r/Android • • 1d ago

Rumour Google is now self-Verifying Phone Number without user CONSENT

WARNING: Google Play Services is quietly "Self-Verifying" and linking your phone number to ALL signed-in accounts without explicit permission.

Just a heads up for anyone who values basic privacy on Android.

Check your inbox for emails from noreply-phone-verification@google.com.

Without asking for my confirmation or giving me an opt-in prompt, Google Play Services performed a silent background "Self-Verification."

It exchanged SIM card identifiers and device metadata with my mobile carrier, grabbed my phone number, and automatically attached it to EVERY Google account logged into my phone.

No prompt. No "Do you want to link this?" button. Just a silent background action followed by a notification email telling me it already happened.

How to kill this setting on Android immediately (for now) but it will self verify even if turned off Go to Settings > Google (or Google Services) > All Services > Phone Number Verification

Find Phone number verification (or Device Phone Number Verification). (Ah, and lovely it automatically appear my phone number even WHEN IT WAS NOT THERE BEFORE!)

TOGGLE IT OFF.

Don't forget to purge your accounts:

Once Google steals/verifies the number, it pushes it to your Google account profiles.

You need to log into myaccount.google.com/personal-info, click on Phone, and manually delete the number from every single account where you don't want it stored.

Modern "self-verification" dark patterns are completely out of hand. Check your settings before Google silently grabs your data too.

NO ANDROID IS SAFE: Happened on my Android 10 Huawei, Android 14 Xiaomi and is now requesting on my emulators too...even my tablet... Beware...

Edit1: Maybe dont work, i sent a mail to data-protection-office@google.com, literally asking ARCO rights and anything i can think about it, for such privacy invasion on the behalf of my and all accounts i have to "care" and so on...maybe this bring pressure

Edit2: u/AppleBites reports this "Google did the same to me when I got a 2nd number from another carrier, due to coverage. Even having GrapheneOS did not prevent them from linking the number to my Google account automatically."

Meaning even Graphene OS+GServices probably is unable to protect with this, a serious oversteeping in this messed thing

1.1k Upvotes

184 comments sorted by

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u/Potato_Underground 23h ago

I tried toggling it off, but when I go back to it, it shows it it as ON again

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u/OptimalMain 21h ago

Its probably some secret trick, something else thats enabled requires it to be on

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u/sleepytechnology S21+ (SD-888) 23h ago

Same

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u/asdffdsa123454321 21h ago

Strong vibe-code vibes.

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u/Zealousideal_Aside96 8h ago

Is this just now the term for any software that doesn’t work as a user expects?

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u/Elephant789 Pixel 7 55m ago

I hate it because I like vibecoding.

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u/Potato_Underground 20h ago

This is what I've found:

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u/ErraticDragon P8 18h ago

So that you're not just sharing AI output:

Which one worked for you, if any?

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u/Fish_Mongreler 18h ago

Get this ai shit out of here

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u/Potato_Underground 20h ago

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u/Potato_Underground 20h ago

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u/Khalku 17h ago

We can all Google, please use your words.

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u/RzrRainMnky 19h ago

This feature is absolutely dumb. I had to transfer a SIM card from a damaged phone I found so the owner could contact me. Suddenly my google account across different phones gets linked to some stranger's phone number all because I inserted his SIM into my phone? Make it make sense.

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u/diagboxes 20h ago

It is turning back on as soon as you exit the menu.

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u/Old_Mossback 19h ago

Same for me.

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u/GroundbreakingAnt17 17h ago

Mine did the same. Try turning off "phone number sharing." Idk if that's actually what fixed it for me though 

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u/Mal_Occhio 18h ago

There is a flag for this, or a series of them. Seems like its for the llm actions to easily work tasks with multiple services.

95

u/Zer0w5 OP7Pro 1d ago

Well thanks for that, I had to turn it off.. Scummy practices yet again by a mega corp.

105

u/super_starfox 1d ago

Thanks. I'm so sick of this fucking song-and-dance just trying to even pretend we have even a modicum of privacy left.

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u/JamesR624 18h ago

Come over to Apple's side. They totally care about your privacy!

  • Please ignore the alway listening, AI processing feature of the Apple Watch 4 that automatically records you and those around you for AI processing for "convenience" of the Apple Watch wearer.
  • Please also just ignore the partnership with LG.
  • Please also ignore the fact that they're shoving more and more microphones into things that don't need it, like the new Apple TV.
  • Please also ignore that Siri AI is processing everything on screen at all times without ever telling you.

So.... anyone else want to still collectively pretend that Apple suddenly abandoning privacy at the same time Google is dumping it (even mroe than they had before), is all just a convenience and the recent powergrab in DC mixed with the bs from p⏺⏺⏺⏺tier and f⏺⏺ck, also totally has NOTHING to do with slowly preparing all entities in the US to serveil americans at all times to look for people to send I⏺E after

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u/Slg407 18h ago edited 16h ago

this is why you buy a pixel and use graphene, buy a libreboot PC without intel ME, use linux, use foss home assistant, use foss ecosystem stuff, use a dumb TV with a cheap PC running a jellyfin setup, use routers with libreCWC or openWRT

FOSS (and to an extent open source, not to be a OSIist) ecosystems are HIGHLY superior to proprietary shit, and now with AI you can get any assistant to guide you through the technical bits so you have no excuse to not use it, they are upgradable, and you actually own them, and if you don't like something you can fix it yourself or give real time feedback to the developers that you know is going to be answered, it skips a couole hundred steps compared to having to beg corporations to update EOL products.

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u/ender4171 16h ago edited 16h ago

use a dumb TV

Those have become nearly impossible to find these days, especially if you want the latest in panel tech.

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u/Kuuchuu 15h ago

You'll probably have more luck when browsing commercial TVs, but they will also likely be more expensive due to (hopefully) higher build quality and no price subsidization bc they are less likely to sell your info and what you watch to advertisers.

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u/SanityInAnarchy 10h ago

Possibly higher build quality, but those commercial use cases don't usually need screens that actually look good as TVs. Monitors are the closest thing we have to dumb displays, except they don't come as large as TVs, and Microsoft will autoinstall "drivers" for that monitor, including adware from LG, just through normal Windows Update.

I'm not saying stop trying, but this isn't easy to opt out. We need actual regulation.

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u/skeptical-speculator 9h ago

buy a monitor

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u/Slg407 16h ago

you can still use a smart one but dumb it down, if you don't care about warranty remove the wireless antenna, if you do then you can set it up as a display only tv and not use the "smart" OS

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u/Iohet V10 is the original notch 1h ago

You can just not connect it to the network.

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u/ragingxtc 16h ago

Jellyfin > Plex.

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u/Slg407 16h ago

fixed!

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u/Nanosinx 10h ago

Graphene did not prevent already some graphene users showing this happening xD It is a Play Store thingy

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u/nodray 15h ago

cool, buy ME a pixel, that fucking google still profits from, don’t they?

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u/Slg407 15h ago

there's also the fairphone, the librem, the libre phone project by the FSF, many older devices that work with replicant etc

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u/Kuuchuu 15h ago

Not if you buy a good used one. You don't have to buy new.

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u/JoNyx5 14h ago

Graphene or Calyx, they're both good

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u/droans Pixel 9 Pro XL 6h ago

I mean, I can do all that but I shouldn't have to. And the average non-technical user won't be able to either.

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u/RedditNotFreeSpeech 16h ago

I'm waiting for the steam phone

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u/biznatch11 Galaxy S23 21h ago

Mine just did this too, Samsung Galaxy S23.

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u/Total_Recline 4h ago

Where did you find this? I don't have anything in my settings like the OP is mentioning.

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u/biznatch11 Galaxy S23 3h ago

I got a notification about it but the setting is in Settings then go to Google Services then All services then scroll down to Phone number verification. And the actual phone number is in your Google account/profile settings if you want to remove it.

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u/Total_Recline 2h ago

So I don't have such a thing as "Google services" in my phone settings. That's where I lose y'all.

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u/biznatch11 Galaxy S23 2h ago

Is yours a Samsung? It's probably different on different phones.

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u/Total_Recline 1h ago

Yeah, Samsung.

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u/Risino15 Device, Software !! 23h ago

Just FYI this is not new and has been happening for years.

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u/stanley_fatmax Nexus 6, LineageOS; Pixel 7 Pro, Stock 17h ago

I was going to say... I've been familiar with this functionality for years. Thought I was going crazy.

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u/guttsX 21h ago

Are you sure? To everyone? I've had android devices since the beginning and have never had this occur until 2 days ago where all my devices did it, so now I have 50 numbers linked to all my accounts. fml

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u/nathderbyshire Pixel 10 Obsidian 16h ago

Why do you have 50 numbers and/or devices lol

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u/vandreulv 14h ago

It's not new.

Every time you sign into a new device, it's part of the setup process to use the number of the device for your account and authenication.

Years.

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u/TitansMenologia 19h ago

Not for everyone. For me it started last summer.

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u/Risino15 Device, Software !! 20h ago

I've noticed it happen to me and all my family members at least 4 years ago, if not earlier. We may have been part of an A/B test.

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u/0oWow 14h ago

It's been a thing for several years. Maybe for those of us in the USA? I don't know, but I know it's been a thing for a long time. (Seems to be around 2019? https://9to5google.com/2019/12/12/google-text-messages-sent-verification/ ) You can sometimes catch the verification codes when you manually transfer SMS messages between phones. There used to not be a setting for it as OP describes.

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u/wickedplayer494 Pixel 7 Pro + 2 XL + iPhone 11 Pro Max + Nexus 6 + Samsung GS4 14h ago

Yup, and usually you'll find out about it by way of a secondary SIM and then Google Play Services pushes a notification after a while saying that your secondary number has been added on.

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u/murfi Pixel 9a 22h ago edited 19h ago

where is this hidden on pixel devices? there is no Google or Google services menu anymore. i swear it used to be somewhere

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u/linguapura 21h ago

Go into Settings. Look for your name right on top under which it says Google Services and Preferences. Click on that.

You'll see your account name, and below that two tabs saying Recommended and All Services.

Click on All Services, scroll down and find Phone Verification under Privacy & Security. Click on this and disable this setting there.

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u/murfi Pixel 9a 21h ago

hot damn! Found it, thank you!

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u/linguapura 14h ago

No trouble at all... :)

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u/jotarokagayana 17h ago

Is there a specific app this setting is in since I only have Gmail,drive photos and messages and don't see it and the play store

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u/linguapura 16h ago

No, this is in the main Settings page (the gear/cogwheel icon). Once you're in Settings, just look at the top where your account name is. Under that, it says Google Services and Preferences. Just click on that and follow the other steps I've shared in my earlier comment.

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u/jotarokagayana 16h ago

Yea I don't have that I didn't make a vivo account

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u/linguapura 14h ago

Ah, what I've shared is for Pixel phones.

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u/KrabbyGrabby 22h ago

Keeps turning back on. Fuck.

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u/KrabbyGrabby 22h ago

Google needs to be put down.

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u/sleepytechnology S21+ (SD-888) 23h ago

Mine was opted in so thank you for this awareness. So scummy of Google.

Edit: keeps turning itself back on?

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u/KS2Problema 2h ago

There was time, decades ago, when Google was my favorite tech company. 

It is now one of my LEAST favorite tech companies - because of this, of course - but also because the entire Google ecosystem is disintegrating into bad code, bad UI design, and bad attitudes toward privacy and users. 

They need to be brought up hard. Or they're going to gallop off the cliff.

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u/Nanosinx 2h ago

Sadly there are little to no interest overall...

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u/KS2Problema 1h ago

=\

Sure seems that way.

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u/One_Elephant_8917 19h ago

lol, finally someone paid attention to this, last time i had posted on [r/google](r/google) they just deleted (obviously)….

but for me since i was using my iphone it didn’t matter much but my hassle specifically was due to the following way i setup the acct.

  1. google would say max accts registered with this number (primary)
  2. so used my friend’s ph num to create an account on their android samsung m15
  3. then unlinked from theirs and logged into iphone.
  4. boom -> google signs me out (suspended acct) coz i use apple mail app instead of gmail bloatware of 700+mb
  5. when trying to sign-in shows me a prompt to enter code sent to some strange number????
  6. later realized that last 2 digits were my friend’s ph num. (mind that i did remove their number from the acct in both primary and recovery)
  7. sign in now ok.
  8. few days later again account got signed out (suspended), this time had to ask google to reinstante account.
  9. again sign in but asking same friend’s phone number that was used to setup
  10. frustrated me, finding root cause 🙂 and frantically trying to find a way to remove the phone showing as verification phones under primary phone number screen
  11. finally found it, it was in `logged in sessions` where it keeps track of recently used devices and phone numbers.
  12. quickly log out any and all android device sessions.

Done! now the account was free from android auto-phone numbers verification system.

from then i still do create new account on android if required for testing purpose but always log out all android sessions immediately and ensure nothing shows under verification phones section.

so far all good

NOTE: despite whatever ways i tried to sisable that thing in samsung settings for google accounts, it always turns back ON by itself

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u/MerlinTrashMan 17h ago

Thanks for posting this. It confirms for me what this feature is doing. 99.9999% of Gmail users don't use other people's devices to register accounts. You can use your device but enter someone else's phone number so they assume the registered device is the trusted account. It is locking you because they think you are trying to use someone else's account. When you sign out the device that originally registered the account it allows your device to take over as primary. This setting probably saves tens of thousands of people from having their account stolen every day.

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u/Energy4Days 23h ago

Might want to leave it and cash out on the imminent class action lawsuit 👀

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u/RipeBanana4475 21h ago

Same here. Looking forward to my 4 dollars in 2032. Please follow me and subscribe for more awesome financial advice.

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u/Brilliant-Bumblebee 17h ago

And don't forget to hit that like button!

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u/Nanosinx 23h ago

I will cash out for having this enabled by force... They could push it not force enabling it

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u/JDGumby Google Pixel 10a, Lenovo Tab M9 21h ago edited 17h ago

Find Phone number verification (or Device Phone Number Verification). (Ah, and lovely it automatically appear my phone number even WHEN IT WAS NOT THERE BEFORE!)

The Phone Number Verification option's been there for more than a year. Since September 2025, to be more precise.

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u/guttsX 20h ago

Why did you post this?

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u/degggendorf 19h ago

To correct the misinfo in the post?

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u/_litz 16h ago

This setting does not exist on a Pixel

Edit : courtesy linguapura

Go into Settings. Look for your name right on top under which it says Google Services and Preferences. Click on that.

You'll see your account name, and below that two tabs saying Recommended and All Services.

Click on All Services, scroll down and find Phone Verification under Privacy & Security. Click on this and disable this setting there.

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u/lululock 15h ago

On Pixel 8 Pro (my system is in French, menu items may vary) : Accounts & backup -> manage accounts -> select Google account -> Google account -> Personal information -> Phone number -> uncheck all the devices for automatic verification.

Then you can remove the number associated and you'll have to remove it from other services as well.

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u/Zasoos 15h ago

Thank you for sharing this!

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u/bigBranConsumer The NEW Galaxy Note9 10h ago

what does turning it off do? im scrolling through the comments on this post and i dont see an explanation of what actually happens, and the first thing I see is that RCS gets turned off.

also, what is the actual concern? is this a concern for people who use multiple accounts on the same device they dont want sharing any info with? i genuinely dont understand as it doesnt apply to me. i support privacy but unsure if this is the same thing as old ADB de-bloater scripts that would break phone functions because it removed a service the phone needed to work.

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u/raymondduck Pixel 8 Pro, 14.0 8h ago

I got an email about it from Google and disabled it immediately. Given that they literally tell you how to disable it in the announcement email, I don't think it's that big of a deal - though it obviously should have been opt-in from the start.

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u/Nanosinx 12m ago

I dont got it, i got it the "Your phone has been verified your phone number" Hshshs My best friend got her account verified with my phone amazing!

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u/BaroqueSphinx65 21h ago

I just turn off this feature. I didn't know this was a feature

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u/Jaiden051 Z Fold6 | Android 16 - OneUI 8 20h ago

I swear they have done this for ages. I remember signing into an account and receiving a notification saying "number automatically verified"

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u/rickyyfitts 17h ago

There's a setting on Android, "Remote Lock". That also requires your phone number verification. So apart from the toggle in Google services, you need to see whether you've not enabled this. Maybe this what is causing your guys' automatic phone number toggle to be on.

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u/The_Iron_Ranger 14h ago

data point: my remote lock was off, and my toggle keeps turning back on automatically, so that's not it I don't think. Ps, found that under security and privacy, lost device protection, theft protection`

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u/nksama 15h ago

where to find that?

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u/Nanosinx 14h ago

XD Man i dont have that setting on my Xiaomi xD Also Remote Lock the only Remote Lock i have is but for locking other devices when i get far away like my computer xD

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u/Arinvar 10h ago

When Google or Facebook ask me for my number I laugh and think "stop lying cunts, you already know" then I deny the request. The only surprise here is that it took this long for them to take the mask off.

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u/Nanosinx 10h ago

They took it off and...nicely do it...without asking

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u/UnacceptableUse Pixel 7 Pro 18h ago

Genuine question, why should I care about that? Google makes android so they already have more access to my SIM card than I do.

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u/kipperzdog Pixel 8 17h ago

I don't see anyone answering this. I read the whole post and I don't see what the pitchforks are about, hopefully someone can explain it

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u/Nanosinx 15h ago

Simple, Google Play Services has taken the amendt of SELF VERIFY no user consent, no "hey wanna Google get your phone number or anything xD" Usually they need sent a sms and you put a code from that sms right? LIE! Google Play Services do that process without consenting to the user to do it

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u/kipperzdog Pixel 8 14h ago

Okay, first of all, I hope English isn't your primary language because reading what you just wrote was incredibly difficult.

Second, I don't see what the problem is? It's a cell phone, it has a phone number, wouldn't it be in the best interest of security to verify the phone number to prevent fraud? Like, to me, the problem would just be if Google isn't being clear about what they're doing, not necessarily doing it in the first place

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u/Eagle1337 Asus Zenfone 5z 8h ago

Log in to multiple accounts afaik links the number, throw a different sim card in for some reason, also linked.

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u/Miserable-Stranger99 5h ago

This!! How can they force this it's so f.... Awfull

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u/Nanosinx 14h ago

It is my third language xD No, i dont care, i never authorize the self confirmation on Google to verify my phone number, like with the right of who?

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u/kipperzdog Pixel 8 13h ago

Fair enough!

I wonder on the consent thing, is it buried in the ToS for Google's services somewhere?

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u/Nanosinx 12h ago

Even if so, Google Sent an update would be done on Nov 5, they cant change it before Nov 5

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u/biznatch11 Galaxy S23 16h ago

I don't add my phone number to my Google account because I don't want it to ever be used for 2FA or account recovery because it's less secure than other methods. So for me it's a security issue not a privacy issue.

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u/xdavidwattsx 9h ago

That's irrelevant. Having a phone number to verify an account against fraud doesn't mean it's used for 2FA. That's a separate security setting

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u/biznatch11 Galaxy S23 6h ago

Ya there's a separate setting for regular 2FA but if there's a phone number in your Google profile it can be used for account recovery which is basically the same thing. Maybe even worse because with regular 2FA you still need the password but for account recovery my understanding is all you need is access to the phone number.

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u/AreWeNotDoinPhrasing 5h ago

So simply by being linked with an account it can be the sole source of account recovery? So if I can get access to any phone number that happens to be linked to any Google account, I can take ownership of that account?

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u/biznatch11 Galaxy S23 4h ago

Based on my understanding, yes.

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u/[deleted] 16h ago

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/Znuffie S24 Ultra 14h ago

...what the fuck are you talking about mate

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u/EmbarrassedHelp 12h ago

Linking the phone numbers makes it easier for them to nuke every one of your accounts if their terrible AI falsely flags one of the accounts.

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u/UnacceptableUse Pixel 7 Pro 12h ago

But your accounts are already all associated by way of being signed in on the same phone

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u/alwayswatchyoursix 3h ago

I just checked on my Pixel 10a with GrapheneOS and it was off.

I exited the menu, went back in, and it was still off.

I have no idea what someone would have to do to have it stay on.

Is it possible I turned it off somehow a long time ago and don't really remember doing so? Sure, I've had that google account for more than 20 years now.

I don't really have a data point to offer other than not every single one has this stuck to ON.

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u/karol0 21h ago

When setting up my Pixel 11 Pro XL I had a step with very clear choice of which settings I want on or off. This setting was one of them

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u/NoDoze- 13h ago

Uhmmm... This has nothing to do with android. This is 100% a Google account thing, tying your account with the phone number. You can't create a new Google account unless you have a phone number attached to it, and you are limited on how many accounts have the same phone number.

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u/Nanosinx 12h ago

It is an Android issue too, well the Googled Android I really not care my accounts were without phone numbers, never decided to link it up!

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u/kwijyb0 19h ago

Just because you/me just realize something doesn't mean it hasn't been happening for a while. And they informed us. "When you set up an Android device, Google automatically verifies your phone number or numbers if you have more than one. This helps ensure certain features work, including:" It's more prevalent in the past year but it's not new.

Manage auto verification status - June 3, 2021

“Your number is verified”: why Google regularly checks SIM cards on Android

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u/cxdenz 15h ago

Taxes are also applied while verifying... A phone number that I had credits on it automatically went to more than 5 accounts so I could be "identified for contacts to text me" 😐

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u/_Dreamer_Deceiver_ 12h ago

Just tried it. Re-enabled itself.

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u/mikeyyve 12h ago

There really is no way to have privacy with any online device it seems. It doesn't matter the platform. It's sad.

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u/Strange_Persimmons 12h ago

Turned it off five times and it keeps coming back on. I hate this timeline. 

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u/varyl123 11h ago

I put my sim in someones phone so they could make a call and now all their emails are associated with my number. Is there any way to remove that?

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u/Plsnotmyelo S25 Plus 11h ago

It feels like every other day I say "fucking google"

Yet another one

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u/coolsam254 9h ago

Seems like there are 2 ways to opt out? The device option is turning itself back on for me like the others have mentioned but your URL provided myaccount.google.com/personal-info also lets you disable it there for individual accounts and at least that seems to stay turned off.

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u/James_Vowles 7h ago

turns itself back on

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u/Gigs-of-stuff 7h ago

Now they are forcing us to use passkey

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u/Miserable-Stranger99 5h ago

It's super f... All my Google accounts on 1 device logged on has connected my mobile nr to all Google accounts even not mine accounts.. I manage for family etc this is sooo shit

Can I undo it? This is a huge issue

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u/Total_Recline 4h ago

So is this just a pixel phone thing? I don't see this setting on my Samsung phone.

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u/IAMSNORTFACED s25 2h ago

Also how does an app that hasn't asked permission read my otp from an sms

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u/alpha1beta 2h ago

They did this to me too. With my tablet...which can't receive calls or texts.

I want blood. They STOLE extremely personal info and there's two ways they're gonna use it: 1) to connect you to more outside data 2) to connect your google accounts together, even work numbers, so if you get banned, they'll ban all your accounts, and they can link your browsing history, ad history and I'D and sooo much more

Asking for a phone number without a reason that necessitates a phone number, should be illegal and should be punishable by a minimum of 101% revenue for any calendar year in which you do it even once, MINIMUM, and maximum of life in prison for every staff involves in it from the CEO to the programmer abd copywriter, seizing the company and selling it at auction for the benefit of the users - shareholders get nothing.

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u/CraigIsAwake 1h ago

There is no way to turn this off without the possibility of the sharing happening. If I boot my phone in airplane mode with wifi off, the setting doesn't come up and tells me I have to be connected to the internet. (And the setting on the web site is not respected by the phone, as already tested on another phone.)

So the only way to turn it off is to already have your phone powered up and connected to the internet!

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u/Digiee-fosho 30m ago

I think a class action, and antitrust is far overdue.

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u/_skyvory 5m ago

Doing this without user consent? The hell. I'm definitely not alone to consider moving platform just because of this nonsense. I link the number I want to be linked, not what google think should be linked.

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u/degggendorf 19h ago

Holy shit, my phone knows my phone number!?!? Unacceptable!!

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u/Keulapaska ROG Phone 6 DI 13h ago

I'm so confused... like what's the problem exactly, I got no random emails, so should I care about this? Or is this only for ppl who have a billion google accounts and odn't want to associate them with a phone number, and if you have only one it's a non issue?

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u/Nanosinx 12h ago

I only have 4 1 "private" 2 "personal" separated for games and personal things 1 "university account" None of them had my phone number till yesterday...

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u/[deleted] 9h ago

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/orestarod 9h ago

You do not think a service should not snatch personal information without asking for it?

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u/SecretaryNo8431 23h ago

Zuerst möglichst viele Anwendungen durch Opensource Apps ersetzen und dann die besagten Googledienste in der Firewall isolieren. Ich habs in BlockAds gemacht. Das ist auf meinem Blackview Shark 9 5g kein Problem gewesen. Keine Fehlermeldungen,alles läuft. Ob das auf anderen Geräten klappt,weiß ich natürlich nicht. Ich mache in kürze eine genauere Erklärung mit ein paar Screenshots.

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u/Otherwise_Cattle3981 Black 15h ago

You lost me at "basic privacy on Android."

Some Android users are so funny. This has been a thing since at least 2019 when using Google Fi. Even longer with Google Voice. People acting like this is some grave mistrust of Google and a deep invasion of your privacy... You realize it takes a whole four taps to delete it off your account, right?

I came to this conclusion when the whole argument started up around Advanced Protection - the more advanced users of Android need to realize the majority of decisions Google makes about Android are not aimed at you, instead they are aimed at the opposite end of the spectrum, the users who are not great at using Android. And honestly Id expect that slice of the demographic to be way bigger than the power users. Users that might not know how to add a recovery phone number. Users who might find this super helpful, not an entire invasion of privacy that warrants a reddit post. Id much rather have something like this that helps protect some users that I can easily navigate and do away with if I choose than have Android completely un-user friendly.

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u/Boysahne69 9h ago

Completely agree. Using Android and complaining about privacy lmao

You'd have to take so many steps to really protect your privacy. Completely de-google-fying your life would be the first. And bro in here is talking about one option in Android ahhahaha

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u/Nanosinx 14h ago

I dont use Google Fi, actually not available in my country.

Is okay, if Google Prompt me to ACCEPT not to do it shadowy means by taking such Right, i dont wanna add a recovery phone number, it is sufficent with my other mails to recovery, thing is that it added like a robber who enters your home your closed home and steals you without anyone letting him to enter or a door or window open, and get 0 damage...

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u/Otherwise_Cattle3981 Black 14h ago

That is an absolutely terrible analogy.

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u/Nanosinx 14h ago

Consider it, but the way google is self-Verifying is worse than my analogy...

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u/Otherwise_Cattle3981 Black 14h ago

Not even close. Thats how bad it was.

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u/BenRandomNameHere 8h ago

It's like: 

Getting a relatively cheap rental property, where everything is taken care of, or at least mostly, but getting aggravated the land lord needed your personal info to rent to you. 

If you bothered to read the EULA on the device, or software, or Google Account, you would clearly see they take steps to link your accounts to your identity and your devices. This is all part of the security stuff. 

For better or worse, your personal device is linked via the account you logged in on it. The only problem is if you use a pubic device. 

What'll you do if you get locked out?? Phone number is the easiest verification possible if your account gets hacked. 

And you should be aware, Gapps is enough to enforce this requirement. GrapheneOS itself did not allow this, the user installing Gapps did.

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u/SecretaryNo8431 1d ago

Ich hab Google Play Dienste längst in der Firewall isoliert und Google Service Framework auch. Mein Handy vermisst diese beiden Mülldienste überhaupt nicht.

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u/Nanosinx 23h ago

Wie hast du das erreicht?

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u/SecretaryNo8431 23h ago

Zuerst möglichst viele Anwendungen durch Opensource Apps ersetzen und dann die besagten Googledienste in der Firewall isolieren. Ich habs in BlockAds gemacht. Das ist auf meinem Blackview Shark 9 5g kein Problem gewesen. Keine Fehlermeldungen,alles läuft. Ob das auf anderen Geräten klappt,weiß ich natürlich nicht. Ich mache in kürze eine genauere Erklärung mit ein paar Screenshots.

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u/OptimalMain 21h ago

Won’t they just use DNS over HTTPS?
Or are you intercepting them and forcing them to use regular DNS on a local server?

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u/SecretaryNo8431 21h ago edited 20h ago

Ich trenne sie einfach von der Verbindung ins Internet. Das ist besser,als sie zu deinstallieren ,denn ich kann alles wieder rückgängig machen,wenn es nötig ist. Diese zwei Dienste sind für die Funktion meines Handy aber unnötig.

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u/asdffdsa123454321 21h ago

They are approaching the last straw for me. Feels very much like 2014 when after years of various other frustrations with their garbage, Microsoft started forcing updates - and I'm pretty sure I was wasting time on changing config files (whatever they call them in Microsoft lingo) to try make it not happen. After Windows restarted my pc while I was in the middle of something (and without my permission or a warning), I switched to Ubuntu as my main OS that same day and haven't looked back since.

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u/Nanosinx 14h ago

Forcing updates okay, self verifying is what is not okay...

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u/androidgirl 18h ago

Is this on any phone any service or just android and or googlefi?

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u/vandreulv 14h ago

Any Android device with Google Play Services.

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u/polytect 17h ago

If Google Services you can't uninstall, your phone belongs to your lord who can uninstall. 

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u/schwartzki iPh 16 Pro, Pixel 9P XL 15h ago

Fun, all my numbers were "verified" on every account.

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u/Zarainia 14h ago

Anyone have any idea whether this exists or where it is if you're using a custom ROM but did install Gapps?

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u/Nanosinx 14h ago

Just check your settings

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u/TrailOfEnvy 4h ago

The comment above said it is doing the same even on GrapheneOS

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u/Consider2SidesPeace 13h ago

Good 411, but I'm kinda defeated here. Once the cats outta the bag.

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u/AppleBytes 13h ago

Google did the same to me when I got a 2nd number from another carrier, due to coverage.

Even having GrapheneOS did not prevent them from linking the number to my Google account automatically.

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u/Nanosinx 12h ago

Yes that what i am talking about, like what?

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u/Purple-Debt8214 5h ago

Yes but on the flip side this is great for security and would eliminate a lot of really bad spam.

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u/Nanosinx 3h ago

It isnt for good security to be honest... Security where? All your logged accounts now have your phone number unasked ... That is bad

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u/Qorsair 23h ago

Eh, my AI agent will be handling all my calls and messages within the next 6 months anyway, that's his problem to deal with.

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u/Throwitaway701 21h ago

This is deeply painful when it's a new SIM card and a that requires porting,

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u/degggendorf 19h ago

Why?

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u/3hb3 Black 14h ago

new SIM that requires porting will have a random "temporary number" active on it initially
I'd imagine the pain point would be Google automatically attaching this number to your account, when you'd only ever use that number once, for maybe 5-10 minutes.

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u/degggendorf 14h ago

Why is that a problem? It's a good thing that Google captures your number and device info, because that will allow them to block someone else spoofing your info.

Try switching your MFA to use that new temporary number and not your established permanent number and see how it goes.

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u/3hb3 Black 11h ago

Try switching your MFA to use that new temporary number and not your established permanent number and see how it goes.

Yeah, that's what I'm saying. That's where a potential pain point could be.

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u/degggendorf 11h ago

Isn't the google data helping ease that pain point? If it's the same hardware footprint that has hosted both confirmed numbers, then google has higher confidence that it's legitimate than if it's a brand new number trying to confirm your account that google knows nothing else about.

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u/nathderbyshire Pixel 10 Obsidian 13h ago

I use esims and that hasn't happened on mine, I can see the gibberish number under the SIM section for my second esims but it isn't used in verification and the actual number is toggled off, only my main number is being used

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u/mind-blender Samsung A70 + LineageOS 19h ago

Don't run Google Play Services.

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u/Nanosinx 14h ago

I am killing it once and for all trust me...not gonna allow to execute it anymore...

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u/nathderbyshire Pixel 10 Obsidian 13h ago

I'm curious as to why this bothers you so much, many companies and entities will have your number simply from people who save your number being able to share that with whoever they want. If they use Google contacts, then Google has your name, number and any other information they add to the contact and there's nothing you can personally do about it. That's why I don't sweat things like this

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u/Nanosinx 12h ago

Sadly while true, neither Microsoft, Proton, even Reddit has my phone number, this notification came in, Google Play Services self verified your phone number Not even Microsoft doing it, not even Huawei or Xiaomi! Maybe the failure to OPT-OUT BEFORE they verify it for you?

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u/Jimbuscus Pixel 7 - GrapheneOS 15h ago

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u/vandreulv 14h ago

This phone number verification is going to happen regardless if you use a stock or third party rom because it is part of play services. It's explicitly part of the setup process when you log in on a new device.

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u/Jimbuscus Pixel 7 - GrapheneOS 14h ago

These AOSP OS's don't come with Play Services, it's opt-in.

With GrapheneOS, Play Services can be installed after setup as a containered unprivileged app like a normal app store.

Google Play on Graphene doesn't behave the same as other AOSP ROMs.

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u/vandreulv 14h ago

I know. I'm a LOS device maintainer and developer.

Hence why I said "part of play services."

People who use third party roms without play services are a vanishingly small minority of users. The total number of GrapheneOS users across every device ever supported is less than the number of people who have installed LineageOS on their most used device. Less than half.

Even in GrapheneOS, GPServices can still collect your phone number and use it for verification.

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u/Nanosinx 14h ago

Sadly i dont think they work on my Xiaomi (X4 GT), Huawei P30 and P30 Lite and my tablets xD

Graphene is for pixels, lineage os never released for MediaTek powered devices, and Murena is kinda different...

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u/Jimbuscus Pixel 7 - GrapheneOS 14h ago

Murena e/OS is a LineageOS fork with a smaller device list, I tried to install it on my Galaxy Tab S5e and it's installation guide didn't include Linux, so I switched to LineageOS and had a much easier time.

By far LineageOS is going to be the most likely option when you are considering your next phone, but if you were to choose a Pixel than I can strongly recommend GrapheneOS.

It doesn't look like Graphene will be supporting Pixel 11 due to hardware downgrades, with Motorola being the next OEM they're moving support to. GrapheneOS is focused more on security than de-googling.

LineageOS is nice on my tablet, not having Google & Samsung popping up frequently, installing random apps like Roblox without approval, it's amazing how clean and simple it is.

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u/Nanosinx 14h ago

But my devices does not support it and also is a shame too how Xiaomi makes it harder to swap OSes xD

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u/Jimbuscus Pixel 7 - GrapheneOS 14h ago

Xiaomi is the best value hardware, but they do make it unfairly difficult to unlock the bootloader with a permission request from server, which never promises that you will actually be allowed.

Just saying that next time you need a new phone, you should consider seeing what's supported by any of these 3 options.

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u/Popeholden 20h ago

Imagine using a Google product and caring about privacy at the same time

Hell imagine using the internet and caring about privacy at the same time

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u/beachntowels 20h ago

Imagine an economy based on surveillance because nobody wants to pay.

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u/AcronTheGreat 22h ago

Thanks!

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u/Luxferro 17h ago

Privacy? 😂