Wow Im surprised that the only solution is to get a new phone number and also be lucky to get a non recycled one.. My question is what triggers this to begin with? Its not like I forgot my credentials nor not have access to the phone number I registered with..

I have been able to make Gmail accounts without phone verification for quite some time now. However, today, I tried to make a new Gmail account, and it said it wanted to "verify it was really me". It technically said a phone number was 'required' to make a Gmail account. Seriously? I have made accounts without a phone number before! Why is it all of a sudden making me add a phone number?

It seems to help if you use, if possible, both a device and location that worked previously when accessing the account. And don't try when using a VPN.

Four, even trying to make an account in Incognito Mode is not possible. It is annoying! This never happened to me before! I was able to create Gmail accounts with phone verification being optional, but now I am being forced to provide a phone number when I can't!

Now is not the time to be complacent.

I use a computer - no phone, no tablet. I'm desperately trying to change my password as someone who should no longer have access to the account, could still have access until I change it. 'Use your phone to sign in' and '2-step verification' are both turned off. The 'Ways we can verify it's you' information is now mine (an email and mobile number).

I had the exact same problem. This is a bug Google! I had alternate methods set up: the authenticator app, recovery emails, and one-time codes. I was trying to login from trusted devices in my usual locations. But, the only option I was given was to get a code sent to the old phone number, which no longer worked.

I did though.. I bought a new number just to get over this crap.. didn't i mentioned i tried with a different phone number at the end?

Uh-oh! Couldn't sign you in! You're trying to sign in on a device Google doesn't recognize, and we don't have enough information to verify that it's you. For your protection, you can't sign in here right now. Try again later or sign in from a different device.

For one, I can't use my home phone. My parents won't let me use it. Two, I don't have a friend's or neighbor's phone number to use for the set up. Three, I can't use online SMS phone numbers, because I am either given "This phone number cannot be used for verification.", or "This phone number has been used too many times."

Eventually, I was able to login using my phone and then could change the phone number in the Google account. But, we should be able to use the alternate methods as listed in our accounts!

Using both a device and location that worked previously when accessing the account seems to help. Avoid using a VPN when undertaking the account recovery process. Use the same account in this process that you are posting from in this forum.

One user reported "I've found another solution after going back to sign up for an account by going to: YouTube sign in > Sign up > Enter information with create new Gmail, and now the phone number verification is optional. I'm not sure why it would ask it when creating a new account elsewhere, but I'm glad I was able to create a new Google account this time. "

Using both a device and location that worked previously when accessing the account seems to help. Avoid using a VPN. Google will not be able to return the account if you can't provide enough information to convince them that you are the rightful account holder. Let us know the result.

♪ Meet any one of you The thing to do is run away ♪

Attempt AR from a device, location, and network that worked recently, if possible. This is important. Don't use a VPN when attempting recovery. Unable to use an option Google give, or don't have a device Google want to send to? Use "select an alternate question", or similar.