FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Can I still use all my favorite apps?

Switching to GrapheneOS may require some adjustments to the apps you use on your device. Here are a few things to consider:

App availability: GrapheneOS does not include Google Play Services by default, which means that some apps that rely on these services may not work on the platform. However, many popular apps can be downloaded directly from their respective websites or from alternative app stores such as F-Droid, Aurora Store, Aptoide and others.
App compatibility: Some apps may not be compatible with GrapheneOS due to the platform's enhanced security features. This is especially true for apps that require access to sensitive information, such as banking or payment apps.
Privacy considerations: When switching to GrapheneOS, you may need to reevaluate the apps you use and the permissions they require. Some apps may collect more data than necessary or require access to sensitive information, which could compromise your privacy and security.
Alternative apps: In some cases, you may need to find alternative apps that work well with GrapheneOS. For example, if you use a Google app on your stock Android phone, you may need to find an alternative that works without Google Play Services.

While it is possible to use many popular apps on GrapheneOS, some adjustments may be required. It's important to carefully consider the apps you use and ensure that they are compatible with GrapheneOS and most importantly respect your privacy and security.

What are the privacy concerns using a cell phone?

Mobile phones are an integral part of our daily lives, and they contain a vast amount of personal information. Privacy concerns with mobile phones are numerous and can include the following:

Location tracking: Mobile phones can track the user's location using GPS or cell tower triangulation, which raises concerns about the collection and use of location data by third-party apps.
Data breaches: With the increasing use of mobile phones for sensitive transactions such as online banking, the risk of data breaches becomes more significant.
App permissions: Some mobile apps require access to sensitive data such as contacts, messages, and location, which can be a privacy concern if the app misuses or mishandles this information.
Advertising and data tracking: Some mobile apps and websites track user behavior to personalize ads, which can be intrusive and raise privacy concerns.
Biometric data: With the growing use of biometric data such as fingerprint and facial recognition to unlock phones, there are concerns about the security and privacy of this data.
Network security: Mobile phones are vulnerable to network attacks, such as man-in-the-middle attacks, which can compromise the user's personal information.
Social engineering: Hackers can use social engineering techniques to trick users into revealing personal information, such as passwords and credit card numbers, through phishing attacks or other means.

To address these privacy concerns, users should take precaution to secure their mobile phones, such as setting strong passwords, limiting app permissions, and using antivirus software. Additionally, users should be cautious about sharing personal information online and be aware of the risks associated with using mobile devices for sensitive transactions. If you don't want big brother watching over every action you take on your phone, its best to use a secure and private operating system (OS) such as GraphineOS

Warranty & support

Each device we offer is Brand New and comes with a full manufactures warranty which is normally one year. We remove the device from the OEM packaging to wipe the Android OS and install an alternative, secure, open-source operating system such as GraphineOS. Our services are covered by a 30 day guarantee which ensures you have a fully operating device. If you have any OS related issues in your first month, bring it back and we will fix or replace your device. We strongly recommend you backup and reset your device before any repair procedure.

Use our contact form if you are experiencing any OS related technical issues.

What is GraphineOS and why should I use it?

GrapheneOS is a private and secure mobile operating system with great functionality and usability. It starts from the strong baseline of the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) and takes great care to avoid increasing attack surface or hurting the strong security model. GrapheneOS makes substantial improvements to both privacy and security through many carefully designed features built to function against real adversaries. The project cares a lot about usability and app compatibility so those are taken into account for all of our features.

GrapheneOS is focused on substance rather than branding and marketing. It doesn't take the typical approach of piling on a bunch of insecure features depending on the adversaries not knowing about them and regressing actual privacy/security. It's a very technical project building privacy and security into the OS rather than including assorted unhelpful frills or bundling subjective third party apps choices.

GrapheneOS is also hard at work on filling in gaps from not bundling Google apps and services into the OS. We aren't against users using Google services but it doesn't belong integrated into the OS in an invasive way. GrapheneOS won't take the shortcut of simply bundling a very incomplete and poorly secured third party reimplementation of Google services into the OS. That wouldn't ever be something users could rely upon. It will also always be chasing a moving target while offering poorer security than the real thing if the focus is on simply getting things working without great care for doing it robustly and securely.

Source: https://grapheneos.org/features

How do I transfer my contacts to my Privacy Phone?

To transfer contacts from an Android phone to GrapheneOS, you can follow these general steps:

1. Export your contacts from your Android phone to a VCF file. To do this, open the Contacts app on your Android phone, tap on the three-dot menu, and select "Export." Choose the option to export to a VCF file and save the file to your phone or cloud storage.

2. Connect your GrapheneOS device to your computer using a USB cable.

3. Copy the VCF file you exported from your Android phone to your GrapheneOS device.

4. On your GrapheneOS device, open the Contacts app and tap on the three-dot menu.

5. Select "Import" and then choose the option to import from a VCF file.

6. Locate the VCF file you copied to your GrapheneOS device and select it.

7. Wait for the contacts to import, and you should now see your contacts on your GrapheneOS device.

Note that the exact steps may vary depending on the Android phone and GrapheneOS device you are using. Also, make sure to check the documentation or support resources for your specific devices to ensure the proper steps are being followed.

To transfer contacts from an iPhone to GrapheneOS, you can follow these general steps:

On your iPhone, open the Contacts app and tap on the contact you want to transfer.
Tap on the Share icon (a box with an arrow pointing up) and select the option to share the contact as a VCF file.
Choose to share the file via email, AirDrop, or cloud storage such as iCloud, Dropbox, or Google Drive or local storage.
Access the shared VCF file on your GrapheneOS device by downloading it from the email or cloud storage app.
On your GrapheneOS device, open the Contacts app and tap on the three-dot menu.
Select "Import" and then choose the option to import from a VCF file.
Locate the VCF file you downloaded to your GrapheneOS device and select it.
Wait for the contacts to import, and you should now see your contacts on your GrapheneOS device.