In short
How do I recover my Google account?
Go to accounts.google.com/signin/recovery and answer the questions as well as you can, from a device, browser and place you normally sign in from. Wrong guesses don't end the process and there's no limit on attempts. If you changed your recovery details recently, they can take up to 7 days to apply.
Start the recovery
Google's steps apply if you forgot your password or username, or can't get verification codes. If the account is through work, school or another group, they may not work: contact your administrator.
- 1Go to Google's account recovery page: accounts.google.com/signin/recovery.
- 2Answer the questions about the account. If you're not sure of an answer, give your best guess instead of skipping it.
- 3When asked, reset your password: choose a strong one you haven't used for this account before.
Help Google recognize you
- Use a computer, phone or tablet you often sign in with, and your usual browser.
- Sign in from a place you usually use, such as home or work.
- If asked for the last password you remember, enter the most recent one. If you don't remember it, an older one: the newer, the better.
- If asked for an email you can check right away, use one connected to the account, such as your recovery email.
Forgot which email you used?
Google can help you find your username if you know the phone number or recovery email on the account and the full name on it. You then see a list of matching usernames.
If it didn't work the first time
If you saw “Google couldn't verify this account belongs to you”, you can try again. Wrong guesses don't end the process, and there's no limit on how many times you can try.
If you recently changed your recovery phone or email, the change can take up to 7 days to apply, so try again in a few days. If you're waiting for an email from Google's support team, check your spam folder too.
What Google never does
- Ask for your password or verification codes by email, phone call or message: enter them only on accounts.google.com
- Take phone calls for sign-in help, or work with services that claim to offer account or password support
Frequently asked questions
Is there a limit on recovery attempts?
No. Google says wrong guesses don't cancel the recovery and there's no limit on attempts.
My account is from work or school.
Google's recovery steps may not work for it. Contact your administrator, as Google advises.
Can you recover my Google account for me?
No, and no one else can either: Google says it doesn't work with any account or password support service, and recovery has to be done by you on accounts.google.com. If a YouTube channel was taken through the account, see our YouTube guide.
Official sources
The platforms' own help and policy pages. We are not affiliated with them.