I think it's a messy idea, you will be getting conflicts on files already present in the system. You've been warned ;)

With that out of the way, I guess just download the image and start from wiki.archlinux.org/title/Insta…

The real question is: Why?

Here's some answers to your question:
1. Backup your data, nuke the drive, start again.
2. chroot is the tool for the job. Backup your data before you accidentally nuke your drive.
3. Shrink the partition and write a new one in the empty space, but backup your data before you accidentally nuke your drive.
4. Connect an external drive, install on it, but backup your data before you accidentally nuke your drive.

Finally, the reason that the wiki didn't help is that the question is asked by either a person with not enough experience, or one who doesn't need the wiki. This is a non trivial process and you should backup your data before you proceed, lest you accidentally nuke your drive.

Edit:

Also, anything you break can be fixed .. but only if you have a backup.

Resize your partitions so you can use the empty space.

Then install to the new position.

Update grub.

As long as your headphones are Bluetooth, they will continue to work fine.

I haven't run Graphene OS since I broke my Pixel 3a and went with a different device. But when I did run it, it was perfectly fine.

With that said, I ran lineage before I ran graphene and I ran lineage after I moved away from graphene.

I use GrapheneOS on a Pixel 8a. About 6 months in. The recent "a" series models are a pretty good deal as they come with 7 years of updates from initial release.

I love GrapheneOS. Pretty much just works. Many Apps do not even have to have google play installed. There are some apps that may not run. Typically those that require an original authentic device. My banking app did not run originally but now it does. Not sure but I think I had issues with the UPS app for some reason. I switched to the web for that.

I've ran LineageOS until two years ago from when it was CyanogenMod on my S3. Been a Debian user a bit longer. 😉

What it's got over LineageOS is it sandbox stuff out the box, so you can compromise with Google Maps and things like Bank apps run.

For work, I need a satnav with traffic in it's route planning. No matter how good Organic Map's maps are. Also for work, I need a Bank app. I'm not really happy with GrapheneOS, but I don't have a choice. It's my least worse option. Unless I keep a GrapheneOS phone for work and maybe try a Mobian phone for home..... When it looks day drivable...

Edit: oh and transferring files, Nextcloud or scp in Termux.

Head phone jack. My 8a sadly has none. Not sure any recent Pixels do. I use combination of some HP OTC hearing aids and a Senhouser headset, both blue tooth.

Files transfer. I mosly use Nextcloud or just plugin my phone to my computer directly with USB. I have used syncthing and ssh too. Debian should work but I have more experince with Ubuntu and the USB method works fine there.

My main OS is debian. How easy is to transfer data from GrapheneOS to debian and the other way round?

KDE Connect works great for me

I've been using GrapheneOS for at least 5 years now (still remember the days when their sandboxed Play Store would need a force stop after every app install 💀) and I'm a much heavier user than you (social media, YouTube/podcasts, etc.). At this point I would not use anything else.

You won't have issues with app compatibility except for certain banking apps and Google Pay, if you choose to install the sandboxed Google Services. If not, you'll have issues with some apps not sending you push notifications (for example, Discord and Proton Mail) and other apps not working entirely (like Snapchat). Still, the last time I tried going fully de-Googled I remember most apps still working well enough even without Google services. From your post it sounds like you could easily live without it.

Sadly the newer phones have no headphone jack, and you definitely should not go for older ones that don't recieve security updates. And the Pixels have never had removable batteries (you can check out iFixit for more info on repairability). Any Bluetooth headphones will work. They do have a 3.5mm jack to USB-C adapter but I it never worked for me.

Data transfer between Linux and Android has always been dead simple regardless of the OSes involved. Just plug the phone in and tap a couple of things, the phone's filesystem will show up on the PC like any USB drive.

You should probably also consider CalyxOS, which supports most Pixel phones and, for me at least, seems to work with banking apps using microG while removing all of the pre installed Google bloat and providing a firewall.

That said, I haven't tried GrapheneOS. From what I hear you can lock it down even more and there are more features.

Is there a pixel device with a jack port?

Not that still has security updates? Something to note is that gOS stops supporting pixels after security updates stop, so factor that into your decision. I use a qudelix-5K bluetooth adapter which has excellent sound (and balanced and onboard equalizer, flawless 96Khz/32bit LDAC from my pixel 7, also doubles as a USB DAC), it's expensive but after 2 years I still think it's one of my best recent tech purchases.

Are batteries inside pixel devices glued to the frame or can they be easy to change?

I had to replace mine and chose to use an iFixit kit, first foray into glued repair and while fraught it went fine. Removal wasn't that bad, there's a plastic strip under the battery to help get the bastard out.

My main OS is debian. How easy is to transfer data from GrapheneOS to debian and the other way round?

Syncthing.

2 odd years in and it works great for a similar use case to yours (music [PowerAmp, paid], books [Moon Reader, paid], maps [still on Organic], notes [joplin], camera [google], web - ironfox, mail [proton]). Network deny permission is a godsend, most things on Google Play Store can be installed (even paid will usually work, but some use more aggressive checking) and then you can uninstall the Play store and services and deny network to anything that might call home and everything just works, including full google camera (see my history for details). A bit of onboarding hassle finding replacements, but well worth it, updates happen a lot more often than you are used to, but it's a good pain. I also have a second user with full Google play and a few other apps, but I can't remember when I last spun it up, good training wheels for adaption.

Is there a pixel device with a jack port?

None that are still supported by GrapheneOS. But you can buy a USB-C to 3.5mm jack dongle.

My main OS is debian. How easy is to transfer data from GrapheneOS to debian and the other way round?

Pretty easy, either by cable or using an app like LocalSend (they have an apk on their Github).

Overall if you run GrapheneOS on a pixel, how many years running it and what do you think about it?

Haven't used it in a while. I think it was cool, but was definitely more of a hassle than regular Android. The default apps are pretty barebones and feel old. Though I do still dream about replacing my iPhone with a device with GrapheneOS.

Pixel 5a 5G was the last Pixel that had an audio jack. I held onto mine forever, until Graphene stopped support for the model.

I upgraded to the 7a, and then bit the bullet and bought a separate DAP for music.

The biggest adjustment to using Graphene is often just having to finding open-source app solutions that don't require Google Play, assuming you don't want to run the sandbox. I found the process cathartic, personally.

Current Pixels sadly no longer have a headphone jack.

The Pixel 8as battery can be replaced through the back side, but the 8 & 8 Pro battery can only be replaced by removing the screen first. Idk about Pixel 9/10(a/Pro).

GrapheneOS is like any other Android for things like data transfer. Plug in via USB or your preferred wireless protocol.

pixel is meh

GrapheneOS is fucking amazing

I'm a week into using GrapheneOS and its been great. It is a little restrictive in that I seem to have to explicitly allow apps to run and apps like my Bank app or Spotify don't work.

However, most apps are just Web Apps at this point and I've noticed very little difference in the use of the app versus the pinned browser version.

I'm also trying to curb a phone addiction so Graphene + Lemmy + Mastodon + Jellyfin is all I'm using on this thing.

I assume google headphones would cease to work if I degoogle the device

I'm using my Pixel Buds. They work just as well. Remember, its just a Bluetooth device just without all the QOL stuff like voice control.

I recommend trying it. Graphene OS install also has instruction ions to revert if you change your mind. And it's pretty easy. Maybe a touch harder than installing Linux generally, but if your dailying Debian, you're fine.

I have used GrapheneOS on and off for 3 years or so.

I used to be on LineageOS with root. I did that so I could run a firewall, and have complete control over every aspect of my OS.

I tried GrapheneOS before they had ability for android auto. But lacking that, caused me to switch.

While my ultimate goal is to ditch big tech, Google, Microsoft, apple, etc I have to compromise a bit for some functionality.

That being said, having sandboxed Google Play has helped. Something I didn't have on LineageOS.

Getting data to and from Debian won't be an issue. Plug it in, and copy files to and from. Ezpz.

I use Arch BTW. And have had zero issues. So Linux compatability isn't an issue.

As far as getting a Pixel with a headphone jack, that
May be an issue. Security updates and software updates for a model with one may be an issue.

I have had GrapheneOS on a Pixel 7 Pro, and now an 8 Pro.

As much as I hate Google, I do like pixels. The 7 pro was miles better than my 8 pro.

I want to add, without Google play, you can still use Accrescent and Obtainium. While Accrescent is good, it has few apps. Obtanium you can pull from GitHub, F-Droid, Gitlab, and more and will check for updates.

I use both.

is it something you'd recommend for a privacy worried user?

Absolutely

I assume google headphones would cease to work if I degoogle the device

They'll work perfectly.

Is there a pixel device with a jack port?

No.

Are batteries inside pixel devices glued to the frame or can they be easy to change?

They are glued, like all modern devices.

My main OS is debian. How easy is to transfer data from GrapheneOS to debian and the other way round?

Very easy with KDEConnect/GSConnect.

Overall if you run GrapheneOS on a pixel, how many years running it and what do you think about it?

About 4 years. I like everything about it. The only thing I don't like is that it can't solve problems inherent in Google's monopoly. So some Google Play apps will not work and notifications won't work without Google's proprietary Google Play Services or one of the super rare apps that support unifiedpush. The vast majority of developers don't publish their apps outside of the Play Store, and almost none of them support anything other than Google's FCM for notifications. Google Pay simply won't work at all.

About 2 years for me. It's a better experience than vanilla Android except that tap to pay doesnt work.

Other than that one downside it's been nothing but an improvement. so much more control over what apps can access, and what Google services to use (if any). Google services are treated like any other app, and can therefore be easily sandboxed.

If you have a compatible device i highly recommend GrapheneOS. I'm pretty unhappy with the build quality and camera on my Pixel (7 Pro), but that was all the same on Android.

I really wish GrapheneOS supported another brand of device. Pixels are way overpriced for how cheaply put together they are, but i'd rather have a meh phone with real security than a nice one with just security theater

It works great with Linux for me, i expect Debian will have no issues

It's overall a pretty good experience, but there's occasional weirdness you may run into. For instance, up until a month or two ago I was encountering a bug that caused my phone to basically slow to a crawl after running Android Auto for 20 minutes or so, with a reboot being the only solution. This happened once while I was driving somewhere unfamiliar and it took about 5 minutes to start back up due to app optimization (which, incidentally, I don't remember being a thing on other Android flavors after 2018 or so) so it turned into a whole adventure.

There's also a fairly persistent issue I've run into where GrapheneOS starts very aggressively killing background apps, like as soon as another app gains focus. Not sure what that's about but I haven't really encountered it on other Android versions to the same extent, so I'm inclined to think it's GOS-specific.

(you may want to post this to !privacy@lemmy.ml or a similar community... I suppose GOS uses the Linux kernel technically but I think this community is for desktop Linux lol)

GOS is really nice. It's very seamless and user-friendly, whilst still being very unbloated and minimal. You still have everything you'd expect to have on a phone but the environment is nicely minimal and lets you only install the software you want.

I've been using GOS as my exclusive mobile OS for many years, never had any technical problems with it.

You can use bluetooth headphones or usb-c headphones. Including the bluetooth headphones google sells. Afaik they are still just bluetooth headphones.

How easy is to transfer data from GrapheneOS to debian and the other way round?

Easy: wiki.archlinux.org/title/Media…