Just found a way to switch google account without wipe

[Guest pulser]

I've just switched to the free google apps, and didn't feel like wiping just to set up my phone using the setup wizard (erasing the data for google mail causes problems needing a wipe anyway), so I decided to find a way round this.

Here it is folks (at your own risk. Make a nandroid beforehand)

1) Adb pull the file /data/data/com.google.android.googleapps/databases/accounts.db

Copy it and rename one copy as a backup. Work on the original file.

2) Open it in sqliteman and edit the table 'accounts'

3) Change the username field to your new username (ie. [email protected] instead of [email protected])

4) Ignore the other stuff. Now push the file to phone.

5) Reboot phone

6) Enter your password when told the stored one doesn't match up

7) All done.

You'll need to export contacts from old account to CSV then import into new account via a PC to get your contacts across.

Hope this saves someone some time and helps. Feel free to post this link to other forums & the google forums if desired. I've tested it and it seems to work fine.

Cheers

[Guest kendon]

can't you just change your password in googlemail webinterface, afaik you are asked for username AND password if the pw is rejected?

[Guest pulser]

can't you just change your password in googlemail webinterface, afaik you are asked for username AND password if the pw is rejected?

I tried that and couldn't edit the username, as it was static text.

More details about getting market to work as soon as I get home (extra steps needed)

[Guest pulser]

I tried that and couldn't edit the username, as it was static text.

More details about getting market to work as soon as I get home (extra steps needed)

Edit not working for me. Sorry ;)

OK. After carrying out those steps, the market will not work, and Google Mail may not sync properly.

I have solved these issues. The market issue was due to me switching to google apps (presumably the main reason for people to want to switch google account), as market only works with a standard google account. The solution is to

- create a google account (www.google.com/accounts) using the same email address as your apps email address (ie. [email protected])

- 'reset' the market settings.

So, after taking your backup (which you should always do), delete the contents of the following files in /data/data : (I suggest making a backup of these folders to the SD Card, since you could just restore them if something goes wrong)

- com.google.android.apps.gtalkservice

- com.google.android.gm

- com.google.android.googleapps

- com.google.android.providers.gmail

- com.google.android.talk

- com.android.vending

Then reboot the phone, and try to open a google application (ie. Google Mail). You will now get the original, 'new phone' sign in screen for google account. Here you can enter the full username and password for the account, and the process won't fail as it does if you follow online instructions and only delete com.google.android.googleapps (seems the others contain cached info or something that fails validation.

So, for future reference, follow these new instructions, as opposed to the unwieldy ones in the first post. Much better, no hacking databases, and it is pretty fast and gets market working for free apps at least (not bought anything yet on my new account).

Be aware that this process will remove all google contacts, and you will lose market links to apps. (Titanium Backup may help...). Also, paid apps will no longer be in account, as market uses the account to hold apps, not the phone. To backup contacts to the new account, go to google contacts and export to CSV. Then go into the new Apps mail service, click contacts and import t from there (just to clarify what I said last night in a rush)

Cheers

[Guest kendon]

I tried that and couldn't edit the username, as it was static text.

ok, then my brain let me down on this ;) but actually i didn't have to enter my username again, just my password.

nice method you worked out there, but the missing paid apps are a real bummer...

[Guest pulser]

ok, then my brain let me down on this ;) but actually i didn't have to enter my username again, just my password.

nice method you worked out there, but the missing paid apps are a real bummer...

Yeah, a bit annoying. It's not a limitation of the method, rather a limitation of Google Market with respect to apps.

Apparently, you're meant to be able to go and buy something, then get asked to enter a normal account (where you enter your old details), but I'm not sure. Something to do with Google Checkout requiring a google account, not an apps account.

EDIT:

Hold on. I've discovered that you can get paid apps. What you need to do is go and try to buy something. After clicking buy, you are asked for an alternative 'gmail' address account to use to log in for market, since your apps address can't be used for checkout. That gives access to the usual payment procedure through checkout, and it seems to let you buy apps ok.

So it seems paid apps are OK after all! I guess you could use your old gmail address for this if you move to apps.

Edited February 9, 2010 by pulser

[Guest RTX101]

Just go to Manage Application, select Google Mail (or try Google Apps, I dont clearly remembet), press the Clear Data button. Then open Market and it will ask for your new Google Account. Though I dont know may it keep your paid apps or not bcause I dont have any.

[Guest pulser]

Just go to Manage Application, select Google Mail (or try Google Apps, I dont clearly remembet), press the Clear Data button. Then open Market and it will ask for your new Google Account. Though I dont know may it keep your paid apps or not bcause I dont have any.

Tried that initially, and I couldn't log in after the erase. I'm sure if you erased all the Google app names from above, it would work. Paid apps should work, provided you put in a gmail account when asked (only applies when using Google apps)

[Guest wabe]

Haven't tried this yet but I think it would work:

- Do Titanium Backup

- Factory Reset

- Setup new Google Account

- Restore using Titanium. Titanium does not backup gmail settings as a default so new settings should not be affected by a restore

I need to reset my google account so will try this myself.

[Guest pulser]

Haven't tried this yet but I think it would work:

- Do Titanium Backup

- Factory Reset

- Setup new Google Account

- Restore using Titanium. Titanium does not backup gmail settings as a default so new settings should not be affected by a restore

I need to reset my google account so will try this myself.

YMMV, but I found this method to be pretty easy. It's not one for everyone though, and a wipe is often a good idea every now and then, so I'd personally go with a wipe unless you were in my situation and had only just got the phone going after a wipe, then got Apps and would have had to do it all again... That's what motivated me to find a solution.

What you've suggested looks fine. Make sure you transfer your google contacts from the old account to new account (presuming you use google contacts) on a PC by downloading as CSV and then uploading to new account. Else you'll get a shock when no contacts are there.

Also, you'll lose your email and SMS databases, which may or may not be a concern for you...

[Guest wabe]

Also, you'll lose your email and SMS databases, which may or may not be a concern for you...

Why would I loose the the SMS database? Loosing contacts would be a results if these are stored in the old gmail account I assume.

[Guest pulser]

Why would I loose the the SMS database? Loosing contacts would be a results if these are stored in the old gmail account I assume.

All your texts are stored in /data. (Unless you have a tiny number of them and they're on your SIM). When you wipe, you are just formatting /data, hence losing texts and call logs etc. along with anything else stored on /data

You're right about the contacts.

[Guest wabe]

All your texts are stored in /data. (Unless you have a tiny number of them and they're on your SIM). When you wipe, you are just formatting /data, hence losing texts and call logs etc. along with anything else stored on /data

You're right about the contacts.

The Titanium method worked perfectly.

[Guest djmace]

The Titanium method worked perfectly.

Does anyone know how to just re add your account? Ive had the phone for a while now and it syncs mail, calandar and contacts, however ive just set up picasa but there is no sync option there. Ive figured that i need to delete and re add the account, but cant without a factory reset which id like to avoid if possible.

[Guest pulser]

Does anyone know how to just re add your account? Ive had the phone for a while now and it syncs mail, calandar and contacts, however ive just set up picasa but there is no sync option there. Ive figured that i need to delete and re add the account, but cant without a factory reset which id like to avoid if possible.

How did you add Picasa? Are you on a 1.5 ROM? I'm not aware of there being any picasa integration in the 1.5 ROMs. Certainly not for me, and no official apps on the market. I reckon you'd need a ROM update to add the option to the list anyways...

[Guest Aceracer]

For ones that dont mind wiping the phone or as in my case bought a nexus one from a private party & need to delete all their info including that stubborn gmail account please follow these instructions.

I have the cyanogenMod ROM & doing the factory reset did not remove the previous owners gmail account. I called htc support 866.449.8358 & the following steps they gave me worked perfectly.

1) Turn off the phone

2) Access the boot menu by holding down the volume down button & power button at the same time

3) Go to 'Clear Storage'

4) Select YES

5) You will see the phone run a short script & it only takes 10sec or less. Once its done the phone will reboot automatically & it will take maybe 2mins to turn on. You'll see a splash screen going in cycles with blue lines coming together making the "X" & a small android in the middle. Once the phone displays the big green android in the middle, you know its been successful. Follow that setup wizard to adjust settings & add your gmail account. Its like using it for the very first time.

The HTC rep explained that this is a 'manual' factory reset & is used when the factory reset found under settings > privacy is not working. It has the same outcome.