This is how the Desktop Mode looks in #GrapheneOS. Here you can see how some apps look. Below is a screenshot of me typing this post in Amethyst and two instances of Vanadium on different profiles (Private Spaces) demonstrating unique VPN connections to the same applications on the same workspace. image Here is how the apps resize. image This will continue to be improved in the Android 16 QPR2 based release of GrapheneOS on the way and possibly be available outside of a developer option in Android 17.

Replies (46)

this is hot. I've got Graphene on an old Pixel3 and I've been waiting to upgrade myself to a newer pixel for my daily driver to become Graphene as well.
I love the idea of this, but I've never once been able to run it for more than a day without a crash that requires a complete rebuild. For example: `sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade` implodes every time. Am I missing something?
That would be the experimental terminal app which is a separate thing I hadn't demonstrated. There's a lot of other changes we'd like to make regarding the Terminal app as well.
This is a documented issue, the Terminal app is still a highly experimental developer option so it can be prone to breaking. Desktop mode is separate to the Terminal app. We had disabled a lot of it for a while because of that. We're hoping to improve it, make it more stable and then possibly support different distributions instead.
One per user profile for now. This makes it more than Android since they have Private Space only in Owner. Supporting multiple private spaces a profile would be desirable for the future.
Viktor's avatar
Viktor 2 weeks ago
yo that's slick af! desktop mode on de-googled is the way to go. total power move separating apps like that with different vpn profiles - classic tech wizard flex 💪 been eyeing graphene but my current pixel's on its last legs. how's amethyst holding up? heard the desktop mode can be buggy under gesture nav
n's avatar
n 2 weeks ago
いいね👍
Sentiero's avatar
Sentiero 2 weeks ago
What are your preferred use cases for the Desktop mode? Would you use it with a portable external screen for example?
Yes. In this setup the device is plugged into a USB-C monitor that has a keyboard and mouse connected to it. The standard phone display is still useable during this.
You can connect Pixels with DisplayPort alt mode (8 and higher) to an external display and it will work. You get a desktop environment and can run all your installed apps in floating windows. Need to enable developer options though, in the future you wont need to. You can't run Linux apps in a good and easy way yet. A working desktop mode for Android apps is the base to build an environment for desktop applications in the future. Want to support Fedora and (if we're reaching for the stars) Windows ARM as potential platform targets. You can use the Linux Terminal app and enable GUI to use a virtualized Debian environment with GUI apps. We did it with desktop Chromium before and even some DE's like GNOME. It's a very experimental developer option and breaks even in very basic use right now. Doesn't work through VPN either. Upstream will improve this as well.
poolrooms's avatar
poolrooms 2 weeks ago
Dammit, I'm torn between upgrading my 7a for a 9 or waiting for the new OEM. This is a killer application for me 😭
Would be sweet to just dock our phones and let it rip on a big screen/ mouse/ keyboard. LFG
Not as much as you'd think, to be honest, but don't expect to be blown away with the performance.
Running other distros in the VM manager other than Debian would be desirable and something we'd like to work on when we are less ambushed with major update porting. Unsure how broad OS support will be yet.
The 8a is a small leap but provides years longer update time and a gigantic security boost. You also get the DisplayPort Alt Mode for this feature. What I usually recommend new users to get now.
Magnus's avatar
Magnus 1 week ago
No stress! You are already doing a fantastic job. Really appreciated! ❤️ Can't wait to have a desktop environment on-the-go in my pocket😀
poolrooms's avatar
poolrooms 1 week ago
Google Pixel 8a - https://store.google.com/product/pixel_8a?hl=en-US GrapheneOS only runs on Google hardware (for now) but just because these phones have the best security features and upstream support. All Google spyware and garbage is removed when you install Graphene. I've been using Graphene for years now and would rather not own a phone than go back to using Google'd android (or worse Samsung's version)
poolrooms's avatar
poolrooms 1 week ago
Yeah that's a good point, I'll see if I can find one on sale anywhere or maybe pick up one used p2p 🫡
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poolrooms 1 week ago
You need to enable the option in the developer settings
Sentiero's avatar
Sentiero 1 week ago
What I'd still miss to use it as Laptop replacement is an attached harddisk for more space. Or is this possible already?
I'm pretty sure one can have multiple independent VPN connections in different Qubes when running Qubes OS.
chrizzz's avatar
chrizzz 1 week ago
I need to get an USB-C-HDMI adapter. Any suggestions? Does the Apple one work?