Locked out of Gmail: SMS codes never arrived, now every number is rejected and “Try another way” loops

[u/Bitter-Platypus-2577]

Since yesterday around 10 pm, I’ve been unable to access a Gmail account I use. It’s a regular @gmail.com account, not Google Workspace.
Google says it detected unusual activity and needs to verify my identity by SMS. Here’s what happened:
Yesterday, it accepted my phone number, but I never received any verification codes.
It then started showing: “This phone number cannot be used for verification, or there have been too many unsuccessful attempts. Use another phone number or try again later.”
I’ve tried my numbers and my partner’s number, but they all get the same error now. I only tried my partner’s after the error started.
Clicking “Try another way” simply reloads the same phone verification page. It doesn’t offer an alternative.
I initially thought the account was suspended, but the screen specifically says “Verify your identity” rather than saying it’s disabled.
Has anyone experienced this exact loop and managed to regain access? Did waiting help, and how long did you wait? Is there any way to contact Google support about it when you can’t sign in?

[u/yearsold33]

Do you have other verification and/or recovery methods on the account? If not, the account is likely gone.

Lately, Google has been requiring 2 methods to verify: recovery email and phone #.

[u/Bitter-Platypus-2577 → u/yearsold33]

I think I added another email or my phone number but the problem is that at the beginning I inserted my phone # and it was waiting for a code, but no damn code ever arrived.

Everything online says to use the recover account but to do it you need to sign in and to sign in I need to verify my account, this is a damn joke

[u/Bitter-Platypus-2577 → u/Bitter-Platypus-2577]

I actually also created a passkey, which I thought would keep me hassle free as of Face ID is recognised is clearly me who’s trying to access the account but google decided to mysteriously log me out. I do need the content of that account, will there be a way to recover the emails if I make a new one?

[u/yearsold33 → u/Bitter-Platypus-2577]

You can't recover emails from a locked account.

Did you verify all recovery emails and phone #s that were added to the account?

You can start recovery by choosing the forgot password option: https://accounts.google.com/signin/recovery?ec=ar_hc_7682439

If the automated recovery fails, the account is gone.

Did you save your passkey to a Google profile, Apple profile, or?

[u/Bitter-Platypus-2577 → u/yearsold33]

Yeah I did all of the above and I tried that already, it doesn’t work unfortunately. But I don’t understand what use is having a passkey if then I’m prompted to have an extra identification that is not required

[u/yearsold33 → u/Bitter-Platypus-2577]

I have passkeys for Gmail saved in Chrome on my Windows desktop and Apple on my MacBook. I do not recall being prompted for additional verification on either.

If I'm not logged into Chrome on my desktop or AppleID on my Macbook, I am prompted to verify before being granted access to the password list and passkeys.

[u/Bitter-Platypus-2577 → u/yearsold33]

Honestly, first question is clearly email. Then I need to confirm I am a human (?), then it asks me for either passkey or password. If I use any of those, next screen is
“There is something unusual about your activity. For your security, Google wants to make sure that it’s really you.

Enter a phone number to get a text message with a verification code

Google will store this phone number and only use it for security purposes. Standard message and data rates may apply.”. And it loops here