Practically every feature on the Android smartphone is tied to your Gmail account. Using the google play store, Youtube, Google search page, Google Drive, Google maps, and several others are tied to registered Gmail account. That being the case, the feeling is close to frustrating if you lose access to your Gmail account. So, how do you recover a lost Gmail account?
Before showing you how to recover a lost Gmail account, it is important that you still have the email address. Maybe you have several email addresses with similar usernames. If it has been a while you logged into the account, you may have forgotten the exact address. In this case, you can ask any of your contacts whom you have exchanged emails with, to send you your correct Gmail address.
Note that you will find the recovery process much easier if you are using a device and a browser that you have used to sign in to the Gmail account in the past. If you are connecting to a Wi-Fi network, also use a familiar connection that you have used in the past, if you want to recover a lost Gmail account.
Also, you cannot carry out these recovery steps on a phone. You should do it on a desktop or laptop.
How to recover your lost Gmail username
If you do not have anyone to send you the Gmail address, go to Google sign-in page > under the email column, click on Forgot email.
Type in the Phone number or recovery email address of the account > on the next page, type in the full name on your account > Follow the prompts and instructions to confirm that it is your account.
Now, a list of usernames that match your account will appear. You should be able to identify your lost Gmail username/address from the list.
How to recover a lost Gmail account via SMS
You can do this from an Android phone or from a desktop or laptop computer. Go to the Google sign-in page on your browser
- Enter your email address > click Next > Click on Forgot Password > You will be required to enter your last known password > After this, click on Next
- You will have to enter the phone number you registered with the account. Google only gives you the last two digits of the number. First, confirm that the country code selected is your country of residence before you enter the mobile number. Make sure you have the number close by to get the verification code.
- Now click on Send.
- A code will be sent to the phone number. Enter the code and click on the Verify button to complete the rest of the recovery process.
- You will be prompted to reset your password. Choose a strong password that you haven't already used with this account in the past.
How to recover a lost Gmail account with a recovery email address
If you did not set up any mobile phone recovery number in your Gmail account before you lost it, you can use the recovery email address to reset the password and gain access to the account.
- Open the Gmail login page on your browser.
- Enter your Gmail address and click Next.
- Now, you have to click on Forgot Password located right under the password field.
- Click on the "Try Another Way"
- Now, you will be taken to the "Get a Verification Code" link if you have added your recovery email ID to the account. Google typically does not show you the full email address of the recovery email ID so you have to fill out the field. Ensure that you have immediate access to the recovery email.
- After you enter the email address in full, click on Send to receive the verification code.
- Once you have received the verification code, type it into the verification box and click Verify.
- You will be prompted to reset your password. Choose a strong password that you haven't already used with this account in the past.
How to recover a lost Gmail account without a phone number and recovery email
This is ordinarily a difficult option as Google tries to protect all accounts from being hacked. To do this with easer, ensure that you are using a device you have used to log into the account in the past.
- Open the Gmail login page on your browser.
- Enter your Gmail address and click Next.
- Now click on Forgot Password, located under the password field.
- You will find a column to enter the last password you remember. Do not enter any password. Instead, click "Try Another Way"
- This should take you to a page where you’ll be asked to provide the answer to the security question chosen at the time of account creation.
(The recovery question can be your Date of birth, Mother’s maiden name, First pet name or any other question you chose when setting it up. )
- If you remember the answer to the question, go ahead and type it in. If you enter a wrong reply two times, your account will be blocked.
- Once you enter the correct answer, you will be taken to the next page of the password reset.
- Enter a new and secure password > Re-enter the new password to confirm it
All is set and new now. Note, however, that if you did not set up a security question when creating your email, this option will not be available to you. The security question is the only way to recover a lost Gmail account without a recovery email or phone number.
Extra tip on account security for your Gmail account
If you have to set up your Gmail account security, it is advisable that you do to give you more recovery options if you lose your Gmail account.
- Open your Gmail app on your android phone
- Tap the three vertical dots on the top left of the screen > navigate to Settings > if you have more than one Gmail address signed in, you have to tap the account you want to secure> now tap on Manage your google accounts > navigate to Security
- Now, set up your recovery phone number and recovery email. Gmail allows you to add more than one recovery email address too.
- You can also set up 2-step verification.
- Go to Settings > Accounts > then tap the account you want to secure> now tap Google accounts >navigate to security > Tap on 2- step verification and set it up.
Now anytime there is a new sign in to your account, it will require both password and verification code.
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