DeGoogle Yourself

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A community for those that would like to get away from Google.

Here you may post anything related to DeGoogling, why we should do it or good software alternatives!

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Probably a stupid question, but what can I do to 'degoogle' a Google Pixel 8? (lemmy.world)

submitted 5 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Just switched to a new phone carrier, and they had a promotion that included a free phone: the Google Pixel 8. I'm not a fan of Google, but I am a fan of free, so I took the bait.

It's already bombarded me with pitches for their new AI bullshit. I've opted out of as much as the settings allow, but I'm under no illusion that doing so actually provides any real privacy.

So, damage control time.

On my previous device I used YouTube Vanced for music and videos, but I guess Vanced isn't around anymore, and I'm pretty out of date on what the current options are... any insight on streaming specifically?

*I'm a medic who's only surface-level competent with tech, so please idiot-proof any instructions.

Thanks all!

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[–] [email protected] 0 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (13 children)

As was mentioned, you probably cannot switch to GrapheneOs until the phone is paid off (out of the first two years contract).

In the meantime you can:

Change all of your primary logins (site by site by site and app by app by app) to a non-Google email address. This should stop a lot of back channel tracking that Google does through their login framework.
Install F-Droid to get access to popular free and open apps. It startled me how much essential software isn't in the Play Store. These apps used to exist in the Google Play store, but lately the best I find in the Play Store are clones with ads jammed into them.
Use free or open software, specifically, when accessing Google services - for example, use SkyTube for accessing YouTube. These apps typically have anonymous use options which I trust much more than the equivalent setting (if it exists) in Google's own apps.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 5 months ago (6 children)

What does the phone contract have to do with what you can do with the phone? Contracts are for the SIM card (and the network access that comes with it) which may include the cost of a subsidised phone, but you're still paying that regardless of what you do with the phone, right? Or to put it another way I think they can network-restrict the phone but I don't think they can stop you putting GrapheneOS on it.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Not in the US. A phone "purchased" on contract is carrier locked and you can't unlock the bootloader, which needs to be done in order to install a different OS.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I found some very old posts that says network and bootloader unlocking are unrelated, is this no longer the case?

[–] [email protected] 0 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Apparently not, I have a Pixel 8 Pro that I got free on a promotion from AT&T. The bootloader is locked on it and grayed out.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 5 months ago

That's some serious bullshit, my condolences

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