I'm using my "backup" phone (same model, from eBay) to save some of my data and settings before I factory reset my phone to clear out the 15G of "other." I'd like to try avoiding Google products.

Trying Samsung browser on the backup phone, and next to no pages will load. Just white page. Tried mstdn.social. Some news pages will load. Pieces of some pages will load, like the Reddit banner for example.

Obviously it can't be "clear your cache" as it's a new device. Enabled java & cookies.

I am posting fron the "backup" phone, not signed in to Google, but now using Chrome as Samsung wouldn't show any websites.

I wanted to avoid Google products entirely including Chrome but maybe "not signed in" is at least a little better?🤷🏻‍♀️

OH WAIT WAIT WAIT, I think I found them. But GEEZ. What a labyrinth it has been.

And now, no idea which release I'm supposed to download.

No wonder people who are not tech-oriented get sucked into consumer monetized surveillance crap.

It's taking me hours upon hours upon days of exploring, re-inventing the goddamn wheel, and having to teach myself reams of stuff JUST to reach for pieces of a Google-free phone. 😑

But I did it!! I'm in! Got Aurora Store up and running. So that when I restore my phone from THIS phone, I'll have Aurora Store available on it without having to go through more Google crap.

*Link ⬇️ for anyone wanting to go straight to that page (SKIP OVER ads in middle and go to bottom where there are folders. I selected "Release" folder and used uppermost listed apk):

https://auroraoss.com/files

@_L1vY_

I am so sorry it is giving you so much hassle! I appreciate you live blogging the process, since I probably need to do it myself

Did you ever get Samsung internet working?

I've never heard of Aurora store before your threads. I think f-droid is the standard non Google place to get apps?

It was easy to download, although iirc, even going through the website might require google play store. Maybe that's why you're not using it?