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#intro

Before I begin i'd like to state that [[[YOU SHOULD BACKUP EVERYTHING (you need)]]] because unlocking your bootloader will [[ERASE EVERYTHING]] on your device.
Therefore I am not responsible in any way if your device doesn't boot, explodes or causes irreparable physical, metaphysical, mental or spiritual damage done.

#unlocking_bootloader

Some phones dont allow you to relock the bootloader so be careful.
First thing youre going to do is enable developer settings, you can do that by going into settings and pressing "Version Number" until a youre either prompted to enter your password or a toast notification stating:
"you unlocked developer mode!"
Enter developer options and enable "OEM unlocking" and "USB debugging"
This part differs from device to device, most of the time you'll have to wait a certain amount of time before unlocking, for me it was about a week (that and i had to make an account, give Xiaomeme my number, and download their proprietary bits removed, still connects to Mozilla and Google services app). You should search for your device's guide.
By this time you'll have android's platform tools installed.
This part is covering how to install a custom recovery, this part also differs from device from device, but the main ones are TWRP and Orangefox.
After downloading your recovery image youre going to flash it to your phone:
1. Connect your phone to your computer.
2. Unzip the file you downloaded, you're going to end up with a .img file.
3. Open a terminal and type "adb reboot bootloader"
4. You're going to be prompted on your phone to allow usb debugging, press allow.
5. Your phone should reboot now.
6. After your phone powers up, get back on your computer and type the following: "fastboot flash recovery image.img" (where "image.img" is the downloaded recovery).
7. Reboot your device and, while booting hold volume up to prevent the stock system overriding the recovery.
8. Done

#choosing_rom

Now that your phone is unlocked you can install mostly anything (if it's compatible of course). If you're worried about privacy, you can choose any of those roms:
Crdroid, <- Has customization options, and AppLock (A11, Some versions of A14)
Lineage OS, <- No Gapps, good for privacy
Arrow OS, <- Same as above, comes with or without Gapps
Calyx OS, <- Allegedly privacy focused, still connects to Google in some ways (see this)
Graphene OS, <- Never used it, Focused on security and privacy
Divest OS, <- Also never used this one, basically lineage with security and privacy enchantments
Some Info I pulled from GearJail, another very nice site.

#captive_portal_alternatives

This guide covers changing andorid default's captive portal is backed by Google, this guide will cover changing it without/with root.
These are the commands you're going to use:
settings put global captive_portal_http_url [HTTP_URL]
settings put global captive_portal_https_url [HTTPS_URL]
settings put global captive_portal_fallback_url [FALLBACK_URL]
settings put global captive_portal_other_fallback_urls [OTHER_FALLBACK_URL]
I personally use these settings:
HTTP_URL: http://connectivitycheck.grapheneos.network/generate_204
HTTPS_URL: https://connectivitycheck.grapheneos.network/generate_204
FALLBACK_URL: http://grapheneos.online/gen_204
OTHER_FALLBACK_URL: http://grapheneos.online/generate_204
For non-rooted devices:
1. Connect your phone to your computer
2. Open the terminal and type "adb shell"
3. Copy the above commands and replace the [] accordingly
4. Reboot your phone
For rooted devices:
1. Open your preffered terminal emulator app
2. Type "su"
3. Copy the above commands and replace the [] accordingly
4. Reboot your phone

#app_alternative

List of apps I reccommend using instead of Google's
Browsers, chromium based:
Cromite, Fork of Bromite. Use this not Bromite.
Bromtie, Definetly Abandoned, do not use.
Chromium, Chrome without all (or most) of the Google stuff.
Browsers, firefox based:
Mull, <- Firefox with features from the Tor Uplift Project and user.js .
Fennec, <- proprietary bits removed, still connects to Mozilla and Google services.
Iceraven, <- Another firefox based browser that allows more addons to be installed, 2nd recommandation after Bromite.
2FA Authenticators:
Aegis, <- Allows using a master password/biometrics, currently using this.
FreeOTP+, <- Enchanted version of FreeOTP.
Password managers:
KeePassDX, <- Currently using it, use Syncthing for syncing passwords.
Email clients
FairEmail, <- Best of the best, supports multiple accounts and full of features.
K9 mail, <- Also a good client, less features.
Music clients
InnerTune, <- Best music player if you still listen to stuff on youtube.
ViMusic, <- Only downside is that it connects directly to youtube (AFAIK).
Libretube, <- Mainly used for watching youtube videos, supports streaming audio only.
Gramophone, <- Perhaps the best music player for local files.
Simple Music Player, <- For playing music stored locally.
Metro, <- Same thing as above.
Rooting
KernelSU, <- Best if you use root-hating apps, requires compatible kernel, will work with most magisk modules.
Magisk, <- Good alternative if your device is unsupported, may get detected by root-hating apps.
HideMyApplist, <- Xposed module, has the ability to hide apps, I mainly use it to hide the KernelSU app.
Honorable Mentions
AdAway, <- /etc/hosts based ad blocker, allows custom block list, works without root.
AFWall, <- Firewall app.
Termux, <- Best terminal emulator.
Insular, <- Used to isolate bad apps using a work profile.