Starting in late September 2021, Android users running version 2.3.7 i.e. Gingerbread and lower will no longer be able to log in to their Google accounts.
“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,” Android Help Community Manager Zak Pollack explained.
“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.”
After Google drops support for logging into accounts devices running Android versions released before December 2010, you will start receiving username or password errors and will no longer be able to:
- Sign in to Google products and services like Gmail, YouTube, and Maps
- Add or create a new Google Account
- Perform a factory reset and try to sign in
- Change your Google Account password, which signs you out on all devices, and try to sign in again
- Remove your account from the device and try to re-add it
Users are advised to update their devices to newer Android versions (3.0 or later) as soon as possible so that they won’t lose access to Google’s apps and services.
Those who cannot update to newer Android versions can try logging into their Google accounts using a web browser which will provide them with an alternative way to use Google services on unsupported Android devices.
