In a recent turn of events, Google’s Pixel Camera app has introduced a new version (10.x) that is reportedly incompatible with privacy-centric operating systems like GrapheneOS. This update now mandates the presence of Google Play Services, leading to crashes and failures in launching the app for users who have opted for a de-Googled experience.
Addressing Compatibility Issues
According to insights shared by Kuketz Blog, users wishing to maintain functionality with the Pixel Camera on GrapheneOS can revert to an earlier version, specifically 9.9.106.773153235.19 (Build ID 68469120). This rollback can be achieved through the Aurora Store, although it necessitates a complete uninstallation of the current Pixel Camera app, as a direct downgrade is not feasible.
For those navigating this process, here are the steps to install the older version:
- Uninstall the current Google Camera app.
- Open the Aurora Store, tap the three-dot menu, and select “Version.”
- Input 68469120 as the version number and proceed with the installation.
- To prevent future updates, utilize Aurora’s blocklist settings to restrict the app from updating.
This workaround enables continued use of the Pixel Camera without the necessity of installing Play Services, albeit at the cost of missing out on future updates and features.
Interestingly, discussions on Reddit reveal that users who have a sandboxed Google Play Store and Play Services operational on their Pixel devices running GrapheneOS report no issues with the latest Pixel Camera update. One user noted, “I got the update yesterday, and it still works fine for me. My guess is that if you run Graphene not using Google Play Services, you may run into issues or the app doesn’t work outright.”
This observation highlights the divide in user experiences based on their configurations. Those utilizing sandboxed Google Play Services on GrapheneOS appear to be unaffected, while fully de-Googled users face significant challenges.
Such behavior aligns with expectations, given that the Pixel Camera is inherently a Google application. The tighter integration with Play Services reflects Google’s broader ecosystem strategy. Looking ahead, the GrapheneOS team has plans to develop their own camera application that aims to deliver Pixel-level image quality, with aspirations to extend the OS’s availability to non-Pixel devices in the coming year.
