| CalyxOS | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer | The Calyx Institute |
| OS family | Android (Linux) |
| Working state | Development paused |
| Source model | Open source |
| Latest release | 6.8.21[1] / 9 June 2025; 5 months ago (9 June 2025) |
| Repository | gitlab |
| Update method | Over-the-air (OTA), ROM flashing |
| Package manager | APK-based |
| Supported platforms | arm, arm64 |
| Kernel type | Monolithic (Linux) |
| Official website | calyxos |
CalyxOS is anAndroid-basedoperating system for selectsmartphones,foldables andtablets with mostlyfree and open-source software. It is produced by theCalyx Institute as part of its mission to "defend online privacy, security and accessibility."[2]
CalyxOS preserves the Android security model, using Android's Verified Boot system of cryptographic signing of the operating system, and running with a locked bootloader.[3][4] CalyxOS also features an installer that guides the user through the process of unlocking and then re-locking the bootloader.[5]
The Calyx Institute annual reports[6] state CalyxOS was publicly launched during their 2018–2019 fiscal year. Inspiration includedTails andQubes OS, and goals were said to be "completely open source", removing proprietary Google tracking, and including apps Tor, Signal and CalyxVPN for increased privacy.[7]
CalyxOS supports selectGoogle Pixel,Motorola andFairphone devices, while offering "extended support" for some older Google Pixel devices and theSHIFT SHIFT6mq.[8]
Around April 2022, CalyxOS announced support for theFairphone 4,OnePlus 8T,9, and 9 Pro.[9] However, in May 2022, CalyxOS announcedOnePlus builds were pulled because the bootloader could no longer be relocked on newer devicefirmware.[10][11]
In March 2024, CalyxOS added support for theFairphone 5.[12]
On the 1st of August 2025, the Calyx Institute published a letter to the CalyxOS community, in which it was announced that they had decided to pause CalyxOS maintenance and development for 4-6 months to retool and overhaul their processes. It was explained that this was due to their president and founderNicholas Merrill leaving the organisation, and the recent departure of the Calyx tech lead Chirayu Desai.[13]
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CalyxOS ships withMicroG as an open-source alternative to theGoogle Mobile Services, includingMozilla Location Services as an optional replacement to the location services provided by Google, but gives the user the option to disable microG and its location services.[24]
In October 2020, Moritz Tremmel reviewed CalyxOS.[25] A month later, Tremmel explained why he preferred CalyxOS overLineageOS.[26] A year later in September 2021, Tremmel further explained how CalyxOS was different from other ROMs because it did not require as much "fiddling".[27] Rahul Nambiampurath, writing for MakeUseOf in March 2021, termed CalyxOS, "[one of the] best [Android] ROMs for privacy ... offers the perfect middle ground between convenience and privacy".[28] In August 2021, Android Authority wrote CalyxOS "puts privacy and security into the hands of everyday users."[29]
In 2022, the bookc't Sicher ins Netz: How to block out monitors and attackers, said "CalyxOS is one of the youngest custom ROMs, it will only celebrate its second birthday in summer 2022. With a built-in Datura firewall, VPN and Cloudflare DNS, Calyx promises more security than some other mobile systems."[30]
In 2023, CalyxOS was the one alternative phone operating system recommended by Carey Parker in the bookFirewalls Don't Stop Dragons.[31]
Bei der Installation wird auch der Geräteschlüssel von Google gegen einen von CalyxOS ausgetauscht. Das ermöglicht einen verifizierten Bootvorgang und stellt sicher, dass sich nur von CalyxOS signierte Updates installieren lassen. Um den Schutz zu aktivieren, fragt der Installer am Schluss, ob er den Bootloader wieder sperren soll, was es zu bestätigen gilt. Anschließend ist die CalyxOS-Installation startklar.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)Instead of not shipping the Google Mobile Services (GMS) and leaving users to figure stuff out by themselves (flashing gapps etc), CalyxOS ships with microG. However, you can choose to enable/disable it, thus, giving you total control. [...] Uses Mozilla Location Services instead of Google's Location Services
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