![](https://lemmy.ml/pictrs/image/c5d69289-72c1-4bde-9437-1fb665354aa4.jpeg)
![](https://lemmy.ml/pictrs/image/f4a8a699-27b5-406c-a15c-aa96a0acf5a9.webp)
Not in the US. A phone “purchased” on contract is carrier locked and you can’t unlock the bootloader, which needs to be done in order to install a different OS.
Security and privacy professional. Currently testing and evaluating Signal username staging application.
Not in the US. A phone “purchased” on contract is carrier locked and you can’t unlock the bootloader, which needs to be done in order to install a different OS.
I believe NetGuard will act as a VPN. This will prevent you from using an actual VPN.
Since it is a free phone from a carrier it will be locked until the phone is “paid off” by keeping their service for a specified amount of time. Once that time has passed, then your best option is to have the carrier unlock it and install Graphene OS. Until then, there is not much you can do.
“helped” is very misleading. Companies can’t refuse to provide information they have when served a search warrant / court order. These companies DID NOT choose to provide the info on their own.
Apparently not, I have a Pixel 8 Pro that I got free on a promotion from AT&T. The bootloader is locked on it and grayed out.