GrapheneOS is a privateness and security-hardened model of the Android OS you already know and love. For those who’d prefer to check out this practice ROM, it’s most likely simpler than you assume. Right here’s what you’ll must get began.
For those who’re unfamiliar with GrapheneOS, think about a model of Android with out Google companies and all the opposite privateness and safety trade-offs that include utilizing a contemporary smartphone. That’s primarily what the GrapheneOS of us have created.
You might be underneath the idea that putting in a customized ROM is a troublesome, extremely technical course of. That’s not the case for GrapheneOS. You might be up and working in simply a few minutes. Let’s get began.
Observe: GrapheneOS is just not technically a “ROM.” It could actually extra precisely be described as an working system. Nevertheless, within the widespread parlance of the Android neighborhood, GrapheneOS is the type of undertaking that’s usually known as a ROM. We go into extra element on this in our introduction to GrapheneOS.
Recent Articles
The {Hardware}

At the beginning, you want a tool to simply accept GrapheneOS. You’ll be able to’t set up the ROM on simply any previous Android cellphone. GrapheneOS formally helps Google Pixel telephones ranging from the Pixel 3a and newer.
GrapheneOS removes Google companies from Android for higher privateness, however Google {hardware} is definitely essentially the most safe within the Android ecosystem. That’s why GrapheneOS solely formally helps Pixel telephones. If you would like the absolute best gadget for GrapheneOS, that’s the Pixel 6 Professional.
Right here is the total listing of gadgets with official GrapheneOS assist (gadget codenames in parenthesis).
The opposite {hardware} you have to is a pc to attach your cellphone to. The pc must have no less than 2GB of free reminiscence and 32GB of free cupboard space. As well as, you have to a USB cable to attach your cellphone to the pc.
The Software program
Let’s discuss software program. There are two belongings you’ll want on this entrance—a appropriate net browser and a appropriate working system for that net browser. It is because we’ll be utilizing GrapheneOS’ tremendous simple Net Installer.
GrapheneOS formally helps the next net browsers:
- Chromium (exterior of Ubuntu, for the reason that Linux distribution ships a damaged Snap bundle with out working WebUSB)
- Bromite
- Vanadium (GrapheneOS)
- Google Chrome
- Microsoft Edge
- Courageous
Then you definately’ll must run that browser in one among these formally supported operation programs:
- Home windows 10
- Home windows 11
- macOS Catalina
- macOS Massive Sur
- macOS Monterey
- Arch Linux
- Debian 10 (buster)
- Debian 11 (bullseye)
- Ubuntu 20.04 LTS
- Ubuntu 21.10
- ChromeOS
- GrapheneOS
- Google Android (inventory Pixel OS) and different licensed Android variants
The Settings
You’ve received the {hardware} and software program all set, now there’s only one setting we have to modify in your Android cellphone. OEM unlocking must be enabled to be able to set up GrapheneOS.
First, swipe down twice from the highest of the display to disclose the Fast Settings menu, after which faucet the gear icon.
Subsequent, we have to allow Developer Choices. Scroll all the way down to “About Telephone” after which faucet “Construct Quantity” repeatedly till a message says “You are actually a developer.”
Now you may go to the “System” part of the Settings and also you’ll see “Developer Choices.”
Within the Developer Choices, you’ll must toggle on “OEM Unlocking.” You’ll must enter your pin or password to proceed.
That’s all there’s for the setup in your Android cellphone!
The Set up
The precise set up course of is surprisingly simple. If it’s been a very long time because you put in a customized ROM, chances are you’ll be shocked. The GrapheneOS undertaking’s web site has good directions which are stored updated with new variations of the Net Installer.
In brief, what you’ll do is boot your cellphone into the bootloader interface and join it to your laptop with a USB cable. From there, it’s only a matter of clicking the buttons on the Net Installer web page. You’ll obtain the manufacturing unit picture, flash it to your gadget, after which lock the bootloader.
Your cellphone will reboot just a few occasions and also you’ll want to make use of the ability and quantity buttons to make some picks within the bootloader interface. It’s a really painless course of, although. The entire thing will solely take a couple of minutes.
After that, you’ve received a stripped-down model of Android with a bunch of privateness and safety enhancements. It’s a fairly easy course of when you think about how large of a change it makes to your cellphone.
RELATED: What Is the Privateness Dashboard on Android?