It seems that as of September 27, 2021, Google will block GApps (Gmail, Maps...) from old devices that use Android 2.3.7 and below. Basically, you won't be able to log in anymore.
Source: https://support.google.com/android/thread/118703101/sign-in-on-android-devices-running-android-2-3-7-or-lower-will-not-be-allowed-starting-september-27?hl=en
But I accidentally found this Italian article (https://tecnologia.libero.it/google-blocchera-laccesso-su-alcuni-smartphone-quali-sono-47023/amp) that reports this:
I dispositivi con Android 2.3.7 Gingerbread o anche più vecchi che risulteranno già loggati ad un determinato account dopo il 27 settembre potranno continuare ad utilizzare senza problemi quei servizi e quelle app.
A partire da quella data infatti chi è già autenticato con l’account Google lo rimarrà potenzialmente a vita, o comunque fin quando un reset di fabbrica, un cambio di password dell’account stesso o dei provvedimenti di questo tipo non lo costringeranno ad effettuare nuovamente l’accesso.
Which means:
Devices running Android 2.3.7 Gingerbread or older that are already logged into a certain account after September 27 will be able to continue using those services and apps without any problems.
From that date, in fact, those who are already authenticated with the Google account will potentially remain so for life, or at least until a factory reset, a change of password of the account itself or measures of this type will not force him to log in again.
If what is written in this Italian article is true, this means that:
we could continue to use our Google apps until we log out from those apps or until we uninstall those apps!
And it was at this point, that I started thinking of some trick to get around this blockage 😏 (by the way, this Italian article was suggested to me by Google itself, checkmate 😂).
Personally, I haven't tested yet my idea on my device, so I can't assure it will work, but you can try and let me know in the comments.
1) Login to your Gapps before September 27, 2021.
2) Use one of the apps I linked before to fully Backup your Google apps before that date. (this way your logged-in state will be incorporated in the backed-up apps, so don't share these apps with anyone)
All the apk files of the apps should be located in the system/app directory. The list of the apps to backup changes according to you ROM.
These other ones should not be required, but just to be sure...
if you know other required Google apks, drop a comment so I can update the list
now every time that you want to format your old Android device or flash a new ROM, you could do that, without the fear to lose your login forever! 😃 Cause if you can't login... just restore your backed-up apps!
I still hate Google🤣, I still can't understand how they can say "update your 2.3 phone to 3.0", in 2021. I still can't understand how they can say "we do this to push the purchase of new devices", when less than 1% of smartphones use Android 2.3 (according to their data).
I made many things to make old Android OSs usable nowadays.