Setup
Some parts within AXP.OS are baked in and cannot / should not be touched at all. These are:
- Google Play (disabling it is totally fine though, see here)
- Google Play Services
additionally to the above do not touch these when your bootloader is locked:
- microG Services
- microG Services Framework
- Magisk
Ensure you set these on the ignore list for F-Droid and Aurora (see next topics).
- see First-time setup
- and additional-setup message
- follow this advice (if you locked your bootloader)
- when using apps detecting root (e.g. banking apps) follow this guide
Aurora comes with the corresponding Aurora Service:
- In the app drawer choose Aurora Services
- touch "Permissions"
- grant access
- open Aurora
- follow the initial config wizard and grant permission as requested
- once logged in (anonymous or real) choose "Blacklist manager" from the left menu
- select the apps from the above list
- Recommended: In "Updates" choose "Do not auto-update apps". This avoids that you install apps automatically which MUST be installed via Play Store. If you are 100% sure you do not or if you simply do not use Google Play its totally safe setting it to auto-update of course
While on it keep an eye on the Push-Notifications topic as this is something you might run into as well when using some apps.
- Settings -> Repositories
- Enable those you want, at least "DivestOS Official" should be kept enabled
- Move (long press, drag&drop) the "DivestOS Official" repo at top! Otherwise you will not get current updates for Mull/Mulch etc
- Settings -> "Manage installed apps" and search for any of the apps from the above list:
- when selected an app use the 3 dot menu from top right
- select "Ignore all updates"
- repeat that step for all the mentioned apps
While on it keep an eye on the Push-Notifications topic as this is something you might run into as well when using some apps.
If your device supports an external sdcard you might get prompted to choose how to use it, either as portable storage or adoptable to extend your internal storage. While the latter sounds promising it is totally unsupported and not maintained anymore.
Things which can happen when using adoptable storage (non-exclusive list):
- App icons disappear
- whole apps disappear
- boot loops
TL;DR
- set it up as portable storage
A personal excerpt of recommended apps:
- Malware scanner - Hypatia (F-Droid)
- for scheduling you can install the (non FOSS) App "Automate" and add my flows:
- Database Updater
- Scan Scheduler
- Keyboard - FlorisBoard (F-Droid)
- Speech2Text - Say Board (F-Droid)
- SmartWatch etc - GadgetBridge (F-Droid)
For the rest checkout
- https://divestos.org/pages/recommended_apps
- https://github.com/pluja/awesome-privacy
- https://github.com/tycrek/degoogle (not updated anymore since August 2024 but still a good one)
AXP.OS comes with microG included, as well with the Google Play store (internal name "Phonesky") but both are not activated by default (this exactly wanted that way, leaving the choice to the user).
In order to activate these you need to follow some simple steps.
The very first step:
AXP.OS comes with an extendrom feature which requires to globally switch signature spoofing on first.
If the required toggle is not enabled or disabled later signature spoofing will be denied - even when you have it allowed for an app before.
- Enable Developer Options
- Enable signature spoofing for microG:
From now on all apps which requests signature spoofing will PROMPT you and you can decide on a per-app base to allow or deny it.
This means the app must explicitly requests signature spoofing and you might need to do that step manually for apps which don't (like the Google Play store).
If you do not want to use any google service simply disable the Google Play app and do not enable Signature spoofing support for Google Play. If you want to use it, read on.
There is also a quite new option within microG settings named "Play Store services" which allows to handle:
- Answer license verification request
- Google Play billing
This might or might not work for your apps. So before enabling Google Play this might be worth a try?!
If the above does not work for you or you do not trust its state of implementation (as said its quite new) you can use the native Play Store.
AXP.OS comes with a patched Google Play store based on the great work of Nanolx but greatly enhanced to support more recent Android versions, latest Play store release and more bug-free (i.e. no crashes).
- Ensure signature spoofing is enabled in developer options (see above)
- Find the Google Play store in the app drawer, long press it and open the (i) - "App info" screen
- open "Permissions" -> "Spoof package signature" and switch from "Don't allow" to "Allow":
You can disable/enable spoofing support or the app itself at any time later (if your apps do not run any licence checks in the background to function properly..).
- disable Play protect (
start Google Play -> 3 dots at top right -> Play protect -> settings wheel -> untick "Scan apps with Play Protect") - Next: follow the microG topic otherwise Google Play won't even start/work properly.
microG simulates and implements the existence of the Google framework required to use e.g. the Google Maps API or receiving Push notifications. If you want to use the Google Play store and/or use apps which need to communicate with the Google API's you have to configure microG as follows:
- Ensure signature spoofing is enabled in developer options (see above)
- open the microG settings app -> Self-Check:
- touch "System grants signature spoofing permission" -> you get a prompt to allow signature spoofing
- scroll down and find any entry with a missing check mark and touch it to enable it. at the end all must have a checkmark (Phonesky might be unchecked if you do not want to use the Google Play Store)
- Google Play requires this, otherwise it will not work properly:
- Google device registration
- In order to make Push notifications work enable:
- Cloud Messaging
Now you're set and Push notifications and all other supported microG features should work (take a look at the FAQ for any issues).
Some apps require you to be installed by the google play store to work properly but no worries: you can simply deactivate the play store as soon as you are finished (depends on the app, e.g. if the app checks a license you might need to keep it enabled)!
As you should know AXP.OS is based on DivestOS and they include some very good post install steps mentioned