If you can use a web browser and connect your Pixel to your laptop/pc with a usb cable, you know enough.
Flashing GrapheneOS is the easiest I've even flashed a custom ROM. Just follow the instructions and you'll be fine.
this post was submitted on 14 May 2026
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I want to give some additional I formation:
- installation doesn't work on Firefox, must use Chromium
- if on Linux, it may be needed to change permissions to the USB device before it works
It's really easy. Graphene has a web flasher with very good instructions, and once flashed, you're good to go. I haven't looked back. Once installed you'll want your apps.
If you want to sign in to the play store and connect your google account to the phone for your apps, you can do that, bu then you're kinda right back where you started. Not fully, because Graphene, but Google is still gonna google and suck up any and all data it can.
So for apps, look to F-Droid, Obtainium, and Aurora store.
F-Droid and Obtainium for FOSS apps, and Aurora store for play store apps without having to sign in to the play store.
if you can, buy an unlocked phone. Some carriers like to mess with things that might prevent you installing Graphene. I haven't heard any recent specifics if Version is a problem or not.
Export app configurations for any app that lets you, it speeds setting up the device a lot.
Assume no data will properly be transfered (as a precaution), so have backups of everything you care about. (I forget if Graphene even has a transfer feature?)
Graphene's stock software leaves a lot to be desired. I like the Fossify apps for phone, contacts and files. For texting, I stick with google messages, its the only one I know of that works right with everything. For camera, I love Open Camera. For the Home launcher, I like lawnchair.
There's many options for app stores; ideally you pick and one or two, having more than needed adds complexity. I stick to fdroid, play store and graphene's "store". Graphene's app store pretty much only has their core apps and what's needed for compatibility with the play store.
In my experience, flashing GrapheneOS is simple, but you must buy a factory-unlocked Pixel 10 directly from Google. Verizon-branded models permanently lock the bootloader, making custom ROM installation impossible. Verifying hardware compatibility before buying is crucial when dealing with restrictive carriers. The reviews for Reliance Telephone https://reliance-telephone.pissedconsumer.com/review.html show how frustrating locked telecom policies and network restrictions can be. It confirms that ensuring device freedom upfront is the only way to avoid locked systems.
Do NOT buy a phone from Verizon or Verizon MVNOs like Spectrum. They can be carrier unlocked but the bootloaders are permanently locked and there is no way to unlock them. Their sales reps will tell you they can be completely unlocked but that's not the case.
US Mobile's Pixel prices are good and they can be unlocked (carrier and bootloader) after 60 days. It is one MVNO that doesn't bootloader lock phones when you choose Verizon service.
Amazon's Google store (in addition to Google direct) has bootloader unlocked phones but they are pretty expensive most of the time.
You'll probably need to know how to install GrapheneOS on a Pixel phone. Would be helpful anyway.
You actually don't. The web based installer walks you through every step as you're going along.
That'd also be good to know.