this post was submitted on 28 Aug 2025
1019 points (98.8% liked)
Technology
74585 readers
3891 users here now
This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.
Our Rules
- Follow the lemmy.world rules.
- Only tech related news or articles.
- Be excellent to each other!
- Mod approved content bots can post up to 10 articles per day.
- Threads asking for personal tech support may be deleted.
- Politics threads may be removed.
- No memes allowed as posts, OK to post as comments.
- Only approved bots from the list below, this includes using AI responses and summaries. To ask if your bot can be added please contact a mod.
- Check for duplicates before posting, duplicates may be removed
- Accounts 7 days and younger will have their posts automatically removed.
Approved Bots
founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
Apologies if this is the wrong place to ask, but I literally have no idea in which community this question goes.
I just got Samsung Galaxy A16, and then I learn just how controlling Google/Android is becoming. Research says I SHOULD be able to deGoogle and flash a ~~linux OS~~ custom Android ROM
My question is, as a beginner, which one should I go for? does it have any issues I need to look out for?
Note: Edited for clarity.
You cannot do so on Samsung devices. They have disabled the ability to unlock the bootloader on their devices and therefore you cannot install custom operating systems on them anymore.
If you want to install custom software like that, you always have to do your research beforehand and choose a device that will allow you to do so.
probably will be an older model that isnt sold anymore by samsung.
Since when is this the case?
My Note 20 Ultra (US) came out like 5+ years ago and you can't unlock the bootloader. There was a workable hack job that was possible for a little while, but even that got patched up through a firmware update back in like 2021, and there's no way to roll back firmware anymore, either.
Since OneUI 8.0.
Dammit :(
Further reading says its most likely because European Union law 2014/53/EU which imposes new cybersecurity requirements on device manufacturers like Samsung. They must ensure that the devices they sell in Europe block the installation of unauthorized software and only run signed and approved ROMs. . Law was enforced August 01 2025.
Luckily my old phone still works (it is starting to show its age though). Gonna stretch it as long as possible. Hopefully someone will find a hack by then.
Yeah that's their excuse, luckily the law explicitly says that:
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32014L0053
Seems like a cheap excuse, the law doesn't say specifically that.
But, of course, manufacturers like to lock down their devices as much as possible. And such laws play into their hands.
You should return your Samsung for a refund and then start over with a device from a company that's less abusive.
Not possible in Third World Countries :(
Well that sucks.
In that case, sell your Samsung secondhand and then start over with a device from a company that's less abusive.
In third world countries I think Samsung's allows you to unlock the bootloader. Open developer options and see if there's a tic box for "OEM unlock"
Are you sure you're not thinking of custom Android ROMs like LineageOS or /e/OS?
Because there are ROMs like Ubuntu Touch, but they're less developed than the other Android ROMs.
For reference, ive tried /e/OS, LineageOS and DivestOS (RIP).
So far I felt like /e/OS was the most polished.
Your right. Thats what I meant. Ill edit the comment.
Neat.
I'll also add: after DivestOS died, I got a Pixel to run GrapheneOS.
So I've tried that too, and it's the best by far.
The reason for disliking LineageOS is its dependence on Aurora Store (Google Play mirror).
Maybe it has gotten better over the past year, but it was always quite buggy. Some apps wouldn't install from Aurora, others weren't found, it was a pain in the ass.
/e/OS uses a different app store (which is also a mirror) but tends to work much better.
Huh, using aurora for a few apps that aren't foss, didn't know there are any issues with it. I'm impressed how crisp it is.
I suppose it depends on which apps you're trying to grab.