Learn why your account recovery request is delayed
If you have requested help recovering your Google Account, it may take some time before you can regain access. Learn why there may be a delay.
Features are subject to availability. The steps may look different depending on your device.
Why is recovery delayed?
After you have taken the steps to recover your account, you may see a note that your account is protected by a security hold. This delay provides an extra layer of security to help protect against account hijacking.
Tip: If you're signed into your Google Account on a different device than the one you're using for account recovery, change devices and try the recovery process again.
How delays protect your account
This delay on your request helps Google protect you in two key ways:
- Google uses contact information such as your recovery phone and email to notify you that the recovery request has been made, and gives you the duration of the delay to see and respond to the alert. That way, if someone else is trying to log in to your account, you can deny the request and keep your account safe.
- Google waits to see if you successfully log in during the delay, and cancels the request from a potential hijacker.
How long will the delay last?
Your account recovery request may be delayed from 6 hours to 30 days, depending on the level of risk Google has determined based on a variety of factors. If you added more layers of security protection, like 2-Step Verification, things might take a little longer.
Finish account recovery
If at the end of the delay period Google determines you are the account owner, you’ll get an email with a link to reset your password. This link will expire in 7 days, so make sure to reset your password within the time period.
Be sure to create a strong password and don’t repeat one you’ve used on your Google Account before. Learn more about how to create strong passwords.
Avoid future account recovery delays
No one wants to be locked out of their account, and there are some steps you can take to avoid losing access or having your request delayed:
- Keep your contact information, such as your recovery email and phone up-to-date.
- If you use 2-Step Verification, generate and safely store your backup codes, or add a Security Key.
Learn more about setting up 2-Step Verification and backup options.
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