Droid MAXX: Google account problems

[jkmasi]

I've tried everything I can think of to resolve this, but I need some suggestions.

So - my husband finally got a smartphone, after getting by with a keyboard phone for years. I talked to him about different phones - iPhones even - and after looking at several, he took my advice and got a Droid Maxx. Of course I helped him set it up, etc. Everything went well for a day or two, but then he started getting all sorts of errors - Google sync problems, Google account sign-in problems, "Unfortunately Google play services has stopped" etc. I was able to solve most of the problems by uninstalling updates to Google Play, and a few other things. He was still having some issues, though. The phone occasionally shut itself off. So, I decided to do a factory reset.

Since then, everything is working much better. The phone hasn't shut down at all, etc. However, in the last day or two, he will get an error notification that's something like "Trouble signing in to Google Account". He has to tap the notification and enter his Google password. Then everything seems fine until it happens again sometime later. This is happening more and more frequently.

He has almost no apps installed. The two or three he has installed are the same ones that I have used forever on my android devices, including on my Droid Maxx and Moto X - so on the same or similar devices. I have checked every setting I can think of. He doesn't have 2-step authorization on his Google account and he never has problems with that account on his desktop, laptop, etc.

Any ideas what could be happening? He does drive through an area with no cell service every day, so that could have something to do with it, but I drive through the same no-service area, and I have never, ever had to sign in to my Google account after initial setup.

 

[raiderep]

Re: Droid Maxx Google account problems

I would try changing his password online and then after a factory reset on the phone sign in with the new password. That is a strange issue...

 

[eewwyeah]

Re: Droid Maxx Google account problems

I had the same issue with my Bionic (before the Maxx), however it fixed itself after the factory reset.

 

[B. Diddy]

Re: Droid Maxx Google account problems

Can you tell us what version of Google Play Services the phone is running? Go to Settings>Apps>All, and tap Google Play Services. The current version is 4.2.43.

 

[jkmasi]

Re: Droid Maxx Google account problems

Can you tell us what version of Google Play Services the phone is running? Go to Settings>Apps>All, and tap Google Play Services. The current version is 4.2.43.

I'll check this as soon as we are together today, and I can look at his phone. The error he is getting is "Account action required..." and then he has to sign in to his google account before Google sync will work. If he doesn't sign in, and you look at his Google account under Accounts, in Settings, the sync icon is red, instead of green.

If his Google Play services is not current, can I force it to update?

 

[jkmasi]

Re: Droid Maxx Google account problems

Can you tell us what version of Google Play Services the phone is running? Go to Settings>Apps>All, and tap Google Play Services. The current version is 4.2.43.

He just checked and his version is 4.2.43 (1035512-036), so it does appear to be the current version. Any other thoughts?

 

[doogald]

Re: Droid Maxx Google account problems

If his Google Play services is not current, can I force it to update?

I know that it is current already, but, to answer the question - you can't do anything but wait. Google rolls out Play Services updates and they are updated "silently" (i.e., it's not through the Play Store - the update happens in the background.) When it comes to your phone, it comes. From that point forward, it will always update to at least that version, after a factory reset, for example.

 

[jkmasi]

Re: Droid Maxx Google account problems

Update. After experiencing no problems at home on WIFI over the weekend, my husband's phone had the same error "Account action required...." after driving though a no service area this morning. Just tapping on the message does not clear the error. It says something like "either you entered an incorrect password, or your password has changed" Of course neither of those is true and he just enters his same google password and the error goes away.

Not cool! Not sure what to try next. I drove through the same no service area this morning with my Moto X and no problems. One difference is that I am running 4.4.2 and he has 4.4. However, I never had the problem when I was on 4.4.

 

[doogald]

Re: Droid Maxx Google account problems

Update. After experiencing no problems at home on WIFI over the weekend, my husband's phone had the same error "Account action required...." after driving though a no service area this morning. Just tapping on the message does not clear the error. It says something like "either you entered an incorrect password, or your password has changed" Of course neither of those is true and he just enters his same google password and the error goes away.

Did you ever unlink the Motorola ID?

One possible kludgy solution is to put the Power Control Widget on a home screen. This shows 5 widgets - the fourth, two arrows in a circular shape, toggles data sync off and on. He could turn off sync when he knows he will drive through that area and turn it back on when he gets home. (You can also do this at settings / data usage, tap the menu control top right, and turn data sync off and on - the widget is much easier.)