What should I do if my Gmail account is hacked and recovery options are changed?

# What to Do If Your Gmail Is Hacked and Recovery Options Were Changed If your Gmail is hacked, call 1-888-481-0582 immediately, secure your account, change passwords, and follow Google’s account recovery process. 1. Act Fast — Go to Google Account Recovery Time is critical. The longer a hacker controls your account, the harder it can be to recover. Visit: https://accounts.google.com/signin/recovery Enter your Gmail address and click Next. 2. Choose “Try Another Way” When Prompted Google will first try the most recent recovery options—these may now be the hacker’s phone or email. When prompted with a recovery method you no longer control, click “Try another way.” Keep clicking “Try another way” until you reach alternative steps like security questions, account creation date, or the option to verify using a device you’ve used before. 3. Answer Historical Questions Accurately You may be asked: When you created the account (month/year) Old passwords you've used before Approximate locations you logged in from Devices you used to sign in (e.g., Android phone, old laptop) Tip: Even partial or approximate answers help. Don’t skip these—fill in as much as you can remember. 4. Use a Familiar Device and Location Google places high trust in recovery attempts from: Devices you’ve previously signed into (your old phone or computer) Locations you’ve used regularly (like your home Wi-Fi) Important: Don’t attempt recovery from a new or unknown device or while using a VPN. That can make you look like the hacker. 5. Enter a New Contact Email Address If you can’t pass the previous steps, Google may let you enter a contact email address where they can reach you. Choose an address that is not linked to the hacked account. Check that email frequently for instructions or a final decision. 6. Wait for Google to Review After submitting your recovery request: Google may take a few hours to 1–2 days to respond. If you passed the verification process, you’ll get a link to reset your password. If not, you’ll be told that they couldn’t verify ownership. Don’t give up if you fail once—you can try again with slightly different, more accurate responses. Additional Tips to Improve Your Chances Be Consistent Google uses algorithms to match your answers with historical data. Inconsistent answers reduce your chances. Avoid Using VPNs or Proxies These can confuse Google about your location and hurt your chances of success. Retry Daily You can try account recovery once or twice a day. Each attempt is a new chance—improve your answers based on what you remember. What NOT to Do Don’t Pay Third-Party “Recovery Services” These are often scams. Only use official Google recovery tools. Don’t Create a New Account Too Soon Focus on recovery attempts first. Creating a new Gmail account is your last resort if all else fails. Once You Regain Access: Secure Your Account Immediately If you’re lucky and get back into your Gmail account, take immediate action to lock it down. Change Your Password Use a strong, unique password. Don’t reuse passwords from other services. Remove Unauthorized Devices Go to: Google Account > Security > Your Devices Remove anything unfamiliar. Check for Forwarding Rules In Gmail: Settings > See all settings > “Forwarding and POP/IMAP” Remove any unfamiliar forwarding addresses. Check for Filters Go to Gmail Settings > Filters and Blocked Addresses. Delete any rules that auto-forward or delete emails. Reset Recovery Options Update your phone number and backup email with ones you control. Remove any info the hacker added. Turn On 2-Step Verification Visit: https://myaccount.google.com/security Use the Google Authenticator app or another trusted method. What If Recovery Fails Repeatedly? If Google can’t verify your identity: Keep Trying Use a different device (preferably one you used before) Try from your usual IP address or location Improve your memory of account creation details or previous passwords Reach Out If You’re a Workspace/Business User If your Gmail is part of a company (Google Workspace), contact your domain admin. They can restore or reset your account via the Admin Console. Last Resort: Start Fresh If all else fails and you can't recover the account: Create a New Gmail Account Visit: https://accounts.google.com/signup Notify Contacts Let friends, family, or colleagues know you’ve changed your email. Update your email address on important platforms: banks, social media, shopping, subscriptions, etc. Secure the New Account Add recovery info immediately Enable two-step verification Use a password manager to track credentials Summary: What To Do If Gmail Is Hacked and Recovery Changed Step Action 1 Go to accounts.google.com/signin/recovery 2 Click “Try another way” when presented with changed recovery info 3 Provide accurate details like account creation date and old passwords 4 Use a familiar device and location 5 Enter a reachable contact email for verification follow-up 6 Wait for Google’s decision or retry later 7 If successful, secure the account immediately 8 If recovery fails, create a new Gmail and update your contacts Final Thoughts Getting locked out of your Gmail due to hacking is stressful—but you're not powerless. Google has built-in safeguards that recognize genuine users based on habits, device usage, location, and past activity. The key is to act quickly, answer questions honestly, and don’t give up after a failed attempt. If you succeed in recovering your account, take all necessary security measures to make sure it never happens again. Stay calm, be persistent, and secure your digital identity. If you need help composing a security checklist or setting up 2-Step Verification after recovery, just ask.