Database Users

Inability to access google account

I went to sleep last night awaiting my first day at sixth form. My G1 was going to be there for internet browsing whilst looking for information (school intranet is very unreliable) but I woke up with a slightly different issue. An ! mark. Turns out somebody had hacked my google account overnight and changed my password. i can now no longer access any google features, including any synced things on the phone, all because of some pesky hacker (of course not aimed at the wonderful 'hackers' on here such as drizzy, twisted, cyanogen, jac etc).
However, I only have one email address so I did not provide an alternate, and to reset my password requires me to know the date i started using my account, which I haven't got a clue. Does anybody know what I can do in this position? Thanks a lot
Tucka

tucka20 said:
I went to sleep last night awaiting my first day at sixth form. My G1 was going to be there for internet browsing whilst looking for information (school intranet is very unreliable) but I woke up with a slightly different issue. An ! mark. Turns out somebody had hacked my google account overnight and changed my password. i can now no longer access any google features, including any synced things on the phone, all because of some pesky hacker (of course not aimed at the wonderful 'hackers' on here such as drizzy, twisted, cyanogen, jac etc).
However, I only have one email address so I did not provide an alternate, and to reset my password requires me to know the date i started using my account, which I haven't got a clue. Does anybody know what I can do in this position? Thanks a lot
Tucka
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can wipe your phone and create a new account. Then in the mean time just email google and see what they can do for you.

yep, thats an option. however I have purchased numerous apps (copilot being the most expensive) that are linked to the account and that I will lose.
Also, I emailed them and they said I didn't provide enough information on my account to get it back. How the hell am I supposed to know the dates I started using 1. the account 2. youtube 3. Google calendar?
Why not just provide me with a security question?

tucka20 said:
Why not just provide me with a security question?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm wondering if you are interacting with a real Google password recovery page. From my account page the only password recovery options are:
- Secondary email (optional)
- SMS (optional)
- Security question
At no point does it ever indicate it would recover my password using something as arcane as the date I first started using Google services. By the way, I highly recommend the "Write my own question" option for the security question. Choose a question that describes a very particular characteristic of one of your heirloom or keepsake possessions.

https://www.google.com/support/accounts/bin/request.py?ara=1&hl=en&contact_type=ara&ctx=ara
Besides a secondary email account (which i don't have) it is not possible for me to do this! I am really pi*sed off with google at the minute, and am considering selling the G1 because of this. I am an ebay seller with items currently on and use my gmail address with confidence for that account, and unfortunately I can now no longer send/ receive emails to customers. THANKS A LOT GOOGLE

tucka20 said:
https://www.google.com/support/accounts/bin/request.py?ara=1&hl=en&contact_type=ara&ctx=ara
Besides a secondary email account (which i don't have) it is not possible for me to do this! I am really pi*sed off with google at the minute, and am considering selling the G1 because of this. I am an ebay seller with items currently on and use my gmail address with confidence for that account, and unfortunately I can now no longer send/ receive emails to customers. THANKS A LOT GOOGLE
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any reason why you couldn't recover using the regular account recovery screen? It should use your security question.
I'm not sure why you're angry at Google, when your own computing practices are what probably caused your account to be exploited (probably weak password or trojan installed a keylogger)? Regardless, Google is just practicing normal due diligence for account recovery. Account recovery has to use information that only you know (and which you possibly might not even know yourself).
If you're concerned about your eBay sales, go into your eBay preferences and change your registered email.

I dont have another email address, and have no intention of creating a new one! My password is a mixture of numbers and letters (UPPER and lower case) and I have a separate laptop that handles ebay sales so the only thing that the laptop accesses is ebay website/paypal/gmail and its running linux.
The only other time i use my gmail account is on my g1.
The reason I am angry is because this is the only company I have ever seen with security measures this tight! Even when a friend lost his paypal password it was a simple DOB/ security question thing.
I go to recover password, and it asks for my email address. I then type it, and it tells me I don't have a secondary address to receive my security question and to fill in the form posted above. That is all I get, no security question!

tucka20 said:
I dont have another email address, and have no intention of creating a new one! My password is a mixture of numbers and letters (UPPER and lower case) and I have a separate laptop that handles ebay sales so the only thing that the laptop accesses is ebay website/paypal/gmail and its running linux.
The only other time i use my gmail account is on my g1.
The reason I am angry is because this is the only company I have ever seen with security measures this tight! Even when a friend lost his paypal password it was a simple DOB/ security question thing.
I go to recover password, and it asks for my email address. I then type it, and it tells me I don't have a secondary address to receive my security question and to fill in the form posted above. That is all I get, no security question!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Looks like your stuck getting another email address and trying to work up the Cust. Serv. chain at google...

tucka20 said:
I dont have another email address, and have no intention of creating a new one! My password is a mixture of numbers and letters (UPPER and lower case) and I have a separate laptop that handles ebay sales so the only thing that the laptop accesses is ebay website/paypal/gmail and its running linux.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That does sound like a pretty secure setup.
Well I guess the best you can do is just try filling out that password recovery form. It doesn't appear that dates for the times you first started using specific Google services is necessary. Worst case scenario you could just guess. Since you already don't have any access now, I reckon you have nothing to lose. Good luck!

Do you keep your contact list on your phone or on google?

My phone's bugging out again for some reason today and I'm pretty sure I have to wipe it when I get home, currently I backup all my contacts to my outlook account on my computer at home.
My question, Is it better to use Google as the main storage for my contacts instead of resyncing each time I wipe my phone?

I use google. Main reason is because I use all of the services...like calendar, voice, gmail, and so on. Just easier for me.

Google. One of the best features for me was the integration of Google's address book, my Gmail had more complete contact information than even my last cell phone.

Google because after all it is a Google phone....

Google for sure. SO easy to flash a new ROM. All the app data is back, perfect and pristine; no worries about Outlook formatting things incorrectly, or things getting 'out of sync' when you update things online and/or on your phone.

I wipe WAY too much to leave it on the phone.. so Google it is for me..

Yup, google here. Makes things soo easy.

i use google because its very easy to restore my contacts after a wipe

Google for me as well. Remember you can chose to Sync only the groups you want sync'd. It requires some organizing in google to get your contacts into groups but is well worth the effort. This way you can leave out contacts you don't want on your phone, but can access via google should you really need to.

tyrnight said:
I wipe WAY too much to leave it on the phone.. so Google it is for me..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 on this i learned the hard wat to sync to google (first time i flased i messed up and cleared all my contacts) been google ever since

I used to keep them on my Exchange server at work then switched to using Google.

Googleeee.

Google it is.

I really can't believe that any one wouldn't keep them in Googles cloud.

I also used Google for everything. With Gmail push, battery life is even better. Before I used to use stock mail and my battery loose drain faster than using gmail now. It was all trial and error to see what fix your need.

So I an not sure if I am doing something wrong but I can not get gmail to sync my contacts. It does not pull numbers from my phone. It will only add my email addresses from my gmail. Does anyone have any ideas why? Thanks

Google all the way.

Yes. To both. Also, on all of my home computers and MobileMe. Everything has the full contact list always in sync.

Definitely Google. I also export from Google to a csv file every now and then just to be on the safe side, which then gets stored in my Dropbox account.
My wife was quite impressed the night we got our Heros and I had both of our (lengthy) contact lists loaded onto our phones before we even got out of the parking lot.

I save them on google. Coz I am afriaid of losing my phone.

[Q] Outlook <-> Android sync without gmail account

Hi everyone,
I just bought new Motorola Defy and was quite excited about the phone. Finally a smartphone that can survive a little bit rough handling. It has quite good HW and for a reasonable price. There was nothing to think about; I just had to have it! Device of my dreams!
Now the dream is turning into a little nightmare. It seems like I can only use my phone if I let it send every piece of information straight to google (and Motorola). Have you read those thousand lines long agreements telling you, that you must obey this and that while they are responsible for nothing? Did you too think: “What the hell, do I no longer have any rights?” Never mind I tried my very best to avoid this. I created a dummy gmail account (to be able to use android market), disabled as many background data as possible and did my best to have everything under control.
And now the crucial part of my story: I desperately need to use my calendar. I have everything there. I need to sync my work calendar with my mobile and when I’m out of office, I need to be able to plan anyway and then sync it all back. We MUST use Microsoft Outlook. And the most important part (which many may try to discuss about, but there is really nothing to discuss as it is just a fact): everything MUST stay just in my phone, no kind help of google storing my data who knows where.
It was quite difficult to find a free program that would be able to sync my data just from Outlook to Android and back without google. Finally I found two which seemed to be OK: MyPhoneExplorer and Android-Sync. Life was great once again! So I created a test Outlook calendar at home, filled it with some events and tried to sync it with Defy. It was working! Splendid! When I went to Calendar -> More -> My calendars, there was a calendar named “Default”. OK.
As the calendar options were bit less than I expected from it I downloaded from android market application “Calendar Snooze”. Everything was as I was used from Windows Mobile 6.1 and as I needed it to be. I was prepared to sync my real work calendar.
The horror! While playing with my new mobile exploring even more settings and abilities I saw it. Suddenly my calendar was named as my dummy google account. What? Why? What if it sent all information to google despite all my efforts? IT REALLY DID! Though I tried so hard, it was all there and I wasn’t even asked whether I want it!!! I was furious! Unbelievable! Such arrogance! I was only thanking God for my paranoia and using test calendar. You can never be paranoid enough with google obviously!
I deleted all information from google calendar, reset mobile to factory default and started to try again. No google account this time. Knowing which applications I wanted I downloaded them from every possible website except android market (thanks God for such websites!). Then I wanted to sync my calendar once more, but hidden from google’s all-seeing eye. “Surprise, surprise,” said Mr. google. It was impossible! My beloved phone kept telling me: “You must synchronize a calendar before creating a new event. You can set up a calendar using google Mail or a Corporate Sync account.” WHAT???! So I created an fake e-mail account. No, it had to be an exchange or google account! I cannot use exchange. Security policy denies that. (Again, I saw many desperate people searching for solution of same problem as I have and many wise guys saying: “Go to your IT specialists and tell them to allow that.” (or something like that) NO, it’s nonsense! They know why it’s so and no company will change their security policy, just because of one employee trying to sync his mobile. So, please no such suggestions (even well meant), it doesn’t help. Just take it as a fact, please, as I have to.)
I also tried to set google account and then cancel sync settings (an advice I saw somewhere). After creating google account I went to Settings -> Accounts -> selecting google account and there are options: “Sync Calendar”, “Sync Contacts” and “Sync gmail”. None of them can be disabled. And once created it is impossible to remove google account from my phone (except from resetting it)!!!
So here I am and I don’t know what else I can do to sync my Outlook calendar with Android’s calendar, without being scared I’ll find sensitive data in google’s greedy hands. Can anyone help me, please?
If I may humbly ask: please no questions like: “Why did you buy android phone if you don’t want to use all google applications?” I can imagine that it may be a great advantage for many of you, but I think it should be a choice, not a must. What’s more my e-book reader, music player, camera, internet browser, games, photo gallery, SMS, QuickOffice and much more works perfect even without google. (Let’s hope it will not change, but who knows if people don’t treasure their privacy and freedom… ). Also if there was same hardware with Windows Mobile I would buy it after this frustrating experience.
I’m sorry for this loooooooooooooooooooong reading, but maybe this will prevent some people from “attacking” me, just because I don’t have the same needs and preferences and opinions as them. This thread may even be much more brief and helpful without it.
Also I’m sorry if I sound offensive, it’s meant to be defensive after what I saw at many forums.
I’ll be very grateful for any constructive advice or solution. I wish you all a nice day!

www.syncdroid.net

Hello 999phonebug!
Thank you for your tip. When I was looking for the software to use for syncing, I used website you recommended. Based on information there I’ve chosen Android-Sync and MyPhoneExplorer. They really should sync my data without sending it to google. But there’s a problem: if I don’t provide information about my google account, calendar doesn't let me to create any event. When I connect phone to computer and run MyPhoneExplorer it doesn’t sync nothing. When I run Android-Sync it says: “Warning: Default calendar not found on this Android device. Please fix this issue to enable the calendar sync function.” I could just provide gmail info and create google account and it would all work fine, but then (once connected to network) it would sync with google again. Creating account, synchronizing and then deleting account in my phone is not an option too as phone won’t let me delete that account. Is there any solution for that? Something I cannot see? Thanks in advance for any advice!

You can disable calendar sync by going into the account details. That should do.
Or if you've rooted, you can altogether delete the calendar sync adapter from /system/app

I have tried to disable synchronization by changing account settings. I went to Settings -> Accounts -> selecting google account and there are options: “Sync Calendar”, “Sync Contacts” and “Sync gmail”. None of them can be disabled. Rooting the mobile is the last option for me, because I have it only 5 days now and I don’t know much about such things. Also I don’t want to lose warranty (I guess the process is irreversible, right?). But it’s good to know there’s any way how to solve this situation. If there’s nothing else, I’ll have to choose whether to loose warranty or life without being able to sync my calendar. Tough choice… Do you know whether my problem could be solved by official Android 2.2, which should be released very soon? I'm very grateful to you for trying to help me...

google-the_big_brother said:
I have tried to disable synchronization by changing account settings. I went to Settings -> Accounts -> selecting google account and there are options: “Sync Calendar”, “Sync Contacts” and “Sync gmail”. None of them can be disabled.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's odd, I can deselect "Sync Calendar" in my account settings page

Im going to respond to this thread seriously in the hope that it isnt a wind up, because thats how it reads
maybe im missing something but the only way to wirelessly sync a calendar to your phone is to have your calendar on a server such as exchange, yahoo, google etc.
there are some apps you can pay for which will sync with any calendar but I have looked into them. they are available in the market, but seeing as you dont like this it may be an issue
Sorry, I know im going to sound like a pigheaded troll which I always try to avoid being but in your own words...
"Why did you buy android phone if you don’t want to use all google applications?"
Its a google phone, its made by google and its based around their services. Why not get a windows 7 phone and its likely your problems are solved, even my old nokia n95 would sync with outlook without a google account. You could even try HP (palm), blackberry or good old symbian. Its like youve got a deep hatred for google and then for some unknown reason gone and bought the ONLY phone operating system made by them as part of some sadistic way of trying to make your own life difficult.....
honestly I would consider selling, yes its a tough little phone but there are cases to toughen the weaker ones.

I use MyPhoneExplorer to sync over USB, it works well. The phone will not auto sync with the Google calender unless you go into the 'MyCalenders' option and then it will start syncing.

Hi everyone and thanks for replies...
Stunno, according to what you say, it seems, that this could be ROM dependent problem. Info about my phone:
System version: Blur_version.2.51.1.MB525.Retail.en.DE
Firmware version: 2.1-update1
Basdeband version EPU93ST2_U_03.0A.01
Kernel version: 2.6.29
Build number: JRDNEM_U3_2.51.1
Maybe updating to official Android 2.2 (once released) would solve the problem. (?)
Diggedy, I don't need to find an application for syncing. Adnroid-Sync and MyPhoneExplorer seem to be OK. But the problem is that calendar won't let me work unless I create an account. It cannot be exchange and when it's google, it sends all my events to google calendar which I don't want it to. And as for the google Android phone: This is the only phone that has everything I need from it. You are right about protective cases, but if I can have mobile (smartphone to be correct) which is so well made so it can defy D) dust and water, I prefer such phone. And except this google issue, there is absolutely nothing I could charge the phone with. And the last reason: I don't want to give up so easily, especially now when it seems this problem can be solved. Anyway, thanks for your reply and for being nice to me even though our opinions differ.
SimboXXX, my phone tries to sync as soon as I connect to wi-fi (Edge and others are disabled). It's strange how same model can act differently. Maybe it again depends on ROM version etc.

Don't know about an upgrade, your phone is a newer version than mine, I'm only on firmware 2.21 on a sim free UK phone, completely stock.
Sent from my MB525 using Tapatalk

stunno said:
Don't know about an upgrade, your phone is a newer version than mine, I'm only on firmware 2.21 on a sim free UK phone, completely stock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm afraid I don't understand you. My firmware is 2.1-update1, yours is 2.21 so your phone is a newer version, right? But never mind, I guess I found something useful there: supportforums.motorola.com/thread/43287. I'm gonna try that...

would this be useful
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.dreamstep.wYahoo_Calendar&feature=search_result
you can sync outlook to almost anything so that side of it wouldnt be an issue
or try
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.companionlink.clusbsync&feature=search_result
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.vecal.vcorganizer&feature=search_result

Here is my recent progress: I obeyed the advice from website mentioned at my previous post. You can find there: “Put the "Power control" widget (in Downloaded Widgets) on the screen and it has a button to en/disable sync. Enabling sync in the widget brings the check boxes back.” So I enabled sync in the widget and than went to Settings -> Accounts -> selecting google account and there were options: “Sync Calendar”, “Sync Contacts” and “Sync gmail” each with checkbox to enable or disable! Hurray!!!
Then I unchecked all those checkboxes to make sure nothing is going to by synchronized and started testing. I created some events in my calendar. Then I disabled and enabled sync button at the Power control widget. It didn't affect the account settings, all checkboxes remained unchecked. I also restarted phone and turned wi-fi on. Then I checked google calendar, and no events were there.
Then I installed calendar snooze to extend calendar functions. I enabled and disabled sync button few times at the Power widget and turned wi-fi on and off few times. And all my events appeared in the google calendar! So I suspect application “calendar snooze” for being responsible for the background sync... Unfortunately I cannot be sure. Checkboxes for “Sync Calendar”, “Sync Contacts” and “Sync gmail” at the google account settings remain unchecked. When I saw all my events synchronized I changed some at my phone and again started enabling and disabling sync button (at the Power widget) and wi-fi and the phone itself too. But no change as for those events at my google calendar (meens no synchronization took place so far). I guess I'll have to test it all again.
However at least I know about the magical sync button at the Power widget.

out of curiosity, why do you not trust google with your calendar information?

It’s not just about me not trusting google. I have company sensitive data in my calendar. No company will entrust its data to any third party.
Anyway, even if I didn’t have such data in my calendar, I would follow my golden rule which is: “Minimize your electronic foot-print!” If I don’t need that information uploaded on the web, why would I let google have it? My privacy means very much to me. That’s the reason why I never yielded to facebook, twitter and other madness, willingly spreading tons of information about myself and why at the great days of cloud computing I’ll have all my data stored and encrypted on my hdd. I’m sure I sound extremely paranoid to many people, but such paranoia never cost me anything, it can only pay.
Even though I’m not so naïve to think I can protect my privacy from everyone and every company. My mobile operator and even google knows abou me more, than I like. Isn’t that scary???

From the man who has tried it all. Here we go
You can most definately disable Google sync (calendar, contacts, email) in accounts. No need for rooting. If this is not available to you then I guess something is wrong.
I do NOT use Motoblur as I do not want my personal information on the internet.
I do use google sync for calendar, email and contacts as follows:
Calendar - full sync as this is my personal calendar and the information here isnt something that I need to keep secure
eMail - same as above
Contacts: for each contact type Android will create an identity - e.g. google contact (and that will be PER google account you have - you can multiple google accounts and for each account you can chose what you want to sync from settings > accounts
I chose to sync my google contacts for my main google account as this basically holds only people's email addresses. In addition to this android will also create a Liteadress book category. When adding a contact in google (online via internet) it automaticlaly syncs to android if sync is enabled in settings > accounts. If you creat an account ON the android phone itself you chose which of the android accounts category that entry should go in (you can chose for it to go to just Liteaddress book or one of the google accounts or all google accounts or liteadrress book and google accounts). If you chose for it to go ONLY in liteaddressbook then it will NOT sync to google even if you have contacts sync on in settings > accounts. Example as follows:
Google account 1
google account 2
Liteaddress book
In settings > accounts I have contact sync enabled for google 1, calendar sync enabled for google 1, mail sync enabled for google 1 and 2. In contacts, settings I chose that contacts are added to liteaddress book and google account 2
I create create a mail on android and send it - it will be syncd to which ever account i send it from
1 create a calendar entry on android - it will be syncd if i create it google 1
I create a contact entry on android - it will by linked to two caregories namely; Lite address book (this will stay on the phone) and google 2. Since google 2 is set NOT to sync contacts it will not send this contact to the internet.
I create a contact entry on android but this time tell the phone to create it in Lite address book and google account 1 - the information will be sent to google account 1 on the internet
I create an entry on adroid but tell it to creat it in liteaddress book - it will stay on the phone
end of example
For outlook sync I use a product called touchdown - the best you can buy and ive tried a few. this however requires to sync via exchange which I beleive you dont want to do. However, since your reason for not using exchange is because your company says the information must stay on the phone (unless im mistaken) then you need not worry. Touchdown works independently of Android sync. Everything you sync via touchdown will stay on the phone - its a completely independent applicaiton and VERY use to use and extremely flexible. You DO have the option to copy (auto or manuall) your contacts, downloaded from exchange via touchdown) to your phone. These contacts will be in a seprate cateogry and as such will not sync to google.
Does the above solve your problem or are you looking to sync ONLY to outlook without using Exchange? there is an option for that too which I can go in to but since above post is long enough already I wont bother with it unless you specifically ask.
NOTE: just to clarify, it IS possible to keep all your info on your phone - just a matter of working the best way to achieve this. You WONT need to root your phone for this.

Hi jean001luc, thanks for your reply.
I’m not looking for an application for Outlook <-> Android synchronization. I found MyPhoneExplorer and Android-Sync and they both seem to be OK. However, that application touchdown seems to be very good and completely separate calendar is what I would need. Unfortunately I cannot synchronize directly with Exchange (I think it’s because all protocols except for the one needed for Outlook <-> Exchange communication are blocked) and even if I could I’m not allowed to use non-freeware program. So even if I bought touchdown, I wouldn’t be allowed to use it (again company policy which I cannot change).
But what I definitely need to know is how did all my calendar events uploaded on the internet to my google calendar despite my tries to block this action. I unchecked all checkboxes at my google account settings (checkboxes for “Sync Calendar”, “Sync Contacts” and “Sync gmail”) and it has copied anyway. But only once. Since then no changes were synchronized… It’s very odd and it makes me angry because obviously I don’t have it under control even though I try so hard.

google-the_big_brother said:
Hi jean001luc, thanks for your reply.
I’m not looking for an application for Outlook <-> Android synchronization. I found MyPhoneExplorer and Android-Sync and they both seem to be OK. However, that application touchdown seems to be very good and completely separate calendar is what I would need. Unfortunately I cannot synchronize directly with Exchange (I think it’s because all protocols except for the one needed for Outlook <-> Exchange communication are blocked) and even if I could I’m not allowed to use non-freeware program. So even if I bought touchdown, I wouldn’t be allowed to use it (again company policy which I cannot change).
But what I definitely need to know is how did all my calendar events uploaded on the internet to my google calendar despite my tries to block this action. I unchecked all checkboxes at my google account settings (checkboxes for “Sync Calendar”, “Sync Contacts” and “Sync gmail”) and it has copied anyway. But only once. Since then no changes were synchronized… It’s very odd and it makes me angry because obviously I don’t have it under control even though I try so hard.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Depends when you stopped the sync. It's possible that you synchronised your calendar wth outlook and then terminated the sync option for google?
OR, you created the google account after the outlook sync? When the google account is created the default option is to sync everything and this sync can take place fairly quickly. So, is it possible that sync took place before you had the option to disable google sync. I cant see any other way calendar would have synchronised.
Going forward though you can test by editing your calendar to make sure it doesnt sync by creating entried on the phone (after unchcking the sync option in settings > accounts).
Not sure how Android sync works but there are syns applications which RELY on google sync - e.g. when you do your outlook sync it will send the data to google and then the phone downloads it from google to complete the sync. If Android sync uses that then it explains why your data is on google.
Quite suprised your company doesnt allow paid application to be used. Its normally the other way round - most corporates do not allow free apps as they have limited support and possibly full of bugs.
You could always try Missing Sync to sync with Outlook, although I have had problems with synchronisning contacts with this software as it wont sync contacts that are created or edited on the android...this is a known problem with product but the company isnt doing anything to fix it...ive supplied them with all the information they need but they are too busy doingn other things - even though they acknowledge there is a problem.
As an aside, are you aware you can chose to display different google calendars within the calendar app on android? this way you can have multiple calendars but only display/sync the one you want - sync of course wont take place for a specific calendar unless settings > account sync is enabled

Well the thing is I first filled all information to connect my phone to my google account (in my phone), immediately after that disabled all three checkboxes for synchronization, then created some fake events in my phone calendar, did some turning on and off (wi-fi, sync button on the Power widget and even the phone). Meanwhile I was checking internet google calendar if synchronization took place. Negative. Then I installed calendar snooze, did some turning on and off few times and it was all there! But since then no changes done in my mobile synced to my google calendar. But in whole process I never synced my phone with Outlook, I was just using phone calendar and did all changes there… I’ll have to do all this once again and check whether sync didn’t take place just after installing calendar snooze.
jean001luc said:
As an aside, are you aware you can chose to display different google calendars within the calendar app on android? this way you can have multiple calendars but only display/sync the one you want - sync of course wont take place for a specific calendar unless settings > account sync is enabled
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess you mean more calendars created in one google account, right? So I could create one more calendar in my google account, leave it empty and then display it in my android calendar app and if something would try to sync it would be this empty calendar. Then when I would like to see my real calendar or sync it with outlook I would just unchecked that fake one and checked the real one. Did I get your point? But it seems quite too complicated and fiddly.

I've only skipped through your thread & much of what's mentioned I've never used so don't fully understand it but if you still get the problem where the google calendar is still syncing even though the sync checkbox is disabled you can disable wifi/data access for the google calendar sync by using Droidwall BUT you would need to be rooted for that. Without going through the thread again I can't remember if you didn't want to root the phone.
*edit - having re-read a couple of your posts I'm not sure if my post is what you are after.

[Q] Using a Nexus 4 without sending every private piece of info to Google

I got my N4 a couple of days ago. It's my first foray in the Android world.
The requirements that I am hoping to meet are pretty simple:
1) I want to be able to call contacts and send text messages
2) I don't want Google tracking my contact list
3) I don't want Google tracking my location
4) I don't want Google tracking my browsing history
5) I want to be able to use the Play store to download 3rd party apps. I didn't buy an N4 to use it it like a dumbphone. Logically, the Play store shouldn't require constant access to my contacts, location or browsing history.
I am making this post to get help meeting the above requirements. Despite seeming really basic, I'm running into trouble, and I think I will need frequent help. This thread can act as a journal that hopefully other people can follow.
What I did so far is immediately flashed the N4 to AOKP, and applied the OpenPDroid patches (though I've yet to use OPD). From a blank slate start, I declined to create an account, disabled location access, etc, during the startup wizard.
Adding a contact round 1
I was able to create a local, unsynced contact.
Using the Play store
I was forced to sign up for a gmail account, which is normal. I declined to "keep this phone backed up with my Google Account". I then went in Settings > Account and disabled sync for everything, including Contacts. I also disabled background sync in the power controls.
Adding a contact round 2
I am now unable to add a contact without being forced to sync it with my BS gmail account. When I click "Add Contact" in the phone app, a dialog says "Your contact will be synced with [email protected]" and my choices are either "OK", "Add other account", or to cancel out by clicking Back.
So I'm already stuck. Once a Play account is created, I am now unable to do something as basic as adding a contact without sending it to Google. Can someone tell me how to get past this obstacle?

That's how Google makes their money! Your only options are to either start using the amazon app store only or side loading apps if you don't want Google involvement. Good luck.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium

Why? Like they don't have all your information already? You freely give your information to everyone when you use the internet. Congratulations. You are not that special.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app

Eurotrash: always in this sort of discussions there's people like you who essentially advocate shutting up and taking it. "That's how things are" is not an acceptable solution to my problem, or I would not have made this post. There IS a way around the creeping, and someone knows it. My last resort is blocking every Google service from accessing the Internet except Play. I'm asking here because I'm hoping there's a less extreme solution that other people can use.
Gotzadroid: I will hold out for a better solution. Amazon appstore will likely be limited. Sideloading is not possible because many devs don't provide APKs

I know you can get an app to block individual permissions of other apps: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.stericson.permissions
It requires root. Not sure about the contacts and other stuff you wanted to block, im assuming you've disabled location services.

Why not try flashing like cm10 and not flashing gapps so no Google apps? Then just manually downloading the apps apks and sideload the ones you need?
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

Didn't think my post lacked clarity, so hopefully this will be clearer:
My ONLY problem right now (we'll leave the rest for later) is that the Phone app, an essential app if I want to use my phone for making calls, an app that isn't even part of Gapps, doesn't let me add a local contact without sharing it with Google. That's it. Forget everything else in my post.
So my simple question is, how do I add my friend Bob to my contact list, locally in phone memory or on the SIM card or whatever, without telling Google I'm friends with Bob and giving them his phone number?

MachinTrucChose said:
Didn't think my post lacked clarity, so hopefully this will be clearer:
My ONLY problem right now (we'll leave the rest for later) is that the Phone app, an essential app if I want to use my phone for making calls, an app that isn't even part of Gapps, doesn't let me add a local contact without sharing it with Google. That's it. Forget everything else in my post.
So my simple question is, how do I add my friend Bob to my contact list, locally in phone memory or on the SIM card or whatever, without telling Google I'm friends with Bob and giving them his phone number?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As previously mentioned, try flashing a rom without gapps

OK, try this. Make a dummy gmail account for the play store only. Get all the apps you want and then sign out of gmail. Only sign back in when you want another app. That should keep Google from syncing all your info.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium

Michealtbh said:
As previously mentioned, try flashing a rom without gapps
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Phone app is not a part of gapps. It came on the stock ROM before I flashed gapps on it. I didn't try it before adding gapps, are you saying it will change behavior and no longer prompt me to sync when I try to add a contact?
I gotta go to sleep, I'll do more tests tomorrow evening to test this (and wait for your reply to the above question in case you misread my posts).
If the answer to the above question is yes, this would immediately beg another question: how do I install 3rd party apps from Play without flashing gapps?

gotzaDroid said:
OK, try this. Make a dummy gmail account for the play store only. Get all the apps you want and then sign out of gmail. Only sign back in when you want another app. That should keep Google from syncing all your info.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what I did in the OP (2nd bolded step). I created a dummy account cause Play requires it. That became my main Google account on this phone (since I declined to set up an account prior to that). That's the account Google tries to sync my contacts to when I try to add a contact.
I looked in the Gmail app, there's no way for me to sign out. All I can do is add more accounts.

A similar thread from the galaxy nexus forums: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1589367
However, I'd also be interested in a deeper insight on why you're trying to do this. Fear of the big brother? Or just proving a point?
We know before buying an android phone that everything is tied to that Gmail address; now you want to cut that tie but maintain full functionality. Well, that probably doesn't work. And if it at the end does, why going through all that trouble? If a different platform offers all that then..

Why you bought an android phone in the first place? Just curious
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

You can try downloading or side loading the app "contacts+" then sign out of your dummy gmail account. You can get a sim to USB hub online and plug your sim into the hub and into PC to add contacts directly to sim. I don't know if there's a way to export contacts to sim anymore unless I'm guessing developers somehow add that feature. So look into CM or another well built ROM and ask some questions.
Good luck
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda premium

MachinTrucChose said:
The Phone app is not a part of gapps. It came on the stock ROM before I flashed gapps on it. I didn't try it before adding gapps, are you saying it will change behavior and no longer prompt me to sync when I try to add a contact?
I gotta go to sleep, I'll do more tests tomorrow evening to test this (and wait for your reply to the above question in case you misread my posts).
If the answer to the above question is yes, this would immediately beg another question: how do I install 3rd party apps from Play without flashing gapps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Stock rom comes with gapps already loaded.
Most custom roms come without them and they must be flashed separately. If you choose not to flash them you aren't even given an option to sign into your Google account at first boot, so there will obviously be no option to sync your contacts.
Your phone will be crippled and you'll have to find workarounds for many things. I don't think you'll be able to use Maps for example. To install apps you'll have to download and install the apks or use an alternative app market like SlideMe or Amazon

What's there to hide? They're just contacts
Sent from my Nexus 4

Google doesn't care what your Aunt Bertie's phone number is. All they use the data for is to customize ads for you, and if you're going to be seeing ads anyways they might as well be relevant to you.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app

It's disappointing that the thread is taking the direction of Google advocacy rather than finding a technical solution to my problem, hopefully this post answers your questions and we can stop arguing about this.
Drakkula4 said:
You can try downloading or side loading the app "contacts+" then sign out of your dummy gmail account.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do I sign out of my dummy gmail account?
Vangelis13 said:
A similar thread from the galaxy nexus forums: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1589367
However, I'd also be interested in a deeper insight on why you're trying to do this. Fear of the big brother? Or just proving a point?
We know before buying an android phone that everything is tied to that Gmail address; now you want to cut that tie but maintain full functionality. Well, that probably doesn't work. And if it at the end does, why going through all that trouble? If a different platform offers all that then..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, not full functionality. I can avoid using all gapps. The only required Google service is the Play store, which is the primary gateway to non-Google apps. I would use Email over Gmail, Navfree over Maps, etc.
The next paragraph is meant as a reply to the 5 posts essentially saying "tinfoil hat, trust Google!".
This is supposed to be an open phone, allowing the user to do what they want, compared to the big bad iOS. That's why I bought it. Now I find out Google is insisting on taking something extremely private (my social graph) even when I don't want to give it to them. I respect my friends' privacy, and I don't want an intersection of my online and offline lives being made by some 3rd party with intentions I don't trust. The insistence is starting to creep me out. You can provide convenience and still respect basic privacy, look at Mozilla with Firefox Sync: even they don't see the data you sync. I'm not even asking for that much, just respect my wish to draw the line at real-life stuff. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, this is the company banning people using pseudonyms on Google+.
The most disappointing thing in all this, is that you have 5000 custom ROMs being developed, which mainly differ in pointless GUI BS like scroll animation speed. Not a single one of those projects thought to provide a way to make the phone usable without giving up extremely private data. AFAIK only 3 guys are working on privacy stuff, and even those guys' patches and apps don't protect you from the Eye of Google.
chrisrozon said:
Google doesn't care what your Aunt Bertie's phone number is. All they use the data for is to customize ads for you, and if you're going to be seeing ads anyways they might as well be relevant to you.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What if I don't want tailored ads? Or what if I only want tailored ads by tracking the online activity I'm willing to submit to them, and I feel it should be my my right to draw a line? Many people are not comfortable seeing an intersection of online and real life activity. I am one of those people.

MachinTrucChose said:
Didn't think my post lacked clarity, so hopefully this will be clearer:
My ONLY problem right now (we'll leave the rest for later) is that the Phone app, an essential app if I want to use my phone for making calls, an app that isn't even part of Gapps, doesn't let me add a local contact without sharing it with Google. That's it. Forget everything else in my post.
So my simple question is, how do I add my friend Bob to my contact list, locally in phone memory or on the SIM card or whatever, without telling Google I'm friends with Bob and giving them his phone number?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Simple question deserves simple answer, only thing I can think of, go to settings > accounts > google > tap your account email address > and uncheck the things you don't want synced with google.
Hopefully it works and you will just have a local copy of everything then.

Again just flash like cyanogen mod since you have to flash gapps separate. Then don't flash gapps and your phone will have nothing to do with google.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

Contacts Deleted from Google Play Service?

Greetings,
I just checked my Contacts Trash 'folder' and was shocked to see contacts that I never deleted, which were "scheduled" to be permanently deleted in 2 days. They all had this remark:
"Deleted from Google Play services on May 2,, 2020. 2 days until it's deleted forever". There is an option to restore them.
Does Google Play Services search for "unused", or "not frequently used" contacts behind the scenes and decides to delete them? God knows what other contacts were deleted from my Contact list.
Thanks.

Anyone? This seems to be happening once a week. Does anyone know what's going on, what/who is "deciding" that some of my contacts are not needed?

I saw this post as I was researching the same issue on my Galaxy S9+. I didn't delete ANY contacts, yet there were several in the trash. I never would have noticed it but I received a notification in the drop down bar about it. I checked it out and was appalled. Like you, I wondered what else had been deleted. Any ideas or answers to this issue??

I have the same issue. Found out recently that google play was involved but i guess this is going on for a year or so. I keep on losing contacts but don't know when or why.
Trying to revoke autorisation on using contacts with certain apps ???

Where did you see that google play was involved? I'd like to read up about it. If google play is involved, I'll just delete it. I've already migrated to Youtube music, since play music is going away at end of the year. I've held onto it so far, because I prefer to listen to my music with the play app instead of the YT app. It still worries me that the contact deletion was happening, but I haven't found any more contacts in the trash since my last post.

OK, I need to revive this.
I can't believe that only 3 people in XDA are experiencing this behavior. I just checked my Contacts TRASH again and there are hundreds of contacts that are due for permanent deletion. Some say Deleted from Google Play services (on date), others say Deleted from null (on date).
Samsung won't let us choose another Contact app as default so we are forced to use the Samsung app (you can use another Contact app, but you can't set it as Default and when you click the Contacts within your phone dialer, you will always be directed to the Samsung one).
So can anyone shed some light on what the hell is going on?
Thanks.

sbi1 said:
OK, I need to revive this.
I can't believe that only 3 people in XDA are experiencing this behavior. I just checked my Contacts TRASH again and there are hundreds of contacts that are due for permanent deletion. Some say Deleted from Google Play services (on date), others say Deleted from null (on date).
Samsung won't let us choose another Contact app as default so we are forced to use the Samsung app (you can use another Contact app, but you can't set it as Default and when you click the Contacts within your phone dialer, you will always be directed to the Samsung one).
So can anyone shed some light on what the hell is going on?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My 10+ uses the Samsung Contacts app. It stores on internal memory/sim and backup to the SD card.
I have all Goggle backup* disabled in it's settings and with a package blocker.
Google is spyware inc... they suck fb bad.
Do not rely on or trust Google, they will bone you proper in 3-10 years, every time.
It's their nature...
*and many more Google apks blocked and/or firewalled with Karma Firewall. Some like Goggle Play Services and Playstore I turn on as needed.

blackhawk said:
My 10+ uses the Samsung Contacts app. It stores on internal memory/sim and backup to the SD card.
I have all Goggle backup* disabled in it's settings and with a package blocker.
Google is spyware inc... they suck fb bad.
Do not rely on or trust Google, they will bone you proper in 3-10 years, every time.
It's their nature...
*and many more Google apks blocked and/or firewalled with Karma Firewall. Some like Goggle Play Services and Playstore I turn on as needed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But Google won't delete contacts by itself, I've always had Android phones and never had this problem (granted - I always used the Google Contacts by Default, never had an issue of Samsung not letting me disable their app).

sbi1 said:
But Google won't delete contacts by itself, I've always had Android phones and never had this problem (granted - I always used the Google Contacts by Default, never had an issue of Samsung not letting me disable their app).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google doesn't care... they do what they want.

Perhaps someone can explain to me how this stupid app (the Samsung Contacts) work.
I keep all my contacts on my Google account. That's my main account. I have almost 600 numbers/contacts in there.
That's what I set in the Samsung Contacts app to show, nothing else.
Can someone tell me what the heck are all these 3050 "contacts"? Nowhere across any of my accounts anywhere do I have 3050 contacts. If I set the app to show all contacts, I get the same person 50-60 times.
I tried to clear cach and data and as soon as I opened the app again, it showed the same thing.
I don't understand this. Why is it so complicated? What am I missing here?

blackhawk said:
Google doesn't care... they do what they want.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know they don't care but that doesn't answer the question about Samsung Contacts App that deletes random contacts and the thousands of "made up" contacts that I posted above.

Who knows? One day Contacts lost all my contacts that started with "S". I restored them from a backup copy.
Importing ones either manually or automatically can create dup accounts. Don't forget the sim card as the same can happen with/because of it.
I export contacts from my Samsung Contact to the SD card and back up that copy on the PC.
Fun times... play with it if you want answers

I have the same problem going on for like 1 year now, and this is the point where i found out that i have the same deleteion message in the trash.
I don't know what could be a solution. Anyone?

Having this same darned issue on my s22 ultra and I'm going nuts. It's been like this for a while now

Someone tell us how to fix thus please!!!!!! I even had removed permissions of contacts but nope doesn't work.

JERZIE82 said:
Someone tell us how to fix thus please!!!!!! I even had removed permissions of contacts but nope doesn't work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try disabling Google backup.
It may be bug in Samsung contacts though.
Make sure your contacts are backed up... redundantly to hdds.

I am just happy that finally, 2 years latger, I am not the only one who experience this.

I moved all my contacts to Samsung account, and the problem has gone for now. I will inspect this when I will have time

Just now noticed this issue, I own a Samsung Galaxy S20. Google Play Service deleted my contacts on 17 and 19 April 2022.

sbi1 said:
I am just happy that finally, 2 years latger, I am not the only one who experience this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello, I think I fount the cause of this. For me it started when I installed the Google Contacts App and then clicked fix & merge contacts.
Ever since, keeps adding 17 contacts in the (Samsung Contacts app) Recycling ♻ bin.
Just uninstaled Google Contacts app.
Observing recycling bin for any updates...