Question:

How can I recover an email account that is inaccessible on an old tablet and has a forgotten password?

I have an email account that I can only access on an old tablet that barely works. When I try to open the email app, it either says “syncing email” endlessly or shows an error message. I don’t remember the password for the email account and I can’t reset it because Google doesn’t recognize me as the owner. I have another email account with a similar name, but that doesn’t help. I’m desperate to get back my email account, but I don’t know how. Is there any way to recover it without resorting to hacking or going to Google HQ?

Answer:

If you have an email account that you can only access on an old tablet that barely works, you might be in a frustrating situation. You might need to access your emails for personal or professional reasons, but you can’t because your tablet is either stuck on “syncing email” or shows an error message. To make matters worse, you don’t remember the password for your email account and you can’t reset it because Google doesn’t recognize you as the owner. You have another email account with a similar name, but that doesn’t help. You’re desperate to get back your email account, but you don’t know how. Is there any way to recover it without resorting to hacking or going to Google HQ?

The answer is yes, there might be some possible solutions that you can try. However, they are not guaranteed to work and they might require some patience and technical skills. Here are some steps that you can follow to try to recover your email account:

1. Try to sync your email account on another device. If you have another device that can access the internet, such as a smartphone, a laptop, or a desktop computer, you can try to sync your email account on that device. You will need to know your email address and your password, or at least have access to a recovery phone number or email address that is linked to your account. To sync your email account on another device, follow these steps:

• Go to the [Google Account](https://myaccount.google.com/) page and sign in with your email address and password. If you don’t remember your password, click on “Forgot password?” and follow the instructions to reset it. You might need to verify your identity by entering a code that is sent to your recovery phone number or email address.
• Once you are signed in, go to the [Security](https://myaccount.google.com/security) section and scroll down to the “Your devices” section. Click on “Manage devices” and look for your old tablet. If you see it, click on it and then click on “Remove” to unlink it from your account. This might help to stop the syncing issue on your tablet and free up some space for your emails to load.
• On your other device, go to the [Gmail](https://mail.google.com/) app or website and sign in with your email address and password. You should be able to see your emails and access them normally. If you still see an error message or a syncing issue, try to clear the cache and data of the Gmail app or browser, or update the app or browser to the latest version.

2. Try to backup your email data on your old tablet. If you can’t sync your email account on another device, or if you want to keep a copy of your emails on your old tablet, you can try to backup your email data on your old tablet. You will need to have some storage space on your tablet or on an external device, such as a USB flash drive, a memory card, or a hard drive. To backup your email data on your old tablet, follow these steps:

• On your old tablet, go to the [Settings](https://support.google.com/android/answer/2819582?hl=en) app and tap on “Accounts”. Tap on your email account and then tap on “Account sync”. Make sure that the “Sync Gmail” option is turned on. This might help to sync your emails on your tablet, even if they are not loading on the app or the browser.
• On your old tablet, go to the [Files](https://support.google.com/android/answer/9064445?hl=en) app and tap on “Internal storage” or “SD card”. Look for a folder named “Gmail” or “Mail”. This folder should contain your email data, such as attachments, drafts, and labels. Tap and hold on the folder and then tap on “Copy” or “Move”. Choose a destination where you want to copy or move the folder, such as an external device or a cloud service. This will backup your email data on your old tablet and allow you to access it on another device.

3. Try to contact Google support. If none of the above steps work, or if you still can’t access your email account, you can try to contact Google support and explain your situation. You will need to have some proof that you are the owner of the account, such as a photo ID, a receipt, or a verification code. To contact Google support, follow these steps:

• Go to the [Google Account Help](https://support.google.com/accounts/?hl=en#topic=3382296) page and click on “Contact us”. Choose the option that best describes your issue, such as “Can’t sign in to your Google Account” or “Recover a deleted or hijacked account”.
• Follow the instructions on the screen and provide as much information as possible about your account and your problem. You might need to answer some security questions, enter some verification codes, or upload some documents to prove your identity.
• Wait for a response from Google support. They might be able to help you recover your email account or provide you with some alternative solutions.

These

are some of the possible ways to recover an email account that is inaccessible on an old tablet and has a forgotten password. However, they are not foolproof and they might not work for everyone. The best way to avoid losing access to your email account is to keep your password secure and updated, and to link your account to a recovery phone number or email address. You should also backup your email data regularly and sync your account on multiple devices. This way, you can ensure that you can always access your emails and stay connected.