How to access your Google account if you've forgotten your password

What happens if you forget your log-in details? Luckily, there's a workaround. — dpa

If you have an Android phone, you usually have to have a Google account in order to use Google services. For example, you need a username and password if you want to buy apps, books or movies from the Google Play Store. But what can you do if you've forgotten both?

According to the consumer portal Mobilsicher.de: First you have to search for your username in your mobile phone. To do this, you can tap on "Accounts" in the settings – this is sometimes also called "Users & Accounts" or "Cloud and Accounts"

An overview of all accounts linked to the mobile phone will then appear. Under the entry "Google" you will find your username – an email address, usually with the extension "@gmail.com".

Next, open your browser – preferably separately on your laptop or computer – and go to the Google page.

There you click on "Login" in the upper right corner and enter your username. Then click again – below where you should enter your password you can click on "Forgot password."

Depending on your settings, there are different options: Google can now send a message to another email address or to the mobile phone associated with the account.

Sometimes there is one more security step – asking you to confirm on your phone that you're trying to access your account from a computer. – dpa