/e/OS 4.0 & Murena Workspace: What’s new, updates, new features and FAQ

Many of you watched the /e/OS 4.0 live stream and we would like to thank you for being with us. This was another great company and community moment! 

During the stream, we unveiled several major new features for /e/OS and Murena Workspace, alongside a brand-new device. As your ethical mobile OS, cloud and office suite with secure data storage in Europe, /e/OS and Murena Workspace are now even more complete. 

To get an overview of the improvements we implemented, take a look at this blog article.

You can also watch the replay on Peertube or YouTube.

You’ve sent us a lot of questions during the stream and we didn’t get the chance to answer all of them live. 

Let’s have a look at some of the remaining questions (click on the title to jump to the topic):

• Questions about Murena devices running /e/OS and device compatibility
• Questions about /e/OS features and apps on Murena smartphones
• Questions about Murena Workspace and online services like MDM (Mobile Device Management)
• Questions about Murena as a brand, its mission, /e/OS and Big Tech

Questions about Murena devices running /e/OS and device compatibility

1: How do you switch from Google Android to a deGoogled operating system, specifically /e/OS? I’m a person without advanced technical knowledge. Can you help me?

The easiest way is to simply buy a Murena smartphone in our store: https://murena.com or https://murena.com/america 

If you’d like to keep the device you already have, you can check if it is compatible with /e/OS: https://doc.e.foundation/devices

For some devices, we have an easy installer, which you can simply launch. 

For others, there is detailed documentation on the above mentioned page. 

Our community is also very helpful, so for any questions feel free to ask in our forum before flashing your device: https://community.e.foundation

A good way for you might be to flash an old smartphone and whenever you need a new device to buy it with us, to have it shipped directly with /e/OS.

2: Will there be a protective case for the HIROH, powered by Murena? 

Yes, we will propose one in our online store: https://murena.com/products/smartphones/

3: When will the update to Android 16 be available for the Fairphone (Gen.6)with Murena’s /e/OS?

Our team is planning it for the 4.1 update.

4: Will /e/OS support the Samsung s25 and 26 series?

This is not on our roadmap, especially as it seems that Samsung doesn’t allow to unlock the bootloader.

5: Is it possible to switch a Gigaset GX6 from Google Android to Murena’s /e/OS?

We do not support the GX6 but only the GS6/GS6 Pro, which we also propose in our online store: https://murena.com/products/smartphones/

6: How can I upgrade to /e/OS 4.0 with Android 16? Got an official device with /e/OS 3.7 running on Android 13. 

Android 16 does not automatically come with /e/OS 4.0, but the Android version depends on your device. Feel free to reach out to us, for further details about yours.

7: Do you plan to deliver an AZERTY keyboard for the Murena Volla tablet?

Yes, we do. The keyboards are in production and we will soon have them in stock.

8: Please please please make a *small* phone, so many people want a less than 5″ smartphone and can’t find any!

We would love to do this, but as a software company we would need to have a hardware partner for it. 

The challenge is that there’s very few hardware available at the size you ask for.

Do you have any manufacturer or a specific device in mind? Then don’t hesitate to leave the link in the comments and our team will take a look.

9: How long will you support the Fairphone 3?

2 more years, so the end of life is expected in summer 2028, except our dedicated team might find a way to support it even longer in the future. 

Feel free to take a look at this article: https://murena.com/your-fairphone-3-isnt-obsolete-heres-what-to-do-when-android-support-ends/

10: Woah! If the new phone (Murena GS6) is running on a Mediatek chipset, does that mean /e/OS 4.0 will be able to be ported to mediatek devices?

/e/OS has been running on MediaTek chipsets for quite some time (with the Teracube 2e for example).

11: Which smartphones have the kill switches for the microphone (and what was the second one for)?

We propose two smartphones with hardware kill switches: The HIROH powered by Murena, which proposes an easy accessible button to disconnect the camera and the microphones on a circuit level. This device is still in production and will be available around October 2026.

The Murena SHIFTphone 8 also has two hardware kill switches (both also for camera and mics), but those are a little less accessible, as you have to remove the battery and enable them with a thin object. Another strength of this device is its repairability. 

Two other devices we propose have customizable buttons, that can switch off the camera and microphones instantly, but on a software level: the Fairphone (Gen.6) with Murena’s /e/OS and the brand new Murena GS6 & GS6 PRO.

Depending on what you value most in a device, you can choose between hardware security and usability; three of the devices mentioned can be easily repaired on your own. 

12: Will Murena start distributing products in Canada?

Some of our products already are available in Canada: On https://murena.com/america/products/smartphones/ you can find he HIROH powered by Murena (in pre-order), the Murena Volla tablet (as a WiFi tablet), the Murena Pixel 8 and the Murena Teracube 2s. 

You can also purchase a Murena Workspace plan to use a cloud powered by renewable energy and more other ethical online services like Murena Mail or an open-source online suite. We would love to propose even more of our products in your country, but we are not sure yet, if and when it will be possible.

Questions about /e/OS features and apps on Murena smartphones

1: What do you offer to facilitate backup for data on Murena smartphones running /e/OS?

We are launching a full backup feature in version 4.1, supporting photos, videos, documents, system settings (Wi-Fi, display settings, accessibility), app lists, call logs, and messages. 

We’ll share more details with you soon, so stay tuned!

2: Will Murena’s backup feature be end-to-end encrypted? 

The backup of the apps and their data will be encrypted; the encryption key is stored in Murena Passwords. The standard data backup that we’ve been doing for years with eDrive (focused mainly on Documents, Photos, and Videos) is not encrypted.

3: What about all the different apps available on the market? Are they functioning well with /e/OS? Is there a limitation, are there apps that do not work at all on Murena smartphones?

Most Android apps work fine with /e/OS. To reassure users, we have created two lists, where community members can share their experiences. 

Find out more about banking apps with /e/OS: https://community.e.foundation/t/list-banking-apps-on-e-os/33091/559

This list covers ID apps and other apps from governments: https://community.e.foundation/t/list-government-apps-compatibility-on-e-os/76268/3

The e Foundation community forum is the right place to discuss app compatibility and any other topics around /e/OS with other community members. 

We have a dedicated team at Murena that focuses exclusively on ensuring app compatibility.

4: Can I block an app from accessing the network on smartphones running /e/OS?

Yes, you can! 

Simply go to Settings > Apps, choose the app, then navigate to Mobile data usage. Toggle the switches to allow or deny access to Wi-Fi, mobile data, background data, VPN data, or unrestricted access.

5: How will a Murena smartphone work when someone downloads apps like Instagram or Google apps?

These types of mainstream apps can be downloaded anonymously through microG. Trackers and ads will be blocked through the Advanced Privacy feature (if enabled), which makes sure that your metadata is not sent to third parties. The apps will still work. 

Yet trackers and ads cannot be blocked anymore, as soon as you choose to sign into your Instagram or Google account. With /e/OS, customers decide for themselves who they want to share their data with. 

 6: How is Android Auto doing? Will there be an alternative for it on Murena smartphones? Can we use it and be sure not to be tracked?

Android Auto is doing fine (by “fine,” we mean it works) only if you install specific Google apps. As for an alternative, we are not planning to create one soon, as our priorities are currently elsewhere. We don’t recommend downloading those Google apps, as every login to a Google account means you’re being tracked. Hopefully, you’ll find ways to get around Android Auto in general.

7: Are there any plans regarding in-app purchases in Murena’s App Lounge?

At the moment, in-app purchases are not possible. However, if you’ve already purchased an app, you can use it on Murena phones – but you’ll need to sign in with your Google account. We’re aware of these limitations and are currently working with our partners to find a solution that will allow us to operate independently of Google.

8: How is Murena’s App Lounge for the future?

Together with our partners, we’d like to find a way to become even more independent from Google. We’d like to enable in-app purchases, something that many community members and especially mainstream users ask for. We’re still working out the details and will keep you updated as the project takes shape.

9: Any updates on the UnifiedPush integration in /e/OS?

UnifiedPush is already live on /e/OS. We’ve integrated it directly into the system, so you can enjoy private, real-time notifications without any extra setup or third-party dependencies for apps compatible with it.

For those unfamiliar with UnifiedPush: It’s an open-source alternative to Google’s centralized notification system. Instead of relying on a single commercial provider to deliver your messages, UnifiedPush distributes them through secure, independent networks. On /e/OS, this happens automatically right out of the box. You simply get reliable, privacy-first notifications for popular apps, while keeping your data fully in your control and optimizing battery life. 

10: Are there plans for more advance parental controls on Murena smartphones? (detailed app management, time limits, time slots by app or app group)

First of all, thank you for your ideas! Currently, the system supports a single daily screen time limit and age-based app restrictions, but it does not yet offer time slots or per-app time limits. We would love to improve this feature in the future, but we’re not sure when yet.

11: Does Murena’s Parental Control work with a VPN service?

Yes, on Murena smartphones, Parental Control still work even when a VPN is active. 

Also our privacy features like “Fake My IP” and “Hide My Geolocation” from Advanced Privacy continue to function independently and do not interfere with Parental Control settings.

12: Any plans to make “contacts” data encrypted?

Not right now, but in the future we would like to make our entire stack end-to-end encrypted. 

Yet it is important to us and our users that this does not hurt /e/OS being a user-friendly OS for everyone. We will move there step by step, so that we can keep offering people a great user interface and user experience.

13: I’m interested in the progress of Murena Maps!

For those who aren’t yet familiar with it: Murena Maps is our new open-source mapping app designed for online use without the need to download routes beforehand – unlike many other open-source solutions. Whether you are driving, taking public transport, or walking, it offers a mainstream user experience while truly respecting your privacy.

Murena Maps is now in Beta and can be tested via this link: https://gitlab.e.foundation/e/os/maps

We plan to publish a detailed step-by-step documentation for users without advanced technical knowledge.

Our community members are really looking forward to Murena Maps and have asked a lot of questions in this blog article: https://murena.com/murena-maps-your-questions-and-answers/

14: Can we share our location and routes with friends only for a short time on Murena Maps?

Currently, it is not possible to share your location in real time. For now, you can only share a specific location via a URL. We may consider your suggestion for the future. 

15: Have you considered to switch the STT (speech to text) of the keyboard from openAI to Mistral?

Not exactly, but we have a different solution for the future: We’d like to implement Speech to text locally. Our CEO Gaël Duval mentions it in our 2026 roadmap: https://gaelduval.com/joining-the-wave-murena-e-os-2026-roadmap/

16: Do we get the Material You feature back? The blue colors are bad for my eyes, so this is really a accessibility issue.

We understand your concern. Accent colors are automatically generated based on your wallpaper. Unfortunately, this automatic generation can sometimes create contrast issues or specific color tones (like certain blues) that are difficult to read for users with visual sensitivities.

Here are the best workarounds available right now to improve readability:

Adjust your Wallpaper: Go to Settings > Wallpaper & style. Choosing a wallpaper with lighter or warmer dominant colors will force the system to generate a different, softer palette.

Use Color Correction: For more specific needs, go to Settings > Accessibility > Colour and motion > Colour correction and enable it. You can test modes like “Deuteranomaly” or “Protanomaly” to reduce the intensity of problematic colors like blue.

Are there options you are missing and if yes, could you describe them – or what exactly you find on other devices (if so) – in the comments? We are constantly improving our services and would be glad to get more feedback.  

17: Is there an e-wallet initiative for Murena smartphones running /e/OS?

We do not provide a proprietary e-wallet app. However, our CEO Gaël Duval recommends third-party alternatives that work without Google Pay in this article: https://gaelduval.com/practical-payment-solutions-for-murena-and-e-os-users/

18: The Volkswagen app doesn’t work anymore because the app demands conformation with a Google account. We see more and more app using this “safety” system from Google what will result in more and more not working apps on /e/OS. What can and will you do about this?

Our team is aware of this issue and hopes to find a solution for the future. Don’t hesitate to follow it’s progress here: https://gitlab.e.foundation/e/backlog/-/work_items/9401 Also, the more consumers insist that company apps should do away with Google’s “security system,” the greater the chance that progress will be made in that direction. 

Questions about Murena Workspace and online services like MDM (Mobile Device Management)

1: Do you have any plans to create a web browser?

Yes, the Elixir webbrowser is part of our 2026 roadmap (nearly all in the end of the article – titled “Three new projects in the pipeline”): https://gaelduval.com/joining-the-wave-murena-e-os-2026-roadmap/

2: Any plans to link in with the Euro-Office Project?

Even though we don’t have any concrete plans for this project at the moment, we might consider it in the future.

3: Is full, automated migration from Google (Docs, Photos, folder structure) to Murena currently planned?

This is now available (since /e/OS 4.0). You can simply go to your Murena Mail settings, then to “Data Migration” and then follow the instructions. 

4: Can I use multiple e-mail accounts with a unified inbox with the Murena e-mail app – without compromising privacy? Or should I forward all other addresses to my new murena.io address? And what about transfer of all my OneNote-notes to the Murena Workspace?

1) About the email: By using multiple email accounts in Murena Mail, the privacy impact will be limited, but the provider will get access to some data, like your IP address. Forwarding to your Murena.io email address will prevent this.

2) About Notes: We do not offer an official way to transfer notes from OneNote to Murena Workspace Notes.

5: Can I use my own domain with Murena Workspace?

This will be available for Murena Workspace for B2B. Please note that you will have to have your on domain already and that we do not provide this service. 

6: Can Murena Workspace be self-hosted? 

A self-hosted version of Murena Workspace exists, but it is outdated and we don’t plan to update it in the short term.

7: When will Murena Workplace be available for Brazil?I want a really large cloud.

Murena Workspace does not have any regional restrictions, as it is an online service. 

Feel free to get the largest cloud today: https://murena.com/cloud-subscriptions/

8: I’m interested in the electronic signature solution you annonced! Will it be usable with, for instance, French administation? Is it compliant with eIDAS?

Yes, Murena Sign is compliant with elDAS. Right now Murena Sign supports SES (Simple Electronic Signature) for all users – legally admissible as evidence in EU courts. 

We are already working on enabling Advanced (AES) signatures. These require identity-document verification via a qualified Trust Service Provider. 

We will then evaluate Qualified (QES), carrying the same legal weight as a handwritten signature.

9: Will it be possible to sync and use passwords managed by the new service from a ‘regular’ laptop? Import / export from a keepass db maybe?

We will be working on browser extensions. In the meantime, you can

1. open the page https://murena.io/apps/passwords on your laptop

2. use existing browser extensions for Firefox or Chromium-based browsers that are compatible with Nextcloud Password.

10: Regarding Murena MDM (Mobile Device Management): Do you have any plans for a client app to bring non-/e/OS devices into management?

Yes, we are considering this for the future. To know more about Murena MDM or join Beta testing, please visit https://murena.com/mdm/

Questions about Murena as a brand, its mission, /e/OS and Big Tech

1: What is the advantage of Murena’s /e/OS in comparison to other alternative ROMs?

/e/OS is more of a complete operating system in its own right than just an alternative ROM. Unlike many AOSP (Android Open Source Project)-based systems that require advanced technical knowledge to install and use, /e/OS is designed for everyday users. 

You can choose to use open-source applications without giving up access to mainstream apps, while keeping your data protected from trackers and ads. 

Additionally, you receive a full ecosystem – including cloud storage, email, and an office suite -that can optionally sync with your smartphone, though you’re free to use any other cloud service or app if you prefer. 

This is why our slogan is “Choose Freedom” – not only because we protect your data from prying eyes, but because it’s your choice whom you share your data with – or whether you share it at all.

2: How are the numbers of /e/OS users going over the past few years?

The number of /e/OS users has been growing steadily since it’s creation. We are now at nearly 100 000 active users in different regions of the world, confirming that our solution fits the need of every day use. We are expecting this number to increase in the future. 

3: Google’s “control” seems to be on the horizon… What will the consequences be for /e/OS?

Google’s actions provide an additional reason for people to move to open-source alternatives of Android, like /e/OS, for different reasons, such as: 

• Monopolization is always a negative thing for all parties involved (except the monopolist), for that reason alone it is good to support different AOSP-based operating systems. The open-source community has always stood up for open ecosystems instead of lock-in.
• Many of Google’s changes will not affect other AOSP-based operating systems like /e/OS, for example Google will likely make it harder for people to install apps directly from the web via its Play Services suite. /e/OS and most other AOSP-based OSs don’t have Play Services, so will not be affected by this, and installing applications freely (just like on PC and currently on Android) will remain possible on /e/OS.

Even in the future, it will be possible to download and install apps from the Internet on devices running /e/OS. 

4: Some ID apps issued by authorities and also some banking apps rely on Google Services for integrity/identity check. Can Murena develop a similar system?

We are indeed aware of these limitations and are working on an alternative together with partners. 

5:Is it possible that at some point Google somehow “pulls the plug” so /e/OS and/or microG are “bricked”?

At the moment, /e/OS indeed follows the versions of Android. However, this is a conscious choice. We will only keep doing this as long as the benefits outweigh the disadvantages for us. 

The code that makes up /e/OS is fully open-source, so we can do a ‘hard fork’ at any time, which would mean that we decouple ourselves from the Android versioning system. 

Even stronger, this is in our Roadmap for the future.

6: How does the push of the EU’s “digital sovereignty” affect your work? Do you notice a higher interest of governments and/or organization in your product?

Indeed, this increases interest in our products from governments and organizations, though their procedures are often lengthy. 

Meanwhile, many individuals still need to understand why changing their digital habits matters -not just for activists or whistleblowers, but for ordinary citizens too. 

Consider what happened to Nicolas Guillou, a French ICC (International Criminal Court) judge: In 2025, he was sanctioned by the U.S. administration, which effectively blocked him from using global banking systems and traveling to certain countries – simply for performing his judicial duties at an international court. 

This wasn’t a conspiracy theory; it happened to someone with significant professional standing and institutional protection.  

The lesson here is clear: If it can happen to an internationally recognized judge, it can happen to anyone. Many people dismiss privacy tools with “but I have nothing to hide,” not realizing that control over your data isn’t about hiding – it’s about autonomy.  

Help us strengthen your own autonomy, your digital freedom and that of your friends and family by sharing this article with the people around you! Do you also have a question? Don’t hesitate to leave it in the comments!