Database Users

[Q] Is my Nexus 7 linked to the buyer account?

Dad bought me a Nexus 7. He doesn't remembers if he checked or not the "link to this account" check box when he bought it while paying from his Google account. How can I make sure it's not linked, or how can I unlink it from his account? I want the $25 on my account, not on his.
Sent from my HTC Sensation using Tapatalk 2

When you turn it on, it will ask you to log into the account you want it linked to.

rmm200 said:
When you turn it on, it will ask you to log into the account you want it linked to.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know that. If I do so the $25 will be given to his account.
Read my question..
Sent from my HTC Sensation using Tapatalk 2

Read my answer. The device is not linked to any account until you activate it.

rmm200 said:
Read my answer. The device is not linked to any account until you activate it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's not entirely true. There is a checkbox when you order from Google Play that links the device to your account before shipment (meaning, your Google account is already stored in the device, all you have to do is enter your password to confirm)
It just so happens that checkbox (at least for me) was checked automatically as the default setting. So to the OP, it probably remained checked if your dad didn't opt to uncheck it.

MMcCraryNJ said:
That's not entirely true. There is a checkbox when you order from Google Play that links the device to your account before shipment (meaning, your Google account is already stored in the device, all you have to do is enter your password to confirm)
It just so happens that checkbox (at least for me) was checked automatically as the default setting. So to the OP, it probably remained checked if your dad didn't opt to uncheck it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, this is what I meant.
Is there any option to un check it after placing the order?
Sent from my HTC Sensation using Tapatalk 2

BurnRubber90 said:
Thanks, this is what I meant.
Is there any option to un check it after placing the order?
Sent from my HTC Sensation using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think anyone really knows the answer to that yet, as none that were ordered from the Play Store have shipped yet.
So it's yet to be seen, although I can't imagine it would be too difficult to select a different user from the device itself after receiving it.

I emailed Googleplay about this as I am in the same position here is what Dan from the google play team said:
Thanks for contacting me, sorry for the delay. You will be able to add your account to the device and you will be able to receive the credit on your account. Your Google Play $25 credit is our gift to you when you have, or add, a valid form of payment to your Google Wallet account.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app

Well, since you still have to enter a password (only the username is pre-entered), when you first turn it on and asks for your (dad's) password, just press cancel, then put your own account details in instead.

I called about this exact question last week. I was told by 2 different Google CS reps that option is for warranty information and would not be connected to the device. So you could still just log in with your account and then add a payment method to get the 25$ credit. At least this is what I was told, we all know that we probably shouldn't believe what the CS reps say.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[Q] US Play Store on UK Nexus 7?

Does anyone know how to get the US Play Store working in the UK on a UK Nexus 7?
I want access to the magazines and TV shows which I can't get over in the UK store. I already registered my gmail account to a US address and bank card number (I used it on the US iTunes store). I also have a VPN but I don't know how to set up the N7 to use it like that...

u can try downloading hotspot shield on your computer(i think they have an app for android too) to get the US Play store. and try sending the app u downloaded to your device. not sure if it would work. but i tried it once and i was able to use the US play store. but didn't bother to try it out.
hope this helps
Sent from my Zte Blade using xda app-developers app

Marketenabler
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

Questions go in the Q&A section

It turns out that all I had to do was set it up using a shared US VPN and it loaded all the US apps to my Nexus 7 including Google Wallet. It even generated me a prepaid card to use for shopping with $10 credit.
There are some extra things I did to make it work however which may or may not make a difference and even after these steps the US apps vanished after a few hours disconnected from the US VPN.
Steps I took:
1. Set up a US gmail address.
2. Set up a US Unlocked prepaid US debit card and US address (this works great on iTunes as well).
3. Purchased a US VPN service and set up the VPN to share over WiFi on my Mac so that as soon as I logged in on the N7 it thought I was in the US.
4. Registered my US unlocked card and address to my US gmail address.
5. Reset N7 and connected to shared US VPN over WiFi.
The N7 thought it was in the US and everything loads and works. Including the US $25 credit for buying a N7.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

Now I had two problems here. I couldn't redeem my US credit as my US Unlocked card was not topped up yet.
So I couldn't download anything either using the free credit or the topped up card yet.
I disconnected the VPN and it would load up the UK store no problem. All the US apps remained accessible. I made an additional gmail account so I had one US and UK account as well.
I left the N7 connected to my standard WiFi and a few hours later all the US apps were gone!
Reconnecting to the US VPN had the effect of allowing the play store to let me access all the magazines and TV shows but I couldn't see if downloading a magazine would make the play magazines app appear again or not.
My next steps here are to reconnect to US VPN for several hours and see if that brings back the US apps and when I have credit on the card to try purchasing and see if the apps remain.
What is clear is if I reset the N7 I can set it up again as a US N7 with all the apps.
I find it strange that the US apps would be removed automatically because if you went on holiday from the US to anywhere else in the world then all your US content would be removed after a few hours connected to foreign WiFi.
That doesn't seem right...?!
LETS TRY IT ON A GALAXY NEXUS
So I thought I wonder if I can make this work on a stock unlocked GN without rooting.
I had a US prepaid T-Mobile SIM lying around that doesn't work but I put it in the GN and reset it to factory and connected to the US Shared VPN.
And it worked... Wallet appeared and I was again able to generate another $10 gift card. (If I go on a US holiday I have made $20 from nothing!).
What was strange was that the play store would not let me access any music, movies, TV shows or books - only the app store.
I then put my UK Sim back in and restarted the GN and all the US apps vanished again but the play store allowed me access to all its UK products again.
Stuck the US SIM back in and the apps came back but store only showed apps again. Wallet was back as well.
It seems to me that the play store won't load anything other than apps on the GN without a working US SIM card but will allow Google Wallet to work.
I realise that I can root the galaxy nexus and set up custom firmware to make this work but I don't need to do that - I was just experimenting with the phone.
The N7 on the other hand I would like to be able to access US content at all times so I will try again when I have credit on my US unlocked card.

How did you manage to get a 'Shared us VPN' Would really appreciate any help!
Regards
-nbsb-

NBSB said:
How did you manage to get a 'Shared us VPN' Would really appreciate any help!
Regards
-nbsb-
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use superfreevpn or us newfreevpn.

sold nexus 4, how to unregister/ dissociate phone with my google account so info can'

i deleted my account info and did factory reset on the nexus 4 phone itself. however, on my google account, it still shows that i have a nexus 4. is there any way to dissociate it with my google account just in case the new owner of the phone wants to try some social engineering to get my account? since buyer does have the phone, it's possible since my google accounts such as checkout and google play showed that the nexus 4 is mine and i've made purchases with it and i can't unregister it. i just want to be safe.

I believe you can call Google and have the imei and warranty moved under the buyer's name in their system. Would that be enough?

Try manage devices in account at play store ? I renamed my devices recently not sure about removing them
Sent from my HTC Sensation XE with Beats Audio using Tapatalk 2

Yeah, I think you are going to have to resort to calling them. According to the following page, it is not possible to delete it from your account, but you can hide it (which would be convenient, but doesn't address the issue you are concerned about).
support.google.com
/googleplay/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=2407656[/url]
(I'm a new forum user and can't post links, so just join the above 2 lines)

It takes a looooong time for a phone to vanish from your Google Play account, but as long as you've wiped it they're no longer linked.

Rusty! said:
It takes a looooong time for a phone to vanish from your Google Play account, but as long as you've wiped it they're no longer linked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i've wiped it but my music and videos still there....i wonder why. i thought factory reset deletes every file. someone told me it's cause i have clockwork recovery mod and CWM don't delete those files

jinjin12 said:
i've wiped it but my music and videos still there....i wonder why. i thought factory reset deletes every file. someone told me it's cause i have clockwork recovery mod and CWM don't delete those files
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Factory reset from the Settings, that wipes everything (internal storage).
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

Rusty! said:
It takes a looooong time for a phone to vanish from your Google Play account, but as long as you've wiped it they're no longer linked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
quierotacobell said:
Factory reset from the Settings, that wipes everything (internal storage).
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
nope....tried both from recovery mode and straight from settings....same results. app caches and everything still there...makes no sense to me.

Try deleting your phone from
http://www.google.com/cloudprint/#printers
That's what I do when I change phones
Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk HD

Not the SD
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

raul90 said:
Try deleting your phone from
http://www.google.com/cloudprint/#printers
That's what I do when I change phones
Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk HD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the info. Didn't realize this.

raul90 said:
Try deleting your phone from
http://www.google.com/cloudprint/#printers
That's what I do when I change phones
Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk HD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that only delete your phone's profile the the cloudprint service, nothing else

This doesn't remove devices from Play Store list.
Sent from my Nexus 4

jinjin12 said:
i deleted my account info and did factory reset on the nexus 4 phone itself. however, on my google account, it still shows that i have a nexus 4. is there any way to dissociate it with my google account just in case the new owner of the phone wants to try some social engineering to get my account? since buyer does have the phone, it's possible since my google accounts such as checkout and google play showed that the nexus 4 is mine and i've made purchases with it and i can't unregister it. i just want to be safe.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you want to delete everything you have to reflash stock google build using fastboot, this will delete all user files and install the factory recovery(that's if you changed it).
Why are you worried about the phone showing up in your play store account? if the phone isnt set up using your gmail account it will not have access to any of your info and you will not be able to control anything on the phone from the play store website.

[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

[Q] Help please, stolen N10

My parents, away on holiday, just had the holiday rental place turned over and their stuff stolen including the Nexus 10.
Is there Anything I should do? I don't think it had any bank details etc on it but does have parents email set up (so that needs a new password)
And has my gmail account linked to it, so that needs a new password.
Is there anything else?
If it matters, it's on stock ROM, I'd unlocked it to get stick mount working and titanium backup, think I left the bootloader unlocked.
Thanks

Neilroot said:
My parents, away on holiday, just had the holiday rental place turned over and their stuff stolen including the Nexus 10.
Is there Anything I should do? I don't think it had any bank details etc on it but does have parents email set up (so that needs a new password)
And has my gmail account linked to it, so that needs a new password.
Is there anything else?
If it matters, it's on stock ROM, I'd unlocked it to get stick mount working and titanium backup, think I left the bootloader unlocked.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Change all relevant account details immediately. You'd be surprised what someone could get out of a login, especially if you were using a browser that caches/syncs password information (like Chrome). If you do use Chrome, you may want to clear all saved Chrome Sync data-- it's a pain, yes, but that's what you sign up for if you're going to use a syncing service.
In all likelyhood, your device is just going to get wiped and sold (sorry, but it's probably true unless they get confounded by a custom recovery [if you're using one]). Before you reset the password though, you may as well try to push one of the after-event anti-theft apps out on the market (like Android Lost or Plan B) to your tablet in case the thief is stupid enough to leave the tablet on or connect it to Wi-Fi. You never know!
You also may as well try to get your S/N and forward that to local authorities. You may get lucky.

Cheers.
I bought it for them as a present at Christmas so I guess my Google account may have the s/n. I also set it up for them so although mum created her own gmail account I think the tablet is still linked to mine. How do I push a theft app to it and NOT my nexus 4 or my old Desire (now my mum's mobile)?

Neilroot said:
Cheers.
I bought it for them as a present at Christmas so I guess my Google account may have the s/n. I also set it up for them so although mum created her own gmail account I think the tablet is still linked to mine. How do I push a theft app to it and NOT my nexus 4 or my old Desire (now my mum's mobile)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Go to the Play Store online, search the names of the apps I mentioned, and hit the INSTALL button. It'll bring up a window showing compatible devices; choose the relevant one and away you go. Keep in mind that these are by far and away not bulletproof solutions, and it's more of a "why not" thing than something to rely on.

Rirere said:
Go to the Play Store online, search the names of the apps I mentioned, and hit the INSTALL button. It'll bring up a window showing compatible devices; choose the relevant one and away you go. Keep in mind that these are by far and away not bulletproof solutions, and it's more of a "why not" thing than something to rely on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. From my phone I can install them on it (my phone), but can't seem to push the app to another device.
Oh well. This is what insurance is for.

Neilroot said:
Thanks. From my phone I can install them on it (my phone), but can't seem to push the app to another device.
Oh well. This is what insurance is for.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The insurance is going to be a lot more reliable than these apps. But yes, you can do it from your phone-- but you won't be able to do it in the Play Store app. You need to do it from the browser version (just navigate to play.google.com, and if it redirects you to the app, go to Settings > App > Play Store > Clear defaults and try again).

Excellent! Prey is now pushing....if it connects that is. So....do I wipe or do I go for location and a photo? Wipe I think!

Neilroot said:
Excellent! Prey is now pushing....if it connects that is. So....do I wipe or do I go for location and a photo? Wipe I think!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You may as well go for the location first and send the wipe immediately after. If the app is any good it should handle the requests sequentially.