Locked out of your email account
There is nearly always a way back in. The order you do things in matters.
What's usually going on
It's usually one of three things: a forgotten password, a security code going somewhere you can't reach, such as an old phone number, or the provider locking the account because it saw something unusual. Each has a different way back.
Worth trying first
Use the official recovery page, and only that.
Google: accounts.google.com/signin/recovery. Apple: iforgot.apple.com. Microsoft: account.live.com/password/reset. Type the address yourself. Never follow a link from an email or a search ad.
Try from a familiar device and place.
Providers trust a laptop you've used for years on your home Wi-Fi far more than a new phone in a hotel.
Don't hammer it.
Repeated wrong guesses can extend the lock. Make a few careful attempts, then stop.
Be wary of anyone who calls you.
Apple, Google, and Microsoft do not phone you to fix your account. "Recovery services" found through search results are a common scam.
When to hand it over
If codes are going to a number you no longer have, if the account holds years of photos or documents, or if you think someone else got in. Recovery can take days and has to be done in the right order. We'll run it with you, then set up a password manager and backup recovery options so there's no next time. Some accounts can't be recovered by anyone once every recovery method is gone. If that's where things stand, we'll tell you plainly.
Your own technologist, on call.
Tell us a little about your setup. We'll take it from there.