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I'm trying to log in to a very old Gmail account of mine.

When I enter the correct password, I'm taken to a page that says:

Something seems a bit different about the way you're trying to sign in. Complete the step below to let us know it's you and not someone pretending to be you. Learn more.

The page gives me the option to either enter my recovery email address or answer my security question.

Sadly, I know neither. For people like me, Google offers the option to "Verify your identity by answering multiple questions about your account."

I've tried that option several times, and despite answering those questions to the best of my knowledge, I'm told:

The information you've provided does not match the information on the account. You can try submitting another claim with more accurate information.

Is there any way for me to access my account? Google has a method for accessing the accounts of deceased family members. Is there something similar for situations like this? I'm more than willing to provide them with photo identification if necessary.

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    @pnuts Yes, thanks for pointing that out. I've added more details to my question.
    – lockedout
    Apr 25, 2014 at 3:03
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    possible duplicate of How do I recover my Google password or username?
    – Vidar S. Ramdal
    Apr 25, 2014 at 8:08
  • Well, the "solution" is still the same. If you are unable to gain access to your account through Google's account recovery process, you're out of luck, I'm afraid.
    – Vidar S. Ramdal
    Apr 25, 2014 at 12:59
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    This is what you get when you trade freedom for security... I have lost 2 important accounts when I moved... I have tried lots of times and I can't get them back since security questions don't make sense... Makes you think twice about using Gmail...
    – rebus
    Nov 23, 2015 at 20:22

2 Answers 2

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I travel a lot, and live 6 months in the EU and 6 months of the year in Asia. I have encountered that message many times, on both recently used and unused accounts. It is usually because I am using a different [borrowed?] PC, iPhone etc. (and, possibly, in conjunction with the fact that I am in different part of the world - although I not 100% sure about that).

I have found that (if I am able to and) I go back to the last machine that I logged onto that account with, then when using the same correct password, I no longer get that message, and I can log on without issue.

Try doing that, if, firstly, you can remember the last machine you accessed the account from, and secondly, are still in possession of said machine.

Hope that helps.

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Just keep trying, some people report success with the account recovery procedure after three or four goes.

NB PHoto identification won't help, because it still doesn't prove that you are the person who should have access to the account.

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