Lost access to my email account behind my github account

[nuchemka]

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I used to be at university where where I've opened my github account using my university, computing department email account. I've now lost access to my email account because my studies with that university have finished.

After a while, when I tried signing into my github account again, it forced me to first reset my password (because it wasn't secure enough) but it sent the reset email to my university, now inactive, email account. I've contact the university but the university won't grant me access again to that email account. They say it's gone.

That github account (https://github.com/nkatz01) had like 70! repositories of all my hard word done during my 4 years at university. I now have no access to it.

Is there any possibility that Github would de-link for me that shut git hub account from my previous, university email address and link it to my personal email address which I use all the time?
Both of my github accounts (my personal one, which is the one I'm writing this post with, and my university, inaccessible github account (nkatz01) - the one in question) are free versions but I'm happy to pay something towards any support I'd get to unlock that github account?

[alireza-iranpour85]

I'm truly sorry to hear this—losing access to years of work is a major headache. Seventy repos is a huge collection to be locked out of.

First off, let me confirm the most crucial point: Only GitHub Support can fix this. The community forum can't touch your account. Your immediate and only effective action is to open a ticket here:

https://support.github.com/contact/account-recovery

The key to success is providing undeniable proof of ownership. Since the password reset is failing because of the dead university email, you need to convince them that you are the real nkatz01.

Here’s what you need to gather and put into that ticket. Be precise and organized:

### The Must-Have Proofs to Include

1. The Core Problem: Clearly state the username (nkatz01), the inactive university email, and that the university has confirmed the email is gone forever.

2. Repo Knowledge: List the full names of 5-10 private or main public repositories that you created. Mentioning a specific, complex repo name is stronger proof than a generic one.

3. The Secret Weapon: Commit Details: This is the most powerful evidence. Find the repository names and the subject lines (messages) of a few specific, unique commits you made a long time ago.

• Example: "In the University-Thesis-Project repo, there's a commit from around April 2021 with the message: 'Refactor data layer and fix API pagination issue.'"

4. Security Keys (If Applicable): If you ever used SSH keys to push code (not just HTTPS), provide the key fingerprint (the long string starting with SHA256: ) for the SSH key you used. This is almost definitive proof.

5. Target Email: Explicitly ask them to change the primary email to your new, active personal email address you use now.

Final Tip
Be patient. Support resolution times can vary, but they usually get back to you within a few business days.

Good luck! Let us know how the recovery goes.

[mecodeatlas]

Thanks for posting in the GitHub Community, @nuchemka!

We're happy you're here. You are more likely to get a useful response if you are posting your question in the applicable category, the Profile category is solely related to conversations around the GitHub product Profile. This question should be in the General category. I've gone ahead and moved it for you. Good luck!

[krishkaiser11]

it is really a big issue your only shot is to contact github support directly and start their account recovery process when you create a ticket, explain the whole situation and give them your old username (nkatz01) and the new email you want to use the main thing is you'll have to prove the account is yours and the absolute best proof is if you still have the computer with the SSH key you used to git push from that's your golden ticket just be warned the process is super slow for security reasons, so you'll have to be patient i really hope they can sort it out for you and get your repos back man

[shinybrightstar]

Hi @nuchemka! The best place to go for answers to account-specific questions like this one is opening a ticket on our Support page. Please open a ticket with them :)

[nuchemka]

Thank you so much everyone for all your warm and supportive comments, especially alireza-iranpour85; I have reached out to Github and I'm currently in touch with them to see how I can regain access to my locked account.