Google Play Store - Impossible to verify phone number

lostuser

Hello everyone!
I very recently installed GrapheneOS on my new Pixel 9a for the first time.
Everything went smoothly during the installation, but I have now run into a major problem which I can't solve.
I already installed some apps via Accrescent and Obtanium on my main (and only) profile without any issues.
I then created a private space on which I installed Google Play. However, Google always asked me to verify my phone number, which I didn't want to do at first, but now I got a throwaway SIM card and a number.
So I tried again today, with a new email account (Tutamail if that matters), a new "identity" (name, birth date) and without connecting to my WiFi (using the cellular data from my throwaway SIM card instead, no VPN connection used). However, I keep running into the same problem: A screen saying "This may take a few moments... Google needs to verify your device for security reasons" appears and a loading circle keeps turning forever. I do not even get the opportunity tosend/receive an SMS to confirm my account...
Example of the screen here: https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FDe6n1ZJRvE/hq720.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEhCK4FEIIDSFryq4qpAxMIARUAAAAAGAElAADIQj0AgKJD&rs=AOn4CLA8RjrvyzPvgXHYsDnI3qGRBJmPAg
I tried 3 times in total. For the second attempt, I gave Google Play store all permissions in the "App Permissions Settings" and for the third attempt I tried again after force stopping the app, clearing the cache and the storage before restarting my phone (and giving all the permissions back). Is there someting I'm missing? Do I need to give the PlayStore more permissions, such as "Modify system settings" or "App usage data" in the "advanced" section? Could it be failing because I'm trying to create my account while being in Private Space?
I would be grateful for any help as I am getting quite desperate...

Moisture

Hello, from the screenshot that you provided, you definitely modified it a bit. I don't know what the shield icon is on your tray up is, but isn't it something that is blocking the connection? I would suggest:

if it is OK with you, you can try to log into the account on the computer, just to check that the account is fine and you might verify the phone number there. I am suggesting this, because it always worked for me to log into Google account without SIM card, if that works
you can create new user profile on your phone and test if that works there. Leave anything as it is and do not install anything else except Play store and Play services. I usually removed all permissions to Play services except internet and notification and had no problems, but you can test it as you wish. For the verification it might need phone permission or it may nag you to allow SMS permission, I wouldn't provided them, but it depends on you.

I didn't need to provide phone number to verify my account, but it may vary from location to location, I am not sure.
Good luck

lostuser

Hey,
Thank you for your answer!
I should have clarified this, but the picture I linked is not my phone, just a random image I found on the internet with the same problem I have. I do not have any "weird" icons on my phone when using it.

I also should have stated this, but the Google account doens't exist for now. I was trying to create one, but have failed each time. But I will try creating it from my PC to see if that method is more successfull. But I feel like the issue is with the phone. Google is trying to verify something (?) before giving me the send/receive SMS option but seems to be stuck at this stage.
But it seems like I'm not the only one with that problem:
https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/28811-google-play-store-stuck-on-verifying-device
I will try creating a new profile then. I have tried creating an account without providing my phone number a dozen times over the weekend, but Google either asked for a SMS verification EVERY time, or was stuck on that verificiation screen like now... I tried it with several emails, VPN on/off, an old smartphone, PC etc. in vain. So I decided to get a throwaway number since I felt like it wouldn't be working otherwise.

fid03

lostuser I suspect that Play Store is looking for the app called "Device configuration". It should prompt you to install this at some point. This is a guess though.

Murcielago

lostuser

I run into the same problem during installation. If I remember correctly, I restarted the installation process and created a new Google account. Being caught in the loop you posted a screenshot of, going back and retrying it (sorry I can't be more precise, I can't remember exactly) finally prompted the option to activate sending a code via SMS which finally worked.

Edit: lostuser writing my post you seem to have found a better solution, thanks for reporting back.

lostuser

So I finally found a solution.
I used my laptop to create the account and everything went fine.

I type my disposable email, receive the Google code and type it in.
Google asks me to scan a QR code with my phone, which I do.
From my phone which I used to scan the QR code, Google asks me to send an unedited SMS containing a code to a random number to verify my account, which I do and finally my account is created.

When I tried doing everything on my GrapheneOS phone, it simply wouldn't work. I was either stuck on that endless loading screen, or when I typed in my phone number instead of my email, Google asked me to type in a 6digit code which I never received...

Anyway I'm glad this is finally over. Once I created everything I could sign into my account on my phone without any issues.