when idle, including your location 14 times per hour. Similarly, iPhones send 6 megabytes to Google and 1 megabyte to Apple daily.
What is CalyxOS?¶
CalyxOS, akin to LineageOS, stands as a privacy-centric mobile operating system, devoid of Google's Play Services. It features end-to-end encrypted communication, private browsing via Tor and DuckDuckGo, verified boot, and more. Optionally, users can leverage microG, a free software clone Google's proprietary core libraries and applications.
Verify your handset is included in CalyxOS's device list, which currently covers various Pixel, Fairphone and Moto phones. Ensure your phone supports (temporary) bootloader unlocking. In the US, certain phones, like Verizon Pixel 5, 5a, or 4a, may lack this capability, barring CalyxOS installation.
Compatibility and Security Considerations
Warranty: Exercise caution while flashing CalyxOS on your device. This action voids your phone's warranty and, if done incorrectly, might render it unusable. Assume sole responsibility for any resulting damages or data loss.
App Compatibility: Before switching to CalyxOS, be aware that though most functions operate smoothly, specific apps such as Android Wear, Google Fit, Google Cast, or Android Auto may encounter issues. Fortunately, there are great FOSS alternatives available. Using paid apps outside Google's Play Store could present certain challenges.
Security: CalyxOS supports bootloader relocking and upholds the default Android security model. However, it has lagged behind on security updates in the past. Check for updates regularly, as some phones no longer receive patches for proprietary components like bootloader or firmware. Be aware of reported security concerns, such as Datura firewall leaks, and assess these risks based on your threat modeling.
Who uses Android or iOS ?
Backup your phone¶
During the CalyxOS installation, your device will erase all data. Don't risk loss, back up your phone!
Flash CalyxOS¶
Access your computer and download the CalyxOS firmware tailored for your device. Locate the specific .zip file, such as XXX-factory-2024.XX.XX.XX.zip. To install the CalyxOS firmware on your phone, you need a device flasher. Further instructions are provided below.
Step-by-step guide
Download the latest version of the device flasher for Windows to your computer. The file should be named something like device-flasher.exe. Also download and install Google's USB drivers. Here the instructions for Windows 10:
| Steps | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Connect the Android device to the computer via USB. |
| 2 | From Windows Explorer, open Computer Management. |
| 3 | In the Computer Management's left pane, select Device Manager. |
| 4 | In the Device Manager's right pane, locate and expand Portable Devices or Other Devices. |
| 5 | Right-click the name of your device and select Update Driver Software. |
| 6 | In the Hardware Update wizard, select Browse my computer for driver software and click Next. |
| 7 | Click Browse and locate the Google USB driver folder. It should be located in android_sdk\extras\google\usb_driver\. |
| 8 | Click Next to install the driver. |
Step-by-step guide
Download the latest version of the device flasher for macOS to your computer. The file should be named something like device-flasher.darwin.
Step-by-step guide
Download the latest version of the device flasher for Linux to your computer. The file should be named something like device-flasher.linux.
OEM Unlocking¶
Your phone's bootloader must be "unlockable." Put simply, you should activate the OEM unlocking function on your phone. Further instructions provided below.
Step-by-step guide
| Steps | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Remove your SIM card and connect to a WiFi network. |
| 2 | Open Settings ► About phone. |
| 3 | Tap seven times on Build number to enable the developer options. |
| 4 | Open Settings ► System ► Advanced settings ► Developer options. |
| 5 | Scroll down, and check the Android USB debugging or USB debugging boxes. |
| 6 | Is OEM Unlocking greyed out? Enable OEM Unlocking in the Developer options menu. |
| 7 | Turn off your phone. Reboot the phone into the so-called bootloader or fastboot mode by powering it off, and then holding down both Volume DOWN and POWER buttons. Release them once the word FASTBOOT appears on the screen. |
| 8 | Plug your Android device into the computer. |
| 9 | Change the USB mode to file transfer (MTP). |
Install CalyxOS¶
Step-by-step guide
| Instructions | Description |
|---|---|
| Prepare the files | On your computer, place the previously downloaded CalyxOS firmware file XXX-factory-2021.XX.XX.XX.zip as well as the device-flasher.exe file in the same folder. |
| Run the flasher | Double-click the flasher to run it, and follow the on-screen instructions as detailed below. Alternatively, open a command prompt in the directory, run the flasher with the command .\device-flasher.exe and follow the on-screen instructions as detailed below. |
| Unlock bootloader | Use the volume and power keys to select Unlock the bootloader. |
| Wait while flashing | Wait while your phone is being flashed, this can take some time. The device will reboot multiple times and show several screens. Be patient and do not unplug the phone during the process! |
| Lock the bootloader | Once the on-screen instructions prompt you to, use the volume and power keys to select Lock the bootloader. |
| Wait while booting | Wait until the on-screen instructions confirm that flashing is complete. The phone should reboot. The first start can take a while. |
| Congrats! | CalyxOS is installed on your phone! Don't forget to disable OEM Unlocking in the Developer options menu. |
Step-by-step guide
| Instructions | Description |
|---|---|
| Prepare the files | On your computer, place the previously downloaded CalyxOS firmware file XXX-factory-2021.XX.XX.XX.zip as well as the device-flasher.darwin file in the same folder. |
| Run the flasher | Double-click the flasher to run it, and follow the on-screen instructions as detailed below. Alternatively, open a terminal in the directory, run the flasher with the command chmod +x ./device-flasher.darwin; ./device-flasher.darwin and follow the on-screen instructions as detailed below. Note: you may have to disable macOS's Gatekeeper for the installation to run properly. |
| Unlock bootloader | Use the volume and power keys to select Unlock the bootloader. |
| Wait while flashing | Wait while your phone is being flashed, this can take some time. The device will reboot multiple times and show several screens. Be patient and do not unplug the phone during the process! |
| Lock the bootloader | Once the on-screen instructions prompt you to, use the volume and power keys to select Lock the bootloader. |
| Wait while booting | Wait until the on-screen instructions confirm that flashing is complete. The phone should reboot. The first start can take a while. |
| Congrats! | CalyxOS is installed on your phone! Don't forget to disable OEM Unlocking in the Developer options menu. |
Step-by-step guide
| Instructions | Description |
|---|---|
| Prepare the files | On your computer, place the previously downloaded CalyxOS firmware file XXX-factory-2021.XX.XX.XX.zip as well as the device-flasher.linux file in the same folder. |
| Run the flasher | Double-click the flasher to run it, and follow the on-screen instructions as detailed below. Alternatively, open a terminal in the directory, run the flasher with the command sudo chmod +x ./device-flasher.linux; sudo ./device-flasher.linux and follow the on-screen instructions as detailed below. |
| Unlock bootloader | Use the volume and power keys to select Unlock the bootloader. |
| Wait while flashing | Wait while your phone is being flashed, this can take some time. The device will reboot multiple times and show several screens. Be patient and do not unplug the phone during the process! |
| Lock the bootloader | Once the on-screen instructions prompt you to, use the volume and power keys to select Lock the bootloader. |
| Wait while booting | Wait until the on-screen instructions confirm that flashing is complete. The phone should reboot. The first start can take a while. |
| Congrats! | CalyxOS is installed on your phone! Don't forget to disable OEM Unlocking in the Developer options menu. |
Micro G¶
microG, a free counterpart to Google's core libraries, allows for push notifications and location services without Google Services Framework (GSF). CalyxOS users can access GSF-dependent apps with microG while minimizing data exposure. Where possible, try using GSF-independent, open source apps to reduce data leaks.
To achieve independence from third-party providers, determine your phone’s location using a local cell tower database. Further details below.
Step-by-step guide
| Steps | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Open F-droid and install an app called Local GSM location. |
| 2 | Head over to the microG settings app. Navigate to Location modules and enable GSM Location Service as well as Nominatim. |
| 3 | Navigate to Self-Check and verify whether everything is set up properly. |
CalyxOS lowers reliance on Google's services. An exception exists: many apps use Google Cloud Messaging (GCM) for push notifications. microG enables limited GCM usage, facilitating push notifications on CalyxOS. Details are provided below.
Step-by-step guide
| Steps | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Open the microG settings app. |
| 2 | Navigate to Google device registration and register your device. |
| 3 | Navigate to Google Cloud Messaging and activate push notifications. |
How can I trust CalyxOS if it uses Google Cloud Messaging?
Registering your device and opting for push notifications is optional. This may provide limited data to Google, including a unique ID. microG, however, removes identifiable elements. Enabling push notifications can potentially allow Google to (partly) access your notification content, depending on how apps use Google Cloud Messaging.
F-Droid, an app store dedicated to free and open source applications, was discussed in a previous chapter on FOSS apps. Enable microG's repository in F-Droid following the instructions below.
Step-by-step guide
| Steps | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Launch F-Droid. |
| 2 | Navigate to Settings ► Repositories. |
| 3 | Enable the microG repository. |
Installing paid apps without Google's Play Store can be a little tricky. Here’s a practical workaround.
Step-by-step guide
| Steps | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Browse to Google's online play store. |
| 2 | Buy apps with an old or disposable Google account. |
| 3 | Log into Aurora store with the same Google credentials. |
| 4 | Download the purchased apps. |
Support¶
For further details or questions, refer to CalyxOS's documentation or ask CalyxOS's community for help.
