If you notice unfamiliar activity on your Google Account, Gmail, or other Google products, someone else might be using it without your permission. If you think your Google Account or Gmail have been hacked, follow the steps below to help spot suspicious activity, get back into your account, and make it more secure.
Step 1: Sign in to your Google Account
If you can’t sign in
Go to the account recovery page, and answer the questions as best you can. These tips can help.
Use the account recovery page if:
- Someone changed your account info, like your password or recovery phone number.
- Someone deleted your account.
- You can’t sign in for another reason.
Tip: To make sure you’re trying to sign in to the right account, try recovering your username.
Step 2: Review activity & help secure your hacked Google Account
Review your account activity
- Go to your Google Account.
- On the left navigation panel, select Security.
- On the "Recent security events" panel, select Review security events.
- Check for any suspicious activity:
- If you find activity that didn’t come from you: Select No, it wasn’t me. Then, follow the steps on the screen to help secure your account.
- If you did the activity: Select Yes. If you still believe someone else is using your account, find out if your account has been hacked.
Review which devices use your account
- Go to your Google Account.
- On the left navigation panel, select Security.
- On the "Your devices" panel, select Manage devices.
- Check for any devices you don’t recognize.
- If you find a device that you don’t recognize: Select Don’t recognize a device? Then, follow the steps on the screen to help secure your account.
- If you recognize all the devices, but still believe someone else is using your account: Find out if your account has been hacked.
Step 3: Take more security steps
Turn on 2-Step Verification
2-Step Verification helps keep hackers out of your account. With 2-Step Verification, you sign in with:
- Something you know (your password)
- Something you have (your phone, a security key, or a printed code)
That way, if your password is stolen, your account is still secure.
Contact your bank or local authorities
Make sure someone else didn’t give your bank or government instructions, like to open an account or transfer money. This is important if you:
- Have banking info saved in your account, like credit cards saved in Google Pay or Chrome.
- Have personal info like tax or passport info saved in your account. For example, you might have personal info saved in Google Photos, Google Drive, or Gmail.
- Think someone is using your identity or impersonating you.
Remove harmful software
If you think your account has suspicious activity, you might need to remove harmful software. To improve your account’s security, install and run trusted anti-virus software.
You can also reset your computer to its factory settings and reinstall the operating system.
Important: Make sure to back up the files you need. Learn how to upload files to Google Drive.
Install a more secure browser
Some internet browsers have security weaknesses. Consider using a more secure browser, like Google Chrome.
Help prevent password theft with Password Alert
If you enter your password on a non-Google site, Password Alert on Google Chrome notifies you. That way, you’ll know if a site is pretending to be Google to steal your password.
Help secure your apps and devices
- If access for less secure apps is turned on, we strongly suggest turning it off since it may make your account less secure.
- Use your device’s screen lock option if it has one.
Help secure other Google products you use
- Gmail: Review these security tips, and remove any labels, filters, or forwarding rules you didn’t set up.
- Chrome: Uninstall extensions you don’t recognize, and update Chrome to the latest version.
- Google Drive: Review your activity and file versions for anything unusual.
- Google Photos: If you see album sharing you don’t recognize, stop sharing the album.
- Location: Turn off Location Sharing that looks unusual.
Find out if your Google Account has been hacked
If you notice any of these signs, someone else may be using your Google Account.
Important: If you think someone else is signed in to your Google Account, change your password immediately for:
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