[david422]

I created a gmail account in 2004 and then completely forgot about it. Just last week I realized that I had registered that account. I went to the forgot my password page, and it prompted for the last password I remembered using, which I took a guess at. It told me that wasn't enough information to recover the account, and that was it, because I didn't have a backup phone, email etc. attached.

But then I thought- what if I just try that password to login. And it worked.

So when I thought I had forgotten my password, gmail prompted me for a piece of information that I got correct, and then wouldn't accept it.

I also have another email account that forwards all mail to my main account, but I've definitely forgotten that password, and I have no way to actually get back into that account, even though I've tried. I guess it just forwards mail forever.

[roywiggins]

> I guess it just forwards mail forever.

Probably not forever:

https://www.npr.org/2023/11/27/1215285876/google-inactive-ac...

[firefax]

They don't follow that policy. I tried to re-register the account I lost access to, thinking while I might not have access to the data, folks reaching out to my old email would be seen -- it told me the account still exists.

So I can't reclaim it, but can't get in either.

[Izkata]

I got a notification a month or so ago for an email I'd completely forgotten about, apparently last used around 2005 or 2006, that it would be deleted in a few months if I didn't log in. It seems haphazard but they do seem to be doing it.

[firefax]

I hope they do, I'd love to regrab the name.