asked on

Android setup

So I think I'm dealing with a buyer with buyer's remorse.

I sold my Galaxy S7 Edge on eBay after unlocking it and then doing a factory reset. As part of the phone setup (when you turn it on) Android asks for a google account to associate with the phone, but so far as I know that's optional and you can "skip". I recall that from before the reset and I had the same thing with my new phone. I've never heard anyone suggest that after a reset and when doing new setup that you have to put in the account that was previously used for the previous setup.

Can I get confirmation from some expert here that this buyer is spouting non-sense? I can't understand how a factor reset would leave the phone in anything but a clean state or that Android upon starting would require the entry or association of the phone during setup with any previous Google account.

Jackie Man

I've never heard anyone suggest that after a reset and when doing new setup that you have to put in the account that was previously used for the previous setup.

Can I get confirmation from some expert here that this buyer is spouting non-sense?

The buyer is not spouting non-sense.

Are you the first hand owner of your Samsung S7 Edge?

If yes, logon to your Google account and go to the link below and you shall see your Samsung S7 Edge in the list of devices and you need to remove your Samsung S7 Edge before another user can use your phone.

https://myaccount.google.com/find-your-phone

I can't understand how a factor reset would leave the phone in anything but a clean state or that Android upon starting would require the entry or association of the phone during setup with any previous Google account.

Android devices have security feature like iPhone Activation Lock to restrict the re-use of the device when the same is lost or stolen. It is pretty standard for all mobile devices now and it is just up to the users to enable the aforesaid security feature or not.

https://help.ting.com/hc/en-us/articles/205666168-Removing-Android-Activation-Lock

In short, your understanding is incorrect and you need to remove the devices from your Google Account first before selling it to a buyer,

AlphaLolz

ASKER

so if I've gone into Google and removed the device, should the user be able to complete their setup now?

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Jackie Man

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AlphaLolz

ASKER

Thanks for the info. Something to remember for when I sell my current phone. I thought a factory reset should be sufficient. I do wonder if how many people going around steal phones realize this is out there. I'm also curious how the buyer is suggesting that for $15 he can remove this. It wouldn't seem possible.

Jackie Man

It is possible to bypass the Google activation in China as Google is not allowed to have business there and the "engineers" there know how to make a stolen phone works again.