Locked out of 14 year old YouTube channel because tied to Hotmail.com email

23 pointsGengar1y ago21 comments

I have a 14 year old YouTube channel that was linked to a Google account but it uses a Hotmail Address. I know the password but it keeps asking for 2FA phone number, I made the account years ago so obviously I don't have the number or even know what that number is! Without number it says open another device with that account, I don't have have one since its 14 years old!

I only lost access recently, I thought this YouTube was tied to actual my Gmail but it turns out I was only brand manager and I lost access when trying to merge them. Ironic this all happened because I actually wanted to give them money for YouTube Premium and now losing my channel of 14 years makes me not want to use the platform at all. Is my account lost forever since Google offer zero support?

21 comments

dusted1y ago

I know the tinfoilhats won't like this, but it should be a human right to have some kind of guaranteed access to an email account, something where, if you lose access, you can show up at an authority and identify yourself to have access restored.

It's absolutely insane that we're at the mercy of the likes of google for what is de-facto a requirement for life. Paying for it at something like proton-mail does not change the fact that you've got pretty much no legal right to get your access restored in a timely fashion.

This is vital infrastructure, and it should be offered and run by the state. I'm fine with people opting not to use it, I'd be fine with people paying extra for it over tag. But damn I hate the current situation.

vmfunction1y ago

And how did email become the defacto verification method. 2FA like TOTP/Security Key should be. It can be used offline and no connections to shady corporations.

ams921y ago

For many people SMS or emails with tokens are already pushing their technological capabilities. Might even go as far to say most people.

Eddy_Viscosity21y ago

This would only work if you used your real name to open the email account in the first place. I doubt I could show up to a microsoft office and say "No really, this in my email account, I know my ID doesn't say Luke Skywalker, its just I thought it would be a super cool name to go with lightsaber843@hotmail.com.

FrostKiwi1y ago

> since Google offer zero support?

For non-partners, they effectively offer zero support. However, their support team on Twitter [1] is very active and helped me out in a pinch when I struck due to a fauly content bot on the (non-google) imgur.com influencing a YouTube content check and leading to community strike on YouTube[2], which support didn't want to do anything about.

[1] https://x.com/TeamYouTube [2] https://x.com/FrostKiwiOne/status/1704737522449035634

demeanor1y ago

2FA is the source of all evil

blueappconfig1y ago

hotmail accounts are still accessable by logging in using Outlook, in case you didn't know

GengarOP1y ago

This is a Google account with a hotmail email address and I know the password. The actual hotmail account itself can't help me in this instance.

poglet1y ago

Sorry to hear about this issue, I hope you can get your account back.

If anyone has any old accounts with services that support MFA, enable MFA. You can get locked out with no way of getting back in.

Here is a similar issue where you could get locked out of Apple accounts if you didn't have MFA: https://www.reddit.com/r/applehelp/comments/bl7cis/how_to_fi...

TekMol1y ago

    I made the account years ago so obviously
    I don't have the number or even know what
    that number is

Can you elaborate? How is that obvious?

poglet1y ago

Enforcing MFA or registering with phone numbers wasn't required on email accounts back in the day.

TMWNN1y ago

Irrelevant. Gengar obviously registered a phone number at some point. It's one thing to ask for help, but another for him to be outraged over something that was and in his control.

2 more replies

ClassyJacket1y ago

Can you not unlock the hotmail account by providing ID to Microsoft??

GengarOP1y ago

The actual hotmail email was hacked years ago but doesn't matter in this case, I have a Google account that uses a hotmail email address and I know the password.

TMWNN1y ago

>I made the account years ago so obviously I don't have the number or even know what that number is!

Why is it "obvious" that you don't have/know the number? My Microsoft, Apple, Google, Amazon, and Yahoo accounts are all much older than that, and long ago I made sure to add multiple access and recovery options.

I hope you regain access. But consider this a learning moment, as opposed to wringing your hands over something you claim is out of your control.

amelius1y ago

> and now losing my channel of 14 years makes me not want to use the platform at all.

That solves your problem then.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

21 comments

dusted1y ago

vmfunction1y ago

And how did email become the defacto verification method. 2FA like TOTP/Security Key should be. It can be used offline and no connections to shady corporations.

ams921y ago

For many people SMS or emails with tokens are already pushing their technological capabilities. Might even go as far to say most people.

Eddy_Viscosity21y ago

FrostKiwi1y ago

> since Google offer zero support?

[1] https://x.com/TeamYouTube [2] https://x.com/FrostKiwiOne/status/1704737522449035634

demeanor1y ago

2FA is the source of all evil

blueappconfig1y ago

hotmail accounts are still accessable by logging in using Outlook, in case you didn't know

GengarOP1y ago

This is a Google account with a hotmail email address and I know the password. The actual hotmail account itself can't help me in this instance.

poglet1y ago

Sorry to hear about this issue, I hope you can get your account back.

If anyone has any old accounts with services that support MFA, enable MFA. You can get locked out with no way of getting back in.

Here is a similar issue where you could get locked out of Apple accounts if you didn't have MFA: https://www.reddit.com/r/applehelp/comments/bl7cis/how_to_fi...

TekMol1y ago

    I made the account years ago so obviously
    I don't have the number or even know what
    that number is

Can you elaborate? How is that obvious?

poglet1y ago

Enforcing MFA or registering with phone numbers wasn't required on email accounts back in the day.

TMWNN1y ago

Irrelevant. Gengar obviously registered a phone number at some point. It's one thing to ask for help, but another for him to be outraged over something that was and in his control.

2 more replies

ClassyJacket1y ago

Can you not unlock the hotmail account by providing ID to Microsoft??

GengarOP1y ago

The actual hotmail email was hacked years ago but doesn't matter in this case, I have a Google account that uses a hotmail email address and I know the password.

TMWNN1y ago

>I made the account years ago so obviously I don't have the number or even know what that number is!

I hope you regain access. But consider this a learning moment, as opposed to wringing your hands over something you claim is out of your control.

amelius1y ago

> and now losing my channel of 14 years makes me not want to use the platform at all.

That solves your problem then.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse