this post was submitted on 08 Mar 2026
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DeGoogle Yourself

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Background

Rooting disables OEM updates and makes your device unofficial, so you will probably still be able to sideload apps. Depending on how this shitstorm turns out though, and if there will ever be a need for it, I would love to help people to root their smartphones. There are of course a lot of online guides and videos on how to do it already, covering various devices and methods, so another idea is to collaborate on a wiki that aggregates and documents all rootable smartphones and the methods that work.

Rooting services

We could open up a chatroom on Signal or any other platform that enables voice and/or video chat. People could also send their smartphones to another person that roots it.

The wiki

I could host something fresh from my desktop or create a community on some fedi instance. The wiki would aggregate preexisting information but also be open for continuous updates by the community.

Question

What does the community think of such an idea? I'm just spitballing here, trying to add something to the opposition.

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[–] umbrella@lemmy.ml 3 points 3 hours ago (1 children)

a repository of files would be very usedul as opposed to dead links to mediafire, xda, and in closed telegram chats. smaller stuff like root binaries and exploits?

Yeah! Some of those communities require registration and the general climate can be quite hostile towards tech illiterate people. I'd love to see a forum and a wiki that's inviting to all.

[–] Mynameisallen@lemmy.zip 8 points 8 hours ago (2 children)

Honestly if you're going to use Android just use GrapheneOS

[–] tetrislife@leminal.space 4 points 6 hours ago

Do commercial apps work on such an installation? I have seen them get worse, checking for non-rooted, non-developer-mode-enabled, Google Play Store enabled, etc.

[–] FlexibleToast@lemmy.world 3 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

What phones are running Graphene?

[–] YC99@lemmy.world 0 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

google pixels, and I think they'll extend its compatibility to motorola

[–] FlexibleToast@lemmy.world 7 points 5 hours ago (2 children)

I don't really want to give Google money because of this. They've been doing what a lot of corporations do, use open source as a cheat for good will and then change the license.

[–] biofaust@lemmy.world 1 points 2 hours ago

Geez, everytime this point! Don't you guys have a second hand market? My daily driver is a Pixel 6a with GOS and all apps but one (for which I have a substitute anyway) work perfectly.

[–] umbrella@lemmy.ml 1 points 3 hours ago

or stuff it all inside play services, which is proprietary.

[–] kittenzrulz123@lemmy.dbzer0.com 0 points 3 hours ago (1 children)

Root is absolutely insecure

[–] umbrella@lemmy.ml 0 points 3 hours ago

tough luck, it's what we have.

[–] solrize@lemmy.ml 20 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

Some phones are straightforwardly rootable, some want you to download a suspicious binary from a file sharing site, and some are difficult. Maybe the best thing is post instructions for as many phones as possible.

[–] emotional_soup_88@programming.dev 8 points 11 hours ago* (last edited 11 hours ago)

That's right! At the very least, maybe one could open a "repo" or a wiki that ~~collects~~ documents all rootable Android phones and which rooting method works and to what extent. As a long term project, of course.

[–] skywalker2k17@nerdculture.de 6 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

@emotional_soup_88 Glad that you are trying to do something about it.

[–] emotional_soup_88@programming.dev 9 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

I mean, it feels kinda silly when I reread my post, but I'm genuine about wanting to rebel against big tech monopolies.

[–] skywalker2k17@nerdculture.de 3 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

@emotional_soup_88 yeah man, I'm not a tech literate, so people like me will definitely appreciate your help. But I'm planning on trying my luck if I can find a good deal for a used Pixel.

[–] emotional_soup_88@programming.dev 4 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

That's great! A year ago when I last rooted a Pixel, the bootloader was still unlockable, as the terminology goes. If you do not intend to try out GrapheneOS but use the preinstalled OS, I do recommend rooting it for future consistent freedom.

[–] skywalker2k17@nerdculture.de 2 points 11 hours ago (2 children)

@emotional_soup_88 the plan is to try out GrapheneOS and see how it will be for me and while I'd love to remove Meta and Google (and most big tech) from my life immediately. There's unfortunately a lot of information I need that will determine my career. Ugh, I hate how reliant we all became on some services.

[–] Lfrith@lemmy.ca 1 points 5 hours ago

Simplest approach I found is GrapheneOS as your main device, and using a second Android or iPhone for commercial apps that don't work. And keep the second phone off majority of the time when the apps aren't needed.

There is definitely a mental/psychological aspect that needs to be taken into consideration. For starters, we have to encourage and be kind to each other and to ourselves. Any and all steps away from big tech and monopolies is a small victory and should be encouraged.

[–] TCB13@lemmy.world -2 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago) (1 children)

People crying over Google copying Apple once again. What else? :D

[–] doleo@lemmy.one 5 points 10 hours ago

Thanks for your input