Changing the google hosted email address domain I use with my FP4

Help Fairphone 4
1

The email address I have under the Google account on my FP4 will soon be deleted along with my old website with which it is hosted. This email address was created as a “Google hosted” email - I’m not exactly sure what that means but it seems to mean that this address can be considered a Google address for some purposes.

It looks as if, to continue using my FP4, I will need to create a new Google account . Is this right or am I missing something?

I know I could completely ditch Google on my phone and use a non Google setup but, when I got my FP4, I decided I wasn’t quite technically up to this. So I kept the standard set up that came with the phone and simply minimise use of the various extra functions Google seems to want to offer me :smiley:

I guess I’m looking for confirmation - or not - that I need to create a new Google account to use with my phone, and how to make the changover to the new account seamless if so.

Thanks so much for any input,
Andrea

2

I think you might be referring to using Google Play Store to download content on your phone, and keep Apps etc updated. You can use any address for a Google account - they want you to use a Gmail account to keep you in the Google universe, but I use my own personal domain address, similar to what you have done previously.

So, I don’t think you will need a Google account per say for your FP4, but to access updates to Apps and download new ones via Google Play you’ll have to have some kind of account, and they want one so they can send notifications to confirm security checks eg when you log into another device, or use Find My Phone etc.

Hope this helps!

3 Likes
3

Just adding that you can use Aurora store instead of Google Play if you don’t want to use a Google account.

It is a front end for Google Play but more privacy respecting (like no need for an account)

4 Likes
4

Ah, that’s really helpful, Kenny, thankyou. Great that I can use my new domain email address.
Presumably I’ll need to download all my apps again to this new address after deleting the old, google hosted account?
Thanks again, Andrea

5

Oh this looks good, thank you. Where do I find Aurora store?

6

You can get it on F-droid:

the github page for it: GitHub - whyorean/AuroraStore (so you can check its the real one)

2 Likes
7

If I understand all the above right then you’ll just have to change the e-mail address assigned to your Google account. The account itself will remain the same. No need to download all apps again.

3 Likes
8

Yes I think Volker is correct. You just need to have a new mail address ready, then sign out of the Play Store on the phone and sign in with the new one. You might have to do the same for some other apps eg Gmail and in your browser if you signed in to Chrome etc.

3 Likes
9

I’ve tried this now, but find I can’t change the email assigned to my Google account.

I opened the Google app on my phone and took the option to “Manage your Google Account”. I used the Search Google Account option to find Email, where it said I could “Manage the email addresses associated with your account”.

Under this was a box headed Google Account email, where it said this was "The address used to identify your Google Account to you and others. You can’t change this address. (My italics)

Mmmm - any thoughts on this?

10

And since I wasn’t able to change the email address associated with my Google account, I went to Play Store on my phone but couldn’t find anywhere to sign out of Play Store.

So I’m wondering if I need to create another Google account after all? Or perhaps if I use Aurora, I won’t need an account to download and use Apps?

Any further ideas welcome!
With thanks again.

11

You can’t log out. You can only log out of the Google account itself. That will sign you out of any Google services you used (keeping everything intact on your phone, pictures, files etc.)

You won’t need an account for aurora store unless you want to make paid purchases

1 Like
12

If you have another email address you can use to set up another account, you can remove the account off the Play Store and add the new one. Open the Play store and click on your profile icon (top right), then click on your profile name. It’ll expand the profile menu and you’ll see ‘add another account’ or ‘manage accounts on this device’. Click the second option and you’ll be able to add a new account and remove the current one for Google or any other apps where you’re logged in.

1 Like
13

Maybe this helps?:

1 Like
14

I’ve tried this now but it only seems to be able to add another Google account, not the email associated with my domain… Mmm?

15

Yes you have to set up a new Google account, but you can use your domain email address for this. Go to Google in a browser and click sign in. Select Create account and once you answer the questions about yourself it’ll ask you to create a Gmail account, but below it there’s an option for ‘use existing email address’ or something along those lines. Put your address in there (did you not say your domain is disappearing soon? Maybe you mean a personal address?).

You’ll have to verify you have access to the mailbox by clicking on the link they send through, but once this is all done, your personal mail address is your Google account address, and you won’t need a Gmail address. You can then use this email address to add a new account to the Play Store on your phone, and then remove the old one.

2 Likes
16

Also, I’ve re-read my first post and I see I put ‘Google’ account when I should’ve said ‘Gmail’, account sorry. You can create a new Google account with your personal mail address then use this to log into the Play Store.

2 Likes
17

Thanks so much for your replies, @Kenny, - much appreciated and I’ll have a good look at all this tomorrow.
Andrea

1 Like
18

I’ve downloaded Aurora store now - many thanks for the link to find it. Can I use this for getting updates to apps I already have on my phone or is it mainly for downloading new apps?

19

It can update the apps on your phone, but sometimes it needs to ask you for manual approval.

You could setup shizuku and use that installation/updating method in aurora store to make it more seamless. It’s not necessary ofc

1 Like
20

Many thanks for all the replies here, I’m now trying to digest all this and work out what I need to do. I also took a look at the FP support page on Android setup as I couldn’t remember what I’d done to set up my phone in the first place, especially as I wasn’t a new Fairphoner with my FP4 but rather transitioning from a 5 year old FP2.

The Android setup support page suggests you need a Google account, saying “Setup Wizard will guide you through adding a Google account”.
But perhaps this is only if you want to:
~ use extra Google functionality, like saving preferences such as bookmarks in Chrome
~ use Playstore to download apps
~ I’m also wondering if it’s needed to save photos as I saw that somewhere on a Google page?

I have now installed Aurora for any new apps I want, but I’m wondering if I can update existing apps through Aurora or if I will need the Google account for this?

Assuming I do need a Google account, I am following these instructions in above message from @Kenny which says
"Select Create account and once you answer the questions about yourself it’ll ask you to create a Gmail account, but below it there’s an option for ‘use existing email address’ or something along those lines. "
It asks whether account is for my personal use or for my business. I use my phone for both (I am self employed as a Yoga and Alexander Technique teacher, so sole trader, not employing others), but as I had to choose one, I’ve selected personal, in case Google want to charge me for all sorts of things I won’t use.
It then asked me to create a Gmail address. So, I’ve done this, with all settings for personalising my experience etc switched off.
I chose not to use “existing email address” as my new email address is associated with one of my business domains, even though I also use it for personal purposes.

I want to be able to use my phone with Google having minimal information about me, including about my business! So, I’m hoping this will work out!.

I’ve gone into Google Playstore and been able to select my new gmail account to download app updates.

I’ve just got your reply @Furdiburd - many thanks - but can’t see how to update apps via Aurora. But I see the app is appearing on my phone as F-Droid : does that mean I’ve not properly installed Aurora?

And any other comments or thoughts as to whether I’ve missed something in my objective of:

~ using my phone without my old email address (which disappears soon along with my old domain) and

~ with minimal hooks into Google

will be most welcome.

With huge thanks to everyone for getting me thus far :blush: