One morning about six months ago, when I tried to login to both (one after the other) from a browser, Google responded that I have the wrong password. (I guess this is possible, since I don't login from a browser often. But I don't think so, and certainly not on both accounts!)
Since I still have access to incoming mail using the Apple Mail client and the accounts are linked (the backup of each is the other account), I asked for a password reset and got the code, but when I try to reset the password on Gmail, it won't let me. It says it cannot verify that I am myself - on either account.
The cell phone I used when setting up the accounts some ~10 years ago are no longer in my possession, and I don't remember exactly when I created the account. I have older passwords 100% sure (written down) but Google won't accept them. I tried using the date of the latest email I have in mail, but that didn't work (am pretty sure that there were older mails that the client deleted).
I have no idea how to recover the password via the Apple mail client, and could not find instructions online anywhere. Any help would be appreciated.
ATM, I cannot login to photos, docs, or anything that is not accessible from the mail client. I don't know what to do if the mail ever stops connecting.
The fact that there is no recourse from G, and that they won't even honor the reset code they send me (while still letting me send and receive mail), is ..scary. But is also irresponsible and destructive - I have lost all access to family wedding photos, to older contracts, to who knows what else.