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Ask HN: How do I get my Google account back?

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Re: Ask HN: How do I get my Google account back?

#11

Post by einpoklum »

> Is there a way I can recover my account?

I assume you tried contacting Google's online support and got nowhere. Try writing Google a _physical_ letter. Maybe even make it registered mail. In your letter, ask them sternly to make either the account or a dump of its contents available to you. Explain that, since it is of extremely importance for your personal and professional life, they must understand you will use any legal means at your disposal to obtain the data associated with that account. Also consider mentioning this situation is damaging your personal or professional life.

This may or may not solicit a response. If it does, then good, you've probably succeeded (unless it's a "taking under advisement" response). If not, contact a lawyer and check whether you can legally force them to give you access to your information. IANAL, but it stands to reason that you may be able to - either at their expense or at yours.

---

And I too will join the advice given by others: *A Google account is not under your control.* It is read by others, and can be blocked by others. You must back-up your emails and other content, rather than relying on its availability via Google. I would go as far as recommending avoiding a Google account altogether (I do).

Re: Ask HN: How do I get my Google account back?

#13

Post by Titan2189 »

>> "I had to replace my fried router twice within the span of 2 days"

That should not cause your IP address to change. Either you have a static IP and always get that static IP assigned to your account (which you'd know as you'd likely pay for that). Or 'replacing the router' is just seen as 'connecting to the internet' from your ISP's point of view. So from Google's POV you're connecting from the regular region that your home connection always is from. I know it doesn't help, but I'm pretty sure whatever you're facing isn't because of your home router issues.

Re: Ask HN: How do I get my Google account back?

#14

Post by OJFord »

Titan2189 wrote: post #13

>> "I had to replace my fried router twice within the span of 2 days" That should not cause your IP address to change. Either you have a static IP and always get that static IP assigned to your account (which you'd know as you'd likely pay for that). Or 'replacing the router' is just seen as 'connecting to the internet' from your ISP's point of view. So from Google's POV you're connecting from the regular region that…

ISP sees a new MAC address; it's perhaps quite likely that if you don't have a static IP it'd change on router replacement.

Re: Ask HN: How do I get my Google account back?

#16

Post by franzunix »

mkbkn wrote: post #4

I had similar issue - I know the passwords, the recovery email but does not have a phone number associated with it. I can't login. Thankfully, that Google account has no important data. Only thing you can try is to use the same device and browser and this time, use your mobile internet to access it (if not done already). This might have 1% extra chance of success but there's no guarantee. Google's AI (or the engineer…

What email service are you using ? What about google photos replacement ? Thanks

Re: Ask HN: How do I get my Google account back?

#17

Post by franzunix »

einpoklum wrote: post #11

> Is there a way I can recover my account? I assume you tried contacting Google's online support and got nowhere. Try writing Google a _physical_ letter. Maybe even make it registered mail. In your letter, ask them sternly to make either the account or a dump of its contents available to you. Explain that, since it is of extremely importance for your personal and professional life, they must understand you will use a…

What email service are you using ?

Re: Ask HN: How do I get my Google account back?

#18

Post by kevincox »

Titan2189 wrote: post #13

>> "I had to replace my fried router twice within the span of 2 days" That should not cause your IP address to change. Either you have a static IP and always get that static IP assigned to your account (which you'd know as you'd likely pay for that). Or 'replacing the router' is just seen as 'connecting to the internet' from your ISP's point of view. So from Google's POV you're connecting from the regular region that…

It absolutely could. I usually get a new IP when I reboot my router.

Re: Ask HN: How do I get my Google account back?

#19

Post by sigmoid10 »

OJFord wrote: post #14
Titan2189 wrote: post #13

>> "I had to replace my fried router twice within the span of 2 days" That should not cause your IP address to change. Either you have a static IP and always get that static IP assigned to your account (which you'd know as you'd likely pay for that). Or 'replacing the router' is just seen as 'connecting to the internet' from your ISP's point of view. So from Google's POV you're connecting from the regular region that…

ISP sees a new MAC address; it's perhaps quite likely that if you don't have a static IP it'd change on router replacement.

Could also just be plain bad luck. Dynamic IPs are given out based on availability. So you could stick with one for months if you keep your connection active and then just happen to lose it during one of the moments you unplugged the router. To google this would seem like a static IP that suddenly changed.

Re: Ask HN: How do I get my Google account back?

#20

Post by Dayshine »

franciscop wrote: post #15

I wonder if you are in Europe or somehow related? Would anyone know of any success case where you can GDPR them to receive all the data associated to you in this way? It's not "your account", but at least might give you your data back.

And an interesting follow-up: Would this not continue to apply in an ongoing basis?

Just because you've lost access doesn't mean your gmail doesn't continue to receive emails, and if those emails are considered personal data, what stops you continuing to send data access requests to help yourself migrate?

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