Users are advised to update to a new Android version (3.0 or later) in order to maintain access to Google apps and services on the device. — Photo by Denny Müller on Unsplash
Those with devices running on Android 2.3.7 or older may face difficulties using Google services starting Sept 27.
This comes after the company announced in a recently released support document that it will no longer allow sign-in from devices with Android 2.3.7 or older as part of an effort to keep users safe.
If users try to sign on Google products or services such as Gmail, YouTube and Maps after Sept 27, they may get username or password errors, the company said.
The tech giant added that any attempt at workarounds – such as performing a factory reset on the device to sign in, changing their Google Account password to sign out of all devices and trying to sign in again, removing and re-adding their account to the device, and even adding or creating a new Google Account – can also lead to errors.
Users are advised to update to a new Android version (3.0 or later) in order to maintain access to Google apps and services on the device.
Alternatively, users can still log into their Google accounts through a web browser such as Chrome or Firefox on the device, where some Google services may still be accessible.
Android 2.3.7 is the final version of the Gingerbread operating system which was first released in 2010. At the time, it was first made available through the Nexus S phone which brought features like enhanced keyboard, support for VoIP (voice over Internet Protocol), NFC, multiple cameras and improved copy/paste functionality.
The company released the latest version, Android 11, last year.
Users can find out what their Android version is and perform updates by opening the phone’s Settings app and looking under System > Advanced > System update, then “Android version” and “Security patch level”.
The company noted that older devices can’t always run newer Android versions. In that case, some users may need to upgrade to a new device.
