Volla OS remains open source and without restrictions for apps
07/03/26 22:36 Filed in:
NewsGoogle's announcement that it will only allow apps from the Google Play Store to be installed on stock Android has caused irritation among users. First things first: Volla OS is not affected by this, as it is based on open source Android and remains open source itself. In addition to the Aurora Store, users will still be able to install and use apps from F-Droid or other sources in the future.
What many people don't know is that Google uses stock Android on its Pixel phones. Other leading brands such as Samsung use it with slight modifications and enhancements. Stock Android is based on the
Android Open Source Project (AOSP), which contains the basic services and apps of the operating system. Stock Android also includes Google Play services and Google apps such as Gmail, Drive, and Meet. Google Play services include features that developers can use for their Android apps. These include Google push notifications and Google Maps, for example.
Stock Android
For this stock Android, Google has now decided to only allow apps from the Google Play Store that have been published by developers whose identity has been verified. It will no longer be possible to install apps from F-Droid or other sources. Apple has been following this practice since the launch of its iOS mobile operating system.
AOSP
The Android Open Source Project, on the other hand, is – as the name suggests – open source and subject to the liberal Apache 2.0 license. It is not subject to any restrictions. The Google Play Store is not even part of the basic operating system, which is also the basis for the popular alternative Lineage OS and Volla OS.
microG and UnifiedAttestation
Many Android apps from the Google Play Store use Google Play services, often for the convenience of developers. Volla OS has therefore integrated the open source substitute microG into the operating system, which can be optionally activated and configured by the user in the system settings. Some apps from banks and for digital identities or payments use Google Play Integrity for security checks. Despite not being certified by Google, Volla OS meets security level 1 requirements.
To meet further security levels, Volla has launched an initiative for an open-source, transparent, and trustworthy alternative to Google Play Integrity. It is called
UnifiedAttestation and is already supported by an industry consortium.
Tags: Volla OS,Android,Google,Play Store,Open Source,F-Droid
