Google account phone verification problem

Evatefairequeer

Hi all,

Im new to GrapheneOS, I'll try my best for my first post :)

Context :
Proud owner of a refurbished Pixel 9a, I installed GrapheneOS and try to make every thing set-up before to stop using my Samsung with a bunch of bad private life practices.
I think I have no choice to use google services to keep things easy (banking app, might be others).
I follow some guides, the advices in this case seems to be to create a dedicated google user.

Issue :
I can't create a new account atm. The issue occur at the phone verification step.
I parametered Google play and google service for the user.
I just bought a small sim card to don't associate my true phone number with this new google acc.

To reproduce :
In a dedicated user (i tried in 2 differents one), I start the google account creation process opening Google play. I ensure that google play has permissions to access to phone call and sms.
I can verify the email (also created especially). But at the phone verification step, it ends up saying that I might need to have a sim or esim card.
And I have no idea why and find nothing on the web. Any clue ?

Android : 16
Build : 2026052401
VPN : Mullvad
SIM : SYMA (activated)

Thank you in advance for your help

MyIdentityIsntImportant

Evatefairequeer VPN : Mullvad

I can't say for certain, but this could be the issue. If you're trying to create a new Google account from an IP address with a low reputation (as most VPN servers tend to be), Google might just block you from proceeding. It might not still work, but I suggest disconnecting from your VPN for the duration of your Google account creation, and then enabling it again after the account has been created. I have personally been able to create lots of Google accounts without being asked for a phone number at all as long as I wasn't connected to a VPN during account creation. If you're worried that your IP address could be linked to you, go to a public place with public Wi-Fi available (such as a restaurant or a shopping mall) and use that Wi-Fi there for the account creation. After that, just keep your VPN on & you should be good to go.

I can't promise this approach will work, but if you have public Wi-Fi available nearby, I'd say it's at least worth a try. Good luck on your privacy journey & welcome to the world of GrapheneOS.

Evatefairequeer

MyIdentityIsntImportant Thank you for your time :) I succeded creating the account through a laptop.

Regrading the creation of a google account without a phone number, I can't see how you acheived this. I couldn't go further without a phone number : Google ask to scan a QR code (probably to link the email to a phone number), or to provide a phone number to receive a code by sms.

Evatefairequeer

Solved by creating the account on a laptop as suggested in this post, that I didn't found at first : https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/29000-google-play-store-impossible-to-verify-phone-number/4