Traveling, locked out of email, any ideas? (gmail, wifi, how to)

[Amontillado]

I'm away from home and I've been locked out of email accounts. Perhaps if I'd planned better I could have prevented this, but has anyone got an idea for what to do now?

The account I use most often is on Yahoo, but I have Gmail too, and I have a couple of accounts on each. What I've done for verification purposes is cross-link the two together, which has worked until now. But now I'm finding that I'm equally locked out of both services, and neither will recognize me without a code set to the other. Naturally, any "Help" page that they offer sends you around in circles, and offers various things you can't do "For your security". So, any help would be appreciated.

[prospectheightsresident]

Are you also logged onto Google/Yahoo on your cell phone?

I ask because I've often been able to authenticate this way. Even if you're traveling abroad and don't have data/cell service, if you're connected to wifi somewhere this may be an option still.

[heavymind]

Maddening. I feel your pain, OP, and have a similar setup. I occasionally get locked out of my accounts due to this, especially when cell service is down and I need a code to log in. Not cool when it involves banking or business related functions.

The technology is fallible.

[tickyul]

Oh man, that is rough.....do you have your phone listed as authorized-device where
a one-time-password can be sent?

I believe calling both Yahoo and Google customer-support will work, they can assist you in
getting into your account.

[Amontillado]

Thanks for the replies, but they came after I got home having failed to solve the problem, and now everything is back to normal. No, I never registered my phone and that very likely would have dealt with the issue. There's also some kind of procedure for getting your computer set as a "trusted device", but I haven't managed to find out how to do it.

I very much doubt if customer service is available. It's probably a bunch of automated menus that do nothing except waste time (our usual expectations in the modern world).

[Chas863]

Originally Posted by Amontillado

Thanks for the replies, but they came after I got home having failed to solve the problem, and now everything is back to normal. No, I never registered my phone and that very likely would have dealt with the issue. There's also some kind of procedure for getting your computer set as a "trusted device", but I haven't managed to find out how to do it.

I very much doubt if customer service is available. It's probably a bunch of automated menus that do nothing except waste time (our usual expectations in the modern world).

Here is an idea that might help:

On your computer, click on Settings, then click on Accounts, then click on either Email & Accounts or Sign In Options. That should get you to where you need to go to link the computer email to your cell phone... I think. Good luck.

BTW, I have no trouble at all accessing my email on my cell phone.

.

[TurcoLoco]

Originally Posted by Amontillado

Thanks for the replies, but they came after I got home having failed to solve the problem, and now everything is back to normal. No, I never registered my phone and that very likely would have dealt with the issue. There's also some kind of procedure for getting your computer set as a "trusted device", but I haven't managed to find out how to do it.

I very much doubt if customer service is available. It's probably a bunch of automated menus that do nothing except waste time (our usual expectations in the modern world).

The procedure will depend on what type of phone you have (iPhone/Android).
Typically, when you connect the phone to the computer using the appropriate cable, both devices will prompt you whether you trust the other or not (for access).
So, it is a 2-way trust. There are a ton of articles on the net showing the procedure, just a web search away.