Hi, I’m hoping to get some help making my Pixel 5a more utility and less bullshit, but I’m not sure how to word it.
In general what I’m hoping to accomplish is this:
- Install a new OS to get rid of the Google crap baked into the phone.
- Have a list of remaining whitelisted apps that can run on the phone at all, not just limiting permissions.
I’m not sure if options like GrapheneOS have an inbuilt white list function. I’m aware that this phone isn’t security supported anymore but I want to run this thing into the god damn ground.
There are a lot of posts online about Dumb Phones which I don’t think is what I’m trying to create. I want to be able to use this device as a tool, not a suck-up-all-of-my-time device. So I’d like to keep things like Camera, calls/texts, internet browsing (although I’ll have to block YouTube and such), and any other arbitrary app such as authenticators (advice on alternatives here would also be good appreciated) and advanced calculators.
One of the issues I expect is that any whitelist or permissions will be quick and easy for me undo in a moment of boredom, so I’d like the process of undoing this to be slow and painful.
There is a philosophy here that I believe my phone as a tool could be great, if every aspect of it wasn’t designed to waste my time and ruin my mental health.
I hope I’ve explained what I’m trying to achieve well, it’s not my strong suit.
Thanks for any replies, if I wasn’t clear please let me know and I’ll try and explain myself differently.
I previously used GrapheneOS and it can definietly do what you are asking - under the permissions setting.
I would recommend not using the google services (even sandboxed) and use droid-ify as an alternative to download apps.
Install GrapheneOS (consider this device as insecure as Google dropped support) and some minimalist launcher such as Olauncher, Unlauncher or mLauncher through Droid-ify (or another F-Droid client of your choice) or directly from source. You can also install digital wellbeing apps such as Mindful, DigiPaws, GreaseMilkyWay or Regain (that last one is proprietary and is available on PlayStore (or AuroraStore)) to help you have better control over app such as YouTube.
For YouTube you can also install some FOSS client such as NewPipe, Tubular or PipePipe etc…
Note that even GrapheneOS no longer supports the 5a, since it is no longer getting firmware security patches. You’ll need to install an archived version of GrapheneOS, or go for something else like LineageOS.
With LineageOS, you’ll continue to get OS patches, but you’ll be stuck with an unlocked bootloader, so there’s a security tradeoff there.
Can’t help you unfortunately, since I’m in the same boat. I have a dumb phone waiting to replace this Pixel, which would probably work for me if it wasn’t for messaging. I also need instant notifications for some server monitors, but I think ntfy plus/pro subscription can do SMS notifications.
Switching to a cell provider with outrageously expensive data might help. In the end it’s just about self-control, which is disappointingly a big problem.
