Just last note about ‘enabling openrepos by default’ this is VERY bad idea and can’t really be done, OR relies on publisher repos that need to be enabled that then allow installing custom libs provided by given publisher, this isn’t self contained rpms, many more experimental apps provide replacements to standard sfos libs (modified ofono etc) and a ton of them have not been updated in a while, if you enable them willy nilly (like a newbie who just clicked ‘give me more apps’ button) you will end up with a broken system pretty fast, it’s just not workable with this architecture (chum disallows any conflicting packages so maybe that would be an option, but also risky)
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For what ‘by default’ please? It’s so simple to install Storeman manually… Everyone can do this in a few minutes.
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Yes, but then you’re responsible to find the app, enable repo, read all the big WARNINGS and when you screw yourself and end up with a bootloop you know you did it yourself, if OR is offered as an option by jolla for newbies and you get some unified storefront they will click those experimental apps just like trustworthy apps from jolla store, the fact they clicked extra warning (you get one from enabling developer mode, same with external apps, ppl click through those like terms and conditions) won’t help
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You are overestimating the general public.
Most of what people need should be available in the Jolla Store.
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I doubt the general public will buy such a phone in the first place, or they would just complain about the lack of trackers and spyware.
This will always remain a phone for enthusiasts, I hope the numbers will still make it sustainable, though.
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You still have to know Chum and StoreMan exist, that’s why there was the idea floating around to create a Jolla Store app that would install them (or at least help to install them).
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Have you had a look on a phone of a friend, colleague etc ?
Whatsapp
Insta
Tiktop
Spotify
Local banking app
Local work council app
Local transportation app
Local sports app
..
..
Signal
Ups forgot the gov id apps
just to name a few
every shit has an app
completely impossible
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Exactly, that’s how a phone works for most people today. Thanks to App Support, you can have almost all of it and still live in a mobile Linux world when App Support is shut down. My feeling is that many expect those apps working on their phone today - even some or many of those that preordered the New Jolla Phone. If people see that there is not only a niche product but a true viable alternantive to iOS and Android it will be a big (2nd?) chance for Jolla.
Earlier this year I met a journalist in Istabul who is a friend of Manfred Weber (EPP in the Euroean Parliament). Apparently both had a talk on the lack of a European alternative to Android and iOS. I showed the journalist that I did the entire journey to Istanbul only with my X 10iii SFOS phone (public transportation tickets, boarding cards, banking, video conferencing, WhatsApp calls etc. (you name it)) Almost like “normal”. The need to flash a phone yourself put him off, though. Therefore the new Jolla Phone is a big big chance if it suits the peoples needs almost out of the box.
EDIT: of course I forwarded Jolla’s press release to that journalist
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Please don’t get me wrong: I prefer native apps over Andriod apps and use native apps whenever there is one for the particular purpose.
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Currently working on a “Beginner’s Guide” app which I intend to publish to the Jolla store. Hopefully it will be useful. I plan to split the content into multiple sections, from basic principles and the various app stores all the way to some more advanced topics.
I’ll be happy to accept PRs once I open source the repos (probably tomorrow).
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Hi
As a future jolla phone / sailfish user I would highly appreciate a welcome app pre installed, which navigates me through the OPTIONAL installation of different app stores,android compartibility layers etc.
why? Because it makes transition for new user easy. There is nothing more frustrating, when you finally get the new phone and you need ages to understand how to install e.g. threema.
The experience and knowledge comes with the using the operating system and is not pre-installed in the user.
When I transitioned from Windows to Linux years ago, it helped me a lot to have good welcome screen helping me find stuff.
((((I cannot resist, sorry: I use Arch, btw.))))
Cheers
Edit: or at least a website as startpage in the browser explaining you with the correct links how to install different things.
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You are making a sailfish rpm app or an android apk app?
Sailfish RPM app. Do you think an Android app might be worth it?
Anyway, I’ve just open sourced it, here’s the topic: Beginner's Guide app
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No rpm is great and enough i think.
Hey folks!
First time posting.
I’m super stoked to get my preordered Jolla phone this autumn and escape the big tech “matrix” 
I agree with most comments. Winning over more users and let us have a great experience is super important!
Installing SDK now.. 
See you around!
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My personal self reference documentation for the J2. This can be very useful for new users as well. I tried to bundle the information that is scattered all over the place. My goal is to use as many native apps as possible. Priority of stores: Jolla Store, Chum, Storeman, WepApps, F-Droid, Aurora. I chose AAS + microg + F-Droid + Aurora + AAS Bluetooth (you can choose these options during the setup procedure after the first start of your device). This guide uses an ssh terminal a lot for convenience and speed. The different steps are more or less in the order of priority. But that’s subjective. Thanks to everyone on the forum and elsewhere for providing the help I needed to write this guide.
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Connect to your WLAN / log in to your Jolla account
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The initial setup offers the installation of AAS, microg, f-droid, Bluetooth-AAS support. Choose whatever you need.
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Check for system updates: Settings > Sailfish 0S updates. Download and install, if available.
-
Let’s set things up to install stores and apps:
a) Settings > System > Untrusted software > Allow untrusted software
b) Settings > System > Developer tools. Tick “Developer mode” and “Remote connection” (for ssh). Create a password for ssh access.
c) To use ssh over WLAN, a static IP-address is the best option: Settings > System > WLAN > long press on your active connection > Details > Edit (Top pulley)> deactivate “Auto-retrieve Ip address” and adapt. I had to add a secondary dns server (eg 1.1.1.1), the rest was correct. -
Install chum. Enter the browser on your phone and got to: SailfishOS:Chum GUI Installer — SailfishOS:Chum, a Sailfish OS software repository by the community
Download “sailfishos-chum-gui-installer-noarch.rpm”. At the top of your screen, a notification will appear. Click on it and install chum. -
Go to a computer, open your terminal and ssh into your phone: ssh defaultuser@YOURIP
-
Update:
devel-su pkcon refresh -
Install a few tools for later:
devel-su pkcon install wget zypper nano -
Let’s install storeman ( Storeman Installer | OpenRepos.net — Community Repository System ). You can use the same method as in 5. I prefer the terminal. If zypper complains about packages that haven’t been signed, choose “i” to ignore.
cd Downloads
wget https://openrepos.net/sites/default/files/packages/5928/harbour-storeman-installer-2.3.0-release10.noarch.rpm
devel-su zypper in harbour-storeman-installer-2.3.0-release10.noarch.rpm -
Optional: Install an alternative native browser: “Angelfish” (August 2026: search the forum for updates: How is Angelfish currently? ):
devel-su ssu ar ‘piggz-qt6-apps’ ‘https://repo.sailfishos.org/obs/home:/piggz:/qt6apps/sailfish_5.1_aarch64/’
devel-su ssu ar ‘piggz-qt6sb2’ ‘https://repo.sailfishos.org/obs/home:/piggz:/qt6sb2/sailfish_51_aarch64/’
devel-su zypper refresh
cd ~/Downloads
wget https://repo.sailfishos.org/obs/sailfishos:/chum/5.0_aarch64/aarch64/qt-runner-0.4.6-1.9.1.bso.aarch64.rpm
wget https://repo.sailfishos.org/obs/sailfishos:/chum/5.0_i486/noarch/qt-runner-qt6-0.4.6-1.9.1.bso.noarch.rpm
devel-su zypper in ~/Downloads/qt-runner-0.4.6-1.9.1.bso.aarch64.rpm
devel-su zypper in ~/Downloads/qt-runner-qt6-0.4.6-1.9.1.bso.noarch.rpm
devel-su zypper in angelfishOptional: For dark style in Angelfish:
cd ~/Downloads
wget https://github.com/KDE/qqc2-breeze-style/blob/master/style/BreezeDark.colors
mv BreezeDark.colors kdeglobals
cp kdeglobal ~/.configOn your phone: Open QT Runner > default settings > Override DPI (± 300). Start Angelfish.
Or install “Atlantic Browser” (Better system integration):
devel-su ssu ar https://sailfish.openrepos.net/mrbn100ful/personal/main openrepos-mrbn100ful
devel-su zypper in atlantic-browser -
Stock Browser tweaks:
A) Bigger font size. In your browser (address bar):
about:config > layout.css.devPixelsPerPx > 3 > accept
B) Adblocking in Browser:
about:config > network.trr.default_provider_uri > replace DNS with https://dns.adguard-dns.com/dns-query > accept
about:config > network.trr.mode > 3 > accept -
System wide Adblocking:
devel-su pkcon install hosts-block -
Optional: Create WebApps: As an example, a WebApp for Youtube:
A) Create an app from the Sailfish-Browser (go to website > options > Add to app grid)
B) Get an icon from the web (I did it on my desktop computer) and download it to Downloads.
C) Create a folder on your phone:
mkdir ~/Downloads/Icons
D) Copy the icon to your phone:
scp youtube.png defaultuser@YOURIP:~/Downloads/Icons
E) We have to adapt the .desktop:
nano ~/.local/share/applications/sailfish-browser-YouTube-0.desktop
[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Name=YouTube
Icon=~/Downloads/Icons/youtube.png
URL=https://m.youtube.com/
Exec=qt-runner angelfish-webapp sailfish-browser-YouTube-0.desktop
Comment=YouTube
X-Nemo-Single-Instance=no
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Add aas-installer-patcher ( AAS Installer Patcher | OpenRepos.net — Community Repository System ) for later (I need this for my banking app to work):
devel-su ssu ar https://sailfish.openrepos.net/Rikudou_Sennin/personal/main openrepos-Rikudou_Sennin
devel-su zypper in harbour-aas-installer-patcher -
Partnerspace: This is a UI tweak ( Sailfish OS Tips & Tricks | Sailfish OS Documentation ). I use it to open the SFOS-forum-viewer quickly:
A) Install patchmanager from Storeman
devel-su zypper in patchmanager
B) On your Phone:
Settings > System > Patchmanager > Web Catalog (Top pulley) > Blur Partnerspace Background
Activate the daemon and then the patch itself
C) Restart lipstick (this takes a few moments)
devel-su systemctl --user restart lipstick
D) Activate partnerspace
dconf write /desktop/lipstick-jolla-home/partnerspace/applications “[‘/usr/share/applications/harbour-sfos-forum-viewer.desktop’]” -
Wireguard VPN: You need config files from your VPN provider. Save them somewhere safe. Then:
Settings > System > VPN > Add new VPN > Wireguard > Import file. After installation: Long Tap on connection > edit > advanced > Enable IPv6 data leak protection. -
Adding accounts (new user / old users: 19):
Settings > Accounts > Add account -
To add your accounts, you need your passwords. If you have a Bitwarden account, install bitsailor from Storeman ( BitSailor | OpenRepos.net — Community Repository System ). Or, if you have followed 14, just do:
devel-su zypper in harbour-bitsailorTo log in, you might need your API key: Go to your Bitwarden account in your browser > Settings > Security > Keys > Show API Key. You need client_id and client_secret. Copy the key to bitsailor.
You might not need api key if you have an account without 2FA or you use authenticator app 2FA.
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Backups / Migration (not for new users, obviously)
A) Basics: If you want to move over from another Sailfish device, copy your backup file to the new phone and import it: Settings > Backup
Contacts won’t be imported. Put your contacts.vcf in “Downloads”. To import: Settings > Apps > People > From contact file
Put in your credentials (Passwords) for your accounts: Settings > Accounts
B) Apps: If you want to move over configuration files, copying the respective files from .conf and .local is worth a try. Example: Angelfish
ssh into your old phone
find /home/defaultuser -iname ‘angelfish’ 2>/dev/null
Result:
./.config/angelfishrc
./.config/angelfish
./.local/share/KDE/angelfish
./.local/share/KDE/angelfish/angelfish.sqlite
./.local/state/angelfishstaterc
./.cache/KDE/angelfish
So: from your old phone:
scp ~./.config/angelfishrc defaultuser@IPNEWPHONE:/home/defaultuser/.config
scp ~./.local/state/angelfishstaterc defaultuser@IPNEWPHONE:/home/defaultuser/.local/state
scp -r ~./.config/angelfish defaultuser@IPNEWPHONE:/home/defaultuser/.config
scp -r ~./.local/share/KDE defaultuser@IPNEWPHONE:/home/defaultuser/.local -
Asthetics: To enable Dark theme for Android apps:
Settings > System > Android AppSupport > Tap multiple times on “Android Version” and set the theme to dark in android settings. -
Enable Emojis:
Settings > System > Text input > Keyboards > tap on your language > choose “Emoji” and any other language you need. -
Check data settings (APN) settings for your provider on the web and make sure they match with your phone:
Settings > System > Mobile network > Data access point
For Mobile Vikings (Belgium) I have to change Authentication to “none”. The rest was ok. In case of mismatches you will encounter connection problems.
Do the same for mms settings. -
Test phone calls, sms, mms, mobile data.
-
Install apps.
A) Native apps first. Use the official Jolla Store first, then chum, then Storeman. Webapps are an alternative (see 13). Tipps: List of Android -> Sailfish OS applications - #35 by attah
B) Android Apps: Use F-droid (FOSS-apps) first, then Aurora.
C) Install at least a browser from F-Droid (eg. Fennec). The rest is up to you. I always install Droid-ify. It allows you to add repos more easily. Molly (Signal fork) has its own repo, for example.
D) When setting up Aurora-Store, make sure to grant the permissions and allow Aurora to open play-store links.
E) To circumvent geoblocking and to install apps from Aurora which are not available in your region, use a VPN to connect to the correct region, search for the app on play store in Fennec (or a different android browser) and open the link with aurora.
F) My banking app complains about not having been installed by the official Google Play store. There is a solution:
Stop AAS (Settings > System > Android AppSupport > Stop). Open AAS-Installer-Patcher. Choose your app and change from aurora to google play store.
G) Installing an .apk works in the same way as explained under point 5. -
Go through the other settings and adapt to your needs.
-
Optional: Adapting keyboard layout. See: Speed up a device by system tweaks in the qml files - #142 by Seven.of.nine
19 Likes
Thanks alot! Just copy-pasted everything in my Joplin to find it later.
1 Like
Just fyi, wgetting and installing the rpm like that is not ideal, 14 should be:
devel-su ssu ar https://sailfish.openrepos.net/Rikudou_Sennin/personal/main openrepos-Rikudou_Sennindevel-su zypper in harbour-aas-installer-patcher
That way you get automatic updates.
Additionally I’d replace Angelfish with Atlantic browser, much better integration with the operating system:
ssu ar https://sailfish.openrepos.net/mrbn100ful/personal/main openrepos-mrbn100fuldevel-su zypper in atlantic-browser
Edit: Step 18 could be simplified to devel-su zypper in harbour-bitsailor if you already added the repo in step 14. Also, you might not need api key if you have an account without 2FA or you use authenticator app 2FA.
11 Likes
Thanks for the feedback of a pro 
. I’ll edit my guide accordingly.
Hi, Atlantic browser still feels very Alpha imho. Angelfish has better video playback support than the stock browser and offers a dark mode. That’s why I still use it quite a lot.
1 Like