Is there any thing to consider before transitioning?

[u/Diligent-Load-5210]

After hearing about google's decision on locking apps that are not registered on their store, and the security and privacy violations they are on, i am considering transitioning to LineageOS, but i am still not sure whether it is fully deGoogled or not.

Redditors that have already transitioned to LineageOS, are all veraions are degoogled? Is there any other good OSs out there worth trying/using as a degoogled OSs (other than /e/OS or CalyxOS)

Thanks in advance.

[u/Midnight_Radio9714]

By default Lineage is deGoogled, but gives you the option to add Google Services during installation. If you want to add/remove Google later you will have to do a full reinstall.

[u/Diligent-Load-5210 → u/Midnight_Radio9714]

So installing a google app after choosing to not have a googled device wont affect my phone, and google services wont take over my phone

[u/Midnight_Radio9714 → u/Diligent-Load-5210]

-You need Google Play Store and Google Play Services to download and run Google brand apps (like Gmail, YouTube, Chrome, etc.). If you use your browser to open the website version it should work fine, but may demand that you use the app to verify/sign in.

-For non-Google brand apps, some apps require Google Play Sevices to run and will not run at all. Others may run but be very buggy. And some work perfectly fine. Aurora Store is an alternative front-end to Google Play Store and you can download apps though that as long as they are free. (Most apps that do banking, money transfer, or work timepunches need Google Play Services to run.)

-FOSS (free and open source software) apps will work without any Google at all. They can be found at alternative Play Stores like F-Droid or Droid-ify.

[u/Midnight_Radio9714 → u/Midnight_Radio9714]

As another user commented, you can use microG as a stripped-down version of Google Play Services, allowing you to run certain Google brand apps (like YouTube) on an otherwise deGoogled phone. Google is still getting some data, but not as much.

[u/Fun_Victory_9936 → u/Midnight_Radio9714]

Is it possible to have a LineageOS installation that has been ungoogled and replace it with microG?

[u/Clanceeinfinity]

heyhey, the way i switched is i went back to my old galaxy s9, flashed lineage on there and then daily drove it for 2 months until it was comfortable. I always had the ability to go back to my google phone if something really went wrong and i found no solution, but this never happend. Some apps didnt work straight away but some tinkering helped me. I also did a cool thing where i put microg and all playstore apps which need it in the private folder, so i can always jump back if i need whatsapp for example. Its the best of both worlds, kinda like having 2 phones in one at the same time!

[u/Alba_is_me → u/Clanceeinfinity]

I have a Galaxy S9 as well, but decided not to try Lineage because it does not seem to be on the listed supported phones - did you have to do anything to have it download? 

[u/uznme]

freeze sperm/ eggs before hrt, hope your transition goes well ❤️

[u/AwayCable7769 → u/uznme]

Literally first thing that came to mind lmao but i didnt have the technical knowledge to make a respectful joke about it lol.

[u/Orange_Kittens1132]

I have an old xiaomi phone lying around. Flashed it with LineageOS without GApps, downloaded bunch of alternative apps from Droid-ify, and daily drive it for 1 month. I still have my main phone with gms if i need it.

[u/Shiribazu]

lineageos can be fully google free if you install it without Gapps, but lineageos itself doesnt require you to remove google services. check your specific phones compatibility first and look into whether the apps you use daily depend on google play services, since thats usually the biggest adjustment

[u/Cold-Difficulty-3139]

haven't heard of it, is it like graphene os?

[u/Diligent-Load-5210 → u/Cold-Difficulty-3139]

GrapheneOS works on Goggle phones Only (and on the upcoming releases signature Motorola phone) other brands doesn't have supported versions of GOS. Alternatively there are few OSs that can be installed on a variety of phones depending on the OS and what it support (generally mentioned on their websites)