Andrew Heinzman
Some people take pride in using a decade-old phone, and honestly, it’s a pretty cool achievement. But it’s probably time for an upgrade. Not only do old phones present security risks, but Google plans to drop sign-in support for all devices running Android version 2.3.7 (or earlier) on September 27th.
Without Google sign-in support, you will lose access to some of Google’s best services. You will also lose the ability to factory reset your device, among other issues. Here’s a quick list of everything that will go wrong:
- App Support: You’ll lose the ability to sign in to YouTube, Maps, Gmail, or any other Google app. (You can still sign in to these services from a mobile browser.)
- Account Support: If you remove your Google account from your device, then you won’t be able to sign back in. You will also lose the ability to create new Google accounts from your device.
- Factory Reset Support: Good luck factory resetting your device—this hurdle is particularly frustrating, as it presents security risks when you try to get rid of your phone.
Keep in mind that this change only affects devices running Android version 2.3.7 or earlier (IE: phones released 8 to 11 years ago). You can check your Android version from your device settings. Google suggests updating to Android version 3.0 if possible on your device, although you should consider buying a new phone to avoid the security risks of outdated software.
Source: Bleeping Computer via Android Central
