This question is different from the suggested duplicate, How do I recover my Google (or Gmail) account, password, or username? That question was about recovering a Google account. My question is different because I went through that process and it worked however I still cannot access my 2FA menu.
Years ago while living abroad I created a secondary Google account and used the email address for online services, while forwarding incoming messages to my main account.
Recently Google sent an "Inactive Account" warning directing me to login to the secondary account in order to keep it active.
I was able to login correctly.
However during the process, I realized I no longer have the phone where the Google Authenticator app was installed, nor did I make a copy of the backup authentication codes. I do still have access to the old foreign phone number associated with the account, and can receive SMS if needed.
I want to update the phone number associated with my secondary account and the 2FA settings to use my current Google Authenticator app to ensure I'm not locked out of my account in the future and to shut down the foreign phone number which I am paying to maintain.
In my Google account, when I try to change any of the security settings, it asks me for an authenticator code, which I am unable to provide.
When I click "More ways to verify", it does not offer a verification option using the associated number or recovery address. It shows only: "Get a verification code from the Google Authenticator app."
I have searched Google support but cannot find how to verify changes to my 2FA settings by SMS or recovery address.
