[Xiaomi Mi A2 / 6X Questions & Answers] Janku1:
Device: Xiaomi Mi A2 Android One

ROM: Stock Google Android 9 Pie

I recently had to do a hard factory reset on my Android One Xiaomi Mi A2 phone. After reset a particular notification keeps insistently reappearing - it is from two different apks that are part of the stock ROM/OS - Android Setup (with a circular arrow timer icon) and Android setup (with a gear icon). Both the apks have the same name but different icons and listed separately. They can be found by clicking on Settings>Apps & notifications>See all apps>Show system. I am currently on Android 9 Pie.

The notification from Android Setup (with a circular arrow timer icon) gives two options - connect to WiFi or Use Mobile Data. On choosing either option it takes me to a white screen that has a gear symbol/icon on top and right below it it says PREPARING FOR SETUP... and below that it says YOU CAN FINISH SETTING UP YOUR Mi A2 SOON... At the bottom of this screen it has a rectangular Start button but that remains greyed out. I waited two days on this but it remained same. I did hard reset numerous times and re-setup phone but issue would not go away.

So then I did a reset from Recovery/Hard Reset again. Then I did the following in the order I mention - Set-up the phone as new / Chose Do not back up data or apps from previous save - Unchecked all apps that I had earlier that Google was trying to reinstall automatically after reset as per backed up info of my device on Google servers. Once phone was on homescreen I went to PlayStore and updated Google Play Services first thing. Then I installed all available updates. Then manually reinstalled all apps I earlier had on my phone one by one. After all this, notification from Android Setup (with a circular arrow timer icon) reappeared and same issue - whether I choose Use Mobile Data or connect to wifi it would just take me to PREPARING FOR SETUP screen and stays there with Start button greyed out and notification bar indicators showing no data being transmitted up or down.

So then I went into settings, force stopped it (Android Setup with a circular arrow timer icon) and deleted cache and data for this apk. Left it overnight. In the morning I see that there is the same notification but this time from the Android Setup (with a gear icon) and the only option is connect to wifi. Upon connecting to wifi it takes me to the same PREPARING FOR SETUP screen with start button greyed out and does nothing. So this time I went into settings and forced stopped this (Android Setup with a gear icon) system apk and deleted its cache. Delete data option is greyed out, although it shows some data is stored. This makes notification go away but once I reboot phone it reappears.

I have done research online and many others have faced this exact same issue, exact same PREPARING FOR SETUP screen. But many different handsets, many different roms. Most common solution offered online was to delete cache and data for Google play Services and PlayStore. That was of no help in my case. Mine is a completely stock Android One 9 Pie rom, strictly no mods whatsoever. I doubt this has anything to do with the phone manufacturer, because they would not mess with those system apks I have mentioned earlier. It seems connected to Play Services apk and backed up phone settings/information on Google servers. Might have something to do with RESTORE DATA AND SETTINGS WHEN APP IS REINSTALLED setting option in the Android OS. I attempted to delete backed-up device settings, passwords and app info backed up on Google's servers, and then did a reset again and set up as new, but problem is still there.

Any help/info/etc. you can provide about this would be much appreciated ...

(Attached screenshot is from a Pixel device but I am facing exact same issue, hence using this screenshot)-

https://dl.xda-developers.com/4/5/5....png?key=JdbXGZFXZpDz1qvB1BmVEg&ts=1542898226