Operating system · Android-based
CalyxOS
Most Android apps microG Active
Checked against the makers' own pages · Last reviewed October 15, 2026
CalyxOS is a free Android-based operating system from the Calyx Institute, a US non-profit. It ships without Google's apps and services and uses microG, an open-source stand-in for parts of Google Play Services, so many ordinary apps still work. After an 11-month pause in updates (August 2025 to July 2026), CalyxOS is maintained again, and in October 2026 it began rolling out CalyxOS 8, based on Android 17, to Pixel, Fairphone, Motorola and SHIFTphone models. [1][2][3][4][5][6]
- Android app compatibility
- Most apps run with microG; some need Google Play Services and refuse [2]
- Google apps
- No Google apps; optional microG (on by default for push notifications) [2]
- Apps
- F-Droid Basic and Aurora Store (Play Store catalog) [8]
- Phones it runs on
- Pixel 6 to 10a (not Pixel 10/10 Pro), Fairphone 4/5/Gen. 6, Motorola moto g models, SHIFTphone 8 [6]
- Buy it preinstalled
- You install it yourself with the Web Installer or device flasher [6]
- Made by
- Calyx Institute, a 501(c)(3) non-profit [7]
- Google apps
- None included; optional microG for push notifications and other Play Services functions [1][2]
- App stores
- F-Droid Basic (default) and Aurora Store [8]
- Phones
- Pixel 4a (5G) to Pixel 10a (not the Pixel 10 series), Fairphone 4 to Gen. 6, seven Motorola moto g models, SHIFTphone 8 [6]
On this page
What CalyxOS is
CalyxOS is built on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), the free part of Android, and leaves out Google's proprietary layer: Google Play Services and apps such as Gmail and Google Maps. To keep apps working, it bundles microG, which the project describes as "a open source replacement for Google Play Services" that "only includes the useful parts."
The project's stated goals are to encrypt communications, limit metadata collection and limit location tracking. It bundles or offers Signal, Tor Browser, Tor VPN and Riseup VPN during setup. Development is funded mostly by donations to the Calyx Institute, according to the CalyxOS FAQ. [1][2][8]
Project status: the 2025-2026 pause and restart
In a letter to the community on August 1, 2025, the Calyx Institute said its founder Nicholas Merrill and the CalyxOS tech lead Chirayu Desai had left. It said it would switch to new signing keys, that "current CalyxOS users will not be able to receive further security software updates until this process is in place," and that this might take four to six months. It recommended that people running CalyxOS uninstall it in the meantime, while saying it had "no reason to believe the security of CalyxOS and its signing keys have been compromised." A final over-the-air update on August 27, 2025 warned users about running an unmaintained version.
Progress reports followed from November 2025 to May 2026: a new signing system built on hardware security modules (HSMs), a new release server, and an Android 16 test build (7.2.1.0) on May 4, 2026.
On July 1, 2026 the project announced "CalyxOS is back" with release 7.2.2.0, which "will receive all future updates." Anyone on 6.10.10/20 or older, or on another Android OS, has to do a clean install; updates after that arrive over the air again. Monthly security updates followed in August and September 2026.
On October 1, 2026, CalyxOS 8.0.0.0, based on Android 17, began rolling out to most supported Pixels, including the first official Pixel 10a build. The project then set a device-by-device schedule: 8.0.4.21 for Pixels except the Pixel 5a, and 8.0.4.22 for the Pixel 5a and the Fairphone, Motorola and SHIFTphone models, both due in the Stable channel on October 13. [3][4][5][9][10][11]
Supported phones
As of October 15, 2026, the CalyxOS install page lists builds dated October 6, 2026 for these phones:
- Google Pixel: Pixel 6, 6 Pro, 6a, 7, 7 Pro, 7a, Fold, Tablet, 8, 8 Pro, 8a, 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, 9 Pro Fold, 9a and 10a - Fairphone: Fairphone 4, Fairphone 5 and Fairphone (Gen. 6) - Motorola: moto g 5G - 2024, moto g84 5G, moto g34 5G and g45 5G, moto g52, g42 and g32 - SHIFT: SHIFTphone 8 - Older Pixels: Pixel 4a (5G), 5 and 5a
The Pixel 10, 10 Pro, 10 Pro XL and 10 Pro Fold are not on the list. The project's device support page gives estimated end dates for security updates. Examples: Pixel 10a March 2033, Pixel 9a April 2032, Fairphone (Gen. 6) June 2033, Fairphone 5 September 2031. Several end soon: the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, moto g84 5G, SHIFTphone 8, Fairphone 4, moto g32/g42/g52 and Pixel 4a (5G)/5/5a are all listed with December 2026. The page marks many dates with an asterisk as current estimates, and it lists the Fairphone 4, moto g32/g42/g52 and Pixel 4a (5G), 5 and 5a under "extended support."
Support for the Pixel 3 to 4a and the SHIFT6mq ended in March 2025. [6][10][12]
Security updates: what is and isn't patched
CalyxOS says Google has stopped publishing AOSP source code for its QPR1 and QPR3 quarterly releases. As a result, for Pixels on those versions, CalyxOS releases "only contain the latest fixes to the open-source components," and proprietary parts such as the bootloader, modem and vendor firmware are updated once Google publishes the matching source.
For the Fairphone, Motorola and SHIFTphone models, CalyxOS says the makers' own security updates are "usually behind AOSP updates by a month or two," so proprietary components follow the maker's schedule. For phones the maker no longer updates (moto g32/g42/g52, Pixel 4a (5G), 5 and 5a), proprietary components "no longer get updated." [5]
How it compares to stock Android
Google apps and sign-in. CalyxOS doesn't include Google Play Services or Google apps. You choose one of four microG modes during setup: microG off (fully de-Googled; "Many apps refuse to run"), microG on without push notifications, microG on with push notifications (the default), or microG with a Google account, which the project says lets "some additional apps and services" such as Google Fi work.
Play Store apps. There is no Google Play Store. You install apps from F-Droid (F-Droid Basic is the default store) and from the Google Play catalog through Aurora Store, which can work without a Google account; paid apps need you to sign in with a Google account, and "some paid apps may not work." CalyxOS describes microG as "not yet a mature replacement for Play Services" but says "most apps are able to run fine with microG." For individual apps it points to the community-run Plexus compatibility database.
Push notifications. With microG's default setting, push messages arrive through Google's servers without being tied to your identity. With microG off, apps that rely on Google push don't get notifications and some use more battery.
Android Auto. Support was added in February 2025; you turn it on under Settings, Connected devices, Connection preferences, Android Auto.
Banking apps, Google Pay/Wallet. We found no CalyxOS statement on banking apps or Google Wallet. See our guide to banking apps on de-Googled phones and check the app itself.
Day to day. Location comes from microG, using locally collected Wi-Fi and cell data by default, with an optional online service (Positon or BeaconDB). Backups use the built-in Seedvault app to a USB drive or Nextcloud instead of Google Drive. Call recording is blocked in the US because the feature can't be limited by state. [1][2][8][13]
Privacy and security features
The features page lists the Datura firewall for per-app network access, automatic monthly over-the-air updates, timers that turn off Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, camera and microphone when unused, Verified Boot, a USB restriction setting, a "Sensitive Numbers" feature that hides helpline numbers from the call log, and Work Profile support. CalyxOS is meant to run with a re-locked bootloader (the lock that stops a modified OS from booting) after installation. [6][14]
Installing CalyxOS
You install CalyxOS yourself from the install page: the Web Installer (in Chrome, Edge, Brave or another Chromium browser; Pixel and Motorola only as of July 2026) or the device-flasher tool for Windows, Linux and, again since October 2026, macOS. Before flashing, you must not be signed into a Google account on the old OS (Google's Factory Reset Protection). Pixels sold by Verizon can't be used because their bootloaders can't be unlocked. [4][5][6]
Phones in our database that run CalyxOS
| Phone | Type | Price | Status | US | Carriers | Google apps | OS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Pixel 10aGoogle · United States6.3" · 8 GB RAM · 128 GB · 5,100 mAh · 183 g | Phones you de-Google yourself | $599 (128 GB, Google Store, Oct. 15, 2026) | On sale | Yes | VerizonAT&TT-Mobile | Yes | Google Android; install a non-Google system yourselfAlso runs: GrapheneOS, CalyxOS, LineageOS |
| Google Pixel 8 seriesGoogle · United States6.2" · 8 GB RAM · 128 GB · 4,575 mAh · 187 g | Phones you de-Google yourself | Refurbished Pixel 8 from $389 (Google Store, Oct. 15, 2026) | On sale | Yes | VerizonAT&TT-Mobile | Yes | Google Android; install a non-Google system yourselfAlso runs: GrapheneOS, CalyxOS, /e/OS, LineageOS, iodéOS |
| Google Pixel 9 seriesGoogle · United States6.3" · 12 GB RAM · 128 GB · 4,700 mAh · 198 g | Phones you de-Google yourself | Refurbished with GrapheneOS from $845 (Pixel 9, third-party seller ameriDroid, Oct. 15, 2026) | Discontinued | Yes | Verizon bandsAT&T bandsT-Mobile bands | Yes | Google Android; install a non-Google system yourselfAlso runs: GrapheneOS, CalyxOS, /e/OS, LineageOS, iodéOS |
| Google Pixel 9aGoogle · United States6.3" · 8 GB RAM · 128 GB · 5,100 mAh · 185.9 g | Phones you de-Google yourself | $499 list at the Google Store (out of stock, Oct. 15, 2026) | Out of stock | Yes | VerizonAT&TT-Mobile | Yes | Google Android; install a non-Google system yourselfAlso runs: GrapheneOS, CalyxOS, /e/OS, LineageOS, iodéOS |
| SHIFTphone 8SHIFT GmbH · Germany6.67" · 12 GB RAM · 512 GB · 3,820 mAh · 209 g | De-Googled Android | €695-€755 + €22 deposit (SHIFT) | On sale | Import | AT&T bandsT-Mobile bands | Yes | ShiftOS G (Google) or /e/OS (Murena)Also runs: CalyxOS, LineageOS, iodéOS |
Questions people ask
Is CalyxOS still being updated in 2026?
Yes. After pausing updates from August 2025, CalyxOS released 7.2.2.0 on July 1, 2026 with full maintenance and began rolling out CalyxOS 8 (Android 17) in October 2026. [3][4][5]
Do I need to reinstall CalyxOS after the pause?
If you are on 6.10.10/20 or older, yes. CalyxOS says you need a clean install of the current release; after that, updates come over the air. [4]
Does CalyxOS support the Pixel 10?
As of Oct. 15, 2026 the install page lists the Pixel 10a but not the Pixel 10, 10 Pro, 10 Pro XL or 10 Pro Fold. [6]
Can I use Google apps on CalyxOS?
Google's apps aren't included. With microG enabled, many apps that expect Google Play Services work, and you can install apps from the Play catalog through Aurora Store. You can also add a Google account to microG, which CalyxOS says makes you no longer semi-anonymous to Google. [2][8]
Sources (14)
- FAQ, Calyx Institute. Checked October 15, 2026.
- microG, Calyx Institute. Checked October 15, 2026.
- A letter to the CalyxOS community, Calyx Institute. Checked October 15, 2026.
- CalyxOS is back – download release 7.2.2.0 with full maintenance support, Calyx Institute. Checked October 15, 2026.
- CalyxOS 8.0.0.0 - Android 17 rollout begins, with more devices to follow, Calyx Institute. Checked October 15, 2026.
- Install CalyxOS, Calyx Institute. Checked October 15, 2026.
- CalyxOS, Calyx Institute. Checked October 15, 2026.
- Apps, Calyx Institute. Checked October 15, 2026.
- Last OTA update before the new CalyxOS release, Calyx Institute. Checked October 15, 2026.
- CalyxOS News, Calyx Institute. Checked October 15, 2026.
- September 2026 Security update, Calyx Institute. Checked October 15, 2026.
- Device Support, Calyx Institute. Checked October 15, 2026.
- Android 15, February Feature update, Calyx Institute. Checked October 15, 2026.
- CalyxOS Features, Calyx Institute. Checked October 15, 2026.