/e/ (operating system)

Free and open-source mobile operating system based on LineageOS Enlightenment (software) Close-mid front unrounded vowel February 2026 September 2026 /e/ E Foundation logo.svg 100px Gaël Duval, /e/ Foundation property preferred references edit@end Q57265164 P348 qualifier preferred single Q57265164 P348 P577 Android (Linux) Apache 2, MIT and other licenses https://e.foundation/e-os/ https://gitlab.e.foundation Monolithic (Linux) ARM, ARM64 Multilingual APK-based "App Lounge"https://doc.e.foundation/support-topics/app_lounge App Lounge https://www.wired.com/story/e-os-review/ /E/OS is Better Than Android. You Should Try It Wired Gilbertson Scott /e/ (also known as /e/ OS and /e/OS, formerly Eelo) is a fork of LineageOS,29 November 2018 /e/ is a Google-free LineageOS fork for several Android devices https://www.xda-developers.com/e-google-free-lineageos-fork-nexus-oneplus-xiaomi/ 23 December 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20181129100227/https://www.xda-developers.com/e-google-free-lineageos-fork-nexus-oneplus-xiaomi/ 29 November 2018Amadeo Ron 3 March 2021 Google-free /e/ OS is now selling preloaded phones in the USA, starting at $380 https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/03/google-free-e-os-is-now-selling-pre-loaded-phones-in-the-us-starting-at-380/ 3 December 2022 Ars Technica an Android-based mobile operating system, and associated online services.https://www.linuxjournal.com/content/now-time-start-planning-post-android-world Now Is the Time to Start Planning for the Post-Android World Glyn Moody Glyn Moody 8 October 2018 6 September 2019 Linux Journal /e/ is presented as privacy software that does not contain proprietary Google apps or services,https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/social/eelo-new-privacy-enabled-smartphone-os-will-have-no-google-inside-5007509 Eelo, new 'privacy-enabled' smartphone OS, will have no Google inside Nandagopal Rajan 1 January 2018 The Indian Express 7 September 2019 and challenges the public to "find any parts of the system or default applications that are still leaking data to Google".https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/09/24/grab_your_degoogled_open_source_altandroid_now Open-source alt-droid wants to know if it's still leaking data to Google Andrew Orlowski 24 September 2018 The Register en 29 August 2019 Software /e/ is a fork of LineageOS, which is itself a fork of the CyanogenMod and Android operating systems. /e/ uses MicroG, "an open source project that hijacks Google API calls" according to Ron Amadeo of Ars Technica, as an alternative for Google Play Services and geolocation. Some /e/ applications and sources are proprietary.https://www.gnu.org/distros/common-distros.html#e Explaining Why We Don't Endorse Other Systems Free Software Foundation's Licensing and Compliance Lab GNU 25 July 2022 /e/ (formerly eelo) is a modified version of Android, which contains nonfree libraries. /e/ includes a closed-source maps app, Magic Earth.24 June 2022 Maps application https://support.e.foundation/maps e Foundation 26 February 2026 A privacy app was proprietary when first developed, then open source after release.24 June 2022 Advanced Privacy? - #9 by Manoj - Forum - /e/ community https://community.e.foundation/t/advanced-privacy/40461/9 live https://web.archive.org/web/20220624093831/https://community.e.foundation/t/advanced-privacy/40461/9 24 June 2022 24 June 2022 /e/ community 2026 8 builds based on Android versions up to 16 were available./e/OS documentation - section Officially Supported Community and Official Builds e Foundation https://doc.e.foundation/what-s-e#degoogling--ungoogling 26 August 2026 History In 2017, Mandrake Linux creator Gaël Duval proposed the concept of an operating system without privacy-invasive software as a "non-profit project 'in the public interest'". Duval wrote, "Apple, Google, Facebook etc., business models are harmful for our economical and social environments".Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols 30 August 2019 Eelo: A Google-less Android alternative emerges https://www.zdnet.com/article/eelo-a-google-less-android-alternative-emerges/ 2 January 2018 ZDNet The operating system was initially called Eelo; the name was inspired by moray eels, which Duval saw as "fish that can hide in the sea".https://www.linux-magazine.com/Issues/2018/208/Open-Hardware-eelo You Say Goodbye, and I Say eelo Byfield Bruce Bruce Byfield Linux Magazine en-US 7 September 2019 March 2018 208https://www.bgr.in/features/eelo-in-conversation-with-gael-duval-creator-of-the-google-less-android-project/ eelo: In conversation with Gaël Duval, creator of the Google-less Android project David Nash 5 January 2018 BGR India en-US 6 September 2019 29 November 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20181129100403/https://www.bgr.in/features/eelo-in-conversation-with-gael-duval-creator-of-the-google-less-android-project/ dead Duval launched a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign with an initial goal of €25,000, and received at least €71,000 from contributors.https://www.nouvelobs.com/tech/20180112.OBS0556/eelo-le-smartphone-qui-veut-se-passer-d-apple-et-google.html Eelo, le smartphone qui veut se passer d'Apple et Google L'Obs fr Dominique Nora 13 January 2018 7 September 2019 Eelo was renamed to /e/ in July 2018 due to a conflict with the "eelloo" trademark, which was owned by a human resources company. In a March 2020 interview, Duval stated the /e/ name would be abandoned "for something else quite soon".7 March 2020 The De-Googled Android Fork is Making Good Progress https://news.itsfoss.com/gael-duval-interview/ 4 September 2022 It's FOSS News en Beta versions of /e/ were released for 20 to 30 smartphone models in September 2018.Filippone Dominique 19 September 2018 Eelo : l'OS mobile open source de Gaël Duval sort en bêta Eelo: Gaël Duval's open source mobile OS is released in beta https://www.lemondeinformatique.fr/actualites/lire-eelo-l-os-mobile-open-source-de-gael-duval-sort-en-beta-72898.html 30 August 2019 Le Monde informatique fr fr As of February 2026 /e/ supported 271 smartphone models.Smartphone Selector https://doc.e.foundation/devices doc.e.foundation 26 February 2026 As of April 2020, Murena was teaming with Fairphone to sell Fairphones with /e/OS pre-installed.Lomas Natasha 29 April 2020 Fairphone teams up with /e/OS on a box-fresh 'deGoogled' handset https://techcrunch.com/2020/04/29/fairphone-teams-up-with-e-os-on-a-box-fresh-degoogled-handset/ 16 July 2023 TechCrunch en-US Corporations and organizations ECORP SAS, a privately held corporation founded in 2018 with Gaël Duval President and Alexis Noetinger General Director, operates the online store selling phones with /e/ operating system pre-installed, and the included online services.ECORP solutions https://ecorp.solutions/ 13 July 2021 ecorp.solutionsECORP S.A.S (CAEN) Chiffre d'affaires, résultat, bilans sur SOCIETE.COM - 840996516 https://www.societe.com/societe/ecorp-s-a-s-840996516.html 26 August 2021 www.societe.com ESolutions SAS, a privately held corporation, was formed in January 2020 with Ecorp SAS listed as PresidentSeptember 2022 and Alexis Noetinger as General Director. ESolutions operates the online store for sales of phones and cloud storage subscriptions.ESOLUTIONS (PARIS 7) Chiffre d'affaires, résultat, bilans sur SOCIETE.COM - 883789398 https://www.societe.com/societe/esolutions-883789398.html 26 August 2021 www.societe.comE Foundation e Cloud Storage Upgrade https://doc.e.foundation/how-tos/upgrade-ecloud-storage live 25 August 2021 E Foundation https://web.archive.org/web/20210826034821/https://doc.e.foundation/how-tos/upgrade-ecloud-storage 26 August 2021 Murena phones In May 2022, Liam Proven writing for The Register reported that Murena "privacy-centric" phones would be sold by Murena company with /e/ included.Proven Liam Murena and /e/ Foundation launch privacy-centric smartphones https://www.theregister.com/2022/06/02/murena_e_foundation_phone_test/ 5 June 2022 www.theregister.com 2 June 2022 en The Murena company was established as a different entity for selling these phones,Das Ankush 1 June 2022 de-Googled /e/OS v1 Released Along with a New Brand 'Murena' for Smartphone and Cloud Services https://news.itsfoss.com/murena-e-os/ 31 July 2022 It's FOSS News en-US and ESolutions SAS was re-named Murena Retail.8 July 2022 Annonces légales trouvées pour : MURENA RETAIL https://actulegales.fr/recherche/siren/883789398 10 February 2023 actulegales.fr The Murena One, a budget hardware device running Android 10, was priced "noticeably more expensive than the rock-bottom budget end of the market". Proven also said /e/ OS feels "clunky in places", functionality was restricted compared with full Google Android, but it worked and was fast and stable. David Pierce of The Verge said App Lounge required accepting Terms of Service, and you download Play apps from Google in a "different-looking store". The connection to Google made "a lot of Murena's early testers mad" according to Pierce. Pierce concluded Murena and /e/OS showed "how ingrained Google is in our digital lives" and how much control Google has.Pierce David 31 May 2022 The Murena One shows exactly how hard it is to de-Google your smartphone https://www.theverge.com/2022/5/31/23144917/murena-one-smartphone-degoogle-android 5 June 2022 The Verge en Michael Allison of Digital Trends said at the time "Murena will all but certainly fail" and "A de-Googled smartphone can never hit mass appeal".1 June 2022 Sorry Murena, a successful Android phone needs Google https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/murena-one-phone-cant-succeed-without-google/ 5 June 2022 Digital Trends en In November 2022, Ferdinand Thommes, after testing a pre-production Murena One, wrote for linux-community.de, "The range of basic applications on the Murena One covers the usual applications well" and has a "uniform look". Thommes said all included apps were open-source except Magic Earth navigation. Apart from short-term, unidentified problems with Wi-Fi, which were fixed after several reboots, and an NFC failure, "the software and hardware worked without any problems". Thommes stated /e/OS "is not hardened in any way", and recommended GrapheneOS or CalyxOS if you need a hardened smartphone. He also said the supplied version of /e/OS was "based on Android 10, which is no longer supported by Google". About the included MicroG, Thommes wrote "many communities like LineageOS are critical of it because it uses signature spoofing" which, if handled carelessly, can "increase the attack surface of your system". Thommes said the hardware was "solid-looking and well-held", from the "lower mid-range", with a four-year-old Mediatek Helio P60, describing it as "in the lower third of performance", with camera quality that is "acceptable at best." He said Murena One is aimed at people who do not want to leave their data to Google, and do not want to install and maintain an operating system. Thommes stated respect is due to Gaël Duval, who has been working on the operating system since 2017, and concluded "For German users, the Volla Phone 22 offers a possible alternative to the Murena One."Thommes Ferdinand November 2022 Smartphone Murena One mit /e/OS https://www.linux-community.de/ausgaben/linuxuser/2022/11/smartphone-murena-one-mit-e-os/ 2 June 2023 LinuxCommunity de-DE 2026 Murena continued to sell a range of updated phones, and a tablet computer.Murena Fairphone (Gen. 6) Murena - deGoogled phones and services 9 May 2025 https://murena.com/shop/smartphones/brand-new/murena-fairphone-6/ 26 February 2026 Reception The Free Software Foundation declined to endorse /e/ because it "contains nonfree libraries". Ross Rubin of Fast Company described /e/'s strategy as a "Google-like approach" of maximizing user adoption, in contrast to hardware manufacturer and software developer Purism's "Apple-like approach" of vertical integration.https://www.fastcompany.com/90385283/these-startups-aim-to-smash-apple-and-googles-smartphone-duopoly These startups aim to smash Apple and Google's smartphone duopoly Rubin Ross 9 August 2019 Fast Company en-US 4 September 2019 Jack Wallen of TechRepublic believed that /e/ will "prove Android can exist without Google", but predicted that the operating system would not appeal to ordinary smartphone users.Jack Wallen 30 August 2019 Is /e/ good or bad for mobility? https://www.techrepublic.com/article/is-e-good-or-bad-for-mobility 3 October 2018 TechRepublic 28 September 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220928015543/https://www.techrepublic.com/article/is-e-good-or-bad-for-mobility/ dead Sascha Segan of PC Magazine was "encouraged by /e/, and by its determination to create an easy-to-use (and, hopefully, easy to install) alternative," but was "queasy about the sources of third-party apps on /e/." He also defended /e/ against InfoSec Handbook's criticisms, which /e/ "took to heart and has been working on it in public bug threads anyone can read online."https://www.pcmag.com/news/371435/hands-on-with-e-a-version-of-android-that-ditches-google Hands On With /e/, a Version of Android That Ditches Google Segan Sascha 21 October 2019 PCMAG en 29 October 2019 In November 2020, Tim Anderson of The Register said installation of /e/ is "not for the fainthearted" but the operating system "feels lightweight and responsive" because of "fewer background services than on a typical Android device."Anderson Tim 12 November 2020 Android without Google – and yes it has apps: The Reg talks to founder about the /e/ smartphone https://www.theregister.com/2020/11/12/android_without_google_e_smartphone/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20201113005449/https://www.theregister.com/2020/11/12/android_without_google_e_smartphone/ 13 November 2020 20 January 2021 www.theregister.com en In a review in March 2021, Ron Amadeo of Ars Technica said, "Actually getting regular Android apps to run on a forked version of Android is a challenge", and "there's a good chance that functionality won't work on /e/ OS." He also described "/e/'s communication problems". In August 2022 for TomsGuide.com, Jordan Palmer wrote about experimenting with installing /e/OS version 1 on an ASUS ZenFone 8, Pixel 4a, and Pixel 5, and summarized by saying, "I don't want to be mean, but I also can't sugarcoat it: the documentation and recovery aren't good experiences." Palmer was unable to get the "Easy Installer" for Pixel 4a to run on Fedora or Manjaro. Of the "iOS influence" and "Apple-like design", Palmer "had hoped for more originality" and criticized using the two years old Android 11 version. Palmer said "The system apps all seem to work OK, even on the Pixel 4a's hardware" but was baffled because the Google Fi app was preinstalled, and concluded "If I can get the ROM installed properly on the Zenfone 8 I have in my office, I might just give /e/OS another shot as my daily driver".Palmer Jordan 13 August 2022 I tried completely de-Googled Android — here's what happened https://www.tomsguide.com/features/i-tried-de-googled-android-again-heres-how-that-went 15 April 2023 Tom's Guide en June 2025 Liam Proven of The Register wrote "Murena's /e/ OS is arguably the most mainstream de-Googled Android OS" while indicating the use of the phone was a bit like Desktop Linux in that some things either don't work or require more effort to set up. "But, just like Ubuntu, it looks pretty, it works, and it does the job." Proven Liam 10 June 2025 /e/ OS 3.0: Slightly less clunky, slightly more private https://www.theregister.com/software/2025/06/19/e/-os-30-slightly-less-clunky-slightly-more-private/1121461 6 June 2026 The Register en Releases VersionLineageOS VersionRelease date Android Security patches MicroG version Significant changes0.9 dmy 2020 06 26 0.10 dmy 2020 08 07 0.11 dmy 2020 08 28 0.12 dmy 2020 10 01 0.13 dmy 2020 12 080.2.14.2042150.14 dmy 2021 01 27 0.15 dmy 2021 03 15 0.16 dmy 2021 04 15 0.17 dmy 2021 06 10 TBD1.1019.1dmy 2023 04 172023-03-01N/A 1.1119.1dmy 2023 05 152023-04-01N/A Allows to import settings in Mail, fixes eDrive sync errors1.12.319.1dmy 2023 06 202023-05-010.2.28 Fix battery drain issue, upgrade of Teracube 2e (2020) to Android 11, turn off OEM unlocking during initial setup if bootloader is locked, fixes in AppLounge and Advanced Privacy1.1319.1dmy 2023 07 262023-06-01N/A Many crash fixes. Improvements to Contacts, Safetynet is working again on FP3 and FP41.1419.1dmy 2023 08 202023-07-01Updated Add a screen reader based on Talkback-FOSS, Teracube 2e and Murena One moves to Android 121.1520dmy 2023 09 182023-08-010.2.28.233013-135 Calendar do not offer an about page, as it was causing calls to Google, Message allows to share pictures1.1620dmy 2023 10 242023-09-01N/A Improvements to AppLounge1.1720dmy 2023 11 142023-10-01Updated microG: Move to Stadia map tiler backend, SMS fixes, AppLounge improvements (F-Droid links are handled, warns when space is insufficient, search results are exhaustive...)1.1820dmy 2023 12 112023-11-01N/A Improvements to Fairphone 5, Contact app no longer suggest to add a Google account to backup the contacts when no account is set1.19.120dmy 2024 01 152023-12-01N/A Advanced Privacy improvements: Apps with trackers can be filtered to find them more easily, a view by tracker is available, All contact properties are now exported into vCard1.2020dmy 2024 02 232024-01-01N/A Compatibility with the Application Licensing API, Improvements on the Updater, Advanced Privacy is clearer about what it blocks, PDF Viewer Plus has been replaced by MJ PDF reader to provide more options and up to date security patches1.2020dmy 2024 02 232024-01-01N/A Compatibility with the Application Licensing API, Improvements on the Updater, Advanced Privacy is clearer about what it blocks, PDF Viewer Plus has been replaced by MJ PDF reader to provide more options and up to date security patches1.2120dmy 2024 03 272024-02-01N/A Fairphone 3 upgraded to Android 13, dedicated section for /e/OS specific options in the Developer options, App Lounge allows to purchase an app from the Play Store using a Google account.2.020dmy 2024 05 162024-04-010.3.1.240913 Upgrade of the launcher. Support of Android Auto. Advanced Privacy has a Wall of Shame. App lounge allows to filter apps without tracker or Open Source (from F-Droid)2.120dmy 2024 06 062024-05-01N/A Fairphone 4 has been upgraded to Android 13. Introduction of their own backend location services to take over Mozilla Location Services ending2.220dmy 2024 07 222024-06-010.3.2.240913 Introduction of Parental Control2.320dmy 2024 08 222024-07-01N/A Fixes and security updates2.420dmy 2024 09 272024-09-01N/A Pixel 7 is officially supported.2.520dmy 2024 11 122024-10-01N/A Advanced Privacy is now able to make the real position available to some apps while fake location is on. UnifiedPush notifications are now supported.2.6.321dmy 2024 12 172024-11-01N/A Google apps are working again. Anonymous login in App Lounge is fixed. ~100 devices can be upgraded to Android 142.721dmy 2025 01 142024-12-010.3.6.244735 Microsoft account is handled by the Mail app. Galaxy S20, S20+ and S20 Ultra are now supported.2.821dmy 2025 02 272025-01-01N/A2.921dmy 2025 04 012025-03-01N/AMullvad DNS is used by default for Parental Control. Improvements to App Lounge.3.021dmy 2025 06 032025-05-01 N/AIntroduction of "Find my device", get the device location by sending an SMS to it. Introduction to Murena Voice to Text as a premium feature. Improvements to Parental Control. Teracube 2s is now officially supported.3.0.121dmy 2025 06 06N/AN/AFix crash of Advanced Privacy3.0.222.2dmy 2025 06 30N/AN/AAccessibility improvements with inclusion of Live caption3.0.422.2dmy 2025 07 112025-06-01 N/A Security release3.1.122.2dmy 2025 09 022025-08-01 0.3.8.250932 3.1.222.2dmy 2025 09 08 N/A N/A Withdrawn3.1.322.2dmy 2025 09 08 N/A N/A Critical fixes for Fairphone 63.1.422.2dmy 2025 09 222025-09-01N/A 3.222.2dmy 2025 10 27 2025-10-01UpdatedAndroid 15 is now available on many new devices3.322.2dmy 2025 12 16 2025-12-01Updated3.422.2dmy 2026 01 20 2026-01-01 0.3.11.250932 Improvements to Murena Voice to Text and App Lounge 3.522.2dmy 2026 02 17 2026-02-01N/A Fixes for Fairphone 63.623dmy 2026 03 23 2026-03-01N/A /e/ is now based on Android 16. AppLounge fixes, allow to sign in with MicroG3.7dmy 2026 04 10 2026-04-01 See also Free and open-source software Comparison of mobile operating systems Criticism of Google DeGoogle List of custom Android distributions References External links Spot Search Engine hosted by Murena Category:Android (operating system) forks Category:Custom Android firmware Category:Embedded Linux distributions Category:Free mobile software Category:Linux distributions Category:Linux distributions without systemd Category:Mobile operating systems