Unable to log into android tablet due to unknown error

[Android Central Question]

Hello. I have a Samsung Android tablet which I purchased from new. As this tablet was being passed on from my son to my daughter, we performed a factory reset. Now we are unable to get the device working. When we get to the email address and password, we are getting an error message saying "unable to sign into device due to an unknown error" and advising me to try again in 24 hours.

The password was reset back in May and we have been unable to use the device since then. Google have confirmed that the account is valid and correctly set up.

 

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central! Which tablet do you have? Are you certain it was brand new, never before used? Or could it have been used or refurbished? If there was a previous owner, what you're seeing might be due to Factory Reset Protection, which means it's asking for the Google account and password of the previous owner, not yours.

When you first got the tablet, do you recall going through the whole Setup Wizard, or were you able to go directly to the homescreen?

 

[zx4ever]

Hi there, it was a brand new, factory sealed tablet, which was set up from scratch when I first got it.

 

[B. Diddy]

But which tablet is it? And when you passed it from your son to your daughter, did you have to change Google accounts? If your son has a different Google account from your daughter, the tablet is asking for your son's Google account/password. (Or, if the tablet had a previous owner, it's asking for that previous owner's account/password -- that's why I asked about its new vs used status.) The exact tablet model is important to know, because if it's a pretty old model, it's highly unlikely that is was brand new, mint condition.

 

[zx4ever]

It's a Samsung Galaxy Tab A. The Google account is the same one that I used to set up the device from new originally - the password has been changed since, but it is not accepting it. The device was bought brand new from O2.

 

[B. Diddy]

Were you using a Google Family Link account? Are you able to log into that Google account on the web?

 

[holoconnection]

I'm having this same error with a Lenovo Tab 4 10 plus without a SIM card using Wifi

I can log into the account online but it will not authenticate after hard reset.

 

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central! We're missing a few details -- are you saying you did a factory reset, and now can't set up the tablet again? Has this always been your tablet?

 

[holoconnection]

This is a tablet that is owned by my company and is used during my company's tech events and a factory reset has been completed quite a few times but each time after we successfully connect to wifi and attempt to login with our gmail account (confirmed successful login) we receive the above message "unable to sign into device due to an unknown error"

 

[B. Diddy]

Is it possible someone changed the company's Google account password recently? Also, have you tried connecting using other wi-fi networks?

 

[holoconnection]

It's not possible. As stated I am able to login to that account through a web browser. I've also tried two separate external WiFi networks to no avail.

 

[B. Diddy]

What if you do another factory reset, this time from the Recovery Menu? https://www.hardreset.info/devices/lenovo/lenovo-tab-4-10-wi-fi/hardreset/first-method/

 

[holoconnection]

These are the steps I already followed

 

[B. Diddy]

Hmm, I'm stumped. Try requesting support from Lenovo about it: https://lenovomobilesupport.lenovo.com/us/en/contactus

 

[holoconnection]

Will do - thanks for your help