It can be quite irritating and disappointing to lose access to your Google / Gmail account. During my research for this article, I came across several examples of people being locked out of their accounts after forgetting their passwords, with a couple of them still unable to log in weeks later.
Google gives a list of options to try if you’ve been locked out of your account, either because you lost your password or because someone broke into your account and changed it. They do work on occasion. Beyond Google’s suggestions, your options may be limited, so it’s best to be prepared ahead of time. Here are some ideas to put you in the best position to get your stuff.
REGULARLY BACK UP YOUR ACCOUNT
If you ever (cross your fingers) lose access to your account, it will be less of a blow and less likely to raise your blood pressure if you have a recent backup of your data. Takeout is a service provided by Google that allows you to download your data. You can download data from all of your Google apps, some of them, or just one of them, such as Gmail.
APPLY A PASSWORD MANAGER
Because an ounce of prevention is worth — well, you know the rest — the best way to avoid losing access to a Google account due to a forgotten password is to use a password manager to keep your password safe. (And no, storing your Google password in Google Password Manager will not help.) Password managers such as Bitwarden, 1Password, and Zoho Vault can ensure that unexpected brain freezes do not keep you from accessing your email.
KEEP A RECORD OF YOUR OLD PASSWORD
One way Google verifies your identity if you forget your password is to ask you to enter your previous password. If you haven’t changed your password in a long time (assuming you’ve ever changed it), it may be difficult (or impossible) to recall that previous password. So, whenever you change your Google password — and it’s a good idea to change it on a regular basis — keep a record of your old password somewhere safe.
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