Wiki: Light OS

Light Phone Wiki
Page 4: LightOS & Tools

LightOS: The Operating System

LightOS is the custom-built operating system that powers the Light Phone II and Light Phone III. It's designed from the ground up to be simple, fast, and free of distractions.

Key Characteristics:
  • Minimalist Interface: Primarily text-based, focusing on clarity and ease of use.
  • No Distractions: Fundamentally lacks browsers, social media, email clients, app stores, and news feeds.
  • Performance: Optimized to run efficiently on the Light Phone hardware.
  • Customization: Users can select which tools they want to appear on their phone via an online dashboard, keeping the device uncluttered.
  • Updates: Receives Over-The-Air (OTA) updates for bug fixes, improvements, and potentially new tools.
Available Tools

LightOS offers a suite of optional utility tools. Users can manage which tools are active on their phone via the Light Dashboard website. Common tools include:
  • Phone: Making and receiving calls (VoLTE required). Includes contacts management.
  • Messages: Sending and receiving SMS and MMS messages. Supports group messaging.
  • Alarm: Set multiple alarms with customizable recurrence.
  • Calculator: Basic calculations.
  • Calendar: View events. Offers basic synchronization capabilities with external calendars (e.g., Google Calendar, CalDAV) via the dashboard. Functionality is intentionally simple.
  • Directions: Provides simple, often text-based or basic map turn-by-turn navigation. Relies on external mapping partners and requires a data connection.
  • Music: Play locally stored music files uploaded via the dashboard.
  • Notes: Create simple text notes or voice memos.
  • Podcasts: Subscribe to and download podcast episodes via the dashboard for offline listening.
  • Settings: Manage phone settings like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, volume, brightness (LP3), etc.
  • Hotspot: Share the phone's cellular data connection with other devices via Wi-Fi.
  • Flashlight: (Light Phone III specific) Basic LED flashlight utility.
Note: Tool availability and specific features may evolve with LightOS updates.

The Light Dashboard

The Dashboard (dashboard.thelightphone.com) is a web portal used to manage your Light Phone. Here you can:
  • Activate your phone.
  • Select and manage the tools installed on your phone.
  • Import contacts.
  • Set up calendar sync.
  • Upload music files and manage podcast subscriptions.
  • Back up phone data.