Cannot login to an Android Phone because don't know previous account

did you do a factory reset (resets the device by way of the phone's settings)? or hard reset (by using a combo of buttons, usually power and vol buttons)?

if you did a hard reset then you tripped FRP (factory reset protection), in which you are required to enter the google acct info used prior to the reset. if you tripped FRP and do not know the acct info, then you are pretty much screwed. there are ways that you can google to find out how to bypass FRP, but AF frowns upon such discussions.

if you just did a factory reset thru the phone's settings, then you should not have a hard time entering a google account. but from what you are describing looks like you tripped FRP which makes things more difficult as you are finding out.

.....good luck keep us posted on what happens next.

 

i don't think flashing a firmware update will do the trick. you tripped FRP. your phone will know this and will require that you enter the correct acct info.

 

hmmmmm keep us posted. i hope it works for you.

 

depends on how you flash the rom and what exactly is in the firmware? is this an official one? or did someone cook this up?

 

An anti-theft system works by being a deterrent, and so is most effective if all phones have it. If it's known that some phones can be re-used easily then even if they aren't as valuable as new ones there's still an incentive for theft, so it's better if the thief knows that your phone will be useless before they get to examine it closely. After all, if a thief grabs the phone off you or you kid in the street and then decides it's of no interest to them (for whatever reason, too new or too old) you've still lost the phone, you or the kid has still had the trauma of having it snatched, and you still have the cost of replacing it.

Besides, most manufacturers can't be bothered with providing any updates after a couple of years, what's the incentive for them to provide this one? I don't think there's any chance of them doing so, and many people would object if they did.