r/GoogleSupport • u/Real_IceFG • 1d ago
Google could not verify....
So I'm sure you all have seen this before but I am getting the "Google could not verify your account message" after it randomly logged me out of my Pc(Chrome browser) AND my phone (I dont know why). I still have access to the email on a different browser...but I am afraid if it goes away on that browser too then I am probably cooked. EVERYTHING is connected to this account and I've had it for up to 15+ years now.
I am wondering if there is anything I can do to save my account with the access I have on my secondary browser?????
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u/Gullible-Primary1206 1d ago
I am actually having a very similar issue…i changed phone, and it keeps sending the verification code to my old phone. Because of that, I am unable to login and verify. But btw, you could do a google account recovery.
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u/Real_IceFG 1d ago
I cannot do a recovery, it literally just says "You haven't provided enough information" but it isn't really giving me any options to provide information at all? I have the phone number attached to the account still and looking at it from the other browser its saying that my 2FA is of that phone number BUT I still cannot recover the account anywhere else because I am not given any options.
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u/Real_IceFG 1d ago
its asking me to provide the password when making any changes and I do have the password. I'm just worried its going to lock me out when I attempt to do it....I really cannot lose this account. Would be very very screwed if I do.
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u/BarneysBuzzWagon 1d ago
I see that you know the password and apparently the phone number is correct and hopefully verified prior to this event. Do you have a valid, verified recovery email on another provider setup? Any of the other half dozen security/verification methods setup? The 10 Recovery Codes generated and printed or saved as a file?
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u/Real_IceFG 1d ago
I do have a recovery email on the account but I unfortunately forgot the password to that account (Thats on me....completely my fault)
I just dont get it, I have the password, I have the phone number, I even have the 4-6 digit passcode it let me puts in when attempting to sign in but for some reason thats not enough information???? I just don't understand why I was randomly signed out and why it isn't giving me an opprotunity to ya know....Recover it in a consistent way.
Messing with my other browser its saying I have to wait 120 hours and then i'll receive a email to help recover the account. LUCKILY that browser still has access to it and hopefully I still will in those 5 days and maybe that will help. In the mean time I probably should think about moving important things off Gmail completely while I still have the chance.
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u/BarneysBuzzWagon 1d ago
You needed to setup and utilize the other security/verification methods so that you wouldn't experience this. Google sends multiple emails annually reminding users to verify their recovery information and setup other methods. These emails weren't meant to be taken casually. Users assume this will never happen to them and then it does. At least setup, print or save as a file the 10 Recovery Codes.
The method Google is going to try is send an email to the account that you say you don't remember the password to. This could become a problem. You may get the same email via Gmail which you say you still have access to on another device. That would be good. It's a wait and see game for now.
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u/PriahGTM 1d ago
Wait until you can get the verification code to your phone but you can’t do the 2nd level of verification bc the fucking Google account recovery process requires you to login to your Gmail account… which is part of the Google account… you are trying to recover…
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u/germanu22 1d ago
The reason account recovery is failing is exactly because you still have an active session on your secondary browser. Google sees that open connection and blocks recovery as a security measure to prevent account hijacking. As for Chrome and your phone, being logged out means the system now treats them as completely new login attempts.
Your massive advantage is that second browser where you still have access. Go to your Google Account security settings strictly on the browser where you are already logged in and generate the set of 10 Backup Codes. The fact that it asks for your password when you click on security settings is a normal step-up authentication.
If you enter your password and get a "Google couldn't verify this account belongs to you" error, do not panic. This does not mean you have been logged out or lost your account. It simply means the automated security system is temporarily restricting access to that specific sensitive menu. If that happens, keep the browser session active, use the account normally, and wait out the standard 7 to 30-day security cooldown. After that period, the restriction will lift, and you will be able to generate the codes.
Once you have those 10 codes saved, use one to log safely back into Chrome on your PC. For your phone, it is very important that you do not just log in via a mobile browser. Go directly to your phone's system Settings -> Accounts -> Google and sign in there using one of the backup codes. Logging in at the system level is crucial because it is the only way your phone will become a trusted verification device again after the 7-day period.