FAQ

Why all of this? Isn't OpenGApps free software?

Yes and no, the name "OpenGApps" is misleading. While OpenGApps uses free software to retrieve and bundle the GApps, the apps themselves are not free software, they are in fact the same Google Apps you find on a new phone.

Why should I use microG instead of the standard Google Play Services?

First of all, freedom. I can't explain here why free software is so important (this is a FAQ, not a 200 pages manual), but if you're interested you can start by reading this. Second, the Play Services are very expensive in terms of resources, they drain lots of battery and they use lots of space, while microG requires much less resources. To give you an idea, the smallest possible package of OpenGApps ("Pico Package") on ARM 7.1 is ~125 MB, while the full microG suite (GmsCore, GsfProxy, FakeStore, MozillaNlpBackend and NominatimNlpBackend) is ~4 MB.

Isn't Android free software? Can't I just install LineageOS without both GApps and microG? Android is based on the AOSP project, which is free software. However many common features are handled by the proprietary GApps, generally by the Google Play Services. You can use LineageOS without GApps/microG, but you will probably miss something. In particular, you won't have the:

• network localization services, which means that you can only use the GPS for the positioning
• Google Cloud Messaging, so you won't receive any push notification for any app that relies on it the Maps API, which means that any app that uses Google Maps through the Maps API will probably crash

With microG these services (and many others) are reimplemented.

Is LineageOS for microG completely free software?

Unfortunately no, like LineageOS it still has some non-free components. See the Replicant project for more information.

Which is the current status of microG? Which APIs are already implemented?

See here.

Why do we need a custom build of LineageOS to have microG? Can't I install microG on the official LineageOS?

You can install microG on the official LineageOS (since February 2024 when LineageOS changed their policy on signature spoofing and changed their code to allow it)

When that change was implemented, we decided to continue with LineageOS for microG because LineageOS

• 'support' it only in so far as it is no longer necessary to patch the LOS ROM to install microG
• don't make builds with microG already installed, and with F-Droid installed and pre-configured to keep microG updated.
• still refuse to provide any support - or do so reluctantly - in their irc/discord and reddit support channels for builds with microG installed, because it's 'unofficial'.

Does my device need to be rooted before installing or using LineageOS for microG?

No.

Will my device be rooted when I have installed microG?

No.

Can I root my device after I have installed microG?

It is possible, but we do not recommend it and we do not provide any help, support, or documentation on the subject. If you feel you must root your device, internet search is your friend 😄

Do you use test keys?

Heck, no! We sign all our builds with our own private keys.

Do you offer OTA updates?

Yes. We aim to do a build run once a month, which will deliver OTA updates, as well as the ROM zip files for manual installation

Do you offer delta updates?

No.

Can I install apps from the Play Store on this ROM?

F-Droid is included in our ROM, so you can freely download all the FOSS apps on their repositories. However, if you need apps which are available only on the Play Store, you can use a Play Store client, like Aurora Store.

Can you add support for my device? It is officially supported by LineageOS

We already build LineageOS for microG for every device supported by LineageOS. Find your device in our Downloads page!

** Is there a changelog for your builds?**

See the Lineage change logs for your device. Our build includes all changes before the date and time on which the device build was started.

Can you add support for my device? It is not supported by LineageOS though...

No. Unfortunately we don't have the time, resources or expertise to port LineageOS to new devices, or to test the results.

I don't trust your build, I want to build it myself!

No problem! Our builds are done with this Docker image, feel free to build it yourself.

I am running a custom build of LineageOS, but yours is way cooler! How can I migrate to it without losing my data?

The easiest way is to 'migrate' to the new build:

• backup your user-installed apps and data, as described in this post
• perform a clean install of LineageOS for microG
• restore your apps and data

You could try replacing the LineageOS official keys in our migration ZIP with your keys (or follow the suggestions in the LineageOS migration guide).