MILLIONS of phones are today permanently losing access to Google’s most popular services.
Newer phones like the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra are unaffected by the block.Which Android phones will be blocked from Google apps?Google announced the app shut down in a short post on its website.
Google Maps, YouTube, Gmail and other apps will all be shut down on handsets using an older version of the Android operating system.
The tech titan said it plans to block users from signing in with their Google Account on devices using Android 2.3. The ageing version of Google’s operating system launched in December 2010. The ban comes into effect on September 27.
To check if your Android device will be affected, go to your gadget’s settings app. Type System Advanced > System Update.Check your “Android Version”. If it’s above Android 2.3, then you’re safe. Chances are, your device will not be affected by the block – unless you’ve been neglecting Android’s software updates for a decade or so. Most people have their mobile set to automatically download updates as they’re released, meaning you’re more likely than not to be using a newer version of Android.
Unless users update their phones, they’ll be locked out of the software on that mobile for good. The trouble is, some old mobiles cannot update to anything more recent than Android 2.3. Smartphones that remain stuck with Android 2.3 include Sony Xperia Advance, Lenovo K800, Sony Xperia Go, Vodafone Smart II, Samsung Galaxy S2, Sony Xperia P, LG Spectrum, Sony Xperia S, LG Prada 3.0, HTC Velocity, HTC Evo 4G, Motorola Fire, and Motorola XT532.
If you’re unable to upgrade your device, you can always work around the issue by logging into services like YouTube via your browser.
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News Summary:
- What Android phones will have Google Maps, YouTube and Gmail blocked?
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