this post was submitted on 05 Sep 2025
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F-Droid

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F-Droid is an installable catalogue of FOSS (Free and Open Source Software) applications for the Android platform. The client makes it easy to browse, install, and keep track of updates on your device.

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What is the future of F-Droid and apps it distributes now that Google is hell bent on stopping sideloading and forcing developers to register at google? A large portion of what F-droid distributes are apps that are not at Google's good graces.

https://hackaday.com/2025/08/26/google-will-require-developer-verification-even-for-sideloading/

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[–] sabreW4K3@lazysoci.al 13 points 1 week ago (2 children)

If you disable advanced protection, you can bypass their check

[–] cardfire@sh.itjust.works 18 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

This is true today, but when the new iron curtain goes up and all of our devices are goog-lag'd next year, it won't be possible, especially with all of the handset makers that distribute in the US being complicit.

Samsung just removed my ability to unlock the bootloader or load any alternate OSes for my handset devices, this summer.

Soon my only options will be to import phones that are only partially compatible with the networks here in the US and that come with their own security and privacy concerns.

[–] Korkki@lemmy.ml 8 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Does that require rooting and does it work with every android device?

[–] sabreW4K3@lazysoci.al 5 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Nope, it's just an option in the main settings.

Settings -> Security & Privacy -> Advanced Protection

[–] cardfire@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 week ago

And if that UI optiondisappeared with your next carrier update? What recourse would you have?