Gmail Help

If you can't find your messages in All Mail, Spam, or Trash, or by performing a search, then they've been permanently removed from Gmail, possibly deleted by someone else. We regret that we are unable to recover messages or contact entries that have been permanently deleted.

If you're concerned that someone may have gained access to your address, we suggest that you take the following measures:

Change your password

1. Sign in to Gmail at http://mail.google.com.
2. Click Settings at the top of any Gmail page.
3. Click Accounts and Import.
4. Click Google Account settings.
5. Click Change password under Personal information.
6. Complete the form and click Save to make your changes.

When choosing your new password:

• Be creative. Don't use words that can be found in a dictionary.
• Use at least eight characters.
• Don't use a password that you've used elsewhere.
• Don't use keyboard patterns (asdf) or sequential numbers (1234).
• Create an acronym. Don't use a common one, like NASA or SCUBA. Combine your acronym with numbers and punctuation marks.
• Include punctuation marks.
• Mix capital letters, lowercase letters, and numbers.
• Include character substitutions, such as the number zero for the letter 'O' or $ for the letter 'S.'
• Include phonetic replacements, such as 'Luv 2 Laf' for 'Love to Laugh.'
• Don't make your password all numbers, uppercase letters or lowercase letters.
• Find ways of getting random letters and numbers such as opening books, looking at license plates or taking the third letter from the first ten words you see.
• Don't use repeating characters (aa11).
• Don't use a password that is listed as an example of how to pick a good password.

Change your security question

1. Sign in to Gmail at http://mail.google.com.
2. Click Settings at the top of any Gmail page.
3. Click Accounts and Import.
4. Click Google Account settings.
5. Click Change secret question under Personal information.
6. Complete the form and click Save to make your changes.

When selecting a security question:

• Choose a question only you know the answer to and that is not associated with your password.
• Choose a question that cannot be answered through research (for example, your mother's maiden name, your birth date, your first or last name, your social security number, your phone number, your pet's name, etc.).
• Choose an answer that is memorable, but not easy to guess.

Keep your login information secure

To make sure that no one gains unauthorized access to your address:

• Never tell anyone your password or security question and answer, and don't write them down.
• Never send this information by email.
• Periodically change your password and security question.

---

Please note that we aren't able to provide you with information about attempted logins, including, but not limited to, the IP address from which the attempted login was made, and the time and date any attempted logins occurred.