Website [image] GrapheneOS: the private and secure mobile OS GrapheneOS is a security and privacy focused mobile OS with Android app compatibility. Short description You can display GrapheneOS phones that are Pixel 8 and later, onto an external monitor. It wi…

[image] phnx: Android 16 QPR1 Agreed. Even when this overhaul comes out, I would want to at least have someone test out a sample setup and attempt everyday tasks with it.

Is this a relatively new addition? I haven’t heard about it until today. What do you think of it so far?

It’s not a dedicated desktop OS, but it may soon be suited to replace desktop OSs. But I understand that it would still be important to emphasize that GrapheneOS desktop mode is vastly different from traditional PC setups

How will a desktop linux VM in GrapheneOS be more secure than a desktop linux distro on bare metal? Will it benefit from MTE, PAC, IBT, etc?

I would think the VM would be sandboxed, sort of like ChromeOS’s Crostini. Running on an Android phone, it would also have a more secure bootloader and hardware. Still, you could just use Android apps instead of Linux apps, like Feeder instead of NewsFlash.

I’m looking forward to developments here also. For those wanting to know more. Here[1] is the android AVF spec, and here[2] is a blog post talking about the security of pKVM within the AVF framework. [1] Android Virtualization Framework (AVF) overview | Android Open Source Project [2] Why AVF? …

If it’s actually usable and can replace a PC then that would be amazing. I can do most of everything on the web and there are some great FOSS out there. Android and Graphene just need to implement it well.

[image] micdan: But GrapheneOS isn’t a desktop OS This. As a tool suggestion this should be rejected. Might be nice to move the thread to general as the feature is an interesting topic.

I personally think this should probably be marked as waiting for the time being. These features are still fairly far from being mature. We should at least wait until Android 16 QPR1 arrives with the overhauled desktop mode.

If and when Desktop Mode gets added, I believe it could be suitable to be one of the recommended OSs for beginners. Android is easier to use than GNU/Linux, and using a typical distro in GrapheneOS involves VMs, making it harder for beginners to mess up their system. Fedora Workstation is accessibl…

Privacy Guides Community

GrapheneOS Desktop Mode

Site Development Tool Suggestions

thewanderer July 3, 2025, 12:27am 8

On a side note, not really privacy related, but you could incorporate it with a XReal[3] and BT keyboard and not even need a monitor.

[3] Coding Without a Laptop - Two Weeks with AR Glasses and Linux on Android | Hold The Robot

1 Like

Is there any privacy friendly VR Headset?

Topic		Replies	Views
Most private and secure desktop option in 2026? Questions	10	1221	January 9, 2026
GrapheneOS for someone concerned with security? Questions software	4	1980	June 2, 2024
User-facing hardware virtualization support in the next GrapheneOS release General	2	863	March 10, 2025
Linux Terminal unveilled for Android for Desktop News article	6	906	August 12, 2025
Closest Alternative to GrapheneOS? Questions	9	9477	August 18, 2023

Privacy Guides

Massive organizations are monitoring your online activities. Privacy Guides is your central privacy and security resource to protect yourself online.

Privacy Guides is a non-profit, socially motivated website that provides information for protecting your data security and privacy.

We do not make money from recommending certain products, and we do not use affiliate links.

Knowledge Base

Private Web Browsers

Top VPN Providers

Privacy-Respecting Services

Software Recommendations

More Resources

GrapheneOS Desktop Mode

Related topics