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Android Enthusiasts

Q&A for enthusiasts and power users of the Android operating system

Latest Questions

2 votes
1 answers
6633 views
how to sign Android device out of Google account temporarily
How can I - from my Android device - temporarily sign the device out of a Google account? I'm running Android 6.0.1 on a Galaxy Note 4. If I go to Settings > Accounts > Google > tap specific account > three dots menu - there is a "Remove Account" option. But I don't want to remove the account from t...
How can I - from my Android device - temporarily sign the device out of a Google account? I'm running Android 6.0.1 on a Galaxy Note 4. If I go to Settings > Accounts > Google > tap specific account > three dots menu - there is a "Remove Account" option. But I don't want to remove the account from the device, I just want to sign out of the account temporarily, and sign back in later. I suspect that "remove account" does a lot more than just signing out of the account. I can do it from my PC - myaccount.google.com > "device activity & security events" > "review devices" > click specific device > Account Access: REMOVE button. This does not remove the account from the device. It just signs the device out of the Google account. It takes one tap to sign the device back into the Google Account.
Jim (121 rep)
Oct 18, 2017, 02:00 PM • Last activity: Sep 15, 2025, 07:03 PM
0 votes
1 answers
210 views
Why cant i access my google account on a new phone when I have not factory reset my old phone
I recently bought a LG Stylo 3. It is the EXACT same brand and model of my old phone. I bought a used phone from Offerup but I know it is not locked. The person who sold me the phone did a factory reset to it right before selling it to me. I called Metro PCS and activated the newly bought phone. I t...
I recently bought a LG Stylo 3. It is the EXACT same brand and model of my old phone. I bought a used phone from Offerup but I know it is not locked. The person who sold me the phone did a factory reset to it right before selling it to me. I called Metro PCS and activated the newly bought phone. I tried to sign in to my google account and i entered all the information correctly. but it tells me i have to wait 24 hours before attempting to sign in again. I waited 24 hours and the same message prompted. I waited 72 hours and the same thing. How can I prove I am the owner of the Google account and allowed to use my new (used) phone?! I am frustrated because Google does not have a service to call or even text. The phone is not locked, I have all the informations and I can still access my information easily on my old phone. Can I add a new device to my google account before activating it? Essentially this is not an issue of a used or new phone, it is an issue with my Google account and thus if my old phone (that I am forced to use) breaks then I am completely screwed. How does Google have a multi billion dollar business if they dont have customer service help??
peter (1 rep)
Jun 8, 2018, 04:33 AM • Last activity: Sep 11, 2025, 05:42 AM
12 votes
0 answers
1496 views
Google account and installed apps disappeared after an unexpected restart
I have a Note 3 N9005, Lollipop installed on it. My phone just restarted in my pocket, by my clothes "pressing" the power and home buttons (why does that restart the phone?). After it restarted, various apps started crashing (contacts storage, settings, internet, android.process.media, Gallery, Key...
I have a Note 3 N9005, Lollipop installed on it. My phone just restarted in my pocket, by my clothes "pressing" the power and home buttons (why does that restart the phone?). After it restarted, various apps started crashing (contacts storage, settings, internet, android.process.media, Gallery, Key chain) and my installed apps disappeared, so when I want to start them, it says the app is not installed. Tried starting the Play Store, but it instantly closes and does nothing. Neither my other Google apps (calendar, keep). So I tried to log out of my Google account, but I can't find it on my list. Account list is empty, and when I tap add account can't find Google. Here is what I tried: - soft restart - battery remove - clearing Google Play cache - removing Google Play updates - clearing every Google app's cache What's happening to the phone? I don't want a factory reset, but it seems there's no other way. (Click image to enlarge) <img src=" class="img-fluid rounded" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto; margin: 10px 0;" loading="lazy"><img src=" class="img-fluid rounded" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto; margin: 10px 0;" loading="lazy"> Update: two new unsuccessful tries: - I rooted the device to try and delete accounts.xml and accounts.db, both came out as a dead end - Wiped cache partition in recovery Also, I tried to factory reset from the Settings menu, and I couldn't... safe to say this is hopeless, last try of mine will be factory reset from the recovery menu.
Hurka J&#225;nos (121 rep)
Oct 29, 2015, 12:52 PM • Last activity: Sep 9, 2025, 08:42 AM
0 votes
0 answers
29 views
How can I access Google Play Services on an Android Studio Emulator?
The AVD I'm running is fully updated on System and Google Services, but I am unable to sign-in to a Google account and when I check the Play Protect, the device is NOT certified and the only explanation I receive when trying to resolve is "Couldn't fix device certification issue: We recommend checki...
The AVD I'm running is fully updated on System and Google Services, but I am unable to sign-in to a Google account and when I check the Play Protect, the device is NOT certified and the only explanation I receive when trying to resolve is "Couldn't fix device certification issue: We recommend checking for and installing the latest system updates for your device" I have confirmed with this link: https://www.google.com/android/uncertified/?pli=1 that my android_id is indeed registered. Hitting a wall here.
Andre Livsey (1 rep)
Sep 8, 2025, 05:27 PM
1 votes
3 answers
7101 views
Cannot synchronize contacts on Huawei Honor 8
I just acquired the new Huawei Honor 8 from China (international version), but I have a few issues with the contacts. When I synchronize the contacts from my Microsoft account, I only retrieve 16 contacts in my list (whereas I have 300+ contacts). I checked the parameters, they are not hidden, it ju...
I just acquired the new Huawei Honor 8 from China (international version), but I have a few issues with the contacts. When I synchronize the contacts from my Microsoft account, I only retrieve 16 contacts in my list (whereas I have 300+ contacts). I checked the parameters, they are not hidden, it just managed to synchronize only 16 contacts. I decided to migrate my Microsoft account contacts to my Google account, so I can try to synchronize the Google contacts on my phone. Once I managed to do it on the Google website from my computer, I found a bad surprise in the contact app : there is no option to synchronize Google contacts. HiCloud, Outlook, Facebook messenger, Linkedin, Skype and WeChat are the only options here. Have I missed something ? Do I need an extra app to do this ? I'm wondering if this issue could be related to the Chinese ROM shipped on my phone, would you recommend to install a new ROM ? **Edit** : I have installed "Google sync contacts" by directly downloading the APK. Now i can see the Google account in the list of the synchronized accounts in the contact app. But, after having double checked that the synchronization is activated for this account and a reboot, still 0 contact from Google in the list.
bviale (111 rep)
Aug 18, 2016, 01:50 PM • Last activity: Aug 13, 2025, 06:04 AM
8 votes
3 answers
11739 views
With multiple Google accounts logged in, use only one account for Google Maps
I have several Google accounts on my phone. I want to use only *one* of those with Google Maps. I must have accidentally used another one a few times, and now I keep getting notifications about it, should I do some more reviews and whatever. I've tried time and again and never managed to come any cl...
I have several Google accounts on my phone. I want to use only *one* of those with Google Maps. I must have accidentally used another one a few times, and now I keep getting notifications about it, should I do some more reviews and whatever. I've tried time and again and never managed to come any close to disabling Maps for some specific accounts without removing the account altogether from the phone Is there a way?
Ypterite (81 rep)
Jan 4, 2019, 03:23 PM • Last activity: Aug 11, 2025, 03:51 PM
2 votes
1 answers
96 views
Sync passwords in Chrome - but not any other data
How can you set Chrome to sync passwords to Google Account - but not any other data? Chrome is designed to send full browser history to Google, for ad-tracking purposes. What's the full list of things to make sure are turned off, after signing in to Chrome with my Google Account? --- I'm setting up...
How can you set Chrome to sync passwords to Google Account - but not any other data? Chrome is designed to send full browser history to Google, for ad-tracking purposes. What's the full list of things to make sure are turned off, after signing in to Chrome with my Google Account? --- I'm setting up a new device (Pixel 9 with Android 16). It comes with Google Password Manager. Sadly, Chrome uses its own autofill code. When Chrome offers to save something in Google Password Manager, it does _not_ look the same as in any other app. => If I _don't_ sign in to Chrome, I will have two separate password managers: 1. System-level autofill with Google Password Manager - which can only save passwords in your Google Account. 2. If you don't sign in to Chrome using your Google account, then Chrome can only save passwords "on this device". I use Firefox as my web browser. But I'm used to keeping the original browser as a backup (or keeping Chrome on Linux). I need to be able to check whether a website has decided to hate Firefox, or whether it's broken for everyone. It might sound picky, but I don't want my backup browser to use a separate "on my device" section in Google Password Manager. It's too much confusion. I want to have a good setup, that I can recommend to other people.
sourcejedi (519 rep)
Jul 18, 2025, 12:02 PM • Last activity: Jul 20, 2025, 11:39 AM
-1 votes
1 answers
20272 views
Google On-device encryption Google Passwords
I recently decided to enhance my online security by changing all my passwords and activating Two-Factor authentication for most of the services I use. I updated my passwords in Google Password Manager and enabled on-device encryption. After updating my Google Account password, I was automatically lo...
I recently decided to enhance my online security by changing all my passwords and activating Two-Factor authentication for most of the services I use. I updated my passwords in Google Password Manager and enabled on-device encryption. After updating my Google Account password, I was automatically logged out of all my devices. However, when I tried to access my passwords in Google Password Manager, I received a message saying that I couldn't access my encrypted data on the device I was using. The message suggested that I should try using a device that I recently used to sign in to my Google account: > for security, you can no longer access your encrypted data on this device. try again using a device that you’ve recently used to sign in to your google account. What I have tried: 1. Checked the Web & App Activities settings on your Google Account and turned it Off and then On again. 2. Checked the cookies settings on your browser. 3. Confirmed that Sync is not paused in Google Chrome. 4. Cleared data in Google Chrome and turned Sync off, signed back in, and turned Sync on again. 5. Checked the Device Activity page on your Google Account and confirmed that Sync is On and not paused on the devices you recently signed out of. 6. Restarted my device and waited for bookmarks and passwords to load. Despite trying these steps,I still cannot access my encrypted data on the device I am using, and I am looking for further help.
SemBauke (7 rep)
Feb 24, 2023, 07:30 PM • Last activity: Jul 20, 2025, 11:25 AM
3 votes
2 answers
12697 views
Initial setup: Google Assistant isn't available for this account
Getting the following error when I try to active my new One Plus 7 Pro, [![screenshot of problem][1]][1] > **The Google Assistant isn't available for this account** > > The Google Assistant needs Activity controls that your device administrator has limited on this account. Check with your administra...
Getting the following error when I try to active my new One Plus 7 Pro, screenshot of problem > **The Google Assistant isn't available for this account** > > The Google Assistant needs Activity controls that your device administrator has limited on this account. Check with your administrator or switch accounts and try again
Evan Carroll (4661 rep)
May 21, 2019, 02:10 AM • Last activity: Jul 20, 2025, 07:52 AM
3 votes
1 answers
2584 views
How can I access my text messages in Google Messages without attaching them to a Google account?
My Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra updated today (10 December 2024). Now I can't access my text messages without choosing a Google account to attach them to. I have multiple Google accounts and I've never attached my text messages to one, nor do I want to. My accounts are aliases (as is my account here, CJ...
My Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra updated today (10 December 2024). Now I can't access my text messages without choosing a Google account to attach them to. I have multiple Google accounts and I've never attached my text messages to one, nor do I want to. My accounts are aliases (as is my account here, CJ Dennis is not my real name!) since I don't want to dox myself. The last thing I want is people being able to scrape my personal information from a Google API. How can I access my messages with Google Messages but without selecting an account? choose an account instead of reading messages
CJ Dennis (248 rep)
Dec 10, 2024, 10:46 AM • Last activity: Jul 15, 2025, 11:29 AM
0 votes
1 answers
164 views
Phone contacts list displayed without contacts from a different google acount which I added on my phone
I use my friend's google account on my Android phone (Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro) to help him sell on ebay. All his phone numbers from his contacts list now appear in my contacts list. I don't want the numbers from his list to show up,&#160;what&#160;can&#160;I&#160;do? I also want to continue using h...
I use my friend's google account on my Android phone (Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro) to help him sell on ebay. All his phone numbers from his contacts list now appear in my contacts list. I don't want the numbers from his list to show up, what can I do? I also want to continue using his account, to help him.
Arwenz (113 rep)
May 17, 2023, 04:20 PM • Last activity: Jul 13, 2025, 09:01 AM
7 votes
1 answers
1099 views
Does Google use Android mobile numbers for ad-tracking purposes? When does it ask for consent?
> ### Turn "Better ads & Google services" on or off > > This setting lets your phone number to be used across Google services to show you ads more relevant to you. If you don’t want personalized ads, turn off the setting ... > > \- [Google Account Help](https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/346...
> ### Turn "Better ads & Google services" on or off > > This setting lets your phone number to be used across Google services to show you ads more relevant to you. If you don’t want personalized ads, turn off the setting ... > > \- [Google Account Help](https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/3463280?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid&oco=1#zippy=%2Cturn-better-ads-google-services-on-or-off) Google created this phone number setting to make money. It must get turned on some other way, that doesn't involve you digging into Google settings. I want to find how this happens. When I use a computer to add a phone number to Gmail / Google account, it leaves this ad-tracking turned off. Do Android phones ask you to turn on this "Better ads" setting?
sourcejedi (519 rep)
Jul 7, 2025, 06:41 PM • Last activity: Jul 8, 2025, 12:12 PM
3 votes
0 answers
123 views
"To access your work account on this device, you'll need to set a lock screen" but I have a lock screen
I just bought a new Xiaomi 14t phone, which came with [HyperOs][1] installed and which I want to use with both my personal and work accounts. Both of these are Gmail/Google accounts. I have therefore set up Xiaomi's [second space][2] and tried to use my work email as the second space's main account....
I just bought a new Xiaomi 14t phone, which came with HyperOs installed and which I want to use with both my personal and work accounts. Both of these are Gmail/Google accounts. I have therefore set up Xiaomi's second space and tried to use my work email as the second space's main account. This isn't working, the account seems to be added but I get a notification with: > Account action required > > my.email@my.company.com Tapping the notification does nothing, but when I go to Settings -> Google -> Manage account, I get: > Something went wrong. > > Some info may be out of date. Please try again later. At some point, I managed to get to a screen that told me: > To access your work account on this device, you'll need to set a lock screen. This is your organization's mobile device policy. Sorry, I can't seem to figure out how to get back to that screen now. In any case, OK, I need a lock screen, but I have one! I have set a lock screen password on both spaces (main and "second space") so why isn't this working? Is there something else I need to do to "set a lock screen"?
terdon (283 rep)
Jun 30, 2025, 09:35 AM
17 votes
15 answers
181218 views
"Sync is currently experiencing problems. It will be back shortly." error message appears under the Sync settings
On my Samsung Galaxy S4, the "Calendar" under "Sync settings" in my Google account disappeared. Under the Google accounts at the bottom, it reads > Sync is currently experiencing problems. It will be back shortly. How do I fix it?
On my Samsung Galaxy S4, the "Calendar" under "Sync settings" in my Google account disappeared. Under the Google accounts at the bottom, it reads > Sync is currently experiencing problems. It will be back shortly. How do I fix it?
Carmel (171 rep)
Jan 18, 2015, 05:35 AM • Last activity: Jun 30, 2025, 08:59 AM
0 votes
2 answers
463 views
If I remove someone's Google account from my phone, will they know?
In my Accounts and Backup, under Manage Accounts, I have my relative's email added. - If I remove their Google account from my phone, will they know? - Do they get notified if you look through their email or do anything in their account?
In my Accounts and Backup, under Manage Accounts, I have my relative's email added. - If I remove their Google account from my phone, will they know? - Do they get notified if you look through their email or do anything in their account?
user579752 (11 rep)
Apr 2, 2025, 03:18 AM • Last activity: Jun 26, 2025, 11:25 AM
0 votes
0 answers
1077 views
Google/Android Device Backup taking up a lot of space on my Google cloud storage. How do I shrink it?
I was at 99% of my Google drive storage the other day, so I went into my Google storage and deleted an Android phone backup for an old phone stored on Google storage, that took up about 3gb, with my current phone backup taking about 3.5 GB. Fast forward a few days, I get that annoying red notice on...
I was at 99% of my Google drive storage the other day, so I went into my Google storage and deleted an Android phone backup for an old phone stored on Google storage, that took up about 3gb, with my current phone backup taking about 3.5 GB. Fast forward a few days, I get that annoying red notice on my profile again, and now I check and my phone back up is now taking up 6 GB! It seems like it will take up what ever storage it is able to? I don't want to delete my phone backups outright, but I also want a couple gigs of storage for things I need, and to get rid of that red notice. Is there a way to choose what is backed up to this category (I have photos backup turned off) or to cap the size of the backup? All I really want backed up are device preferences and text messages. I definitely don't need 6+ GB of my app data and device preferences backed up.
inund8 (101 rep)
Jan 3, 2025, 09:08 PM • Last activity: Jun 17, 2025, 09:40 PM
4 votes
1 answers
2526 views
Choose account for Google Play Store app while prevented to access the account switcher
Say, I have multiple Google accounts (A and B) on my Android 8 smartphone. I have already installed some apps from the Play Store in the past with account A, and I'd like to continue using this account. But now, somehow, when I open the Play Store app, it asks me to accept the terms of use with acco...
Say, I have multiple Google accounts (A and B) on my Android 8 smartphone. I have already installed some apps from the Play Store in the past with account A, and I'd like to continue using this account. But now, somehow, when I open the Play Store app, it asks me to accept the terms of use with account B. If I decline, the app closes, so I can't switch accounts from within the app without accepting account B, which I'd like to avoid. Am I missing something?
xehpuk (143 rep)
Feb 22, 2018, 07:29 PM • Last activity: Jun 4, 2025, 12:03 PM
1 votes
2 answers
9721 views
Can't add Google account after phone reset
I have a Leagoo Lead 3 running Android 4.4 KitKat. After factory resetting it, I'm no able to add my Google account. The error I receive is > Couldn't sign in > There was a problem communicating with Google servers. Try again later. Googling it, I find that the `hosts` file in `/system/etc` needed t...
I have a Leagoo Lead 3 running Android 4.4 KitKat. After factory resetting it, I'm no able to add my Google account. The error I receive is > Couldn't sign in > There was a problem communicating with Google servers. Try again later. Googling it, I find that the hosts file in /system/etc needed to be modified to comment out xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx android.clients.Google.com, but I don't have this line. Also, I checked HTTP traffic with Fiddler and I just have this : > "200 HTTP Tunnel to 173.194.40.142:443" with body 0 It seems to be a good Google IP. I don't know what to check now. Any help will be appreciated.
Entretoize (111 rep)
Jan 1, 2016, 05:09 PM • Last activity: May 23, 2025, 10:08 AM
3 votes
1 answers
2825 views
Does Google know my screen lock PIN/password?
1. Where does Google save my screen lock password as it asks me to verify my Google account by entering it? 2. That means Google knows my screen lock password. 3. Where can I find that password in my Google account or from Google?
1. Where does Google save my screen lock password as it asks me to verify my Google account by entering it? 2. That means Google knows my screen lock password. 3. Where can I find that password in my Google account or from Google?
Jimmi (31 rep)
Nov 11, 2022, 04:09 PM • Last activity: May 21, 2025, 02:38 PM
-1 votes
1 answers
74 views
How can I transfer my contacts from Google to SIM card?
I have been trying to copy my contacts from Google to my SIM card, but nothing happened. How can I transfer my contacts from Google to a SIM card?
I have been trying to copy my contacts from Google to my SIM card, but nothing happened. How can I transfer my contacts from Google to a SIM card?
Sement Ng&#39;onga (1 rep)
May 18, 2025, 06:35 AM • Last activity: May 19, 2025, 04:07 PM
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