Ask HN: Locked out of Google despite knowing password and having email access
I'm trying to recover my Google account. I know the password, but unfortunately I've lost access to the phone number where Google keeps trying to send the verification code. It used to just ask me to fill in the missing digits of the number.
I still have access to Gmail through a third-party Android email app, where I can send and receive emails normally, but I can't sign in to my Google account anywhere else. The account is old, I never set up a recovery email and I haven't used it outside the email app for a long time. I've tried various devices, networks, and VPN combinations without success.
Google's own recovery help says:
"Tip: We may send a verification code to the email address on the account you're trying to recover. This way, you can get the verification code if you have access to your Gmail inbox through a third-party email client or email forwarding."
But I've never been offered this option.
After multiple recovery attempts, I eventually got to a step asking for an alternative email address. I provided one and verified the code Google sent, but the final screen told me to reply to my Google support contact. I don't have one.
I found this HN thread where a Google employee (`luka`) helped someone in almost the exact same situation:
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49744286
Unfortunately, I can no longer reply to that thread.
Does anyone know how to get a similar escalation or another way to recover access?
I haven't tried this myself, but long ago someone on here in your position had a stroke of genius, which was to contact google's data protection office (the one in Ireland) requesting the complete archive of all the information google had on him. If you reach that level of this game, there will be one final test of your valor, when the google data protection officers ask if you want your account restored. Many before you have been kicked to the curb at that point by answering in the affirmative, only to be told to their chagrin that restoring people's accounts isn't the data protection officers' department. The correct answer is "I would like you to provide me with the complete archive of all information google has about me. One way of fulfilling this legal obligation would be to restore my account, but the way you do it is up to you." Shortly thereafter, the commenter was sent an email with a link that got him back into his account.
Can you try setting up a new gmail account then use that as part of the recovery assuming it offers as an alternate another gmail account.
The only option I saw so far was to enter an existing email after multiple iterations of "Try another way" option. That email received a verification code. I put that code in the recovery window and then saw this:
"Reply to your Google support email or contact to let the team know you've successfully completed your account recovery request. To try signing in again, follow the steps in our Help Center on how to recover your account."