• refalo@programming.dev
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    10
    ·
    2 days ago

    Google is often seemingly lax on account creation

    Meanwhile I have been trying for years to create one without providing a phone number, and it hasn’t worked yet. Tried different browsers, operating systems, ISPs, physical locations, even using mobile devices and android emulators. Nothing seems to work, it always demands a mobile number for me.

    • I’m not sure it works at all any more without a phone number. I have two Gmail addresses I set up over a decade ago to handle notifications from specific services. I recently got an email telling me to log in or the accounts will be deleted. It then wouldn’t let me finish my login without adding a phone number. So I can only assume Gmail without a phone number is a thing of the past now.

    • LEM 1689@lemmy.sdf.org
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      2 days ago

      I was able to make a new account when I set up a new used Pixel phone. I didn’t want to use my personal gmail, so I was able to create a new account during the set-up. I switched it to GrapheneOS right away tho, and I haven’t tried to log in to the new account since, so I don’t know if it’s been flagged. I say that bc I’ve created new Microsoft accts for new windows activations only to have the accts flagged and ask for a phone number when I tried to access them.

      • refalo@programming.dev
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        2 days ago

        did you use the browser? I have a theory that creating an account with the built-in app usually always works if there is an active SIM where it can detect that you have a real phone number, even if it doesn’t end up attaching it to the account.

        • LEM 1689@lemmy.sdf.org
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          3
          ·
          2 days ago

          I hadn’t put my sim card in the new phone when I set it up, WiFi only at that point. I’ve only set up a new phone with a new acct this one time, which was a month or two ago, and I just remember being kinda surprised it didn’t require a phone number. I guess it uses chrome browser to provide the setup interface.

          At some point I’m going to reset my old android phone, that will be my next opportunity to try and create another account.