Introduction#
I’ve been using GrapheneOS on my smartphone for two months now – and I have to say: I’m impressed. For a long time, I was looking for a mobile operating system that focuses on privacy, security, and control, without limiting me in everyday use. With GrapheneOS, I’ve finally found it.
Why I Switched#
For many years, I used Apple devices – and while the experience was smooth, it felt increasingly restrictive once I started experimenting with self-hosted services.
I began hosting my own tools and services to gain independence:
- Immich for photo management
- Matrix for chat and communication
- Nextcloud for files and calendar
- Ntfy for push notifications
- Home Assistant for home automation
- Tuta Mail for private email
Especially with Ntfy, I noticed that Android handles WebSockets much better than iOS. This was one of the key reasons that pushed me to finally switch to GrapheneOS.
My Profile Setup#
One of the biggest advantages of GrapheneOS is the ability to create and strictly separate multiple profiles. My current setup looks like this:
- Profile 1 (Owner): Contains app stores like Obtainium, Aurora Store, and Accrescent for installing apps. This profile remains isolated and doesn’t hold user data – it’s my “clean” base profile that always exists.
- Profile 2: This is where the apps from the Owner profile are actually used with my personal data. If there’s ever a problem, error, or security issue, I can simply recreate this profile without affecting the Owner profile.
- Profile 3: Contains the Google Play Store and all apps that require Play Services, including social media.
The best part: social media and notifications no longer distract me in everyday life. I only see them when I deliberately switch to the third profile. This keeps my daily routine calmer and more focused, while still allowing access to those apps when I choose.
Additional Benefits#
Beyond profiles, GrapheneOS comes with many small but crucial improvements:
- System hardening against exploits and vulnerabilities
- More fine-grained permission controls, e.g. apps can be denied access to sensors like camera or microphone
- Frequent security-focused updates
- Option to use Google services in a sandbox environment, if absolutely needed
- Excellent battery life thanks to Unified Push with Ntfy, so apps don’t need to run constantly in the background
Conclusion#
After two months with GrapheneOS, I’m convinced: this operating system is one of the best alternatives for anyone who values privacy but doesn’t want to lose the comfort of modern smartphones.
The profile feature is my personal highlight – and with my setup, it’s the perfect way to keep social media and notifications from disrupting daily life.
