this post was submitted on 05 Feb 2026
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Privacy
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I have separate profiles:
Some compromises I've made:
But... I think starting-out, don't worry about it. If you load all the same apps as on your old phone, into a single main profile, it'll still be a huge improvement.
Very interesting. I was cpnsidering using separate profiles, but I read somewhere that google services is sandboxed anyway, so having it all in 1 profile is fine.
What I will need a separate profile for though, is for banking apps. I have one which is adament that I use a keyboard app from the play store and will refuse to function if I have one from F-droid installed.
Good recommendation. Good to remember that each app has its own sandbox so for most scenarios you are all set anyways (except running google play in general you may be against).
An excellent middle ground, if preferred, would be your main profile with everything that works anonymously and without google, etc, then a second profile that is not so anonymous (ie banking, google maps, etc).
You also likely need your password manager app in both profiles.
p.s. if you also use fingerprint (or any biometric) unlock, remember you can hold the power button to go into lockdown if you ever have a security threat (ie think you might be arrested or robbed or whatever like that). This disables biometrics and requires your pin. (i believe you should do this even if you use only a pin since it takes your phone into a BFU state, which you can google more about if interested).
How the holding of the power btn works? I tried it just now and it just brought the menu for doing the lockdown/reboot/shutdown (i.e. advanced boot menu or something).
I think it would be better to just hold the button down in out of the view and it would go into lockdown mode..?
Is fingerprint unlock not secure/private on android?
in many jurisdictions you Can be forced to give your biometric data to unlock. a pin cannot as of 2026 be forcefully extracted from you against your will.