Can you recover an old Gmail account

by Kriss Lee Keyquery

Since its initial introduction on April 1, 2004, Gmail has become the world's most popular email service with nearly 1.5 billion registered users worldwide and a favourite among real estate agents. But have you ever deleted your Gmail account only to regret doing it? Well fear not, because there is a way to reverse the process as long as you act quickly.

Here is a complete guide to restore your Gmail account:

Gmail account recovery

After deleting your Gmail account, Google only gives you two to three weeks to recover the account before it is unrecoverable.

The first step begins on the Google account help page. You can find it at https://accounts.google.com/signin/recovery. From there, scroll down to see the "Follow the steps to recover your account" link. Click on the link and it will take you to a web page called "Account Recovery". From there, enter the email address or phone number associated with your deleted Gmail account and click "Next."

Next, you will be asked for the password for the Gmail account you are trying to recover. Then press "Next".

You should receive a confirmation showing that you are logged in. Click the Continue button and you will see the account creation page for you to restore your email address.

Finally, open Gmail.com in your web browser. If you followed all the steps correctly, you should be able to log into your account and open your inbox with little to no data loss.

Additional steps for two-factor authentication

Remember that if you provided a phone number for your deleted Gmail account, Google may ask you to take some additional steps to recover your account. This process will only work if your lost Gmail account also has a backup email address associated with it.

Make sure you have the Gmail app on your smartphone, as the two-factor authentication process will require it.

The two-factor process begins after you are asked to enter your password. You will be taken to another web page. There, you will be asked to provide your phone number associated with your old Gmail account.

Next, go to the Gmail app on your phone and look for a push notification asking if you are trying to recover your account. Select "Yes" and then tap "send" to send a verification code to your backup email. From there, go back to your computer and enter the verification code that was sent to you in your browser.

Once complete, you will need to create a new "strong" password for your account. Your new password must be ten characters long, include a number and a special character, and contain uppercase and lowercase letters.

Gmail recovery when you forgot your password

If you didn't have two-factor authentication enabled with your Gmail account, or if you don't remember your password, you may still be able to recover it. However, it will be a longer and more complicated process.

In the Google account recovery box, click the "Try another way" link. You will be taken to a screen that will ask you to answer your security question or to enter the creation date of the Gmail account you are trying to recover.

Afterwards, your recovery request will be sent to Google. Now you will have to wait (Google estimates between six and twelve hours) to receive a link that will be sent to a current email address that you provide to reset your password. Make sure to monitor your email during this time, as the application may get lost in your spam or junk folder, and will have a time limit for its use.

If Google approves your request, you should receive an email to recover your account. Go to email, click "Get Started" and change your password. You should have recovered your deleted Gmail account if you did it correctly.

Gmail recovery from an old account

Unfortunately, it is currently not possible to recover a deleted Gmail account if it has been more than a few weeks. That's why it's critical to act quickly if you think you may want to get your account back.

If you did it accidentally, you need to act as soon as possible. Keep in mind that the Technical Helpline can help you with any of your Gmail problems, or any other email challenges you have, as the Technical Helpline is always just a call or click away.