Nothing is more annoying than being unable to access your Google account because you forgot your email address or password, especially if it holds the majority of your digital life.
Nothing besides having your account hacked, that is. In any case, there are several ways to regain access to your Google or Gmail account.
Here are the essential details
How to recover a Google account if you forgot your email address
If you remember your password but not the email address, Google offers a way to retrieve it.
- Go to Google’s Find My Email page
If you can’t remember your email address, go to the Find My Email page. This is where you’ll start the account recovery process when you can’t remember your email address.
- Enter your recovery email or phone number
You will then see a text box where you’re required to enter a recovery email or phone number. Once you enter the phone number or email, click Next.
- Enter your first and last name
Next, you’ll be asked for your first and last name. Enter them in the appropriate text boxes and click Next.
- Send verification code
Google will need to send a verification code to the recovery email or phone number, and click Send.
- Enter the verification code
If you used a recovery email, check its inbox for the verification code, and if it’s a phone, check your messages. Once you retrieve the code, enter it in the text box and click Next.
- Choose an account
Go will show you a list of accounts associated with the recovery email or phone number. If you see the account you want to recover, click on it to select it.
- Enter your password
Since you remember the password, enter it in the text box and click Next. You need to verify it’s you who’s actually accessing the account if you’ve enabled two-step verification.
How to recover a Google account if you forgot your password
You may occasionally recall your email address but not your password. By resetting your password in accordance with the instructions below, you can still access your account.
- Go to Google’s Account Recovery page
The first step to reset your Google account’s password is to navigate to the Account Recovery page in your favorite browser.
- Enter your email address
Enter the email address for your Google account and click Next
- Enter the last password you remember
Google will then ask you to enter the last password you remember. If you have any vague idea of what it is, enter in the text box and click Next.
Google will then send a prompt to your registered device, asking you to verify it’s you. Open it and tap, Yes, it is me.
Then you’ll have to wait six hours for Google to verify it’s you and then send a password reset link to your email.
If you can’t remember your past password, use the next method.
- Click on “Try another way”
While still on the Account Recovery page, click Try another way for Google to send a prompt to your phone to verify it’s you. On your phone, open the prompt and tap Yes, it’s me.
Google will verify you are who you say you are and send you a password reset link after six hours.
If you didn’t register a device to receive prompts from Google, try the next method.
- Click on “Try another way” again
If you’re enabled to check your phone for the code, click Try another way again.
Google will then ask you if it should send a verification code to your registered phone number. Click Send.
Retrieve the code from your messages, enter it in the textbox, and click Next.
Wait for six hours for Google to send the password reset link to your email.
But if you don’t have a registered number, there’s one more method you can try.
- Click on “Try another way” for the last time
If you don’t have a registered phone number or you didn’t enable two step verification, click Try another way again.
Google will then take 72 hours to verify who you are and then send you a password reset link if everything checks out.
How to recover a Google account if your account was hacked
You can also use Google’s Account Recovery page if you’re unable to log into your Google account, such as when you try to do so and discover that someone has changed your password or recovery phone number, deleted your account, or in some cases, even if you deleted the account yourself.
Simply follow the instructions and provide the best answers you can.
In the event that all else fails or you are unable to sign in for another reason (such as experiencing issues with two-step verification or being unable to reset your password using a code received by text),
