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> It is virtually impossible to login to an old Google account for which you never set a recovery phone number Define impossible? If you've forgotten the old p

> It is virtually impossible to login to an old Google account for which you never set a recovery phone number Define impossible? If you've forgotten the old password obviously you can't get in. I don't see why it would otherwise be impossible.

lawn 3y ago
Clearly you haven't done this yourself, because it's not enough with just your password.
- flangola7 3y ago
  So what happens? If there's not a backup phone number or email set, what could they possibly ask for beyond the password?
  - bassdart 3y ago
    They ask for your current mobile number -- at least in germany and without any anonymization beside standard browser configuration like e.g. uBlock Origin. So it's simply to suck in numbers. I have not tried if they ask for more data after giving a phone number and so I can't log into two google/youtube test accounts any more since a few years.
    - jacekm 3y ago
      The phone number is the last step, at least it was for me. I had luck with virtual phone numbers, not the freely available ones, but paid apps like e.g. Vyke.
    - flangola7 3y ago
      So what happens after you use Chrome and type in your number?
SamBam 3y ago
Because Google can unilaterally reject valid credentials if it doesn't feel it's certain it's you. Although I can see why this would be impossible if you have a phone number set that you no longer own. I'm not sure what exactly Google would ask for if you never had a phone number set.
- headsman771 3y ago
  I never gave a recovery phone number for any of my accounts. While they regularly ask for one to improve my security, I've never given one and they continue to accept my logins from all over the US as well as granting some apps (thunderbird) access to the account. I do however get notifications on my phone asking if the login was me.
- duskwuff 3y ago
  > Because Google can unilaterally reject valid credentials if it doesn't feel it's certain it's you. Unbelievably, this even includes rejecting credentials for a non-GMail Google account, even after the user has clicked a link to confirm ownership of the email account the account is associated with. Ask me how I know!
epc 3y ago
I have an ancient alternate identity Yahoo account which I used as the recovery account when I created a similarly named Gmail account. Have used each every few months. Each specifies the other as the recovery or backup account. Neither has 2FA set up because I did not want to tie my cell phone to the identity. I am now locked out of both accounts because…each sends a second factor code to the other. It isn't a huge loss to me…though recruiters trying to recruit the related but obviously fake LinkedIn profile may be saddened to never get a reply. I totally understand why Google, Yahoo, and others are purging inactive accounts. Between GDPR and widespread account takeovers it's an expensive nuisance (and if the account is "inactive" then it's not generating meager advertising revenue to pay for the nuisance).

lawn 3y ago

Clearly you haven't done this yourself, because it's not enough with just your password.

flangola7 3y ago
So what happens? If there's not a backup phone number or email set, what could they possibly ask for beyond the password?
- bassdart 3y ago
  They ask for your current mobile number -- at least in germany and without any anonymization beside standard browser configuration like e.g. uBlock Origin. So it's simply to suck in numbers. I have not tried if they ask for more data after giving a phone number and so I can't log into two google/youtube test accounts any more since a few years.
  - jacekm 3y ago
    The phone number is the last step, at least it was for me. I had luck with virtual phone numbers, not the freely available ones, but paid apps like e.g. Vyke.
  - flangola7 3y ago
    So what happens after you use Chrome and type in your number?

SamBam 3y ago

Because Google can unilaterally reject valid credentials if it doesn't feel it's certain it's you. Although I can see why this would be impossible if you have a phone number set that you no longer own. I'm not sure what exactly Google would ask for if you never had a phone number set.

headsman771 3y ago
I never gave a recovery phone number for any of my accounts. While they regularly ask for one to improve my security, I've never given one and they continue to accept my logins from all over the US as well as granting some apps (thunderbird) access to the account. I do however get notifications on my phone asking if the login was me.
duskwuff 3y ago
> Because Google can unilaterally reject valid credentials if it doesn't feel it's certain it's you. Unbelievably, this even includes rejecting credentials for a non-GMail Google account, even after the user has clicked a link to confirm ownership of the email account the account is associated with. Ask me how I know!

epc 3y ago

I have an ancient alternate identity Yahoo account which I used as the recovery account when I created a similarly named Gmail account. Have used each every few months. Each specifies the other as the recovery or backup account. Neither has 2FA set up because I did not want to tie my cell phone to the identity. I am now locked out of both accounts because…each sends a second factor code to the other. It isn't a huge loss to me…though recruiters trying to recruit the related but obviously fake LinkedIn profile may be saddened to never get a reply. I totally understand why Google, Yahoo, and others are purging inactive accounts. Between GDPR and widespread account takeovers it's an expensive nuisance (and if the account is "inactive" then it's not generating meager advertising revenue to pay for the nuisance).