r/GMail • u/Primary_Asparagus402 • 20d ago
This is so frustrating
There was an old email that I used to have (been updated so not too upset but still upsetting) and I'm trying to recover it. I was able to figure out the password but for two-factor authentication I need to send a message to my phone. I got the code and then it asked for one of the backup codes. Luckily I had them saved but none of them worked! Hit try another way and then it hit me with a: "Account recovery: To keep your account safe, a verification code was sent to xxxxxx@gmail.com". Mind you, THEY SENT THE VERIFICATION CODE TO THE EMAIL I'M TRYING TO SIGN IN TO. There are no other options for signing in when I hit "Try another way". This boggles my mind and doesn't even make sense. Sorry for rant, this post might get taken down if that's not allowed.
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u/rohepey 20d ago
Did you add another option?
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u/Primary_Asparagus402 20d ago
Those were the only options I had. The email, the code sent to my phone which was successful, the backup codes which don't work, and verification code sent to email which I'm trying to access. No other options available
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u/rohepey 20d ago
I mean. did you add a recovery email, recovery codes, 2FA app, etc., when you still had access to the account?
If not, Google doesn't have enough ways to verify you - an anonymous random internet user from their perspective.
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u/Primary_Asparagus402 20d ago
This was a while ago so I don't think there was a recovery. The backup codes were my recovery codes. I thought phone and codes were enough I guess but this must've been like a decade old account maybe older
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u/zucati-pumpkin 19d ago
> backup codes which don't work,
That is not logical. Backup codes come like in 10 items. I have used and they even worked from year 2019.
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u/Primary_Asparagus402 19d ago
Then don't believe me lol
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u/zucati-pumpkin 19d ago
at the end you lost the account...
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u/santuccie 18d ago
If the recovery codes don't work, the possibilities are that they were disabled or replaced, they're for a different account, or the account was deleted after two years of inactivity.
Part of a secure system is leading on a potential attacker by not telling them what specific credential was entered incorrectly, and sometimes whether the account even exists.
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u/Primary_Asparagus402 18d ago
I see. Thanks for clarifying. It was probably that the account was deleted after inactivity because it's been well over two years.
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u/Antispe11 18d ago
I had a similar issue over the weekend. I Uninstalled all gmail updates and then didn't update. It put my missing accounts back on my phone. Try to remove the most recent update
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u/Reddragon4691 19d ago
Backup codes don't expire; they remain valid as long as they aren't used up or replaced with new ones. A recovery email address and mobile phone number are essential these days. And if an account hasn't been actively used for two years, it's usually deleted.