Found a workaround to use Gmail on Android without linking it as a device account

TL;DR: You can add a Gmail account to third-party email apps (**Samsung Email**, **Thunderbird**, etc.) without adding it as a Google Account on your Android device.

If you've ever tried to access a Gmail account on Android without wanting to add it to the device, you know the pain. This won't get you into the actual Gmail app, but it works fine for third-party clients.

The trick:

1. Change your default browser from Chrome to anything else (I use Samsung Browser).

2. Open your preferred third-party email app.

3. Log into your Gmail account when prompted.

Because the default browser isn't Chrome, the login screen opens as a normal website instead of triggering Android's "Add Google Account to device" flow. You just log in and the account gets added straight to the email client — no Google Account added to the phone.

https://redd.it/1ug5p94
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