Do UK banking apps work on GrapheneOS? A bank-by-bank guide (2026)

Most UK banking apps work on GrapheneOS. Community reports in October 2026 show Monzo, Starling, Revolut, Lloyds, Halifax, NatWest and Nationwide working, with Barclays and HSBC working in the main profile and Santander sometimes needing one setting changed. Google Wallet tap-to-pay does not work, but Curve Pay does, so you can still pay by contactless with your phone.

Why do some banking apps have trouble on GrapheneOS?

Banking apps check the phone they are running on before they open. Some use Google's Play Integrity checks, which are designed around phones running Google's own software. GrapheneOS is a different operating system, so how an app behaves depends on how the bank has set up those checks.

Most banking apps also rely on Google Play services. On GrapheneOS these can run as an optional, sandboxed app with no special access to the system, which is enough for most banks.

UK banking apps on GrapheneOS: bank by bank

This table reflects community reports from October 2026. It is a snapshot, not a guarantee.

What does 'works in the owner profile' mean?

GrapheneOS lets you create separate user profiles, each with its own apps and encryption. The owner profile is the main one you set up first. Some banks, including Barclays and HSBC by recent reports, run reliably there but may not in a secondary profile. Install those apps in the owner profile and you should be fine.

Santander's app has in some versions needed GrapheneOS's 'secure app spawning' exploit protection switched off. That is a per-app setting, so it does not weaken the rest of the phone.

Can I pay by contactless on GrapheneOS?

Not with Google Wallet. Google requires its own certification checks for tap-to-pay, and GrapheneOS does not meet them, so Google Wallet's contactless payments do not work.

Curve Pay is the UK alternative that does. You add your existing bank cards to Curve, then tap your phone at the till as normal, and Curve charges the card you picked. Some people also simply carry the physical card, which works everywhere.

• Curve Pay: contactless from your phone, using your existing cards
• Physical contactless card: works everywhere, no setup
• Banking app: for transfers, balances and card controls
• Google Wallet: does not work for tap-to-pay on GrapheneOS

How to set up a banking app on GrapheneOS

If you are setting up GrapheneOS yourself, the order you do things in saves most of the trouble people report.

1. 1Install sandboxed Google Play in the owner profileUse GrapheneOS's own App Store to install it. It runs as an ordinary app with no special access to the system.
2. 2Install your banking app in the same profilePut Barclays, HSBC and similar apps in the owner profile rather than a secondary one.
3. 3Open the app and register as normalExpect the usual identity checks: card reader, text code or a selfie, depending on your bank.
4. 4If it will not open, check the app's exploit settingsIn the app's settings on GrapheneOS, try turning off secure app spawning for that app only, then reopen it.

Is banking on GrapheneOS less secure?

No. The checks some banks run are designed to spot phones that have been modified in unsafe ways. GrapheneOS keeps verified boot and a locked bootloader, and adds hardening of its own, so the phone is not in the risky category those checks are aimed at. The friction comes from banks recognising only Google's certified software, not from GrapheneOS being weaker.

Your own habits still matter more than the operating system: a strong passcode, lock-screen notifications hidden and no passwords kept in notes. Our guide to stopping thieves getting into your phone covers the settings that protect a banking app if the phone is taken.

What if my bank app stops working after an update?

Check whether the app needs a setting changed, such as secure app spawning, and whether the problem is in a secondary profile. Look at recent reports from other GrapheneOS users, because fixes are usually shared quickly. As a fallback, every UK bank also offers online banking through a browser, which works on any phone.

Do not install modified versions of a banking app from outside the Play Store to get around a check. They can contain malware, and your bank may refuse to cover losses.

If you buy the Privacy Phone, tell us which bank you use and we test that bank's app on your handset before dispatch. If something changes later, our UK support can help you through the settings. The phone also has a 14-day return window.

If you are installing GrapheneOS yourself, our guide to whether you can install GrapheneOS yourself covers the process. To see everything that is included, read what comes with the Privacy Phone.