Account Recovery Issues

Users share stories of losing access to online accounts due to outdated or inaccessible recovery emails, phone numbers, or verification methods, and debate challenges in regaining access via password resets or support.

📉 Falling 0.2x Security
3,553
Comments
20
Years Active
5
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#8721
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Keywords

FB gmail.com EA ycombinator.com POP changed.so IMAP InstagramUsername UI IP email account password reset access phone number email address recover log imap

Sample Comments

sparknlaunch12 May 23, 2012 View on HN

I have heard this happening a few times. However I thought you can register a mobile number to help resetting your account password?

BenjiWiebe Oct 7, 2023 View on HN

A friend of mine lost access to an email account of theirs, even though they remembered the username and password, since the IP address changed and the recovery methods weren't accessible any more (old phone number).

snikch Oct 12, 2012 View on HN

It loses your email address if you don't enter your password :(

Slay0 Jan 14, 2026 View on HN

thats so stupid actually it happened to me yesterday and to two of my friends and he changed recovery mail and I cant reset it or do any shit

cute_boi Sep 9, 2023 View on HN

Many account don't log in because of security issue. They start to ask recovery email which I have forgotten or phone number that I don't have access anymore.

plasma May 1, 2021 View on HN

You could try doing an account recovery (leverage that email) and just change it to something else.

woleium Aug 24, 2024 View on HN

surely you can just reset your password with the same email and regain access to your account?

101008 Mar 5, 2024 View on HN

I panicked the same. Even when I tried to recover my password, it said my email address wasn't associated to any account. I thought I lost it forever

sujatha Jun 20, 2013 View on HN

my primary email was removed and info also changed.so there s no chance to access my account.please anyone help me.

hawkoy Oct 20, 2020 View on HN

As a user, I recently deleted x account. I used login with x on a few services and now I can't access them anymore.This situation is solvable by implementing forget password and storing user's email but many services don't and with a system similar to apple's where you mask the email or phone number, you can't do anything.