problem with access gmail/play store on old phone

[robphelan]

I have an old Galaxy Captivate that I was just going to use for the kids' as an e-reader etc..I don't have /need a SIM card, but am connecting via wifi.

The problem is that I can't log into gmail or the play store because it's not recognizing the password.

I haven't used it in a couple of years and of course the password has been changed a few times.

I even reset to factory original, and while setting up the phone, it's telling me that the userid / password is incorrect.

I've verified on my PC by logging out of gmail and back in - several times. But when I try to create the account on my phone, it's not working.

any ideas?

 

[cronos]

Do you have 2-step verification setup on your Google account? If so, you need to generate an app-specific password to link a Google account to your phone.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Do you have 2-step verification setup on your Google account? If so, you need to generate an app-specific password to link a Google account to your phone.

That's not necessarily true. When Google prompts me to log in it opens a web browser to punch in the 6 digit verification code. I'd recommend against generating an app specific password unless you absolutely have to because it's one more way into your account.

 

[cronos]

I agree with your recommendation, but what do you mean by 'not necessary'? Are you able to add a Google account to your Android device* without the app-specific password when 2-step verification is set?

Edit: I meant this specifically for an older phone. I clarified this with the post below.

 

[cronos]

To be clear, my first reply above was about this (from Google Account's security page):

Authorized Access to your Google Account

Application-specific passwords
Some applications that work outside a browser aren't yet compatible with 2-step verification and cannot ask for verification codes, for example:
Older Android smartphones
Google Voice mobile application on iPhone
Mail clients such as Microsoft Outlook
Chat clients such as Google Talk, AIM, etc.

I was assuming that since this is an old Android phone we're talking about, this was the cause of his inability to login.

 

[lopri]

Interesting. So I suppose 2-step verification works with Android version x.xx and above only? Or perhaps there is a hardware requirement. I did not know that.