How to change the email address from old to new where I cant access old email

[RBATHINENI78]

🏷️ Discussion Type

Question

💬 Feature/Topic Area

Other

Body

I am requesting help recovering access to my GitHub account. I know my username and password, but I am unable to complete the login process because the verification code is being sent to an email address from a previous employer that I no longer have access to. I would like to delete this profile. any help would appriciate.

[Chefcurry4]

Hey @RBATHINENI78, been there.

Since you've got your username and password, the only blocker is that code going to your old email. A few things to try, in order:

1. Still logged in anywhere? If you're signed in on any browser or device, go to Settings → Password and authentication and add a new email right away (grab your recovery codes while you're there).
2. Got recovery codes? If you ever set up 2FA, GitHub had you save a file called github-recovery-codes.txt (check Downloads or your password manager). Any one of those codes gets you past the verification screen.
3. Neither? On the login screen, look under "More options" → Begin account or email recovery. GitHub can verify you another way (like an SSH key or a device you've used before). Otherwise open a ticket at and pick the "lost access to my email" option — include your username, the old email, and anything that proves the account is yours.

Just a heads-up: the community can't recover accounts and GitHub won't do ID verification by hand, so Support is the real route. And deleting the profile needs you logged in too, so it's the same fix either way.
Good luck :) hope you get back in.

[RBATHINENI78]

Thanks for your reply options, I didnt login this account from 2021 at least, and I left that organization, I didnt see more options especially "Begin account or email recovery". I need to delete the repos from this account now. Here I am looking for the right options to login only.

[maheerCodes]

hey @RBATHINENI78 👋

since you havent logged in since 2021 ,,,the "begin account recovery" option might not show up if github doesnt detect any recent device or browser history tied to your account ,thats probably why you cant see it.

for your situation specifically ,,,

• go to github.com/contact and select "I can't sign in" ,then choose "I no longer have access to my email" ,,github support can verify ownership through other signals like your IP history ,old SSH keys or past activity on the account
• when contacting support ,mention that you havent logged in since 2021 and that the org email is no longer accessible ,, the more context you give ,the faster they can verify you
• if your goal is just to delete the repos ,,,you can mention that too in the support ticket. they sometimes handle repo deletion requests directly without needing full account access restored first

unfortunately theres no way around support here ,,,the community cant recover accounts directly. but github support is generally pretty good with these cases as long as you can prove some ownership signals❤️❤️❤️❤️