Losing access to the email account linked to your Facebook account can be frustrating, as it prevents you from logging in normally. However, there are several methods you can try to regain access to your Facebook account even without access to the associated email.
Verify Account Ownership
The first step is to verify that you are the legitimate owner of the Facebook account in question. Facebook has security measures in place to prevent unauthorized access, so you will need to provide proof that you are the account holder. Some ways to prove ownership include:
- Providing a phone number or secondary email address already listed on the account
- Answering your account’s security questions correctly
- Submitting a copy of your photo ID that matches the name on the account
- Having access to the original sign-up email address, even temporarily, to receive a login code
Without verifying your identity, Facebook will be unable to assist you with regaining account access.
Reset Your Password
If you can temporarily gain access to the email on file for your Facebook account, you can reset your Facebook password relatively easily. Just use the “Forgot Password” link on the Facebook login page and a password reset link will be emailed to you. Click the reset link, create a new password, and you’re in!
However, this method relies on having at least brief email access, which you mentioned is not currently possible. In that case, here are some other password reset options:
- Request a password reset code be sent to your listed mobile number via text message instead of email. This code can be used to create a new password.
- If you have the Facebook mobile app, try using the password reset option there. It may rely on your phone number rather than your inaccessible email.
- Submit a copy of your photo ID and ask Facebook to reset your password through their account recovery process. This takes a few days but can be successful.
Remove The Email From Your Facebook Account
If you are unable to reset your password due to lack of email access, another option is removing the inaccessible email from your Facebook account altogether. Here’s how:
- Click the “Forgotten password” link on the Facebook login page.
- Select the “No longer have access to these?” option beside the email field.
- Follow the on-screen instructions and submit any required documentation to prove your identity.
- Once confirmed, Facebook will remove the inaccessible email from your account.
- You can then add a new, accessible email and reset your password.
Removing the old email gives you a clean slate to add a new email and regain access. Just be sure you can prove you own the account first!
Use Your Facebook Username Instead
If you set up your Facebook account using a username rather than just an email, you may be able to login using that username instead.
- On the Facebook login page, click “Forgotten account?”
- Enter your account’s username if you have one.
- Facebook will prompt you to verify your identity and then allow you to reset your password and access your account.
This eliminates the need to access your old email, provided you can still remember your Facebook username.
Regain Email Access
Ultimately, the simplest way to recover your Facebook access is regaining access to the associated email account, even if just temporarily. Here are a few ways to try doing this:
- Use Google’s account recovery options if it’s a Gmail address. You can submit ID and regain access, sometimes very quickly.
- Check account recovery options for other email services like Yahoo and Outlook.com. Many allow ID verification.
- Contact the email provider directly via phone, chat, or other means to request account recovery help.
- If the email was provided by your school or workplace, reach out to their IT department for assistance regaining access.
Regaining email access gives you the magic link for easy Facebook password reset. Even a short window of email access can be enough.
Submit ID to Facebook
As mentioned previously, you can submit your photo ID to Facebook through their account recovery process. Here are the steps:
- Go to Facebook.com and click “Find Your Account.”
- Select “I don’t have access to my email or phone number” option.
- Choose to verify your ID and click “Continue.”
- Select the document type you will provide (driver’s license, passport, etc.)
- Take a photo of your ID per Facebook’s instructions.
- Enter your full name as it appears on your ID.
- After submitting the ID details, Facebook will review your request and contact you if any other information is needed.
- Once confirmed, Facebook can remove old email or reset your password to grant access.
This process takes a few days but is often successful. Just be sure the name on your ID matches the Facebook account name exactly.
Use Trusted Contacts
If you previously set up Trusted Contacts on your Facebook account, they can help you regain access to your account. Here’s how:
- Have one of your designated Trusted Contacts visit Facebook.com and log into their account.
- They select “Help Center” from the menu at the bottom of the page.
- They search for “How do I help my friend if they are locked out of their account?” and select the result.
- They can then enter your name or username and confirm their relationship to you.
- Facebook will provide them with a special one-time code they can share with you.
- Use this code to unlock your account and reset your password.
Having Trusted Contacts provides you with an alternate method to regain access if you lose your email. Just be sure those contacts are reliable and trustworthy.
Contact Facebook Support
If all else fails, you can try contacting Facebook Support directly for additional help regaining access. Here are some tips:
- Go to Facebook’s Help Center and search for account access support options.
- Submit a request through their online form detailing your situation.
- Provide as much helpful info as possible – full name, username, phone number, etc.
- You may need to provide a photo ID again to verify identity.
- Communicate with Facebook Support via email, chat, or phone calls.
- Keep following up politely until the issue is fully resolved.
Facebook Support can directly investigate blocked accounts and restore access in some cases. Just be patient as the process may take a week or more.
Prevent Future Lockouts
Once you regain access to your Facebook account, take steps to avoid getting locked out again in the future:
- Add a secondary email and confirm it. This provides backup access.
- Set up extra login approvals like two-factor authentication via text.
- Designate several trusted contacts for account recovery help.
- Make sure your primary email, mobile number, and recovery info are kept up-to-date.
- Consider adding your mobile number as a second sign-in method beyond email.
- Set comprehensive account recovery options like trusted devices.
Taking these preventative measures reduces your reliance solely on your primary email for Facebook access. Losing that single point of failure email then becomes far less likely to block you out of Facebook.
Conclusion
Losing access to your Facebook account email can certainly be a frustrating predicament. However, as outlined above, there are numerous techniques you can attempt to recover your Facebook access without access to that email:
- Verify account ownership to Facebook.
- Reset your password via mobile or other means.
- Remove the inaccessible email from your Facebook account.
- Login with your username instead of email.
- Regain temporary access to the lost email.
- Submit your photo ID for account recovery.
- Leverage Trusted Contacts.
- Directly contact Facebook Support.
With patience and persistence using these methods, you can almost always recover your Facebook access, even without access to your former account email. Just be sure to properly secure your account afterwards to avoid dealing with the issue again down the road.