March update bugfix

CalyxOS 4.7.5 - Bugfix for March 2023 Quarterly Platform Release and Security update is now available for the Pixels and the Fairphone 4

Released to stable on Friday, 24 March.

Background

Google releases security updates every month, which are usually easy to integrate. However, every 3 months, they also released what’s called a Quarterly Platform Release (QPR).

That’s currently December, March, and June. Then in August / September we have the new Android version. These quarterly updates include a LOT of code changes. They’re also that month’s security update, meaning we have to get it all integrated quickly.

This led to a scenario where the first build of this month had a bunch of bugs that we couldn’t catch before the release, and we didn’t want to delay security updates either so we didn’t wait too long to test out every single thing.

We’re looking into ways to maintain stability while also not delaying security updates. See this GitLab issue for the existing discussion. We’ll post an update once we have something implemented.

As noted in the changelog below, 2 button navigation has been dropped. It had a bug after Google’s March 2023 changes, wherein the recents menu (list of running apps) would only show on the homescreen.

Google never included 2 button navigation on devices newer than Pixel 4, and given that those are all no longer supported, this feature doesn’t get tested or fixed by them.

As such, given we had already kept it alive for years longer than Google did, we decided to drop it, because even if we fixed it now (which may have taken a lot of time), it could’ve broken again in the future. We’d much rather spend time on privacy and security related features.

Changelog

CalyxOS 4.7.5
Drop 2-button navigation. It will get switched to 3-button navigation automatically.
Google hasn’t supported this in years, and recent bugs made it unusable.
Chromium: Fix adblocking, update to 111.0.5563.115 (latest stable)
Fix scramble pin
Fix notifications for default SMS app (Messaging)
Bring back Material You color themes, add more colors to it
Fix status bar vibrate mode icon
Improve theme of Settings -> System -> Other options -> Battery stats
Improve theme of Settings -> System -> Status bar icons

Pixel 6, 6 Pro, 6a:

Fix Safetynet attestation
Switch back to source-built kernel

Pixel 3, 3 XL, 3a, 3a XL

Fix auto brightness

FP4

Fix auto brightness

Note

Over-the-air Updates: CalyxOS updates are delivered over-the-air (OTA) automatically, without any manual intervention needed. However, if you'd like to manually update your CalyxOS install, see OTA.
Security Updates: The Pixel 8 Pro, 8, Fold, Tablet, 7a, 7 Pro, 7, 6a, 6 Pro, 6, 5a (5G) contain the full security patch, as they are still being updated by Google.
Security Updates: The Fairphone 4, 5, Motorola moto g32, moto g42, moto g52 stock OS follows a different security update release schedule, which usually lags behind by a month or two compared to Pixels. The CalyxOS releases for it only contain the latest fixes to the open source components, such as the OS code and the Linux kernel. Proprietary components such as the bootloader, modem firmware, and other firmware get updates as soon as the stock OS update is available.
Security Updates: The SHIFT6mq stock OS follows a different security update release schedule. The device is still supported by the manufacturer. The CalyxOS releases for it only contain the latest fixes to the open source components, such as the OS code and the Linux kernel. Proprietary components such as the bootloader, modem firmware, and other firmware get updates as soon as the stock OS update is available.
End-of-life: The Pixel 4a (5G), 5, 4a, 4 XL, 4, 3a XL, 3a, 3 XL, 3 are no longer being updated by the manufacturer, so the CalyxOS releases for these devices only contain the fixes to the open source components, such as the OS code and the Linux kernel. Proprietary components such as the bootloader, modem firmware, and other firmware no longer get updates.