Keep Android Open

https://keepandroidopen.org

https://f-droid.org/2026/02/20/twif.html

During out talks with F-Droid users at FOSDEM26 we were baffled to learn most were relieved that #Google has canceled their plans to lock-down #Android.

Why baffled? Because no such thing actually happened, the plans announced last August are still scheduled to take place. We see a battle of PR campaigns and whomever has the last post out remains in the media memory as the truth, and having journalists just copy/paste Google posts serves no one.

But Google said… Said what? That there’s a magical “advanced flow”? Did you see it? Did anyone experience it? When is it scheduled to be released? Was it part of Android 16 QPR2 in December? Of 16 QPR3 Beta 2.1 last week? Of Android 17 Beta 1? No? That’s the issue… As time marches on people were left with the impression that everything was done, fixed, Google “wasn’t evil” after all, this time, yay!

While we all have bad memories of “banners” as the dreaded ad delivery medium of the Internet, after FOSDEM we decided that we have to raise the issue back and have everyone, who cares about Android as an open platform, informed that we are running out of time until Google becomes the gate-keeper of all users devices.

Hence, the website and starting today our clients, with the updates of F-Droid and F-Droid Basic, feature a banner that reminds everyone how little time we have and how to voice their concerns to whatever local authority is able to understand the dangers of this path Android is led to.

We are not alone in our fight, IzzyOnDroid added a banner too, more #FDroid clients will add the warning banner soon and other app downloaders, like Obtainium, already have an in-app warning dialogue.

#why

🔴 App download / install / manage

Google PlayStore™ can be installed with #minmicrog and other microg installers. Some apps you bought with a Google account may require it to check for licenses.
If it doesn't work check possible solutions here: https://t.me/NoGoolag/19314 ( #issues )

You can buy apps with your Google account from a web browser and then download it with Google playstore / Aurora Store / Yalp Store

Don't buy apps to Google, you're financing that evil corporation with the 30% cut they take from every app sold

Here are some better alternatives to get and manage Android apps:

🎁 F-Droid
apks from f-droid.org repository or extra repositories
https://t.me/NoGoolag/1034

🎁 Aurora Droid (F-Droid foss client)
apks from f-droid.org repository or extra repositories
https://t.me/NoGoolag/1242

🎁 Aurora Store (Google Playstore foss client)
apks from Google Playstore
https://t.me/NoGoolag/1123
@AuroraSupport
https://gitlab.com/AuroraOSS/AuroraStore

🎁 Neo Store (F-Droid foss client)
https://t.me/NoGoolag/14666

🎁 Droidify (F-Droid foss client)
https://github.com/Iamlooker/Droid-ify/releases

🎁 App Lounge by eOS (Foss/commercial/pwa)
https://doc.e.foundation/support-topics/app_lounge

🎁 Obtainium (Foss apps from multiple sources)
https://github.com/ImranR98/Obtainium

🎁 Accrescent
https://accrescent.app

🎁 Izzyondroid
https://gitlab.com/sunilpaulmathew/izzyondroid
just izzyondroid repo standalone app (for those who don't wanna use fdroid due to signature vulnerability)

🎁 Ffupdater to download and update web browser apps
https://f-droid.org/packages/de.marmaro.krt.ffupdater/

🎁 Skydroid
https://github.com/redsolver/skydroid
https://get.skydroid.app

🎁 Foxy Droid (F-Droid foss client)
apks from f-droid.org repository or extra repositories
https://f-droid.org/app/nya.kitsunyan.foxydroid/
https://github.com/kitsunyan/foxy-droid

🎁 apkeep
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2021/09/introducing-apkeep-eff-threat-labs-new-apk-downloader
https://github.com/EFForg/apkeep

🎁 APKGrabber
apks from Google Play, APKPure, APKMirror or Uptodown (enable Izzy repo)
https://f-droid.org/app/de.apkgrabber

🎁 APKMirror
apks from APKMirror
https://f-droid.org/app/taco.apkmirror

🎁 ApkTrack
Updates on PlayStore and other sources
https://f-droid.org/app/fr.kwiatkowski.ApkTrack

🎁 Kali Nethunter Store
Pentesting apps
https://store.nethunter.com

🎁 Evozi apk downloader (website)
https://apps.evozi.com/apk-downloader

🎁 Raccoon
APK Downloader for Linux, Windows and MacOS
https://raccoon.onyxbits.de


🔴 App management

🛠 AppManager
@AppManagerChannel
https://github.com/MuntashirAkon/AppManager
https://f-droid.org/repo/io.github.muntashirakon.AppManager

🛠 AppWarden
https://t.me/AuroraOfficial/59
Izzy repo https://apt.izzysoft.de/fdroid/repo/com.aurora.warden

🛠 /d/gapps
Delete/disable GApps and other bloatwares
https://t.me/NoGoolag/1247

🛠 Batch Uninstaller
Uninstall multiple applications at once
https://f-droid.org/app/com.saha.batchuninstaller

🛠 Apk Extractor
Extract APKs from your device, even if installed from the Playstore. Root access
https://f-droid.org/app/axp.tool.apkextractor

🛠 OpenAPK
App manager uninstall, hide, disable, extract, share
https://f-droid.org/app/com.dkanada.openapk

🛠 NeoBackup
https://github.com/NeoApplications/Neo-Backup


🔴 App info

🔬 ClassyShark3xodus
Scan apps for trackers
https://f-droid.org/app/com.oF2pks.classyshark3xodus

🔬 Exodus Privacy
Analyzes privacy concerns in apps from Google Play store
https://f-droid.org/app/org.eu.exodus_privacy.exodusprivacy

🔬 App Watcher
Follow updates and changelogs of apps in Play Store not currently installed on your device (enable Izzy repo)
https://f-droid.org/app/com.anod.appwatcher

🔬 Stanley
Explore app info for developers
https://f-droid.org/app/fr.xgouchet.packageexplorer


📡 @NoGoolag 📡 @Libreware
#apk #install #app #playstore #store #alternatives #fdroid #aurora #yalp #huawei