Develop Bugs

Changing GMAIL account linked to market

This has been asked in a few different forums but I was hoping someone with some developing/coding knowledge may be able to help..
Is it possible to change the gmail account associated with the market on a phone WITHOUT doing a factory reset?
Hoping someone with knowledge of the OS may have a little more insight!

Looks like the 1st account you set up cannot be removed without a reset, at least from what I've tried.
Even if you add a second Gmail account, you can remove the 2nd one, but not the 1st or primary account.

I know that, I was thinking perhaps there is a file somewhere buried on the phone that contains this info that can be edited and pushed back onto the phone after you edit it, if you have root

you can not change the email w/o a factory reset.
doing that will let you change the email associated with the market/phone
(primary email account), but you will loose
all purchased market apps, there is currently no way to do that.
Google knows this is the case.....unless its changed when i checked 2 weeks ago

buenos said:
you can not change the email w/o a factory reset.
doing that will let you change the email associated with the market/phone
(primary email account), but you will loose
all purchased market apps, there is currently no way to do that.
Google knows this is the case.....unless its changed when i checked 2 weeks ago
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Like I said, I know thats the standard answer, but the gmail account has to be stored in a file somewhere on the device, I thought maybe a dev knew where it was and/or how to edit/changes it without resetting....

DroidHam said:
Like I said, I know thats the standard answer, but the gmail account has to be stored in a file somewhere on the device, I thought maybe a dev knew where it was and/or how to edit/changes it without resetting....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not necessarily. Could be stored in the cloud and linked to your device ID. Don't know for sure, but it's possible.
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App

PonsAsinorem said:
Not necessarily. Could be stored in the cloud and linked to your device ID. Don't know for sure, but it's possible.
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe, that's why I asked =)

Apps are tied to your account, not your device.
I don't believe there is a way to transfer account details between email address. This is something that would reside on google's end, not on your phone.

JCopernicus said:
Apps are tied to your account, not your device.
I don't believe there is a way to transfer account details between email address. This is something that would reside on google's end, not on your phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I dont believe this is at all what the OP was asking, he just wants to change his primary gmail account linked to his android without doing a wipe. i dont recall him asking about any "apps" other than the market itself
as far i know, this is not posible. i would recomend using an app like titanium backup to backup all your programs and then do a reset, and restore the apps.
good luck, i hope you find the answer your looking for

DroidHam said:
Is it possible to change the gmail account associated with the market on a phone WITHOUT doing a factory reset?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why do you want to do this? If we know that, we might be able to offer an alternate solution.

larsrya8 said:
Why do you want to do this? If we know that, we might be able to offer an alternate solution.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some people use more than one gmail account, if you enter the wrong one in the setup process you are stuck unless you do a factory reset. I think that's why he's asking.

Teksu said:
I dont believe this is at all what the OP was asking, he just wants to change his primary gmail account linked to his android without doing a wipe. i dont recall him asking about any "apps" other than the market itself
as far i know, this is not posible. i would recomend using an app like titanium backup to backup all your programs and then do a reset, and restore the apps.
good luck, i hope you find the answer your looking for
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Uh...what do you think the link between the market and the gmail account is for?
"his gmail account linked to his android"?
You gmail account isn't linked to any physical device.

Carnage9270 said:
Some people use more than one gmail account, if you enter the wrong one in the setup process you are stuck unless you do a factory reset. I think that's why he's asking.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you accidentally entered the wrong info during setup, just wipe and start over right away (it's not like you're going to lose anything).

larsrya8 said:
If you accidentally entered the wrong info during setup, just wipe and start over right away (it's not like you're going to lose anything).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some people don't realize this until they are into the setup a ways. It's a reasonable question, just don't think there is anyone out there that knows where that info would be. It has to be stored on the phone or a factory reset wouldn't fix it. Although i think this might be in the wrong forum

Carnage9270 said:
Some people don't realize this until they are into the setup a ways. It's a reasonable question, just don't think there is anyone out there that knows where that info would be. It has to be stored on the phone or a factory reset wouldn't fix it. Although i think this might be in the wrong forum
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Possibly, but I thought if ANYONE would know where it's stored it would be one of these devs who have gone through the whole filesystem... maybe one of them could jump in?!?

DroidHam said:
Possibly, but I thought if ANYONE would know where it's stored it would be one of these devs who have gone through the whole filesystem... maybe one of them could jump in?!?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's on the device, but probably encrypted. Why do you want to find it so badly?

JCopernicus said:
Uh...what do you think the link between the market and the gmail account is for?
"his gmail account linked to his android"?
You gmail account isn't linked to any physical device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thats odd, i seem to have issues when trying to login to one gmail account from multiple android devices. after it is synced with one device, and i add it to another, the first device will not sync...
I know any paid apps are linked to the gmail account used to purchase them. Nowhere has the OP said anything about apps, paid or otherwise. The question was simple;
Can I change my primary gmail address my phone is syncing with, and do it without doing a factory reset?
now others have for some reason been compelled to start telling the OP what he can and cant do with apps linked to the gmail account
thats like going to a mechanic and asking him what the sound your breaks are making means, and the mechanic saying "well if you drive into something your airbags are gonna go off"

Teksu said:
now others have for some reason been compelled to start telling the OP what he can and cant do with apps linked to the gmail account
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The OP won't tell us why this is so important. Backing everything up with Titanium Backup, wiping, setting up with the correct account, and then restoring would have taken less time than this thread has existed.
The only explanation I can think of is that the OP is trying to keep paid apps from the current account. There's no other reason to be going through all this hassle.
Following from this (completely reasonable) assumption, people feel compelled to inform the OP that this won't work, since the paid apps will be tied to the previous account. Google's new licensing system is going to make this even more difficult.

Teksu said:
thats odd, i seem to have issues when trying to login to one gmail account from multiple android devices. after it is synced with one device, and i add it to another, the first device will not sync...
I know any paid apps are linked to the gmail account used to purchase them. Nowhere has the OP said anything about apps, paid or otherwise. The question was simple;
Can I change my primary gmail address my phone is syncing with, and do it without doing a factory reset?
now others have for some reason been compelled to start telling the OP what he can and cant do with apps linked to the gmail account
thats like going to a mechanic and asking him what the sound your breaks are making means, and the mechanic saying "well if you drive into something your airbags are gonna go off"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is it possible to change the gmail account associated with the market on a phone WITHOUT doing a factory reset?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Market=apps

Teksu said:
thats like going to a mechanic and asking him what the sound your breaks are making means, and the mechanic saying "well if you drive into something your airbags are gonna go off"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But if you do drive into something, most times your airbags will deploy. I think the mechanic is making a valid point and merely trying to warn you.

Really?! Return phone to factory default? REALLY?! I just want to switch profiles!

Hola lads and lasses,
So I originally set my Epic up on my personal gmail account. Four months later I'd like to move over to my GApps account but in order to remove the gmail it's saying I have to return the phone to factory default. A couple questions. Really? I can't just switch and keep both? Why (or is that moot)? Next question: what's going to happen, what am I going to lose? How should I prepare (I already moved all contacts over to the GApps acct)? Anything else to consider? I have not rooted but will if I must.
Thanks!
T

I never tried but can't you add the second account and switch it to default first?
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk

My guess is to help prevent app sharing.
Me and my g/f both have android devices. We both got a different set of paid apps. I've tried logging in to her account to get her apps but experienced the same problem.
Sent From Da Hood.

Good question. How do you set a default profile? I don't see that setting anywhere.

I'm not one to be giving advice here, but I am kinda in the same boat. I have a samsung moment on cricket I bought from craigs that has the last owners gmail account on it. I cant reset the phone as from what I heard ill lose the flash. Ne way, from what I read and gathered, but have not tried yet, is to z4root, then download titanium backup, remove gmail app from phone with tb, then download the gmail app from the market. Then log in and it should re ask for an account. I'm gonna do it tommorow and I can let you know if it worked or not.

Don't know I was guessing (hoping for you) lol. Like I said never tried it but the way they word it when you try to delete the main account that's what it sound like. I came across that when I sold my moment so the reset was gonna happen any way
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk

So what's the verdict GB? Did it work? What did you lose (if anything)?

Change default account without wipe?

Is there a way to change the default google account associated with a non-rooted phone? Every time I try to remove the account it tells me that this account is required by some applications and can not be removed. I ultimately want a new account associated with Google Talk on my Samsung Epic 4G.
If there is no other way than a factory reset on a non-rooted phone, is there a easy way to root the phone without wiping my data and then do this?
Thanks for any pointers and links specific to the Epic.

peridoc said:
Is there a way to change the default google account associated with a non-rooted phone? Every time I try to remove the account it tells me that this account is required by some applications and can not be removed. I ultimately want a new account associated with Google Talk on my Samsung Epic 4G.
If there is no other way than a factory reset on a non-rooted phone, is there a easy way to root the phone without wiping my data and then do this?
Thanks for any pointers and links specific to the Epic.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try going to the settings app> accounts and sync> tap the google one then hit menu soft key and it might give you an option to remove account.
Sent from my SPH-D700

Have you tried adding the new account before removing the old one? No reason you couldn't have 2 Google accounts syncing. I do it now. Once both are going delete the one you no longer want.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk

Sometimes when I flash g-apps after upgrading to a newer build it asks me to put in my google account. Of course this is only on aosp roms
Sent from my CM9 Epic 4G

stilesja said:
Have you tried adding the new account before removing the old one? No reason you couldn't have 2 Google accounts syncing. I do it now. Once both are going delete the one you no longer want.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah....unfortunately it wont let me delete the one that was entered in first and that is the one that is associated with Google Talk. I need the second one to be associated with GTalk. I get the error when I try to delete the first one.

Did you try clearing data in gmail in settings/manage apps?
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium

xjayman said:
Did you try clearing data in gmail in settings/manage apps?
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All of the clear cache or data buttons for GMail seem to be greyed out. Nothing to click there.

Sadly I tried to find this answer once and found there is no way around the reset. However I hope someone has an answer. I don't know about any rooted solutions though.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App

I think you have to wipe the device if you want to remove the "primary" Google account.

unfortunately mate there is no way around it unless you wipe and start again. ive tried it before entered in my google account instead of spelling it as gmail and couldnt access gtalk due to conflicting user accounts on the phone as the one you enter on first start up is the main account on the phone so master reset is the only way around it.
wish there was a way around it but there isnt iv tried.

try flashing g-apps. If you are on TW backup first. I'm pretty sure this will clear out the account
Sent from my CM9 Epic 4G

I was able to do this on my HTC EVO and have it work OK.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=17035023&postcount=2

You can do it!
peridoc said:
Is there a way to change the default google account associated with a non-rooted phone? Every time I try to remove the account it tells me that this account is required by some applications and can not be removed. I ultimately want a new account associated with Google Talk on my Samsung Epic 4G.
If there is no other way than a factory reset on a non-rooted phone, is there a easy way to root the phone without wiping my data and then do this?
Thanks for any pointers and links specific to the Epic.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just use a root browser and go to /data/system and delete the "accounts.db" !!

zakirbaig said:
Just use a root browser and go to /data/system and delete the "accounts.db" !!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you read the OP, you would see that the phone is NOT ROOTED. Therefore your suggestion would be impossible.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk 2

Questions go in Q&A
Thread moved
Friendly Neighborhood Moderator

Need help to recover google account.

Hi Guys.
yesterday I helped a friend upgrade her galaxy nexus to JB, and I asked her whether she had anything important on her phone she said no.
Turns out I wiped the phone, and when i ask her to sign to her google account to bring her contacts she doesnt know her gmail!
We try to use google account recovery using her email addresses but turns out none of them were used when the new account was setup.
I did take an application backup with halaxy nexus toolkit, but it seems it's just that. apps with no google account info.
Anyone has any idea that might help me? I'd really appreaciate it.

Hire a nice hacker to hack the password, then change it. Fast.

Contact Google.

adrynalyne said:
Contact Google.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah I did, but they might take a while.
When I set her up, we didnt put any security questions or anything, so it'll be very difficult to recover through google.
I'm thinking whether somehow I can have a look at the apks or the .bak file we took, and find the username at least , in this way at least
I can tell google where to look

Normally you would have had to use a secondary email address when signing up for Gmail for password reset reasons. Is there an option for that when trying to reset password?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

Elisha said:
Normally you would have had to use a secondary email address when signing up for Gmail for password reset reasons. Is there an option for that when trying to reset password?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We had a try at the password recovery using an email address that we think it's correct (usual combination of name/birth year etc)
Once you go into the gmail password recovery page It shows you part of the email address (the domain is ok but the rest is blacked out)
I recognize the domain name being something I usually use as a fake email when I'm trying something quickly. so I'm pretty sure we got her email address right now.
Unfortunately due to the domain being fake I can't recover her password using that email address.
I remember writing her newly created email and password in a piece of paper and saying. once you get home change the password and update all your details to the correct. ( well that didn't happen :-/ )

If she's ever signed in through her PC and saved her passwords through her browser then you could recover it from the saved passwords list.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app

I hope for your own sake, that she didn't just store her contacts locally. I saw that many times, especially women usually don't bother and keep hacking their numbers in just like that, without thinking about setting up sync or contact cloud beforehand. Good luck!
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

Any chance that she has all her contacts stored on her SIM card?
If so, just create a new Google account and restore her apps...
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app

Actually, when she got the new phone, I think the way I copied all the contacts from her older phone was into the SIM, put the old SIM into the new phone and imported them.. (my memory is bad, but that kinda makes sense for coming from a dumbphone to an android)
I just asked her and she might still have the old phone and the old SIM. so maybe there is a chance there, gotta wait for her to go home and try to find it..
This will definitely teach me a lesson.
take a freaking nandroid, whatever your friends say!
PS: I reckon I'm stressing more about this than she is.. if it happened to me i'd be a royal pain in the bum.

xd4d3v said:
This will definitely teach me a lesson.
take a freaking nandroid, whatever your friends say!
PS: I reckon I'm stressing more about this than she is.. if it happened to me i'd be a royal pain in the bum.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hope it works out, man.
And I know what you mean, messing with other peoples phones is a bit more stressful than if you mess up your own.
Happened to me just recently, sweated myself thin till I figured out where to find the right baseband and give him back his reception... :banghead:
You're the one they trust, a sworn XDAer, flash-a-holic crazy phone guy. If they can't get redemption from you, how will they make it in this tech-crazed world?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app

transfer paid apps to new account

so i got an email from google today saying that someone tried to log in to my account from china. Obviously it couldnt be me, so i reported it and immediately changed my password and enabled two step verification. But still, i would rather stay on the safe side and use a completely new account. Normally i would do just that without a seconds though, but i have paid for apps with this account. so i was wondering if it would be possible to transfer those apps to a new account.

TheAtheistOtaku said:
so i got an email from google today saying that someone tried to log in to my account from china. Obviously it couldnt be me, so i reported it and immediately changed my password and enabled two step verification. But still, i would rather stay on the safe side and use a completely new account. Normally i would do just that without a seconds though, but i have paid for apps with this account. so i was wondering if it would be possible to transfer those apps to a new account.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need to email each developer for the paid apps. They will have you verify some things and get you the app on your new account.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk 2

Towle said:
You need to email each developer for the paid apps. They will have you verify some things and get you the app on your new account.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
tedious but doable, guess ill start that process in the morning