Google disables devices up to Android 2.3.7 for sign-in with a Google Account

[German]Owners of older Android devices with Android versions up to 2.3.7 will soon have to say goodbye. From September 27, 2021, Google will refuse to allow these devices to sign-in to their Google accounts. This has been announced last week and has also been notified via mails sent to the device owners.


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I still own a Huawei Ideos X3 with Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), with which I can no longer sign-in to the Google Play Store. Therefore, I was surprised by the announcement a few days ago at Bleeping Computer that Google wants to change something to September 2021.

Google's announcement

Zak Pollack, Google Community Manager has already posted an announcement to this effect on the Google support pages on July 27, 2021.

Sign-in on Android devices running Android 2.3.7 or lower will not be allowed starting September 27,

As part of our ongoing efforts to keep our users safe, Google will no longer allow sign-in on Android devices that run Android 2.3.7 or lower starting September 27, 2021. If you sign into your device after September 27, you may get username or password errors when you try to use Google products and services like Gmail, YouTube, and Maps. 

If your device has the ability to update to a newer Android version (3.0+), we advise you to do so in order to maintain access to Google apps and services on that device.

Starting September 27, 2021, Android devices up to version 2.3.7 will no longer be able to log in to any Google services such as Gmail, YouTube, Maps, etc. Attempts will be rejected with a corresponding error message after entering username and password (something I already get on the Ideos X3 on Google Account when logging in). Google cites security reasons for this move and urges users of affected devices to update to Android 3.0 or higher – if offered. 

Where does the login error occur?

Once support for signing in with a Google account ends on Android 2.3.7 and below, users will receive a username or password error during the following operations:

  • When they try to sign in to your devices or add an email or calendar account.
  • If they reset the device to factory settings and try to log in.
  • If they change a password either on the device or on another device so that they have to log out everywhere – then the error message occurs when they try to log in again
  • When an account is removed from the device and then added again
  • When an account is newly created on the device

Those affected by this lock will need a device with an Android version 3.0 or higher to log in to the accounts in question. This is likely to have finally heralded the digital death of these legacy Android devices, although they can still be used for making calls.


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