WhatsApp cannot see Google account for cloud recovery

[Evernow]

I've been attempting to recover a WhatsApp backup from Google Drive. Unfortunately I do need it for work, when I try to select a Google Account in WhatsApp to restore from, it does not recognize my Google Account which is logged in elsewhere, and when I try to login it says it is already added.

If I log out from Android settings, then login the WhatsApp app, the same process occurs except it logs in but then doesn't recognize it once done.

[thestinger]

Make sure to install WhatsApp after Google Play.

[Evernow]

Make sure to install WhatsApp after Google Play.

I did, and just incase I uninstalled WhatsApp and then installed it again from Google Play

[colbyt]

This can be fixed by giving additional permissions. Though I'm not sure the precise workflow, I force stopped whatsapp and play services.. gave whatsapp all the permissions it could have. My play services has contacts, files, nearby, network, phone, sensors, sms and ask location. Then it worked.

[khalykbek]

To restore your chat history from a Google Drive backup, WhatsApp needs Contacts and Media permissions

[no-usernames-left]

gave whatsapp all the permissions it could have.

My play services has contacts, files, nearby, network, phone, sensors, sms and ask location.

I must admit that I am surprised and confused to find someone doing either one of these things, let alone both, while running GrapheneOS.

[Evernow]

Thank you for informing me of this! Finally was able to fully switch.

[colbyt]

I don't think it should be surprising, but here's why: An org I work with is evaluating grapheneOS for use by many non technical human rights activists and are testing every app they commonly use to understand the workflow and limitations. The alternative is them using the same apps on stock android/ios. Not all have the same security preferences and tradeoffs. Many use GMail with Google Advanced Protection on chromebooks and this is the #1 most common use case along with MacOS/IOS. Many live not only on Signal but where the public is -- Twitter, Telegram and Whatsapp based on regional differences (whatsapp is used for many things in latin america unlike in the US). For years we recommended alternatives to these apps only to see people using them anyway. So a weaker graphene workflow is better than nothing for them.

gave whatsapp all the permissions it could have.

My play services has contacts, files, nearby, network, phone, sensors, sms and ask location.

I must admit that I am surprised and confused to find someone doing either one of these things, let alone both, while running GrapheneOS.

[thestinger]

A lot of people want to use GrapheneOS as essentially the stock OS with much better privacy/security. They don't necessarily care much about privacy from Google in particular. Sandboxed Google Play is largely as functional as the privileged Google Play so it works well for that use case now. Some people would be happier with both privileged Google Play for functionality that doesn't work with them as regular apps yet along with the exclusive Pixel OS features but that's not happening since we aren't making alternate builds of the OS with it. Sandboxed Google Play aims to gradually reduce the few things which don't work yet and aren't inherently privileged functionality.

[arnekos]

I've had the same problem (still a thing at this date) and solved it using a slighty different workflow. The problem is somewhere in between google drive and google play servers.

1. Install google play store
2. Install whatsapp.
3. Give whatsapp all permissions
4. Install google drive
5. Give google drive all permissions
6. Reboot phone
7. Start google drive and see if it behaves normally.
8. Start whatsapp.

In my estimation this issue should be reopend. @thestinger

[obnoxiousAntidote]

@arnekos There's nothing to reopen. You have to give it permissions like how any other app you install works. There's nothing to fix.

[thestinger]

Play services likely needs Media permission and perhaps others granted for this to work. There's no indication of any issue right now.

[arnekos]

@obnoxiousAntidote @thestinger

I just uninstalled the Play Store and it failed again. Google Drive wouldn't see my google account. So I think there is an issue, because I didn't change any permisssions.

[thestinger]

None of the standard runtime permissions is granted by default. It's up to you to grant the required permissions to Play services for niche functionality depending on it.