Fix: Third-party apps can't see Google account on LineageOS / Android 15+

gistfile1.txt

# Fix: Third-party apps can't see Google account on LineageOS / Android 15+

## Context

On LineageOS (or other custom ROMs) with MindTheGapps, some third-party apps (WhatsApp, Signal, etc.) cannot see the Google account configured on the device. Typically, a "Choose an account" screen appears empty even though the account is present in system settings.

Tested on:
- LineageOS 22.2 (Android 15, SDK 35) + MindTheGapps
- Likely applicable to other custom ROMs with non-stock GApps

## Symptom

- An app asks to choose a Google account, but the list is **empty**
- The Google account is visible in Settings > Accounts
- `GET_ACCOUNTS` and `READ_CONTACTS` permissions are granted to the app

## Root cause

On Android 15, account visibility for third-party apps is managed through a `visibility` table in the system AccountManager's SQLite database:

```
/data/system_de/0/accounts_de.db
```

With MindTheGapps, only Google apps (GMS, Maps, Drive, etc.) are added to this visibility table when the account is created. Third-party apps are not listed and therefore cannot see the Google account via the `AccountManager.getAccountsByType("com.google")` API.

## Diagnosis

### 1. Check account visibility

```bash
adb shell dumpsys account | grep -A 20 "Account visibility"
```

If the app's package (e.g. `com.whatsapp`) does not appear under the Google account, this is the issue.

### 2. Inspect the database (root required)

```bash
adb root
adb shell sqlite3 /data/system_de/0/accounts_de.db 'SELECT * FROM accounts'
adb shell sqlite3 /data/system_de/0/accounts_de.db 'SELECT * FROM visibility'
```

- The `accounts` table gives you the `_id` of the Google account.
- The `visibility` table lists which packages are allowed to see each account (value `2` = `VISIBILITY_USER_MANAGED_VISIBLE`).

## Fix

### Prerequisites

- ADB connected to the device
- ADB root access enabled (Settings > System > Developer options > Root access via ADB)

### Steps

#### 1. Enable ADB root

```bash
adb root
```

#### 2. Back up the database

```bash
# Backup on device
adb shell cp /data/system_de/0/accounts_de.db /data/system_de/0/accounts_de.db.bak

# Backup on PC
adb pull /data/system_de/0/accounts_de.db ./accounts_de.db.bak
```

#### 3. Find the Google account's ID

```bash
adb shell sqlite3 /data/system_de/0/accounts_de.db \
  "SELECT _id, name, type FROM accounts WHERE type='com.google'"
```

Example output:

```
7|myaccount@gmail.com|com.google
```

Note the `_id` (here `7`).

#### 4. Add visibility for the app

Replace `<ACCOUNT_ID>` with the ID from above and `<PACKAGE>` with the app's package name:

```bash
adb shell sqlite3 /data/system_de/0/accounts_de.db \
  "INSERT INTO visibility (accounts_id, _package, value) VALUES (<ACCOUNT_ID>, '<PACKAGE>', 2);"
```

Common package names:

| App          | Package                          |
|--------------|----------------------------------|
| WhatsApp     | `com.whatsapp`                   |
| Signal       | `org.thoughtcrime.securesms`     |
| Telegram     | `org.telegram.messenger`         |
| Uber         | `com.ubercab`                    |

#### 5. Reboot immediately

> **Important**: the reboot must be done right after the INSERT, otherwise `system_server` (which holds the DB open in memory) will overwrite the change.

```bash
adb reboot
```

#### 6. Verify

After reboot:

```bash
adb shell dumpsys account | grep -A 15 "Account visibility"
```

The app's package should now appear with value `2`. The app will now be able to see the Google account.

## Rollback

If something goes wrong, restore the backup:

```bash
adb root
adb push ./accounts_de.db.bak /data/system_de/0/accounts_de.db
adb reboot
```

## Notes

- To add visibility for **multiple apps at once**, chain the INSERTs before rebooting:
  ```bash
  adb shell sqlite3 /data/system_de/0/accounts_de.db \
    "INSERT INTO visibility (accounts_id, _package, value) VALUES (<ID>, 'com.whatsapp', 2);
     INSERT INTO visibility (accounts_id, _package, value) VALUES (<ID>, 'org.telegram.messenger', 2);"
  adb reboot
  ```
- If you have **multiple Google accounts**, repeat with each `accounts_id`.
- This issue does not occur on stock ROMs as the system GApps properly manage visibility for all apps.