You’ve opened your present. It’s a mobile phone. You switched it on. It asked you to log in with your existing credentials. You tried several passwords. No joy. You realised it has been so long since you had to log on with your credentials you’ve forgotten the password or your user ID.
It’s okay, you try a password reset. But, hang on, the link to reset the password will be sent to your old email address. You don’t have access to it anymore. You try the ‘send a text’ option. The mobile number registered against the account is also an old one. You no longer have access to that either.
Sound familiar? Whether it’s your Apple ID, Samsung, Yahoo, or Gmail account, without keeping your contact information up to date this could be you.
What Can You Do?
There may be security questions associated with your account e.g. your first pet’s name. Make sure these are up to date.
Having an alternative email address is required should you wish to reset the password/user ID for your primary email address. This will give you an alternative address for your provider to send reset requests.
Automatic Backups
Most devices have an option to automatically back up your device contents. Ensure this is switched on. If additional storage space is required to back up your device, you’ll find the monthly charges are small for the increase in space provided. For example, Apple charge 79p per month for 50Gb of storage. You can store any data not just your backups.
If your details are up to date and automatic backups are switched on then, should your device break, be lost, get stolen or you decide to upgrade, it is a relatively straightforward task to log in to your new device and restore missing data and apps.
Use ID and Password Recovery
Your account User ID and password can be recovered by following the instructions from your provider. Additional steps may be required if you have two-factor authentication enabled.
Links to instructions for the most common providers are listed below.
Account Recovery
Problems arise when you cannot easily recover your account. If you are unable to answer the security questions or do not have a suitable method for receiving recovery requests, then, unfortunately, you may not be able to recover your account.
A number of providers may give you the option to submit a form or request to recover your account. Once submitted, their response could take days or weeks. In some cases, unless they can help, you may not get a response.
Summary
Keeping recovery information up to date for your accounts is important. Consider using a password manager to help manage all your online account user IDs and passwords. Look out for a blog article covering password managers early in 2021.
For any support, help, advice, configuration, setup, or issue resolution with your Christmas tech gifts or purchases visit darleydigital.co.uk, email info@darleydigital.co.uk or call the numbers below.