Focused Phone + SMS
A compact neon-blue dialer, call history, SMS/MMS inbox, search, contact suggestions, message deletion with Undo, and Android or custom notification sounds.
A Lurk product for Android
LurkGuard
A private Phone and SMS client built around a simple commitment: when you block a contact, changing that decision can require verification and a real waiting period.
Android 11+Private sideloadSMS/MMSReleased Sep 20, 2026
GUARD THE DECISIONThe interface
Phone and messages without the clutter
Android 17 VM screenshots from the same 2.9 release offered below.
Capabilities
A communication app with deliberate friction
Commitment blacklist
Block incoming cellular calls and SMS/MMS for selected numbers. An unblock request requires biometric verification plus the Blacklist PIN, then waits 90 device-on days.
Fast re-blocking
Cancel a pending unblock and keep the contact blocked with the Blacklist PIN. A later request starts a fresh waiting period.
Optional hardening
The separate Controller can protect LurkGuard from uninstall, clear-data, force-stop, and default-app changes when it is enrolled as Android Device Owner.
Private by design
Blacklist state, PIN material, messages, and call history stay on the device. LurkGuard has no hosted message or blacklist backend.
Writing assistance
An optional Gemini writing area can use selected-message context and insert a suggestion into a draft. It requires your own Gemini Developer API key.
LurkGuard supports carrier SMS/MMS and cellular calls. It does not support RCS, Google spam screening, visual voicemail, or Internet-app blocking.
Verified downloads
Choose the level of protection
Both release APKs are non-debuggable. Verify the SHA-256 value before installing.
Version 2.9 · Android 11+
Download APKLurkGuard
The Phone, SMS/MMS, Blacklist, sounds, and writing-assistant application.
SHA-256
eb71cf122e247df7882b9ded678ca6625157356bc760a83b43a373d9240b87dfVersion 1.1 · Android 14+
Download APKLurkGuard Controller
Optional Device Owner policy app for uninstall and settings protection. A normal sideload is intentionally inert.
SHA-256
d4bada3d0c13b43464b00c9c5ffca745963108b1620ed29958c98855d6946202Installation
Sideload normally or enroll the protected setup
No reset required
- Download LurkGuard 2.9 and verify its SHA-256 checksum.
- Allow your browser or file manager to install unknown apps, then open the APK.
- Open LurkGuard → Settings → App setup & permissions.
- Grant the requested permissions and select LurkGuard as the default Phone and SMS app.
- Keep RCS disabled in Google Messages while LurkGuard is the SMS default.
The Controller can also be installed normally, but it cannot enforce policy without Device Owner enrollment.
Factory reset and Device Owner enrollment required
- Back up the phone, Authenticator entries, and independent account recovery methods before erasing anything.
- Factory-reset, finish minimal setup without adding a Google account, then enable USB debugging.
- Install the Controller from a trusted PC and enroll it before adding any account.
- Install LurkGuard, assign Phone/SMS defaults, then create the Controller PIN and activate protection.
- Add the Google account and restore data only after Device Owner status is confirmed.
adb install LurkGuard-Controller-1.1.apk
adb shell dpm set-device-owner local.lurkguard.controller/local.lurkguard.controller.AdminReceiver
adb shell dpm list-owners
adb install LurkGuard-2.9.apkRead before enrolling: the Controller's 90-day period counts device-on time. After it releases LurkGuard, the Controller remains Device Owner. Returning the phone to an unmanaged state requires another factory reset.
Release notes
How LurkGuard reached 2.9
2.9Current
Moves Blacklist, sound controls, app setup, Controller access, and Contacts into a Google Phone-inspired Settings screen. The main navigation now focuses on Phone and Messages.
2.8Dialer refinement
Keeps dialed numbers prominent while rendering ABC/DEF letter groups smaller and muted.
2.7Phone redesign
Introduces the always-open Android-style dialpad and modern in-call controls.
2.5–2.6Calls and sound
Adds ringtone/message tone selection, custom audio files, and a full-screen active-call interface.
2.4Messages
Adds swipe-to-delete, instant removal animation, five-second Undo, and the optional Gemini writing workspace.
2.3Controller integration
Adds the two-app Device Owner design and 90-device-on-day removal request flow.
Maintainers
Build and deploy on Render
Render locally
npm ci
npm run build
npm start
# Open http://localhost:8080/lurkguardDeployment behavior
This repository's render.yaml sets autoDeploy: true and builds the Next.js static export before starting the Express server. A push to the connected production branch triggers a new deploy automatically.
You do not need to press Manual Deploy after a successful automatic build. Use Render's Manual Deploy → Deploy latest commit only when auto-deploy is disabled, cancelled, or failed before the new commit was published.