I'm in a bit of a jam. Earlier today, I got a warning from Apple's Passwords app about my Gmail password being compromised, so I quickly decided to reset it. I used Apple's 'Generate Strong Password' feature but ran into an issue: the new password didn't save in the Passwords app, and now I have no idea what it is, leaving me completely locked out of my Gmail account.
Here's where it gets tricky: when I attempt to recover my account, Google asks for my verified phone number (which I can access). It sends an SMS verification code that I enter correctly, but then I get a message saying, "You're already signed in on another device or browser. After 6 hours, check your email on your other devices or browsers for a link to help you sign in here." The problem is, I'm not signed in anywhere else that I can get to, so I can't get the recovery link.
Has anyone experienced this 6-hour delay before? Is there a way to speed up the recovery process or bypass this? This Gmail is tied to some important accounts, and I'm feeling quite stressed about it. Any help would be appreciated!
2 Answers
First things first, what browser are you using? If it's not Safari, check if the password manager for that browser saved it somewhere else. I've seen Apple's password manager sometimes create new entries rather than just saving over the old one. Also, if your password was actually compromised, there might be a chance that someone is still logged into your account. Is there a way to sign out everywhere from your account? And lastly, do you have an Android device that's linked to your 2FA? Sometimes you can get a prompt to confirm through that device.
It sounds really frustrating! Unfortunately, that 6-hour delay is pretty common in these recovery situations. Your best bet might be to try clearing your browser cache or using a different browser to see if that changes anything. If you have another email associated with your Google account, try checking there for any recovery links too. If all else fails, you might just have to wait it out or contact Google support directly for help.
I used Safari to change the password, and it opened in an in-app tab, so it should have been done through Safari. I don't think the account was compromised yet; I just changed it because of the warning. No suspicious activity was recorded. I also don’t have an Android device for 2FA. I’m only using my phone number for verification, which makes it odd that I can get the SMS code but Google doesn't recognize me after that.