Losing one’s Gmail password can be very frustrating, especially when such a person does not remember one’s phone number or recovery e-mail. Do not worry because these will not bar you from recovering your account. Let’s know how to recover Gmail account password.
Here are the easy steps to recover your Gmail account password.
1. Access Gmail Account Recovery Page
- Open your browser and type “Gmail account recovery” or simply go to https://accounts.google.com/signin/recovery.
- Once you are on the recovery page type in your Gmail address and then click Next.
2. Try your Last Known Password
- Try entering your last known password if you remember it.
- If it worked, excellent! But if it doesn’t work or you just don’t recall it, click “Try another way” at the bottom of the page.
3. Answer Security Questions
- Google will offer you the option of answering the security questions that you have configured for your account.
- You may have questions such as “What’s your favorite book?” or “What was your first pet’s name?”
- Do your best to recall the information. On a correct answer, you will be allowed access to your account.
4. Verify using Alternative Means
- If identity verification with security questions does not work or were never set, Google may ask you to provide alternate identities.
Some of what you may see:
- Backup codes: If you ever saved or printed backup codes, you can enter one of those to recover your account.
- Linked Device: If you have signed in to your Gmail via another device such as a phone or laptop Google may have used this device to identify you. For example, it may prompt you from the device whether it is you whom is attempting to recover the account.
5. Verification of Activity
- Google may seek information based on your activity regarding the account.
- You may be asked to confirm how long it is since you signed into your Gmail, or any other Google apps such as YouTube or Google Drive.
- You must provide accurate information. You can provide the date or location of when you last logged into your account.
6. Wait for Google’s Verification
- In case Google is unable to authenticate your identity even after the steps mentioned earlier, Google may ask you to fill a form or review your account manually.
- This should take no more than an hour or two at the most within a few days, assuming you have entered all the information correctly; they should restore your access to the account.
7. Create a Decent Strong Password
- After Google has verified your identity, you can create a new password.
- Think of something that is unique, yet memorable for you. Avoid passwords like “password123” or any passwords that are even too simple to remember.
Extra Suggestions to Not Lose Access the Next Time
Update your recovery information: Once you regain access, go into the settings on your account and insert a valid phone number and recovery e-mail so that something like this does not happen to you again in the future.
Use a password manager: To avoid forgetting the passwords, you can safely store your passwords using a password manager.
Activate 2-Step Verification: This helps make it harder for someone else to gain access to your account if anyone else even gets your login credentials.
Recovering the Gmail password when one can’t remember having a recovery phone number and recovery email will be relatively tough, but with these steps you follow carefully, you should have a good chance of getting to your account back.
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