2019-02-10 13:14:54 8 Comments
Xposed development has been in a limbo with the last update being a beta released a year ago.
Die hard fans of Xposed hesitate to upgrade Android, in the absence of Xposed support.This is true for the latest Android Pie as well. Magisk is useful but cannot replace Xposed for deep stuff. Yet another concern is Safety Net getting triggered when Xposed framework is installed through Magisk.
What are the alternatives available? Preferably without triggering Safety Net?
Note :
This is a self answered question to share my recent foray into this after upgrading to Pie.
Moderators are welcome to make this a wiki Q and A if it attracts more updates.
Related Questions
Sponsored Content
2 Answered Questions
[SOLVED] Xposed Framework: what is it, how does it work and why is it so prevalent?
- 2017-11-23 14:41:31
- Philipp
- 460 View
- -1 Score
- 2 Answer
- Tags: xposed-framework
1 Answered Questions
[SOLVED] Does Xposed Framework require to be buillt specifically for the device or just the Android version?
- 2018-06-19 05:35:13
- S4NNY1
- 274 View
- 0 Score
- 1 Answer
- Tags: 4.4-kitkat samsung-galaxy-tab command-line xposed-framework
1 Answered Questions
[SOLVED] Where can I find the Xposed Framework for Nougat and Oreo?
- 2017-12-28 11:40:02
- iBug
- 236 View
- 0 Score
- 1 Answer
- Tags: 7.0-nougat 7.1-nougat xposed-framework 8.0-oreo 8.1-oreo
0 Answered Questions
Is it possible to install Xposed for Oreo 8.0 without breaking the Safetynet Check?
- 2018-03-22 12:57:48
- user258295
- 564 View
- 1 Score
- 0 Answer
- Tags: rooting stock-android android-versions xposed-framework systemless-root
4 Answered Questions
[SOLVED] Where can I find the Xposed Framework and installer for Nougat?
- 2017-01-26 09:15:27
- Shadow_Sphynx
- 3804 View
- 0 Score
- 4 Answer
- Tags: 7.0-nougat xposed-framework
0 Answered Questions
Can I install a custom recovery and the Xposed Framework from the recovery in Samsung galaxy C7 pro?
- 2017-10-27 08:08:57
- jyoti proy
- 150 View
- 0 Score
- 0 Answer
- Tags: samsung recovery-mode twrp xposed-framework
1 Answered Questions
[SOLVED] Should I just get the latest version of Xposed? Are they all stable?
- 2016-06-24 08:08:10
- Revetahw
- 171 View
- 2 Score
- 1 Answer
- Tags: xposed-framework
1 Answered Questions
[SOLVED] All of the Xposed framework zips I flashed gave me a bootloop. Why is that so?
- 2015-10-23 03:43:34
- sixter
- 305 View
- 1 Score
- 1 Answer
- Tags: root-access nexus-4 5.1-lollipop xposed-framework
1 comments
@beeshyams 2019-02-10 13:14:54
Alternatives to Xposed (rovo89) are:
Virtual Xposed - a rootless Xposed and therefore far less capable. I didn't investigate further for this reason but I read that development on this has stopped (unconfirmed).
Tai-Chi Xposed by the same developer of Virtual Xposed and supports Android Pie. Said to be close sourced and likely to be paid module per some reports.
Edxposed. This is the alternative I chose.
Disclaimer: I am not a developer nor am I affiliated to any app or module.
Is it safe?
Yes
For an average user like me, two factors help decide:
Open Source Vs Close Source Edxposed is Open source. I have no understanding of code and cannot draw any conclusion from looking at code. But yes, being open source means it is subject to scrutiny by knowledgeable folks and therefore safer (Please don't drag me into open source discussion, rather post an alternative answer :).
Provenance or trust attached
The last Xposed update by rovo89 is also close sourced (as against earlier versions which are open source). This being close source would not have detracted people from using it purely based on developer's reputation.
In the case of Edxposed, my trust lies with Marcel (aka M66B) who has developed several privacy centered modules / apps such as NetGuard, Xprivacy, XprivacyLua and FairEmail. For me, when a staunch privacy advocate like Marcel starts development using EdXposed that's pretty much sovereign guarantee despite some warnings about close source (Incidentally, this claim is incorrect and a Reddit user informed XDA portal. To clarify again it is open source)
Is it as good as Xposed and can I use all Xposed modules?
It is not (yet) as powerful as Xposed because it lacks support at this stage for resource hooks but it may get added hopefully.
It is still in beta stage but a lot of modules work already. See [Updated] List of Xposed modules for Android Pie working with Ed Xposed Framework for a list of working and non-working modules which is being updated.
For me XPrivacy Lua works and works far better on EdXposed than on the beta version of Xposed on Oreo. Another must module for me is Maxlock which works fine. Only one I want is GravityBox and C3C076 , developer of GravityBox is considering development for EdXposed and it is likely others follow suit.
Does it pass Safety Net?
Yes :)
OK, how do I install it?
Check for updates from corresponding links below as they would change being a beta. Valid as on 12 Feb 19 and will not be updated in this answer
Source Android 9.0 uses xposed solutions as updated
Use Magisk order to install these modules in the same order ( You won't find them in the magisk repo. Download them and from Magisk Downloads option click on the + to install and they will appear as Magisk Modules)
Magisk-riru-core-arm-arm64-v10.zip
Magisk-EdXposed-arm-arm64-v x.x_beta-release.zip
Don't reboot yet , install
XposedInstaller_by_dvdandroid_19_10_18. apk or from XDAmagisk-EdXposed-v0.2.9.8_beta1-release.zip (check for updates in subsequent releases)
Notes
You may need multiple reboots.
Ignore the warning on the installer Xposed not yet compatible ...with SDK 28...or your Android architecture (see pic below).
You may find at times that installer is disabled - reinstall and reboot to fix.
Your device may be noticeably slower to respond - that's a price to pay till things stabilize.
Some modules may work with earlier versions of Edxposed and not with later versions or vice-versa. Example is Xposed Edge which works with the first version only but not later ones (see GitHub)
Pro-tip Just in case you land up installing a module that ends up in a boot loop or creates some other problem , it is handy to have [Tool][2018.8.1] Magisk Manager for Recovery Mode (mm) installed so that you can disable or uninstall the Xposed modules from Magisk.
Screenshots are from my MiA1 (Android one) running stock OS with latest Magisk 18.1
(Click to enlarge)
Happy Xposing !
@Namnodorel 2019-02-12 20:01:25
I think this answer could use some more details on the differences between Xposed, VirtualXposed, Tai-Chi and EdXposed. Or alternatively, make it only about EdXposed and create seperate answers with more detail about the others.
@beeshyams 2019-02-14 08:33:42
@Namnodorel: That merits a separate question. Here aim as stated in the Question was to find an alternative and reasons given briefly why the other two weren't considered