Skip to main content

De-Googled Phone

The Problem#

Every effort should be taken to reduce your digital profile in an effort to deprive outside agencies of your data and personally identifiable information.

Governments – Federal, State, Local Corporations – Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, Google (FAANG)

  • Your Device is with you nearly ALL THE TIME.
  • You use it every day and communicate with everyone you know.
  • Your personal information is stored on it.
  • Banking, Budgets, Contacts, Pictures, Videos, etc
  • Catastrophic if Stolen or Compromised

The Solution#

A de-Googled phone is the solution. Custom, Free, and Open Source Android operating system that removes all hooks and connections to the Google mothership.

No more phoning home. No more logging in with a Google or Apple Account. As anonymous as you want it to be.

CalyxOS is an Android mobile operating system that puts privacy and security into the hands of everyday users. It is designed specifically around the Google Pixel lines of mobile devices due to their inherent hardware security.

There are others (GrapheneOS and LineageOS), but we will focus on CalyxOS because it is the closest product to a stock Android experience while maintaining tight digital security.

The Process#

  1. Go to CalyxOS and download the image for the Google Pixel phone you're going to use.
  2. This manual will assume you are using the Google Pixel 5, but ensure you click the appropriate image for your device.
  3. Click on the appropriate OS you will use to flash the image to the device. (MacOS, Windows, Linux)
  4. Follow the instructions on the installation page, ensuring you download and use the flasher tool and the Google USB Driver for WIndows installations.
  5. Allow the flasher tool to install CalyxOS, it should only take a couple minutes assuming you followed the steps properly.

The Follow Up#

Follow the initial boot and installation prompts to customize your new De-Googled device to your liking.

Download all of your favorite apps from F-Droid and Aurora Store.

Microg replaces some functions of Google Play Services while maintaining much more anonymity and privacy. Completely Optional.