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Lawrence Ng
Aug 2, 20212 min read

Old Android Devices Won't Be Able to Log In to Google Accounts Starting 27 September

Updated: Aug 21, 2021

According to an email addressed to old Android device users, Google will cut off support for Android 2.3.7 and older versions of the operating system. Beginning 27 September 2021, the tech company will phase out the following: Android 1.0, 1.1 (unnamed), 1.5 Cupcake, 1.6 Doughnut, 2.0 Eclair, 2.2 Froyo and 2.3 Gingerbread.

As reported by 9to5Google, gadgets running these older versions of Android OS will no longer be able to directly access the Gmail and YouTube apps. Google Suite apps such as Drive, Sheets, Docs and Slides will similarly be affected. After the phaseout, users can only log in to these services through browser apps.

Aside from that, Google will prevent users from adding or creating a new Google Account on these old gadgets. Users will also be blocked from carrying out a factory reset and signing in to their accounts afterwards.


People with the to-be-discontinued versions will receive error notifications if they try to set a new Google Account password, which would then sign them out on all their devices and make them unable to sign in again. Users will be prohibited from removing an account from an old Android device and re-adding it as well.

Credit: 91mobiles.com


Considering the upcoming changes, the tech company urged users to find out what version of Android their devices have by visiting its Android Help website.


There, Google recommended that users download the latest Android updates as well as sign up for news on account security and the Google Play system.


Though it is rare for Google to completely stop supporting certain devices, the company has claimed the moves were motivated by the need to protect account privacy.


A small percentage of Android users will be affected by the policy, specifically, gadget collectors, as most people would have updated the OS or changed phones between 2010, when Gingerbread was released, and now.


As for people on Android 3.0 Honeycomb or higher, they will still be able to use Google’s apps.

 

Written by Sophia Lopez

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