Freedom Technology & Services

Will my banking apps work on a degoogled phone?

Most Australian banking apps work on GrapheneOS. CommBank, Westpac, NAB, ANZ, Up, Bendigo, ING, Macquarie — the major ones all work. We pre-install Sandboxed Google Play Services on every phone, which is what most banking apps need to run properly.Some banks push updates that temporarily break compatibility. When that happens, it's usually fixed within days — either by the bank or by the GrapheneOS team.

Is the new Operating System hard to learn?

Phones: If you've used an Android phone before, a degoogled phone feels almost identical. The home screen, the settings, the camera, the app drawer — it all works the same way. The difference is what's happening in the background, not what you see on the screen.Computers: Linux Mint was designed to feel familiar to Windows users. The desktop has a taskbar, a start menu, a file manager, a web browser. Most of our customers say they were comfortable within the first day or two. Rhett — a business owner — said he was up and running straight away.

Where do I get apps on a degoogled phone? Will my existing apps work?

Apps come from three main places. F-Droid is an open-source app store — it's pre-installed on your phone and has thousands of privacy-respecting apps. Aurora Store lets you browse and install apps from the Google Play catalogue without needing a Google account. And you can always install apps directly from a developer's website if they offer a download.Most everyday apps work fine — banking, messaging, maps, ride-sharing, food delivery, streaming. Social media apps like Instagram and Facebook also work if you choose to install them. The apps that don't work are typically ones that are deeply t

Can I keep my current SIM, phone number, and carrier?

Yes. Your existing SIM card goes straight into the new phone. Your number stays the same. Your carrier stays the same. Nothing changes on that side — the phone is a standard Google Pixel, so every Australian carrier works with it.Some customers choose to get a new SIM and number as part of a broader privacy reset. That's entirely your call — we can point you in the right direction if you want to go down that path, but it's not required.

I use Microsoft Office. Can I still use it on a Linux computer?

Every FreedomTech computer ships with LibreOffice pre-installed. It opens and saves Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files. For most people — writing documents, working with spreadsheets, putting together a presentation — it does everything Microsoft Office does, and it's free.The interface looks slightly different to what you're used to, but the functions are the same. Most customers adjust within a few days. If you use Microsoft 365 for work, you can also access Word, Excel, and PowerPoint through your web browser at office.com — that works exactly the same on Linux as it does on Windows.The only

Can you degoogle a phone I already own?

Yes — if it's a Google Pixel and it's still within GrapheneOS support. We work with Pixels only because GrapheneOS only runs on Pixels, and it's the only degoogled operating system we trust enough to recommend.We sell new Pixels as our standard offering. If you'd prefer a refurbished Pixel, we can source and configure one — quoted individually on request. And if you already own a compatible Pixel, we're happy to degoogle it for you.We recommend new devices where possible. A phone you've bought yourself from a retailer has a clean chain of custody — you know exactly where it's been. A used phon

Can you put Linux on my existing computer?

Possibly — but it depends on the machine. Most modern laptops and desktops run Linux Mint without issues, but some hardware doesn't have proper driver support under Linux. WiFi cards, touchscreens, fingerprint readers, and some newer GPUs are the most common problem areas.We don't want to install an operating system on a machine that's going to give you problems. If you'd like to use your existing computer, get in touch with the make and model and we'll tell you straight whether it's a good candidate or whether you'd be better off with a machine we know works properly.

How do I learn to use it once it arrives?

Phones: Every degoogled phone ships with the FreedomTech deGoogled Phone Manual — written in plain English, step by step, covering everything from first setup to installing apps, configuring privacy settings, and getting comfortable with the new device.Crypto computers: Every crypto computer ships with written setup and recovery guides. The build is more involved and the stakes are higher, so every step is documented.Privacy laptops: These ship ready to use — open the lid, log in, get on with it. Linux Mint is designed to feel familiar from the first session. If you can use a web browser, you