Cannot open google apps

[Anonymous]

I can't seem to get hold of Google without having to phone them, so this is a long shot, but I'm hoping someone here will know what to do.

I have a new samsung galaxy a3 2016 and it came with all the google apps pre-installed - google play, youtube, chrome, etc just like my old phone.

But, when I opened Google play to start downloading apps it asked me to verify my identity with a PIN. I'd never set a PIN. I also couldn't log in on the youtube app, or add a google account in the account set up bit, or sync the calendar.

I logged into my google account on my PC and I figured out how to make a PIN. I tried this PIN on my phone and I doesn't work.

I've looked everywhere I can think of for an answer - google, google help, the play store, message boards etc. I've tried clearing the cache and data for the apps, but I still can't get in.

I've managed to get apps elsewhere, but I'd really like to use google again.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

[MI5]

Turn off 2 step verification here https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/1064203?hl=en

[Anonymous]

Thanks, but 2-step verification isn't on, I just double checked.

[MI5]

Can't think of anything else, certainly not anything else I use.
@viridis any ideas?

[Anonymous]

Thank you for trying and your time

[viridis · Accepted solution]

It's a pain workaround but you can do this.
Wipe everything off phone using factory reset.
Add new account. Create new account on set up.
Once all set up and phone ready, go to settings, accounts and add new.
Add your current Google account as a second Google account.
Once finished setting up the present account you have already, go back and remove the one you created for setup.(press the new created account and then menu, remove account)
Come out menus and reboot phone.
It should now be just your present account showing and Google services should run off this account.

[Anonymous]

Thank you! It seems to be working now

I realised as I was setting it up again, that I'd not used the set up process to add my account before - I tend to skip it and do it later, which hasn't been a problem before. Lesson learnt now though.

Anyway, I tried adding my current account this way (I figured I could always reset again if it didn't work) and it worked, so I didn't need to make a new account.

Everything looks OK, and most importantly I can access Google Play.

Thanks again, I'm really grateful

[MI5]

Glad you figured it out