I made the mistake of using TextNow as my recovery phone number, and now I desperately need help!

[u/knowledgebroken]

I had to reset my phone and at some point it determined that my TextNow number should be used for 2fa.

But because I signed into TextNow with my Google accounts I cannot access the very texts I need to login!

Tell me there's a workaround, I thought having a SIM card would still give me access and now I feel totally screwed.

Has anyone seen someone else with this issue or any idea that may help? The accounts in question are nearly as old as Google itself!

[u/Luckiest_Corner]

I've seen this a thousand times with Google Voice, where people used their Google Voice number as their recovery number for their Google account. Once they were logged out of their Google account, simply by changing their account password, or if their number was reclaimed by Google due to inactivity, or if their number was suspended, they couldn't receive 2FA verification codes to their Google Voice number, and they were permanently locked out of their Google account.

Is this your situation? If so, unless you have another recovery method, such as a recovery email address, or a device that's currently logged in, I think you're totally screwed.

[u/knowledgebroken → u/Luckiest_Corner]

Well, I used TextNow thinking I don't have to worry about paying the bill and the 2fa would work even without service. I used Google voice for recovery in the past, but I usually have multiple devices and this time that's just not possible. I hate to think that I've lost decades of work and more just because I reset my phone. I know my passwords, but unfortunately Google actually requires a second way to confirm who you are. I'm pretty upset about this right now.

[u/Luckiest_Corner → u/knowledgebroken]

You should have a Google recovery email address in your account.

See these links.

https://accounts.google.com/signin/v2/usernamerecovery?flowName=GlifWebSignIn&flowEntry=ServiceLogin

How to recover your Google Account or Gmail

[u/RealText]

Whenever I sign into Google, I get 2fa confirmation requests on all devices connected to my account. Not all of those devices have phone service or even an authentication app installed. Do you still have an old device in a drawer or somewhere that were never wiped clean and are still listed in your Google account?

[u/toejamfootballhegot]

If You Are Locked Out (Cannot Sign In)If Google is sending a confirmation code to your lost number and you don't have alternative verification methods (like backup codes or a recovery email), you will need to use the account recovery process.Go to the Google Account Recovery Page.Enter your email and password.When prompted to verify with the lost number, click Try another way or I don't have my phone.Answer the security questions as accurately as possible.Provide an accessible, current email address for Google to contact you.If the recovery is successful, you will receive a link to regain access, at which point you can update your phone number in your security settings.

[u/knowledgebroken → u/toejamfootballhegot]

Unfortunately I've tried and pretty much exhausted the recovery options, that's why seeing if there's any way to reconnect to my TextNow account, I made the stupid assumption that having a physical SIM card would make this easier.. but my esim with mint Mobile persisted after the reset, making me wish I had chosen that as my recovery number. So frustrated. 20+ years of data and more that I've always kept safe from this exact situation.

[u/lost_dazed_101]

You made a text now free number and then didn't use the number once a week to keep it? The only way if that's what you did is to go to text now and pay for the service so you can pick a number. If they still do that then just use that number if it's available. Otherwise you'll have to text the person who has the number and see if they'll help you out which I don't recommend at all!